PAYING ATTENTION

Circle to the Right   teaches the dog to pick up speed in order to keep pace with the handler. In Novice obedience competition, it is demonstrated in the figure eight exercise. 
While you are on a walk with your dog on leash be busy, train a bit but not all the time.
Make a circle to the left or right around trees, sign posts (don't crash, keep your head up), or even around underground parking lot pillars.


Use a "Slight" leash pop going into the circle

Happy up your voice and shake the lead to encourage the dog to keep pace Give big verbal praise coming out of the circle “what a good dog”

ROLL OVER TRICK

Work while down on your knees to be less intimidating and to look different from formal exercises. Dog does not require a collar for tricks.

 Get the dog to sit. From sit go to down position, Walk around on your knees to the dog’s side and lay the dog down onto its rib cage with its back to you. (Legs pointing away from you) Bait the dogs’ nose with a treat as you turn her over by lifting on her front leg that is on the floor.

ABOUT TURN

Keep moving smoothly, don’t look back to see where the dog is. Feel with the lead and respond to tautness by shaking or jerking or popping depending on the position in the turn. Use your big voice to get attention and help the dog to stay focused and keep pace. Do Not adjust your pace to that of the dog.

When the dog forges ahead of you while out on a controlled walk, or while going through the door or gate, use a sharp jerk and change direction or speed saying DOG “heel”, or c’mon let’s go, or laugh madly, mix it up. Then you can do something else like a front and sit, or a fast and sudden placed corrected stop, Learn to look ahead to make the corrections happen just prior to or at the exact same time as the dogs’ mistakes.

BEGIN THE RECALL FOR ADULTS

Send the dog into the crate. Tell her to “wait” there. Sitting is ideal but standing is ok. Get the dog to look at you, keep your hands and fingers extended out for attention getting and use your voice. Back away from the crate, create anticipation, “Are you ready? Are you ready?” Dog “Come!” as you back up a few steps, lots of praise as she comes to you. Send her back and do again three or four times. Keep it fun and happy.

FRONT AND FINISH

From sit in front, Leash in right hand, slight pop or shake on the lead as you say “dog, Round” ,step back with right leg,(take more steps if needed at first) pass lead behind your back into your left hand as you step forward, (keep moving until she is up with you) then placed sit and praise. Use your voice and lead shake to encourage the dog to come around into the heel position. You need to take a few steps at first, but eventually you will not move and only the dog will move in this exercise.

HOLD THE DUMBELL AND WALK

Have the dog sit at heel position, place the dumbbell in her mouth carefully and instruct the dog to “Hold”

Step back to the full extent of your reach as you encourage the dog to keep holding.

If she begins to lower her head, she is thinking of standing up but she must not until you are ready for her to start moving. Tell her firmly to hold. She must not move until you have let go of her muzzle and are telling her to take a few steps. Just a few steps at first is all you need. Say “OUT!” to get the dumbbell back. If she won’t let go, just a slight tap on the end of the bell will do the trick.

TEACHING YOUR DOG TO "HEEL ON LEASH

Learning to HEEL ON LEASH is an important step in a dog's education. After learning the CONTROLLED WALK, a dog can learn to HEEL ON LEASH at any age, any where. Giant breeds are best taught while they are under six months of age; any later and they have a weight advantage that must be taken into account. Begin teaching the heel on leash in a quiet location, indoors at home preferably, and then gradually work your way out into the world. Have a mental image of how you want look, of how you want your dog to look and keep actual practice sessions brief.

HEEL ON LEASH

EQUIPMENT MUST BE APPROVED CHAIN COLLAR AND 6 FT LEATHER LEASH, NO BRAIDING

NO TAGS OR ANYTHING ELSE ALLOWED ON THE COLLAR OR ON THE LEASH

The principal features of this exercise are:

The dog stays close to the handler’s left leg without interfering, not lagging nor forging out of position, adjusting pace to the handler’s.

The handler walks in a confident manner without adjusting to the dog’s pace or position.

The handler walks with head up, one hand on the leash, the other hand prepared for leash corrections.

The handler avoids looking back to see where the dog is.

The handler and dog are pleasant to look at and listen to; they present the image of a team.

CORRECTIONS (jerk leash) AND MOTIVATORS (pop leash) must:

Be applied in the direction of travel

APPROVED EQUIPMENT, NO TAGS

Be accompanied at the same time by the command or chatting

Be instantly followed praise and happiness

ABOUT TURN IS A “STEP AROUND TURN” and is an about turn to the right

Heeling is taught in parts, and then assembled into THE DOODLING EXERCISE which will prevent boredom on the dog’s part.

THE IMAGE OF A TEAM

STEP, GIVE THE COMMAND, POP THE LEASH AND PRAISE ALL  AT ONCE

BE HAPPY AND DOODLE