DO YOU HAVE A TRAINING "NEW YEARS RESOLUTION"?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I thought it would be fun to share our New Years Resolutions around training our Doodles.  I have two actually...

• I will devote a fair amount of training time to Guinness.  All my training has been focused on Murph, and I know Guinness would also benefit from some "one on one" time reinforcing his skills.  He deserves this attention too.
• I will STOP "freaking out" whenever I'm walking Murphy and we meet other dogs.  This is an internal response for me, and it comes from all the "bad experiences" we've had in the past.  I get extremely tense (internally) and I really do believe that Murphy can sense this.  I need to be very focused on not allowing myself to react in this way....it's only hurting our training success.

Do you have any that you'd like to share?

I've decided that I need to broaden my goals to include our ultimate objective of getting to off leash reliability.  After observing a dog yesterday in the Park with incredible off leash compliance I am now more convinced than ever that this is what I want for Murphy.

[BG and Gavin]

- I am going to work with Gavin more in distractions

- I want to enroll him in agility this spring

[Adina P]

Goal for Boca: Finish her Novice training and start Open training.

Novice includes:

• Heel on Leash and Figure Eight - show whether the dog has learned to watch its handler and adjust its pace to stay with the handler.
• Heel Free - done off leash.
• Stand for Examination - is of great benefit when the dog needs hands-on care by a veterinarian.
• Recall - provides the handler with the ability to call the dog and get an immediate response at all times.
• Long Sit (1 minute) - allows the handler to have control of the dog when visitors come to the home.
• Long Down (3 minutes) - dog must remain in a down position.

Open includes:

• Heel Free and Figure Eight - Same as Novice, but off leash.
• Drop on Recall - can be a lifesaving command for a dog, since it gives the handler control in poten-tially dangerous situations.
• Retrieve on Flat
• Retrieve Over High Jump
• Broad Jump
• Long Sit (3 minutes) - similar to the long sit in Novice, but the position must be held for a longer period of time with the handler out of the dog's sight.
• Long Down (5 minutes) - dog must remain in a down position.

Honestly my motivation to complete Open in 2011 is low, but I WOULD like to get through the formal retrieve on flat part of it and the drop on recall.  If we get through that in time for a Novice competition (because I'm learning that dogs that the result of taking a dog at least part way through Open exercises results in a dog who really has the Novice stuff down pat), then I may look for an obedience trial to participate in.

 

With Rosco:  Gosh...I am not sure I'll have time to work him still.  But I would like to stop forgetting him in down stays only to find him somewhere else from where I had told him stay.  That part really frustrates me...that I FORGET.

[Carol Brand]

I'm going to put a CD on Delilah before October.  I'm going to start agility training and compete in one trial before October.

 

 

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

What is a CD?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Beats me.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Here's the basic definition...but Adina and Carol I'm sure will have a lot to add.

• The Novice Class demonstrates good canine companion skills such as heeling, both with and without a leash, coming when called, standing for a simple physical examination,
  and staying in both a sit and a down position with a group of
  dogs.
• In the Novice Class, dogs earn an AKC Companion Dog (CD) title after receiving a qualifying score under three different judges.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank you Jane.  Sounds like the only CD we will be getting is a music CD.  The dogs and I love to sing and dance.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Ha Ha Ha, Joanne!  Nothing in the world wrong with singing and dancing Doodles!

[Lauria Orr]

LOL!!!!!  That is funny!  BTW, Melody loves to dance with me!  She is so cute!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

A "Companion Dog" Obedience title.

AKC Obedience Titles and Trials

[Adina P]

CD = Companion Dog obedience title.  It is the title for Novice obedience exercises I mention in my resolution post.

[Melissa]

Well, we had a little set back the last couple months of this year.  Our trainer at Petsmart "was let go" but even before that we were not getting the kind of training we were hoping for.  She was not very structured and classes got cancelled, etc (although she did a great job in Puppy class).  After talking with the new trainer (who assured us she runs a tight ship) and getting a chance to do the Intermediate class over (for free) I am hoping that Buddy will be well on his way to getting his CGC.  The goal being to be able to take him to my husband's gigs at Senior living communities/retirement homes.  We start class on Jan 8 and I am ready!!