TRAINING DOGS: THE HUP STICK

The HUP STICK and RETRIEVING THE DUMBBELL are 2 extras that The Dog Nana teaches in Novice (C.D.) unlike other methods of training which wait until Open/ Intermediate (C.D.X.) to teach these.

We see dogs flourish after learning the HUP STICK and the DUMBBELL exercises so why not teach it early on.

Basic Obedience Novice which comprises of:

heel on leash and figure 8
stand stay for examination
heel free
the recall

Keep working on the regular stuff, but add:

THE HUP STICK FOR A BREAK FROM THE USUAL

The HUP STICK, is wooden (3/8 inch) doweling (36 inches) 91cm long. It is painted alternating black and white stripes, each stripe about 15 cm. (6 inches) wide. We use the HUP STICK to teach the dog to jump over or onto something on command. HUP the stick, hup onto the grooming table, show table. vets counter, car, truck over a puddle etc.

HUP ONTO THE GROOMING TABLE

In Obedience competition, the HUP STICK is a training aid which will start the jumping a dog will be required to do in OPEN competition (C.D.X. [companion dog excellent] intermediate level) and UTILITY (U.D. [utility dog] advanced level). In Open, the dog retrieves over a "high jump board set" and jumps over a" broad jump set". In Utility the dog must jump over a bar and set of high jump boards in the directed jumping exercise. The stick is propped against something in to teach these.

The black and white HUP STICK is a release tool as well as well as a teaching aid. While heeling the stick it put out front of the dog and he jumps it in stride. Great fun and flash!

DON'T HIT THE DOG WITH THE STICK. It is a no brainer, but some folks need to be reminded. If you hit the dog with the stick he will never jump anything, especially the HUP stick in your hand.

Start out by first laying the stick FLAT on the ground and heeling over it , stepping along naturally.

As you pass over the stick say HUP. Keep up the chitty chat telling the dog about WHAT a GOOD DOG he is and how much fun he is having. Do that a few times the first day and then put the stick away until tomorrow. End HAPPY

If that goes okay, move on to propping up one end of the stick on a couple of books, or the rung of a chair, or if outside, a brick or step. Work indoors at first, if possible, because there are fewer distractions, gradually going out and about to train. Prop it against a wall or fence or something is such a way that encourages the dog to go over the stick rather than around it.

After the dog is walking over the stick with ease, prop one end of the stick up about (8 inches) 20 cm.
Approach the stick so the dog will go over the raised part. Say HUP as you go over the stick. Give a little shake of the leash, KEEP APPROACHING FROM THE SAME SIDE AT FIRST. Remember to say WHAT A GOOD DOG

I realize that not everyone has indoor space. If you are like Nana, and you live in a small room, you are lucky because you get to spend a lot of time with your dog close to you. But, you will have to go outside to dog train. Everywhere you go with your dog, if you use the leash and collar, you will be training. When you must go out and about to train, your dog seems to get trained faster of necessity. Just use the leash, do not allow the dog to make mistakes. Keep the leash on.

NEXT, PROP THE STICK AT BOTH ENDS, STILL STEP OVER WITH THE DOG SAY HUP AS YOU GO OVER, KEEP GOING AROUND AND APPROACHING FROM THE SAME SIDE.

Next step, bend down as you go over the stick reaching down with one hand as if you were holding the stick as up say HUP. You may zip through these steps quickly or it could take a few days. Or sometimes, as in Layla's case, just put the stick in front and use the leash to help the dog over. If you run into trouble, stay relax and do a bit at a time.

Next step, walk around with the stick in hand, as you are heeling, stop on your right foot, as you bend to put the stick out low, and move it under your left foot as you step over and sweep the stick under the dog. As you do so, say HUP, and pop straight forward on the leash to help the dog jump (do not pop upwards).

In early obedience training sessions are not very long, only five or ten minutes at a time, but they are frequent. Praise Praise Praise and Practise.