Is obedience dying as a sport?

I think that it is slowly but surely becoming less popular as a dog sport. It seems to be a combination of the newer dog sports being more fun/exciting, and a changing in thought in how a lot of people interact with their dogs than in the past. The competition obedience trainers, by and large, are still of the old way of thinking. They are not positive trainers, and do not use much in the way of positive methods. Those are no longer generally methods most people new to the sport want to employ, yet they have no alternative to finding a trainer to get them started.
 
HopeShelties said:
I think that it is slowly but surely becoming less popular as a dog sport. It seems to be a combination of the newer dog sports being more fun/exciting, and a changing in thought in how a lot of people interact with their dogs than in the past. The competition obedience trainers, by and large, are still of the old way of thinking. They are not positive trainers, and do not use much in the way of positive methods. Those are no longer generally methods most people new to the sport want to employ, yet they have no alternative to finding a trainer to get them started.
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that is an interesting point that many obedience trainers use the old-fashioned method. One of the exhibitors at our trial said that there wasn't anywhere near where she lived to train- because she was using positive methods and the local trainers were not.
I'm going to a heeling/rally seminar in a couple weeks- will be interesting to get people's thoughts while there.
 
Over here, over 90% of obedience triallers use choke chains, e-collars, prongs (most from the same old school trainer). I can count on one hand the number of triallers who use positive methods. When I go to an obedience trial, I feel.. depressed and sad. And not because my dogs aren't up to par! :lol:

I'm realizing that obedience is alot of repetition in many places with plenty of distractions. With clicker training, which is what I use, I feel it can take some time to get to that level of obedience that these other people do with their not-so-positive methods. While I'm envious of the perfect heeling that they exhibit, I'm totally turned off by the demeanor of the dogs. Most spectators don't see that of course, and they laugh at me and my happy Juliet when she decides to bark in the ring or doesn't sit when she's supposed to. :( When we join an obedience trial and beat at least ONE person who trains their dog with not-so-positive methods, I'm happy!:lol: And so far, thankfully we have!

It's gonna be awhile before I next step foot in an obedience ring! I figure I'll work on agility first, training obedience on the side. Can't do much agility when a dog is old, but obedience shouldn't be a problem!
 
Oh trust me, you can certainly achieve the same results with positive methods... and it doesn't have to take any longer to achieve the results. My Athena earned her CD with all 198s and 199s (all wins too) and is going for her CDX in December.... She also has her RN and RA and will go for her RE in December as well. Both the CD and RA were earned in one weekend at the same trial.
My first love is not obedience. We go for a title on a whim about once a year. We do not train year round for it. I trained for that CD for about 2 months, going from knowing none of the exercises to competition ready in that time (she knew a sit and down, could do loose leash walking, but no formal obedience at that time). Rally we've maybe spent about a month each time prepping. She achieved very desirable results in obedience in a very short time. I also clicker trained the retrieve for her CDX in like, 2 weeks. Now, we haven't practiced more since, yet I have picked back up, and again, we'll do another obedience trial in two months in hopes of coming away with her CDX. She would've shut down had I used the old style training methods. So yes, have hope, dogs can and do learn using the positive methods just as quickly.
 
You cannot take prong collars, leash pops or punishment into the obedience ring here, you are going in there with your relationship and training, nothing else. You even take the leash off in Novice.

It will be the relationship that is tested, not the equipment. :)
 
I just wish I had started smokie when he was younger in obediance. I love obediance. I hope to start my mini doxie soon.

The problem may be that some local clubs do not offer classes nor any hint of what obediance is for the new dog owner. Our local club does not offer obediance in the annual show anymore. How are your suppose to get interested in a sport when you have no exposure to it.

Tim
 
Calliesmom said:
that is an interesting point that many obedience trainers use the old-fashioned method. One of the exhibitors at our trial said that there wasn't anywhere near where she lived to train- because she was using positive methods and the local trainers were not.
I'm going to a heeling/rally seminar in a couple weeks- will be interesting to get people's thoughts while there.
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well, I totally forgot about this post so needless to say I didn't ask anyone:winkgrin:
however, from the number of dogs that I saw at the seminar wearing prong collars- didn't really have to ask. most of the techniques were positive training but other methods- not so much.....
 
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