Simba and I started obedience training in October. We did 5 week basic obedience class which started in October aimed at training young dogs to walk well on the lead and basic commands and recall. I had never hear of competitive obedience before starting this class. When the class ended we decided to give competitive obedience a chance and I thought he may never be good enough to compete but we both love the social aspect of the sport.
After a few weeks I realised that he does some lovely heal work. But his recall wasn't very good mainly because he stood up every time I moved my foot to walk forward even after weeks of standing beside and moving my foot a little or rocking back and forward on my heals him and rewarding or praising him. Then one day it clicked and now he will do it 80% of the time.
Next our stays needed a lot of work. Today for the first time we managed a 1 minute sit stay without any standing up or laying down. Our down stay is going to take a lot more work and up until this week I had to kneel in front of him instead of stand but all of our hard work is finally paying of and we can now get a solid 30 seconds at a distance with me standing before he thinks about standing up.
I have had complements about his lovely style when working. I can't wait for our first proper competition at the end of May. I am hoping by then we will have a solid recall and sit stay but I won't hold hopes for the down stay just yet haha! I am sure by 13 months many dogs are solid competitors and have moved up through the ranks but for 2 total beginners I think we are doing well. Even if he breaks his stays in every competition we ever enter I will just keep coming back because of the lovely atmosphere and friendly people we have met through obedience
After a few weeks I realised that he does some lovely heal work. But his recall wasn't very good mainly because he stood up every time I moved my foot to walk forward even after weeks of standing beside and moving my foot a little or rocking back and forward on my heals him and rewarding or praising him. Then one day it clicked and now he will do it 80% of the time.
Next our stays needed a lot of work. Today for the first time we managed a 1 minute sit stay without any standing up or laying down. Our down stay is going to take a lot more work and up until this week I had to kneel in front of him instead of stand but all of our hard work is finally paying of and we can now get a solid 30 seconds at a distance with me standing before he thinks about standing up.
I have had complements about his lovely style when working. I can't wait for our first proper competition at the end of May. I am hoping by then we will have a solid recall and sit stay but I won't hold hopes for the down stay just yet haha! I am sure by 13 months many dogs are solid competitors and have moved up through the ranks but for 2 total beginners I think we are doing well. Even if he breaks his stays in every competition we ever enter I will just keep coming back because of the lovely atmosphere and friendly people we have met through obedience
