Janice Gunn Obedience Workshop

Blue Ribbon Dog Sports is hosting internationally renowned trainer and exhibitor Janice Gunn for a two day workshop on June 15 & 16, 2013 - yes, 2013!  Janice only presents one workshop a year on the east coast and BRDS is thrilled to be her host at our Andover location.  Working spots will be limited and full details will be available shortly, but in the meantime, save the date.  For additional information on Janice, her dogs past and present and her honorifics and her student's accomplishments go to www.tntkennels.com

Upcoming Classes

Obedience Run-Thrus in Andover

August 10, 10 am - Novice,Open, Utility (FULL)

Attention Games & Heeling in Madison

August 23, 8:30 pm.

Skills for Hunting Retrievers in Sparta

Land & Water work begins Sept. 16

Wednesday Workshops in Andover

Begins Sept. 14,  10-11 am

Attention Games & Heeling in Andover

Novice Ring Prep/Beg. Open in Andover

Begins Nov. 11

And coming in January....Rally Handling Skills on Wednesday mornings in Andover.

 Blue Ribbon Ribbons

  Mary Meila & Casey - AKC RE leg - 1st place

  Val Bernhardt & Jenny - AKC JH leg w/all 10's!

  Ruth Morgan & Lacey - APDT RL1 - 1st place

  HS Dog in Trial in A Class

Mary Meila & Indy - APDT RLV leg - 1st place

Barbara Hartnig & Yogi - APDT RLV leg - 2nd place

Caroline LeBel & Scout - APDT RLPX leg - 1st place

Mary Meila & Indy - CDSP CD-CCH leg - 1st place

Barbara Hartnig & Molly - APDT RL1X leg - 4th place

Mary Beth Boland & Posh - APDT ARCHMX leg - 1st place

Mary Meila & Casey - CDSP CD-CCH leg - 1st place

Val Bernhardt & Rip - AKC Grad. Open leg - 3rd place

Sandi Ver Sprill & Jasmine - APDT RLP leg - 1st place

Larry Belford & Ernie - CDSP CD-C leg - 3rd place

Teaching Big Concepts in Small Spaces

All too often dogs are taught to jump only within the context of a particular exercise.  When the visual of that exercise changes even slightly; say the jump is four feet wide instead of five feet, an upright is slightly tilted, an agility jump is used on a rally course, the dog oftentimes refuses the jump.  This is because the dog has not learned the concept of jumping; to jump over whatever obstacle may be in the dog's path. 

Teaching the concept of jumping is easy and fun to do and  can be done both indoors or outdoors.  If you have a high jump, take the two inch panel and lay it flat with the ends resting on  two bricks.  If you don't have a high jump, use a broom or a board or a piece of pvc (tape the pvc to the brick so it doesn't roll off)- you're only limited by  your imagination.  Walk your dog over the 'jump' several times then call your dog over the jump.  If you have a bar jump, take the panel off and place the bar on the bricks.  You can change the bar and use one broad jump in its place.  Use your imagination - a tree branch, a row of books, a garden rake.  Keep the jump height low as you introduce all kinds of things for your dog to jump over.  You can gradually increase the jump height but when you do, be sure that whatever your dog is jumping over doesn't move.  And use novel items as your uprights.  Make your jump five feet wide, then four feet wide, then three feet wide.

If your dog will hold a dumbell, call her over the jump with the dumbell.  Then throw the dumbell over the jump and have her retrieve it.

The point is to create novel situations that teach your dog the concept of jumping; not simply the literal skill of taking a five foot wide high or bar jump or a broad jump.  If you teach your dog to JUMP then when it comes time for a formal jump exercise, your dog will take the jump confidently regardless of the visual picture.