July 20, 2013
Well, it's been a time since I have been on this to write about my quest to the obedience ring. First, I have to state that today Flutter received her CGC after only 4 training classes. Leigha did a great job. She is the owner of Total Canine Care in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Our first obedience competition was last weekend in Southaven, MS and anyone who sees me on FB knows we failed miserably in the sub-novice. More of a problem with the handler than the other half of the team. I should have been more familiar with the AKC regulations. All that is now corrected. The second primary problem is with my feet work. Apparently, I don't know how to use my feet properly in making turn. I also didn't know how to handle the leash properly. My mentor, Liz, is helping me now to work out that problem. I received a video on training Papillons for Novice Obedience I need to begin watching. Some of my techniques probably need a lot of work.
But, Flutter is progressing quickly. She will already sit/stay as I walk around the ring. I need to work on her down and recall. She recalls beautifully at a front. Now I need her to learn to finish at a heel. I am still very excited and looking for the next obedience show to enter.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Obedience Training 3
Today was Flutter's third session. OMG, I can't begin to tell how far she has come in only three weeks. I took a video of her during the session. The trainer had her sitting and walked around the store without her moving. The she put her in down position and walked around the store and Flutter stayed. Now, if she will do this for me.
Yesterday I put her in sit/stay and she let me walk around her twice without moving. I was thrilled. I was also able to make her sit and went out to the end of the lead and had her come. She did it!!! Well, almost. She didn't sit immediately when she came and I had to tell her to sit. A little off center sit, but she did it.
Today I was practicing with figure 8's with Grace and Dwain and Flutter was in one of her moods and wouldn't sit. I had to tell her about 4 times and she wanted a treat to do this. Now, no treats in the ring. Oh well, we're working on it.
Wish I had a BIG training area to work in. The office is so small. As soon as she gets her therapy certification, I can take her to the courthouse and maybe find a large room there. Maybe. Now where the heck to find a training area. Geez.
Well, that's it for the day. I'm excited.
Yesterday I put her in sit/stay and she let me walk around her twice without moving. I was thrilled. I was also able to make her sit and went out to the end of the lead and had her come. She did it!!! Well, almost. She didn't sit immediately when she came and I had to tell her to sit. A little off center sit, but she did it.
Today I was practicing with figure 8's with Grace and Dwain and Flutter was in one of her moods and wouldn't sit. I had to tell her about 4 times and she wanted a treat to do this. Now, no treats in the ring. Oh well, we're working on it.
Wish I had a BIG training area to work in. The office is so small. As soon as she gets her therapy certification, I can take her to the courthouse and maybe find a large room there. Maybe. Now where the heck to find a training area. Geez.
Well, that's it for the day. I'm excited.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Dog Obedience Training Day 1
July 1, 2013
Okay, I am starting my endeavor into the dog obedience world. Actually, this is a little late. I should have begun this when I first began classes, but didn't see the need to journal on this subject. Now I see there is a tremendous need for this. Not only for myself, but for all others who wish to begin this treck into obedience but don't know how.
Flutter is a small Papillon that finished her Grand Champion title. She is a cutie and I love to show her. However, when my good friend finished her Champion title on her "bitch" (please don't be offended, this is a dog blog afterall), I took Flutter out of the ring so we didn't have to compete against each other. So what to do with Flutter. She can stay home or she can find another job. I decided to try obedience. After all, she is more than a pretty face. Really.
I looked at the requirements for Novice A Obedience and thought, it will take months before I can get a dog to stay while I walk around a ring. Well, after some research I discovered a new category called sub-novice. I looked on the internet and found You Tube and said, Eureka, that's where I will begin. Doesn't look to hard. So I entered a show for July 13, 2013 and have 4 weeks to get this down.
The most difficult aspect was to find a trainer. There is nothing here in my area from our Kennel Club. Nothing, Nada. Where to go. There is a training facility 55 miles from me but it was closed during the summer. My assistant said she knew someone who did training so I called. Made an appointment for private lessons and here I am.
Day one was teaching her to sit, stay, watch me and leave it. Go home and try sit. Really, why won't you do this for me, you did this for the trainer. Try again, "Sit!" "What, you expect me to sit? Oh, my poor derriere. After all, I am a Papillon." Try again. Oh yes, a sit. Yeah. And another sit and another. I am on my way. Down. Yeah, there is a down. Let's try that again. Yes, a down. Cool. I am catching on to this. To heck with the dog, she is training me to train her. Honest.
Day two of training. Stay. Really?? Stay!!!! "You think I am going to Stay". "Heck no, I follow my mommy everywhere." Frustration. Let's try this again. Oh, yes, she stayed while I walked away one foot. Yeah!!!!. Now let's try two feet. No, well, let's try again. It worked!!! Now, let's see if we can walk around her without her moving. Nope, Nope, again, Nope again and again and again. Wait, got it. Yes. Yes. Yes!!! But this is with the trainer. What about me. HELP!!!!
Now I go home to practice, practice, practice. Where do I get the time. Well tomorrow is my third class and, guess what, I walked around her today and she stayed. I made her sit and she sat. I said down and she went down. I asked her to stay and I walked away 6 feet and she stayed. I call her and she came. Well, to my right so we'll work on that. I feel so excited. Accomplishment. So excited.
Our first show is July 13, 2013. Here we go.
Okay, I am starting my endeavor into the dog obedience world. Actually, this is a little late. I should have begun this when I first began classes, but didn't see the need to journal on this subject. Now I see there is a tremendous need for this. Not only for myself, but for all others who wish to begin this treck into obedience but don't know how.
Flutter is a small Papillon that finished her Grand Champion title. She is a cutie and I love to show her. However, when my good friend finished her Champion title on her "bitch" (please don't be offended, this is a dog blog afterall), I took Flutter out of the ring so we didn't have to compete against each other. So what to do with Flutter. She can stay home or she can find another job. I decided to try obedience. After all, she is more than a pretty face. Really.
I looked at the requirements for Novice A Obedience and thought, it will take months before I can get a dog to stay while I walk around a ring. Well, after some research I discovered a new category called sub-novice. I looked on the internet and found You Tube and said, Eureka, that's where I will begin. Doesn't look to hard. So I entered a show for July 13, 2013 and have 4 weeks to get this down.
The most difficult aspect was to find a trainer. There is nothing here in my area from our Kennel Club. Nothing, Nada. Where to go. There is a training facility 55 miles from me but it was closed during the summer. My assistant said she knew someone who did training so I called. Made an appointment for private lessons and here I am.
Day one was teaching her to sit, stay, watch me and leave it. Go home and try sit. Really, why won't you do this for me, you did this for the trainer. Try again, "Sit!" "What, you expect me to sit? Oh, my poor derriere. After all, I am a Papillon." Try again. Oh yes, a sit. Yeah. And another sit and another. I am on my way. Down. Yeah, there is a down. Let's try that again. Yes, a down. Cool. I am catching on to this. To heck with the dog, she is training me to train her. Honest.
Day two of training. Stay. Really?? Stay!!!! "You think I am going to Stay". "Heck no, I follow my mommy everywhere." Frustration. Let's try this again. Oh, yes, she stayed while I walked away one foot. Yeah!!!!. Now let's try two feet. No, well, let's try again. It worked!!! Now, let's see if we can walk around her without her moving. Nope, Nope, again, Nope again and again and again. Wait, got it. Yes. Yes. Yes!!! But this is with the trainer. What about me. HELP!!!!
Now I go home to practice, practice, practice. Where do I get the time. Well tomorrow is my third class and, guess what, I walked around her today and she stayed. I made her sit and she sat. I said down and she went down. I asked her to stay and I walked away 6 feet and she stayed. I call her and she came. Well, to my right so we'll work on that. I feel so excited. Accomplishment. So excited.
Our first show is July 13, 2013. Here we go.
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