Week 1:
Heeling, the forever skill! Working on precision of heeling as well as duration needed for the classes we are showing in.
Figure 8. Working on the figure 8 to make sure the dog can stay in position as the handler pulls away from the dog and turns into to the dog.
Signals. Utility signals are covered, although other venue position changes may also be covered, depending on needs of the class. It is all about control at a distance for this exercise. From just starting to teach signals, to proofing them, to remedial training for undesired creeping and movement will be addressed.
Week 2:
Drop on Recall. Control out of motion is the name of this game. Having your dog understand when one cue is given and another interrupts it, to react immediately. Training for crisp drops without forward motion is the goal.
Moving Stand for Exam. Some dogs find this easy, others not so much! Making sure your dog understands the stop signal, and is comfortable with you continuing to move on in heel. Making sure that the approach and exam by the judge is comfortable for your dog, as well as the release to heel.
Week 3:
Retrieve mania! The retrieve is an important aspect of obedience, so making sure the dog has a good foundation is important. We will make sure that the dog understands how to pick up and hold objects as they deliver them to hand.
Dumbbell. Proper fitting and training of the retrieve is paramount. Once the retrieve on the flat looks good, adding the high jump is next. How to break down the high jump retrieve so the dog understands what to do.
Gloves. The directed retrieve adds a new element to the retrieve game, multiple choice with the handler directing the dog which of the choices to make. Marking is a key component of this exercise and will be covered.
Scent discrimination. Another retrieve, but of a handler scented article. Making sure your dog understands the scent discrimination apart from a retrieve is important! Breaking this down so that the dog has the skill sets necessary to quickly search the pile and confidently locate and retrieve the correct article will be discussed.
Week 4:
Broad Jump. The challenge to this jump is that it is low and long. Making sure your dog sees this as a jump is important, as well as proofing your dog to take the jump confidently.
Directed Jumping. Several behavior chains in one exercise! Breaking down the DJ exercise so that the dog understands all aspects. Trouble shooting any problems handlers are having. Making sure the dog can perform the exercise with distractions.
Week 5:
All the other stuff!
Stays. Need I say more? Stays for open groups, stays for recalls, stays for MSE, stays while you mark a glove, stays while you wait for a judge to place a scent discrimination article and stays while you walk across the ring to do signals! One of the most important skills that can make or break an obedience dog! Make sure your dog understands what you want and finds doing it rewarding, no worried dogs on stays is the goal!!
Fronts and Finshes. There are 4 in open and 7 in utility. If you want good scores and placements, you have to care about your fronts and finishes. Tightening up your criteria and making sure that when you add them to the chain they solid will be addressed.
Transitions between exercises. How do you get from your scent discrimination exercise to your directed retrieve exercise, for example? Stewards are in the ring, the judge is moving, and you need to stay connected to your dog and move as a team to the next set up. We will cover training the dog to move with you between exercises and setting up ready to work on the next exercise.
Week 6:
You, your dog and your performance! This week is all about where you are right now in training and how to get to your next training goal. Setting up your sessions for success, and building up the duration that your dog will work between reinforcements is discussed. This is the week that we work on making sure you have a clear plan of how to get you and your dog ready for their next competition. Some teams may be doing run thrus or working on multiple chains to get trial ready.