Course Details
There are lots of fronts and finishes in obedience! Fronts and finishes are incredibly complicated. They consist of many pieces that all need to come together. Because they are so difficult, the error ratio tends to be high. Which leads to frustration for both dog and handler. It’s not uncommon for the dog’s return to the trainer to become slower and slower in anticipation of the dreaded front or finish. In this class we are going to break fronts and finishes down into small components. We will teach each piece thoroughly before moving on to the next step. Breaking them down this way gives the dogs a solid understanding of the behaviors. The dog’s success ratio is high which builds success. We will start by teaching the basics of front and finish. Then I will teach fun games to keep the dog animated and build a love for fronts and finishes. We will look at how to add them to the exercises in a way that maintains enthusiasm and accuracy. We will look at how to teach our dogs to work through distractions and pressure in a fun way. We will develop a communication system that will clearly explain to the dog how to fix errors. I will talk about the role of props and how to wean off them. This is a comprehensive course that covers fronts and finishes from basics through advanced skills. Whether you are just starting out, looking to fill some holes, refine the behaviors or work on advanced skills, this course will have material for you. Most importantly, my goal is to teach you how to make fronts & finishes fun behaviors that become inherently self-reinforcing for the dog.
Teaching Approach
This class will have written and video lectures each week. Each lecture will be broken down into small pieces. There will be video examples with instructions and demonstrating all exercises. Because everyone has their own learning style, I encourage students to move at their own pace. For the first few weeks, students can work in a smaller space. Later in the class, students will need access to a space large enough where they can perform a full exercise that incorporates a front. It does not need to be a formal “ring’. Students will need to move around with their dog. I am happy to work with you to modify the training to your abilities. A few of the games will require quick physical movement from the trainer for short periods and distances. I understand that each dog and handler are unique and will do my best to accommodate their needs.
Instructor: Petra FordPetra (she/her) graduated from Rutgers School of Health Related Professions 17 years ago with a degree in physical therapy and has experience working with an extremely varied caseload including pediatric through geriatric clients with a vast range of diagnoses. Her areas of expertise included in-patient rehabilitation, orthopedics and neurology. (Click here for full bio and to view Petra's upcoming courses)
