2 novice legs... but I need help - Page 1

Please, I really need a list of ideas from somebody, what have you done to get your working dog to focus?

Hi,
You have some great ideas but your dogs get bored      all I can say is when you see your dogs getting board stop what you are doing and put there mind on something else then go back to what you were doing make everything fun not to much of one thing but lots of everything so that they enjoy there work  also put the dogs in your car on a high  as this makes them eager and builds the drive hope this helps good luck
Rosie

So does putting his mind on something else mean like switching my object?

Get the best treats that you have. When I was training, I would grill Chicken or Pork and season it with sea salt and garlic powder, grill it well done, cut it in small pieces and go to town. REALLY PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE the dog to HIGH HEAVEN. DO NOT OVERTRAIN or the dog will get sour on training. I would usually train 10 minutes and that was it. When you get frustrated, STOP!!!  In NOVICE A , and Lexie got her 3 legs in 3 shows. This is the first dog that I trained in Obedience.
1st show -191 1/2

2nd show - 192


3rd show 193

YOU WILL BE FINE!!!!! If i can do it, you sure as heck can!

The best to you and your dog. Don't forget, it's not life or death, just having fun with your dog!!

Dawn B.

Thanks Dawn!! I think the don't get frustrated is the biggest tip for me!! I'm a junior handler, so these are obviosly my first obedience shows. 

Our first leg was 186

Our Second leg was 189

And most of it was marked off for Heel on leash, because when were on the leash he doesn't want to pay attenthion as much. But Free heeling he pays more attention and does so much better. I don't know why but hopefully focusing will do it.

This sounds like a very similar problem I had with my last GSD. I was also a junior handler and my dog was usually more interested in what was going on outside the ring when we were heeling. All I can say is be sure to make it as fun and interesting as possible. I always kept cut up hotdogs in my mouth and would spit one out every once in a while so she never knew when a treat would come out. It helped her to focus on my face. Good luck!

Thanks!!

When heeling, a lot of handlers make the mistake of adapting there pace of walk to the dog. So make sure you are walking at the same pace you would if you were training. WALK WITH PURPOSE and do not look back at the dog that will drop your shoulder and make the dog lag/and look uninterested. Just some trialing tips! I once paired up students; one had to be the dog and the other the handler, to show them how much your speed of walk affects your dogs attention. Believe me! when the handler had a brisk purposeful walk the doggy student sure tried a lot harder to stay right with the handler. It sure was FUN!

I have shown in both Novice and Open and I have seen many AKC obedience trials and I will say that all of the judges I have seen could care less about focus, if the dog is correct in all the exercises then it will do well, heck if the dog never looks at you and does every exercise in slow-mo (no drive or temperment) but does everything correctly it again will do well. In Schutzhund the judge wants to see a dog with lots of temperment/drive and a dog attentive to the handler but AKC judges don't really care and will not take away points for not having the above.

I saw one dog recently in the Novice ring that had zero focus, was so slow with each exercise and even taking a nap on the long down and got 1st place because the dog did all the exercises correctly. On that note I believe AKC judges do not see very many dogs with drive and focus( i am refering to Shepherds) but when they do they always make a comment on how nice the dog worked or you have a very nice happy dog. I am refering to mostly shepherds but when you go to the all-breed shows I really enjoy watching the Border Collies and even some Goldens.

When it is time for you to go into Open you will never have a leash on so if your dog does better off leash then I would not worry much. Everytime my dog and were finished in the ring the judge asked me if I did Schutzhund with her, I found that to be a nice thing.

Denise