Questions about AKC Obedience Training - Page 2

Tess gave you perfect answers.  And 6 feet is needed for the on leash portion of Novice (and for pre Novice in matches).  After that, even a 4 foot will do.

I find that when I use German commands in the AKC ring I sometimes get raised eyebrows, but I don't think it affects my scores.  I just think it makes the judge handle my dog on the stand in Novice a tad more delicately! ;-)

That is hilarious Bucko! And so far I have trained her in German (Sitz, Platz, Bliebe, ect) but I was concidering converting her to english. Maybe I won't now! HAHA

Train at home, and proof in class!

I have averaged nearly 195 with more dogs than I can count, and it is not a good idea to teach heeling to a gsd in a crowded little square -- they get depressed.  Teach EXPANSIVELY in the great outdoors with lots and lots of wild enthusiasm -- and only when your pup is very solid take him or her indoors to class, where they have to indulge you in a 30 x 30 square.  Then get your dog outside ASAP and show him that heeling is really and truly fun, and the class was just a bad exception!

You need a 170 to pass and must pass the sits and downs.   You stand 6 feet away during the stand for exam.  One thing that is different in obedience versus SchH is that whenever you return to heel position you must walk around the dog - including the stand for exam.

Any size leash is permissible in AKC novice so long as there is slack in the lead to allow the snap to be perpendicular to the ground so it really depends on the dog.  However, if competing in Canada it must be a 6 foot leash as the stand for exam up north is on leash whereas in the U.S. it is off leash.  I use a four foot leather leash for my male and a 2 or 3 foot braided cord leash for my bitch. 

I use german commands for the most part but my dogs know english as well.  I knew of one person who wanted different commands than anyone else so she "numbered" the exercises/behavior - i.e. heel was 1, finish was 2, recall was 3, etc.  Way too much work and I am too easily confused for that :-) 

Besides going to a trainer in your area, I also recommend finding some fun matches where you can enter to see where you are at as well as watch others working their dogs.  Contact some of the AKC all breed clubs and/or obedience clubs in your area and they will likely be able to point you in the right direction. 

Here is a perfect 200 novice run so you can see what it should look like for most judges:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41lYXu27las

Good luck and have fun!

You need to train at least with other dogs present. I have seen more than I can count get up on the sit and down to check out the dog next to them. Go lots of different places to train and go to a fun match to see how your dog does before trialing.

Thanks for all the info! All this talk of training has gotten me motivated... I just went out and taught Anna to "Shake" LOL. I know it isn't anything impressive, but I always get stoked when my dogs learn something new!

And that video is very impressive. How do you get such rapt attention from the dog??

Lots a time and a good method, and don't leave out the love.

I have a lot of work ahead of me for sure!

It can be fun and very rewarding for you both, just be patient and consistant, don't rush or take so called short cuts.
Best of luck.

Thanks Two Moons. I am very excited about getting started. I've ordered a couple of books to help me get started, and as soon as I get all of the basics down I will probably go out and get a trainer to help me teach her all the stuff I've never done before.

I did a year long dog training apprenticeship though, so I know I can do at least the beginner stuff on my own (: