OB445: Proof Positive: Conquering Complexity and Challenges for Open/Utility

Success Builds Confidence.

The goal is to make your dog right. I repeat, the goal is to make your dog right. We are working on building confidence. Success is reinforcing. Yes, the dog will have some failure. And that’s fine. The dog will struggle a little and we will help them. But if the dog is ALWAYS struggling and often wrong, this will have the opposite effect.  Your dog will get worried and insecure. It’s up to YOU to read your dog. It’s up to YOU to set up situations they can manage. Some dogs will do it because you asked. That doesn’t mean they are comfortable. And that’s not fair. You must learn to read your dog. Watch their eyes, ears, mouth, nose, breathing, etc. Watch their behavior. Are they giving up? Sniffing? Looking away? Walking away? All dogs give signs. Some much more subtle than others. It’s up to us to learn to read them and respect them.

Using Props to Ensure Success. 

HELP YOUR DOG. This is the time to use props. Especially if your dog has a positive history with them. My dogs love putting their back feet on the rug. I will use that for CD and Signals. I will use my stick for the Broad Jump (because that’s what my dog knows. If you’ve used a different prop with your dog, like a cone or a target, use that). Use a prop your dog is familiar with to help with fronts, DOR…anyplace your dog can use support when you are proofing that piece.  In addition, I verbally encourage them. If they are doing a retrieve and there are distractions near the DB, I encourage my dog as they are approaching the DB… in a lighthearted voice… I’m not pressuring them to get it and succeed… I’m encouraging them “get it get it get it”….that’s it!! Come come come!! I will give you plenty of examples and demo videos. Remember though, we are not Testing them… we are helping them. So don’t stand by to see what happens, and then realize your dog is floundering. Be proactive!! Sure, once my dog has seen and overcome a number of challenges, I will stop giving verbal support…because at that point my dog won’t need it. However, when I’m teaching, I help. Because we want them to be right.

Isolating pieces for clarity.

Which piece of an exercise is most challenging for your dog. Take gloves for example.  Is it the setup with the judge there?  Is it the pivot? Is it running to the glove? Is it the pickup? Or the front?  Start with proofing a piece that is easier for them. This way they can have some success. THEN we will CAREFULLY start proofing the piece that it is a bit more problematic. Remember, though the actual behaviors must be fluent!! 

Timing for Clear Communication.

It’s always important to be very clear with our communication. Exercises are a series of behavior chains. Break the exercise down. We are working on creating challenges. When they overcome the challenge, we need to mark and reward it. At that moment.  If the dog can’t see the glove, but goes anyway and grabs it, then at that moment, you must mark and reward.  DO NOT wait until the dog comes back, fronts, and finishes. You lost the moment. Your timing is completely off. You want to mark when the dog makes the DECISION, to dig deep and go straight even though they can’t see the glove, when they get there, they do see it and grab it..THAT’S  THE MOMENT. Don’t worry, I will tell you when to mark. Just understand why I’m asking you to mark at that moment….and not when the exercise is finished.