BEGINNING NOVICE, LESSON TWO

Hopefully by now your dogs are beginning to learn where the proper heel position is and are at least sitting on command. If you’re dog is still not sitting on command, saying sit once only, continue to place him with your right hand. Do not go to the next step! Some dogs are going to learn faster than others, it’s OK if they take longer. Of course, the more you practice, they faster they will learn. We will break up the class into smaller groups to help those progressing at different speeds. Don’t give up! Three important things to remember at this beginning stage are,

1. When you give a correction when heeling, always follow with praise or treat. If you only correct and not encourage your dog, he will start lagging behind, the tail will stop wagging, and he will not enjoy working. This needs to be a happy time. Make heeling a game, keep your voice enthusiastic. Talk to him, telling him what a good dog he is for staying by your side.

2. Be consistent! If you say sit, your dog must sit. Start and stop heeling a lot, I know this can be boring, but how your dog learns to listen to you now will affect how well he does in the future. What you want is for your dog to learn to listen and respond to you. You are forming a bond, which will be necessary in advanced work, especially in agility.

3. Take breaks from training. After heeling or practicing sits, or downs, give a big OK command. Let your dog jump up, play with him and praise him. Let him know he did a good job. After playing a while, then go back to training.

Once your dog can sit on one, and only one, command, is heeling along without forging or lagging to much, go on to lesson two.

Now, on to this weeks lesson:

“HERE” COMMAND:

This command is not taught in a normal novice obedience class, but since we do agility and some will be doing fly-ball, we will start this now. It basically is the same as come. The difference is it means to come to your outstretched hand, rather than come and sit directly in front of you. While your dog is on a leash (not heeling or on a stay), say “here” and reach out your hand with a treat in it. As soon as your dog reaches for the treat, give it to him and praise. As you work with this you can let your dog be farther and farther away. Let him go out to the end of the leash, it is great even if they are distracted. This is one command that you can say over and over again as they are coming toward the treat. Practice this, moving you hand in different directions, giving the treat once your dog follows your hand. It is a good idea to have some small treats handy somewhere in the house. This is one lesson you, your siblings, or your parents can all teach. It can be done anytime, does not have to be during your training sessions. Just remember, small bites, you don’t want to overfeed and have a overweight dog. The dogs really don’t know the difference if they are getting a small taste or a whole biscuit! The pupperoni type treats are handy for this, they break into small pieces easily.

SIT-STAY, STEP ONE

With the dog sitting in the heel position, take your left hand, palm towards dog, fingers pointing down in front of your dogs nose. Say “stay” at the same time in a firm voice. With your hand on the leash close to the collar step forward with your right foot, and pivot to turn directly in front of your dog. Be ready to correct, if your dog moves say “no” and pop the leash straight up, placing him back into a sitting position. Watch your dog closely, the goal is to get him back to a sitting position before he stands. After a few seconds pivot back to the heel position, say “OK” and praise! Make sure you return to heel position before the release. Gradually increases the time to 30 seconds by the end of the week. Do not go any farther this week.(So I know if you actually read this, put a small check next to your name on the sign in sheet, you will be rewarded! Please don’t tell other members about this.) We are teaching the dog that he absolutely can not get up once on a stay. I know it is tempting to move farther away from your dog, but it is important to correct immediately! If you are 10 feet in front of your dog, you will not get that timely correction in. Once again we are laying a foundation, if you move to far ahead to fast, the cement will not be set! Eventually the goal is to be able to talk to your dog, bounce a ball in front of him, lay food in front of him, and he will not move until given the “OK” or another command.

COME-FORE, STEP ONE:

This is the beginning of the “come” command. While heeling along, say your dog’s name and the command come, pop him toward you and you step backward and praise. Run backward a few steps praising your dog and get him to chase you while praising. When you stop running give the “OK” command. The goal is to get you dog to come happily toward you for praise and, or a treat. It is important to give the “OK “ command, because eventually “come” will mean to come to you and sit in front. We do not teach them to sit in front right away, we want them just to come quickly and happily to you right now, the “OK” means that they are released before the exercise is really finished. Remember, when you want your dog to come to you without sitting in front or “OK” when he gets there, use the “here” command instead.

DOWN, STEP TWO;

If your dog is reaching for the treat and lying down, you can proceed to this next step. With the dog at your side sitting, slide the lead under your left foot. Say down, and pull up on leash to give steady pressure. At this stage you may say down several times if necessary. Praise him if he attempts to lie down keeping pressure on the leash until he is in the down position. Once he is down release the pressure, but keep the leash under your foot, praising your dog. If he starts to get up, pull on the leash a bit, pulling him down again. If your dog fights against the leash, you are advancing too quickly. Some dogs panic as the leash tightens, release and try again. Once they are down for 10 to 20 seconds give them the treat on the ground. If it helps a treat can be placed on the ground before you start the pressure on the leash. By the end of the week, you should be able to say down just once.