Course Details
This course is about off leash Steadiness for AKC FETCH tests, HUNT tests, WATER Rescue test and VERSATILE gundog tests and more!
Ever held on to your dog's collar for dear life, while throwing a retrieve? And felt like you'll never get her steady to a ball or bumper? Or maybe it works fine in training, but tests are a different story?
In this course, you will learn what steadiness really is and how to create it with joy, clarity and awesome teamwork! You will get real results that translate easily to the field. A technique you will take to any environment. The key is to use the dog's drive and channel it into teamwork at the line. And I'll show you how!
Real steadiness is NOT:
- A battle of control
- It's not "Sit means sit!" This is NOT a battle between your sit cue and the temptation of the throw.
- It's definitely not about intimidation "you better not!"
- And it is NOT a "Leave It " cue.
So what is it ?
What if you were confident, relaxed, and knowing your dog is reliable and steady for each throw? She's clear and you are clear.
You're not on edge, fearing she may break at any moment. There's no constant tension between your sit cue and the temptation to GO for it!
Real steadiness is a behavior your dog is offering - to earn the reward of going! In my teaching approach, the dog understands what the behavior of steadiness is and how it earns them what they really want - the release to go!
It's not just the GO that's valuable - it's also the game of working with you, offering the behavior of self control to get you to offer the release word! Just like any other behavior that a dog offers to earn a click or a reward.
Just like any other behavior we teach, such as hand targeting, or platform - once we get the dog doing the thing to earn the click, we can then add more things - like duration, multiple throws and tempting noises. But this is not a treat exchange - this food for that self control. This is a value exchange, transferring their drive to go into the offer to stay.
That's what creates crystal clarity and gives you amazing confidence in your dog to wait for your release.
Teaching Approach:
We will start from scratch in week one and build each layer of the steadiness process through week 6 of class.
There will be short video lessons each week. As well as written outlines of each lesson procedure.
Group zoom classroom calls will happen in week 1, 3, and 6. Anyone in class may attend live and partake in the live discussion. These calls are optional for course participants and will be recorded and posted in the lectures.
Instructor: Jennifer HenionJennifer Henion (she/her), KPA CTP has been playing and studying the US retriever sports for 13 years with 6 different dogs. All of whom have achieved Hunt Test titles....(Click here for full guest instructor bio)
