Obedience training

Piper's mom

Piper's mom

Moderator
Hi all, I just had a question...Piper is currently halfway through level 2 obedience and our future plans are obedience trials and rally. I was wondering what should I do to get him prepared for that type of setting? He does good at obedience class (behaves) and I'm taking him to pet stores and I'm also taking him to new areas (outside busy malls etc) and doing stays and heeling there and he's getting better. I am planning on starting competitive obedience near the end of April so I'm not sure if he'll be ready before that but I want to do everything I can to make the experience fun for Piper. The breeder did tell me that I can enter Piper in Exhibition Only class so I can take him to a show so he can get used to it (and me too haha) but does anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks:biggrin2:
 
As many places as you can go! I take mine to shopping malls and work in the parking lots, to the grocery store and heel in front of those doors that open and close automatically, I go to the hardware store and practice stays in the lumber department... I go to school bus stops and give the kids cookies to give my dog.

You can do this! You already are! :)
 
If your local shows will allow non-competing dogs on site, I'd take her to a trial you aren't entered in to have her in the environment. Premiums for the shows should state whether or not non-entered dogs are allowed or not. If they don't, ask the Trial Secretary.

Another option is to look for run thrus or practice matches (called C-Matches by the AKC for Obedience trials). Sometimes local training clubs/kennel clubs will offer run thrus and they are a great way to get out and practice in different environments, with different dogs, and "judges". (Sometimes they are real judges not on assignment or people who know the sport well enough to act as a judge.)

I don't know if something like that is available in your area or not but it is something to look for or maybe encourage your training site to offer one.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I think I'll enter him in a show as exhibition only this spring ( there's some not too far away) and we're going to do some private lessons with a very good trainer (not sure how that's going to go, she's very good but also very blunt haha). We're going to see her on Monday so she can assess where Piper is as her standards are much higher than the obedience classes we've been taking. itll be nice though getting one on one training with her, the last class we were in with her there were 11 other dogs and that was a lot.
 
I've gotten a thicker skin since I started in obedience! The woman who intimidated me to tears has since become a treasured person in my world.
 
We're coming along nicely in obedience, I've actually entered Piper in a show (exhibition only) in May to get him used to that venue. We did level 2 obedience over again (to reinforce it) his heeling is almost there (I've gotten lots of great tips from our trainer, she's great and does obedience trials with her dogs) his stays are perfect and his formal recall is incredible (he bumps my legs with his chest when I call him, makes me snicker haha) and I've been working a lot on his off leash heeling. We're going to start Rally in about a month with the same trainer so that should really help to reinforce everything. I'll probably enter him in his prenovice first in June just so we can get the confidence we need (more me than him haha, I was super nervous just entering him exhibition only so I can imagine how I'll be when it's the real thing). When I look back to how Piper was when we started this journey (5 months) to now he's a totally different dog...the vet said just recently that he's got an innate sense of maturity about him which is amazing considering how crazy he can be, he knows the difference between 'work' and play.
 
I once saw a lady doing obedience in the parking lot of our local Wally world. I think any place that would distract a sheltie. (Every where for Spice) would be good. Once the weather gets warmer. ( woke to 4 " of snow this morning) I plan on taking her to our downtown. to get her used to all the people.
Tim
 
Very true Wyosheltie, I now take Piper with me almost everywhere I go to get him used to different environments (except the grocery store, he has to stay home then), so I've taken him to hardware stores, insurance agents, jewellery stores and I've even taken him into Michaels (in a cart). I don't ask if dogs are allowed I figure if they don't sell food and there's no sign on the door we're good plus he's so well behaved some don't even see him there.
 
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