achieving greater speed and accuracy in obedience - Page 1

Hello,

I am a long time reader and relatively new poster here.  Can anyone give me some suggestions in gaining greater speed and accuracy in obdience.  I have a 2yo male showXworking line.  He is has a strong prey drive and food drive but I can't get the quickness in turning while heeling that I would like.  I am quite aware that his faults are due in part to my handling as this is my first dog and am still new to the sport.  He handles corrections fine but is not an extremely hard dog.  I try to make everything as exciting as possible but I just don't know if its coming through to him.

Thanks, any more needed info, please let me know!

B

Btank,
Are you talking about the about turn or just left and right turns?  I use a ball on a rope and get the dog crazy for it.  First, you need to teach the dog to focus on you.  Then you can tease with the toy in front of your body then behind your back.  Switch hands from left to right and guide the dog around to the front or side with the toy.  The dog will quickly learn the dynamics of moving around your body fast and tight. 

Hope that helps a little.

Jim

In addition to Jim's method you can make those first few steps after the about turn into running steps which will add to the dog's excitement since by then he'll really want the toy.

Jim, you always have such GREAT training suggestions!

Thank you for your contributions!

Hi!  I have had great results fine tuning  accuracy, body placement and speed using a stick as demonstrated by Lisa & Viller in this video:  www.youtube.com/watch  .  You can buy a special stick but the "fetch it" thingy works great!  Of course I only use this with  a dog who is very reactive to body touches and also already understands the exercize.  

Thank you, I like these suggestions!  That video is also very helpful.  Ive tryed putting a leash just below his ribcage and pulling his back-end around quicker when he is slow but now it seems he is waiting for my physical cue rather than following my body, any thoughts on that?  I  was just refering to right and left turns  btw, I will try yout exercise, sounds fun!

Thanks
B

It sounds to me like he does not understand he must always be in correct position yet.   I would  motivate him as described by Jim, with bait or ball or tug, whatever works, but I wouldn't use the leash around his middle.  Go back to basic of having him sitting in correct position, fusing straight a few steps  in correct position, then start rounded turns, not sharp turns, keep him motivated with bait/ball/tug/toy, verbal encouragement,  whatever works for him until he actually understands he must always be in the correct position whether you go slow, fast turn or straight, but you have to start off with simple baby steps.  Rounded  arc type turns in the beginning instead of  sharp turns.  Once he actually understands he must always be in correct position you should see improvement. 

Thank you, I see what you mean about building up to sharp turns.  I figured that stationary turns would be the best way to start but I see how that could be confusing.  He has great focus in stationary fuss but once I add a turn, he seems to lose it a bit so I think Im just asking him to do something that I haven't made clear enough yet, causing him confusion.
 

Sunsilver, thanks. :)

Btank, does your dog understand the "fuss" position.  Does he know the proper basic position?  You could move slightly to your right in 1/4 turns and command Fuss then stop.  I would do the same for the left side, move in angles to the left and make sure the dog knows the correct fuss position.  You will be basically going in a small circle to the right or left.  I would have a ball on a rope held high up by my left shoulder and use a "watch me" command.  If he has good focus you can get him to move in circles left or right then front or back even before you begin heeling. 

I also like Sue's idea of the targeting stick and Aqua's idea as well.  I also would not use the leash around his middle at this point.  If you are doing SchH you also need to vary your speed in the turns.  For example when going through the group there is a right and left turn.  I speed up slightly on the left turn and slow down slightly on the right, that helps to keep the dog correct as well in the group. 

The dog must understand the correct fuss position and needs to learn to swing their back end around for the left turns in training.  I have seen some amazing results using a clicker a food to start the foundation in conjunction with hand signals. 

How is his heeling, does he forge or lag?  Does he bump or wrap around your body?

JMO,

Jim

More or less the same as said here pass the ball round your back quickly, First have the dog at heel postiton hold the ball at chest level left side so his eyes are focused on it whip the ball round you the dog will follow tight against your legs as he comes around finish with the ball in the same start postion at your left side of your chest
at the time the dog comes to your left side command sit, always a voice command  his eyes will be on the ball then reward the Dog by dropping the ball, always a reward for doing something good,
 One Tip
Never expect a dog to do anything for you with out being rewarded for doing it
If i had a video and knew how to post it i would show you how fast young Goran is at foot he whips around to the foot position every time and the above is how he was trained to do it
Now when working we use a ball dropper, as he is an old hand at the quick foot and staying at the leg
Steve