OBEDIENCE WITH ELLEN

 

 

       

     

     

 

 Ever have a dog that is behaving and suddenly -- you can tell he is about to misbehave? You could be on a loose lead walk, and the dog suddenly sees another dog. His/Her ears go forward, his hackles may go up. . . or it could be some other cue that you know --- because it is your dog and you know your dog.  You are working heeling at the Training Building and someone opens the door to walk it -- your dog drops his/her head to look away. You are working arounds with a cone or back end awareness with a rubber bowl, and instead of working on the exercise, the dog starts biting the object for play (this has happened with me). EVERYONE should know the Back Away! GET STARTED: Walk Forward with the Dog, exaggerating your body language. (SILENTLY) -Pause, Stop Your Stride, Shift weight BACKWARDS, and then just step back, with the leash and treat in both hands at your stomach. Get your dog to sit front. Mark and Pay. Just do a couple of these at a time to practice. But do them every d...

 

 

 

 Ever have a dog that is behaving and suddenly -- you can tell he is about to misbehave? You could be on a loose lead walk, and the dog suddenly sees another dog. His/Her ears go forward, his hackles may go up. . . or it could be some other cue that you know --- because it is your dog and you know your dog.  You are working heeling at the Training Building and someone opens the door to walk it -- your dog drops his/her head to look away. You are working arounds with a cone or back end awareness with a rubber bowl, and instead of working on the exercise, the dog starts biting the object for play (this has happened with me). EVERYONE should know the Back Away! GET STARTED: Walk Forward with the Dog, exaggerating your body language. (SILENTLY) -Pause, Stop Your Stride, Shift weight BACKWARDS, and then just step back, with the leash and treat in both hands at your stomach. Get your dog to sit front. Mark and Pay. Just do a couple of these at a time to practice. But do them every d...

 

Students tell me they forget to cover certain exercises or skill sets. And they sometimes come to a trial, thinking their dog "knows" an exercise - so they don't need to practice it.  They frequently train an exercise versus training the skills broken down. They don't have time to train every day. And they are losing the dog's focus. The best way to train -- is in an organized way. Keep sessions short. And train the way you trial. Be sure you are NOT training the same thing every day in the most predictable way!! First - Make a list of everything you need to cover over the course of this month's training. Every skill every game. Here is an example: EXERCISES Decide how many days is a reasonable amount for YOU to work your dog. Novice dog owners - consider working 3-4 days a week for 10-15 minutes each session. Planning is key. Does it even seem possible that you can cover every single exercise every week? Absolutely. But you have to be smart about it. And you ...

 My Day-Of-Plan is very specific. It takes into account: The Monthly and Weekly Plans My Dog's Strengths Opportunities to Improve Our Team Performance Alternating High Drive with Lower Drive Exercises to maintain attitude. This will take less than 10 minutes. I can make those 10 minutes really count because this will be high energy and will motivate my dog to work with accuracy.

  The end of my week is Sunday Night. After dinner, I can brew a pot of tea, and plan my training week. Here is an example. I have checked the weather and know when I can practice indoors and when I can practice outdoors. My plans are more specific than the monthly calendar. 

  SAMPLE : Here is a sample for a Novice Dog. Notice that Focus and Heeling are covered every single session. Sits are covered MOST SESSIONS.  Can you look at this and tell me what YOU would want to cover more of or less? When I review it, I would want to make sure I'm covering Stand at least once a week.

 

  CHAPTER 4  OPEN Section 9. Drop on Recall. The principal features of this exercise, in addition to those listed under the Novice Recall, are the dog’s prompt response to the handler’s command or signal to drop and the dog’s remaining in the down position until again calle d or signaled to come. The dog will be judged on the promptness of its response to the command or signal.  The orders are:  “Leave your dog,”  “Call your dog,”  then give a clear signal to drop the dog, followed by  “Call your dog”  and “Finish.”  The handler will stand with the dog sitting in the heel position in a place designated by the judge.  The judge will ask “Are you ready?” before giving the first order.  On the judge’s order the handler may give a command and/or signal for the dog to stay in the sit position. The handler will walk forward to the other end of the ring, then turn, face the dog, and stand naturally.  On the judge’s order or signal, th...