OBEDIENCE WITH ELLEN

 I highly recommend each of you attending this Seminar. Connie Cleveland is a highly respected trainer. I started with her taking regular lessons in 2014. She has a common sense approach to everything. She's funny. She's smart. And she communicates well. I've never seen a better teacher. CONNIE CLEVELAND - Connie will share with the participants her proven methods of systematically teaching each skill and technique at every competitive level while also injecting fun into the process.  Her discerning eye for detail will motivate you to elevate your standards of training to bring out the very best in your dog! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a seminar right here at Cape Fear Dog Training Club. The Two-Day Working Spot is $195. Auditing is $125. Here is the flyer -- Questions, contact Roberta Pylate , or call her at 910-987-1936

 If you're like me, you train on your own a lot.  Once in a while, I find the need to do some Opposition Reflex when alone --- an exercise where the dog has to work harder and commit to being in position. Check this out with a Flexi and a 2 lb. wrist weight:

 

  Calling your dog to heel is a lovely exercise to build awareness of Heel Position and it can even be used to increase drive.  This can be done off leash, but can also be done on leash.  Note timing of the Mark and Pay.

 

    This is called "Brick Work." But we actually use an upside down rubber bowl. These can be purchased at  Tractor Supply This trick will teach our dogs to do a Left Turn without tripping the handlers! The finished product will be a dog who's front feet stay still, while his back feet cross step.  

 

  MORNING! Many of you told me previously that you were unable to come to the first week of class. AS A REMINDER, starting with the coming Saturday, September 25, 2021, we are switching our sessions to MORNING for the remainder of this session : 9 AM: BEGINNER NOVICE Tracy West & Bri Robin Brown & Kiss Sally Peace & Maisie Robbie Sternlicht & Alenka Tanya Bowen & Taser Rebecca Rodan & Roo 10 AM: NOVICE Tracy West & Melman Tanya Bowen & Clive Anita Adcock & Levi Robbie Sternlicht & Slava Ginny Wuss & Yuri Kelly Davis & Gallagher 11 AM: OPEN INTRO Tracy West & Lexi Tanya Bowen & Jet Andrea Pogue &   As a reminder, the remaining class dates: September 25 October 2 October 9 October 16 October 23

   We all need to know we're doing things right. Don't we?  Some time ago,  Connie Cleveland  wrote a book called "Dogs Are Problem Solvers, Handlers Should Be." To this day, I keep it on my shelf for reference! Connie says that dogs learn by trial and error, because they are "situational."  When a behavior is reinforced by something the dog likes, that behavior will continue.  You give the dog a cookie You play with a tug You tell him he is a good boy. When a behavior goes unrewarded, it will disappear.  He will no longer bother. He may offer incorrect behaviors in an attempt to get the reward. Let's learn to speak our dogs' language! A POSITIVE MARKER IS A WORD THAT CAN BE USED SO: The Dog KNOWS he is correct The Dog KNOWS he is getting fed for being correct. Example: SIT COMMAND -- Tell the dog sit. Dog sits. You use a positive marker such as  YES  (common). * You reach for the reward. You give the reward. * Using the Positive Marker ...

 The Best Laid Plans. My original intentions were to reinforce a straight front from Justice's Broad Jump by sending him around a cone before coming front. Since dogs are situational (as Connie Cleveland would say) and Justice is no different, he told me he didn't know HOW to do a Broad Jump, by walking around. Watch what happens!  WHAT SAY YOU? Any Questions or Comments? Please leave them in the comment section.

 

 It's an ongoing challenge!!! When working with a larger dog, anchor your leash with the right hand, while guiding with the left. The closer your left hand comes to the collar, the more control! If the big dog forges, slide the left hand down and pop upward (not back) If he gets too close, slide the hand down and push outward. When working with a smaller dog, hold leash in your left hand, holding it straight down. You can maneuver from a finger or your pinky (as though you are reining).

 We start by putting a cookie in your left hand and allowing your dog to get into position. BRIBING v. REWARD The video above is an example of Luring or Bribing. STAGE 1: We are shaping the dog's activity through the lure - but to the dog, it is all about "chasing the cookie." This is NOT natural. We are asking them to walk with their heads up.  Once you believe your dog understands that in order to get the reward, he has to follow the reward it is time to to the cookie in your left hand against your body. STAGE TWO:  TAKE THE FOOD OUT OF YOUR LEFT HAND POP FOR ATTENTION. Heel Slowly. As the dog is in position, say good, good. Good will come to mean that he is correct, and that he should continue to do what he's doing. The MOMENT he looks away, POP to attention. And the MOMENT he looks back at you, praise effusively GOOD ( this is VERY important ).  MARK AND PAY = Positive Marker then Reach for Reward, then GIVE reward.  In the beginning, he will get paid more ...

  A TRAINING SESSION WITH JUSTICE We started with the intention of doing chute fronts, and soon saw an opportunity to enhance his knowledge of: Straight Fronts Positive Markers Negative Markers Attention / Focus Want To & Have To We set up the chutes because it is a good way to get straight fronts just the way you want them in the ring, with the dog seeing the same picture he will in the ring: You facing him  Your hands are not moving Hands at your side. Chutes can be utilized to make the dog take responsibility for his own fronts, as opposed to you guiding him with subtle and not-so-subtle cues. The equipment is two broad jump boards. I will reduce the size of the equipment as Justice progresses. Do you have any questions or comments? Use the comment section! Happy training! Ellen

  Who doesn't love a great toy? There are so many options out there -- check out K9 Design's site I use a combination of Toys, Treats (usually string cheese, but sometimes my Doggy Crack - recipe to come) and lots of praise when I train.  There's a lot that I LOVE about training with toys. The stakes are HIGHER!  Dog tries HARDER High Drive Dogs get tired. . . and it can be great for conditioning. It can take the place of luring, depending on body placement. And THIS is why I love using Magnet Toys. But like everything else good in life, there are also RULES: It is MY toy, not theirs. It is only used when we are training. It is not their chew toy. Dog not allowed to grab the toy until I give him his command or a positive marker. Avoid being bitten! Hold the toy in a way that the dog has PLENTY of room to grab it. Then give the cue (yes, ok, get it or whatever you wish). Tug for short periods (many of us don't wish to be in traction). Hold the collar tab or the leash at ...