[Jess38]

I have a dog in agility who often gets a terrible case of the zoomies in trials. Generally the first two runs of a day, even if we warm up and run around beforehand to try to get the crazies out.

It's the worst in jumpers or tunnelers, because he's so fast and he gets out ahead of me, and as soon as he manages to get out ahead (which tends to happen about halfway through a run), he sees that I'm not there (even though I'm calling to him), and he just snaps and goes crazy zoomie running laps around the course. My dog is very fast, and spectators find it hilarious, but judges do not. They just start yelling at me angrily to get control of my dog and get out of there...and it's really frustrating and embarrassing to me when they yell, do they think I'm not trying to get control of the dog? I obviously can't catch him, he's insanely fast.

We're trying to take some time off to work from trials on things, but nothing seems to be helping. My dog finds going all zoomies so self-rewarding, he really doesn't understand not to do it. Our trainer says it's all about improving my handling, and making things clear, so my dog always knows what do to. But, he's so fast--I'm trying to teach him to match pace with me--but he's just so crazy and wants to run run run.

So, any tips for controlling a zoomies dog? Can I teach him not to? How can I get him back quickly so we're allowed to keep going?

 

[Plingie]

I totally read that as "How to control ZOMBIES in agility" - I need to go back to bed!

 

[ScentHound]

I totally read that as "How to control ZOMBIES in agility"

LOL, me too.

 

[Criosphynx]

My understanding is this is an overstimulation thing. Hows the dogs impulse control? Can you put him in a stay and lead out?
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[Kyllobernese]

Until his last trial in Nov.2010, Remmy was very focused on me and had no problem with zoomies as I did have in the past. His trial in Nov. he did it almost every class. The crowd loved it as he looked so happy and I have never had a judge say anything to me. When he finally settles down and comes back to me, I leave the ring. I have tried to figure out what sets him off so I can stop it before it begins, but no luck so far.

He used to do it nearly every first class of the day but did stop doing that last year except for the Nov. trial. As he never does it in practice, I have to idea how to prevent it. Like Kristen says, they seem to just get going faster and faster and then are out of control.

 

[Jess38]

My understanding is this is an overstimulation thing. Hows the dogs impulse control? Can you put him in a stay and lead out?
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Thanks for your responses, BTW. Sorry it's been several months, I sort of forgot I posted on here. In answer to you question, yes, he's fine with doing a start line stay for lead outs. He understands that he's supposed to stay until I release him. We've practiced long lead outs, so he's pretty okay with them. Although, once at a trial, I said "okay" to release him and he got up and ran to greet a pole setter than he had been eying. Now, I say "okay come" or "okay here" instead, so he doesn't think he's just released to do whatever he wants. It seems to be working fine.

Our problem pretty much happens in the classes with a lot of fast running, once he's already going really fast. Like in jumpers or tunnels when there's a straight line of obstacles that gets him going really fast, and then there's an abrupt turn and he's not sure what to do all of a sudden because it's not in front of him. He just wants to keep running. Of course, I'm calling to him, but he seems to not hear it.