Course Details
If you’re losing points in obedience or rally and you’re not quite sure why, your sits may be part of the problem.
Sits show up constantly in both sports, and they’re one of the most common places teams lose accuracy. A point here, a point there, and suddenly those small errors start to add up. Crooked sits in heel or front, slow responses, or missed sits altogether can cause your score to drop quickly, even when the rest of your performance feels solid.
This presentation is designed for teams who are already training or competing in obedience or rally and want to improve precision, consistency, and overall ring performance. Whether you’re just starting to notice small errors or you’ve been struggling with sits that fall apart under pressure, this session will help you identify what’s happening and how to fix it.
We’ll take a practical look at what goes into a clean, consistent sit in both heel and front. You’ll learn how position mechanics, reinforcement placement, and thoughtful use of props all contribute to accuracy and understanding. We’ll also cover why sits often break down in more challenging environments, including the role of arousal, stress, and handler pressure.
You’ll leave with clear, actionable strategies to improve your dog’s sits, strengthen position, and build reliability that holds up in the ring.
About the Instructor:
Nicole Wiebusch CPDT-KA (she/her) has been active in dog sports for over 25 years. What began with 4-H quickly grew into a lifelong passion for dog sports. Her first golden retriever, Tucker CDX RAE MX MXJ, was her “crossover dog”—the one who showed her the power of positive reinforcement training and set the foundation for everything that followed.
Her second golden retriever, Toby, became an extraordinary partner, earning multiple high-level titles across sports. In obedience, Toby achieved a UDX2 and OM3, retiring just 30 points short of an OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) due to physical limitations. He also earned an RAE in rally, won the large Advanced Rally classes at two different Golden Retriever National Specialties, and collected numerous High in Trial and High Combined awards along the way. Toby taught Nicole to embrace the joy of the journey and never failed to make her laugh in the ring.
Nicole’s third golden, Strive, is her first female and a true standout. She is a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America’s (GRCA) Obedience Dog Hall of Fame and a RACH (Rally Champion) with many High Triples and High Combineds to her credit.
Excel, Nicole’s fourth golden, earned his RACH in 2024. He has been a teacher in his own right, helping Nicole refine her understanding of life skills, reward markers, and the importance of relaxation in training.
Rise is Nicole’s youngest golden. He earned his Trick Dog title at 16 weeks and is currently training for obedience, rally, and agility.
In 2008, Nicole founded Golden Paws Dog Training LLC, where she teaches both pet owners and dog sport enthusiasts using positive, reward-based methods. She has been an instructor at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (FDSA) since 2019, teaching obedience, rally, and foundation classes. In addition, she is a CPDT-KA, a Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog evaluator, a Professional Member of the APDT, and leads her local 4-H Dog program.
Nicole lives in northern Minnesota with her husband, three children, five dogs, and four horses. When she’s not training dogs, she enjoys hiking, photography, and spending time with her horses.
Learn more at www.goldenpawsdogtraining.com or email Nicole at [email protected].
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