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Post by bextull on Apr 9, 2013 19:56:29 GMT
I've been looking into competitive obedience and its looking very do-able for me and Oscar. I know what it entails and there are a few places that have competitions that are closer to me than the likes of agility or WT competitions. It will all depend on Oscar and whether he likes it but he can do most things required on the beginners level. I do have to polish off his recall a little but thats going brilliant.
What he cannot do is heel. I've also been fining it hard to find different ways of teaching it. I see videos online of dogs heeling and people will say to start off with your dog next to you in a sit and then go one step at a time but that method does not work for my lad. So I'm looking for some tips, pointers, links etc of ways to teach a good competition standard heel.
I'm in no rush to do anythinga the moment. I wont be doing anything serious until the end of may, but I'd like to know my options.
So, any help regarding teaching a solid heel?
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Post by puppypal on Apr 9, 2013 20:11:23 GMT
does he do a nose touch?
If he does get him to target a post-it note or similar and get him targeting it on your leg then get him to target it while you move little steps at a time, or just get him used to sitting in close to your leg then move and he will have to reposition himself against your leg, so he will learn that he only gets rewarded for being against your leg wether you are moving or not
I am doing competitive obedience with my friendds papillon but i have to start at novice as that is where my friend left and i have to start where the dog left off, unfair as i am a begginner but he does know what he is doing, iwould suggest before you get him healing, you will need to get your footwork correct so you know what you are doing and oscar will learn of your body language, you need to make sure you can turn correctly without having to think about turning, yes it is hard but it is easy once you get the hang of it, oscar will need to know commands for his left turns and abouts and right turns and abouts, i use the smae command for about and turn
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Post by smokeybear on Apr 9, 2013 21:55:10 GMT
Foot targeting is one way of teaching a dog to heel.
Heel is a position, not a movement, thus if your dog cannot heel when you are stationary he will not when you are moving.
I am sure your dog CAN heel, but perhaps you need help from someone skilled to show you?
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Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 10, 2013 8:28:59 GMT
Me and Earl do heelwork with a team of dog owners.
I used a slip lead to teach Earl to heel, putting the collar slip in the right place underneath the neck pressure points and gently pulling up when he pulls. You could try taking treats out with you, and holding a treat at the side of your waist that your dog is heelping at, and get your dog to stay there, looking up at the treat. This way he will be more focused on the treat which is at waist, basically making him heel.
Do you do a lot of off lead walks with Oscar?
Do you ever use an extendable lead?
These could all be a step back when it comes to getting your dog to heel. I'm not saying stop off lead or extendable lead excersises, just bear in mind that Oscar won't be used to heeling and staying by your side if he is allowed to stray further, usually.
Practice the advice given to you from here, in your garden, and see which works best. Carry on practicing and don't give up, then add a few distractions, until Oscar completely focuses on you/the treat your holding and heels good enough. Then hit the streets and see how he gets on - don't swap how you do anything unless it really doesn't work. This may confuse Oscar into taking a step back and stopping that heel you had worked up with him.
'I am sure your dog CAN heel, but perhaps you need help from someone skilled to show you?' Smokeybear.
I agree with the above - you just need to work and work at it together, along with some skilled peer support.
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Post by bextull on Apr 10, 2013 16:05:36 GMT
Foot targeting is one way of teaching a dog to heel. Heel is a position, not a movement, thus if your dog cannot heel when you are stationary he will not when you are moving. I am sure your dog CAN heel, but perhaps you need help from someone skilled to show you? I'll be contacting Judith Owens who runs classes and competitions about an hour from me over Summer. I would do so sooner but at the moment I do not have the time to do anything major. BT, I think you are talking about loose leash walking as oppose to heeling.
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Post by smokeybear on Apr 10, 2013 17:14:00 GMT
Well Judith Owens Poole is brilliant and she has competed with a number of different breeds in a variety of disciplines at the hightest level.
Good luck
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Post by bextull on Apr 10, 2013 18:06:01 GMT
Well Judith Owens Poole is brilliant and she has competed with a number of different breeds in a variety of disciplines at the hightest level. Good luck I have seen a handful of her achievements on her website, she sure has a lot! She may be able to give some pointers on WT to me too. I knlw i ruled it out before but the the obedience works out then the option of WT may still linger in the back.... I'll focus on just this for now though. I may contact her and see what she says anyway, no harm in getting some info from her I suppose.... Thank you, i may need it :-)
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Heelwork
Apr 10, 2013 20:58:20 GMT
via mobile
Post by charlottte on Apr 10, 2013 20:58:20 GMT
Have a look at Silvia Trkman Heel, its sometimes called the perch method. Jasper picked it up very quickly. We need to work on him focusing on my face while I move forward but he's very conscious about feet so I have to introduce him to my feet moving slowly and while we're stationary first. Some very good results from this type if heeling though
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Post by bextull on Apr 10, 2013 21:25:39 GMT
I will, thanks charlotte!
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Heelwork
Apr 11, 2013 6:08:04 GMT
via mobile
Post by charlottte on Apr 11, 2013 6:08:04 GMT
No problem There's quite a lot of foundation work to put in but I can ask Jasper to 'finish' from a good few paces in front of me and he'll side step round lol.
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Heelwork
Apr 11, 2013 6:09:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by charlottte on Apr 11, 2013 6:09:27 GMT
Also, I think a lot of the videos show people Modelling their dogs by side stepping into them. I found using Shaping was easier and I think that's why he picked it up more quickly
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Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 11, 2013 8:51:28 GMT
Foot targeting is one way of teaching a dog to heel. Heel is a position, not a movement, thus if your dog cannot heel when you are stationary he will not when you are moving. I am sure your dog CAN heel, but perhaps you need help from someone skilled to show you? I'll be contacting Judith Owens who runs classes and competitions about an hour from me over Summer. I would do so sooner but at the moment I do not have the time to do anything major. BT, I think you are talking about loose leash walking as oppose to heeling. Ok, heeling without the leash - same things apply without the leash, treat method etc if you'd like. Usually, heel is trained on the lead to start with.
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Post by bextull on Apr 11, 2013 18:38:49 GMT
Ok, heeling without the leash - same things apply without the leash, treat method etc if you'd like. Usually, heel is trained on the lead to start with.Thats odd, in all the videos I have seen they say to train heel without the leash first. I've just had a chat to somebody who does obedience and they also said to train off leash first, sadly what they told me to try doesn't turn the cogs in Oscars mind.
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Post by bextull on Apr 12, 2013 21:39:33 GMT
I'm going to give Silvia Trkman's metthod a go! Had a look at some videos and I like it. Oscar loves free shaping and can already do a little bit of the front paws on box and a little turn so I will just continue on with that. They are easy to do in the morning too(free shaping sessions) as they only last a few minutes at most. Thanks charlottte!!!!
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Post by smokeybear on Apr 12, 2013 22:23:38 GMT
Michelle Pouliot's clips are worth watching too, she is Canadian HWTM person; she uses platforms; Michael Ellis also used perchwork as do many trainers in the UK.
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