Training For High Level Obedience

[shekhina]

I would like to get serious with getting Kovu to work. He wants to, he's got the drive and the will, and I would like to do something more with it before he gets too old.

I would like to aim really high, I don't know how possible it is to get there given he's not a spring chicken anymore (although he still acts like it, no signs of slowing down for this dog) and that I have no idea really what I'm doing. We can do basic stuff - sit, stay, heel, come, wait, stand, drop etc. but I think he has the potential to go a lot further than that given the right guidance.

He's still got a very high drive, tonnes of energy to burn and he's very switched on. Focus has always been a problem, however. He also seems to get agitated quite easily (starts yapping, like he's frustrated perhaps).

So...is it too late to get him to really reach the highest levels (if we're both capable of getting that far)? And where on earth do I start?!

Not too keen to go to a dog club just yet, down the track a bit yes, but would like to start at home if that's possible. I think that he needs to get things set in his mind before bombarding him with a heap of dogs, people and noise to distract the very little focus he has, and I would like to have that confidence in him also

[Staranais]

I'd say join a club anyway. Firstly, many will allow you to work around the outside of the grounds if you don't disturb the class. I've done this with a couple of different dogs - just sitting there week after week working on desensitisation, focus etc - and found it really helpful. Secondly, if you join a club, you can get help figuring out what it is you need to learn in order to compete. Obedience has lots of little rules & regulations. Talking to seasoned competitors & watching/helping out with trials is a good way to work out what you need to teach the dog.

[aussielover]

Many high level obedience people don't train their dogs through clubs. They may be members (which i'd recommend) but they do not do the gorup training on offer there.

Maybe you could try and find an instructor willing to give you a one on one lesson to start you off?

Or you could ust get a copy of whats required for the varous levels of obedience and work on acheiving this?

Here is a list of what you have to do for each level

Obedience

Train these exercises and join a club so you can attend their club trials which will let you know how you're going.

Personally I prefer to train in 10 minute blocks, rather than the 1 hr lessons my club offers.

And no, I don't think its too late for you and your dog to acheive this, especially if you really want it!

K9pro offers a good training in drive distance package which might interest you and help you get more focus.

TID package

Good luck, I am sure you and your dog will have a lot of fun achieving your goals!

Edited June 12, 2011 by aussielover

[shekhina]

Thanks for the replies

I will give the dog club a call and see what days/times the training is (transport is a big issue) and maybe take him along to classes to see how he goes. He has his grade 1 certificate from many years ago, but I'm guessing he'll need to pass that again to move to the higher grade. That's OK, I know he can do all of that stuff...at least he can at home

I had a look at the TID package which looks good overall. I'm a bit confused though by the modules...is it $150 per module? So the first $150 is working out what the drive is and switching it on? Not sure we would need to do that part, but I don't know how it all works either. Would need to save a bit of money first before purchasing that.

Would it be preferable to have the program first, or to start going along to a club first, or it wouldn't matter?

[wuffles]

I think for novice handlers it is best to join a club. Personally I'd probably take him through the pet dog levels of obedience classes which will get him used to distractions, other dogs, etc while starting at a more basic level. It would be rare that a club would just let you go straight into a trialling class without going through the other levels first.

Have a look on Youtube for CCD trials and go to a local trial to watch. This will help you know what standard you have to train to - the rules are important but IMO nothing can prepare you better than watching other people trial

I think that some of the dogs that rarely get to train around distractions and other dogs really struggle at trials. They are definitely a distracting place (think dogs in the next ring doing retrieves and other exciting stuff).

[shekhina]

I have trained my other dog through grade 3B which is the CCD level, so I have done a bit of it before...however working with my GSD is quite different to the Rottweiler...the Rottweiler is chilled out and the GSD is omgwhatisthatoverthereineedtogetcloserightnowifican'tiwillcarryonlikeaporkchop!

I've found days and times online now and it seems like it might be quite workable with transport, so if that's the case I will go along. They say they require vaccination proof though, so I'm a bit unsure about that. I'm going to ask if they will allow a titre test result instead perhaps.

My GSD is 9 years old now...is this too old to be aiming for the higher levels where there is some jumping involved? I wouldn't want to do anything too strenuous for him and it may take quite some time before we can get to that level. At the moment he runs and jumps around no different to how he did when he was 2, so I feel that he is still very sound, but obviously he is also getting on in age so not sure when the body is going to catch up to the number!

[ness]

Shek - I have done the TID package with my youngster and think from all you have posted that I would be seriously considering it in your circumstance - or at least having a chat to Steve. You certainly do have to work through all the modules - the rate of progress through the various modules however is more dependent on the dog. You are probably better off doing the TID package first and then joining a club further down the track.

I was already a member of a club before doing the TID program but only used the club as distractions until my youngster was ready to go into the ring and do a round.

ETA. Just read the rest of what you said - Steve did joke with me that I could probably retrain my older girl who is mega food obsessed in drive as well , but I took pity on her that she had been retrained so many times that it wasn't worth it. I wouldn't see any reason why you couldn't trial an older dog in the higher classes so long as they were physically fit and capable. I did semi-retire my 10.5 year old BC from trials. We trialled through till April of this year and I probably would have kept trialling her if my youngster wasn't out of action at the moment. I have taken her out training and she has an absolute ball in the ring. She was also running agility until the age of 10 but I figured once she got her final title there was no point in jumping her that often. Obedience I wouldn't have any issues trialling an older dog .

Edited June 12, 2011 by ness

[shekhina]

Thanks ness

OK, so I will e-mail Steve and see where to head with this and how much it's going to cost me in what time frame so I can get finances sorted out for it. I have a good spot to train just over my back fence that is a good sized, flat area where I can take Kovu each day to do some training...and then he can have a swim afterwards too as it is right next to the water.