Birch the obedience dog?

Justicemom · May 27, 2015

Birch is set to make his obedience debut in 1.5 weeks in beginners Novice and Rally. We have been working really hard this winter and I thought you might like to see his heeling from class tonight. It was at the end of the hour and normally he is alittle more bouncy.
https://youtu.be/rByUnAR8jEk

He has learned to retrieve so he will be able to move into Open class soon. Just off leash heeling has held us back but tonight it was awesome.

JessicaR · May 28, 2015

He is looking good! Good luck!!!

ghggp · May 28, 2015

WONDERFUL JOB!!!!

FYI, When I did my novice obedience class competition my first shetlie Kelsey did so well that I got second place! However, the judge came up to me after and said I would have won first place had my head been straight up and looking ahead instead of looking down at my dog!

Go figure... the dog did perfect and the owner screwed up!

Justicemom · May 28, 2015

ghggp said:
WONDERFUL JOB!!!!

FYI, When I did my novice obedience class competition my first shetlie Kelsey did so well that I got second place! However, the judge came up to me after and said I would have won first place had my head been straight up and looking ahead instead of looking down at my dog!

Go figure... the dog did perfect and the owner screwed up!

The judge was wrong, there is no such requirement. All the top teams heel looking at their dog. Some look slightly ahead, some 8 ft ahead and angled towards the dog. Trying to think of one that looks straight ahead. :lol:

ghggp · May 28, 2015

Actually the judge said I looked down too often!

Justicemom · May 28, 2015

ghggp said:
Actually the judge said I looked down too often!

Ah maybe changing head position did something to her heeling. I can change he'll positron just by where I look. Last night Birch was forging on his halts my instructor says look at his left shoulder when I stopped(never changed head position) and it was amazing it was like he hit a wall and backed up. I said nothing. You can also speed them up on the figure 8 by changing your eye position from the dog to your feet when you start the right hand circle.It still amazes after all these years

Calliesmom · May 28, 2015

Birch looked really good :yes:

seashel · May 30, 2015

Looking good with Birch :yes:

I have been told with my two obedience dogs not to look round at them too, it does push them back a bit (isn't it awesome dogs pick up on such little things!) I love this study:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...012/04/20/dogs-track-human-eye-movements.aspx

However I was so focussed on the dog I wasn't looking where I was walking and consequentially wasn't walking in a straight line! :rolleyes2:

Hanne · May 31, 2015

seashel -Thanks for the link, nice to see this in print - maybe then I am not so crazy nevertheless :lol:

fuzbuttsheltie · Jun 1, 2015

Good luck at the trial and thoroughly enjoy your first of many obedience trials with Birch.

Dani
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