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Nov/Dec Classes
Evening classes begin the week of Nov. 11. New classes include:
Attention Games & Heeling
Polishing Novice
Super Dog
Family Manners I
And of course on-going Novice Ring Prep/Beg. Open, Open/Utility and Rally Attention Games & Handling Skills are on the schedue.
Friday dayime classes begin Nov. 29
The complete class schedule and registration information can be found at www.blueribbondogsportscoaching.com
Don't forget that Sandi has APDT Rally run-thrus and CDSP run-thrus every Thursday morning at Golden Rule School for Dogs.
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Blue Ribbon Brags
Joy Scally & William - Two URO3 legs with first and second place
Maureen McEntee & Jenna - Three VLX legs with placements
Beth Koferl & Dixie - passed ORT recognition test
Beth Koferl & Lita - 7th AKC Master Standard leg
Caroline LeBel & Scout - UCX-C with two first place wins, 30 OTCH points
Caroline LeBel &Scout - Two CDX-CCh legs with first and second place
Linda Sperco & Rudy - Two CDX-CCh legs with placements, on CD-CCh leg with placement
Linda Sperco & Rye - UD-C with two first place wins
Special Congratulations to Bobbie Wood & Emmy on their High in Trial in Novice B and Rally High Combined at the American Lhasa Apso Club National Specialty!
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Feedback on our Family Manners class
"We just got back from the vet. I used to have to leave him in the car till our turn but I decided to give it a try in the waiting room. But despite a yorkie that was very interesting, kittens to be adopted in cages nearby AND a bird in a huge cage five feet away he was able to "leave it" all and sit quietly with me. The vet tech came out to get us and said "what a good dog". I just smiled and said yes he is.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!"
Mary |
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Pat Nolan's "Close The Gap"
We recently made the trip to Maryland to work with Pat Nolan on some training issues we were having. Time spent with Pat is always so productive and always leaves me motivated.
The bottom line.....our issues were not lack of skill issues but rather the gap between what we ACCEPT in training and what we EXPECT at a test. Such a clear, concise observation!
We all have (or should have) a clear mental picture of how we want ourselves and our dogs to perform at a test. When we accept things like a cast refusal, creeping, hunting the blind, rushing to the line, barking, playing with the bird, ignoring a whistle in training we have a gap because this is not what we expect at a test.
With each test during the season, the gap widens because our dogs will always push the envelope. Trust me, I know this!! Take a good look at those 'he's usually pretty good in training' or 'he only does this at a test' moments; this is where the gaps are. Don't allow your dog - or yourself - to work at a lower standard than what you expect at a test. Accepting anythng less is a bad habit and as we know, bad habits are much easier to fall back on than good ones. And they always come back to haunt us!
Next month I'll share more of what we learned with Pat: "When Your Dog Tells You It's Inconvenient Right Now".
Heeling Checklist 
Keeping your heeling sharp is important for success in all of the obedience classes.
1. Are you looking at your dog / is he or she looking at you?
2. Are you HEELING? Are you placing your feet heel/ball/toe or are you walking flatfooted? Are you moving at a brisk pace? Are you working from your knees down or are your hips swinging? Are your feet under your hips or out in front of you? Are you wearing comfortable, flexible shoes or are you wearing flats/sandals/boots?
3. Slow pace: are you gradually shortening your stride or are you trying to go slower? (trying to go slower will cause your dog to halt or lag- shortening your stride allows your dog to stay with you)
4. Fast pace: are you gradually starting to jog or are you kicking it into overdive, thus causing your dog to lag.
5. Turns: are you starting your turn with your head or simply swinging your body into the turn (which does not cue your dog)
6. About turn: are your feet under you and are you turning in place or are you stepping out in front of your dog and simply swinging around?
7. Halts - are you moving briskly enough so that when you take your break step the dog takes notice? Is your break step pronounced or do you simply come to a stop? Remember, break, one, two.
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