Trillium

We have been going to an advanced obedience class. I am taking Betty Jo one week and Jenny the next and working on whatever we took in class with both dogs during the week. Well after I signed up for the class Betty Jo got her CGN before the classes started. On the first day of classes I found out that I was the only one in class for now. I told my instructor (she had been our instructor for intermediate.) that Betty Jo had gotten her CGN. She was so excited for her and decided that since the class was geared towards preparing for your CGN she would step it up.

The first night the homework she gave me was the dog is to stay in a sit stay when her favorite toys are tossed around her. As well since she is a poodle and so smart I should be able to tell her come while she is in a sit stay and not have her move. She was also telling me that night that Betty Jo was so friendly and well behaved that she would be wonderful in therapy work (It was Betty Jo's night to train to Jenny wasn't there). She certainly had the right temperament for it.

I was at class last night with Jenny. We were working on our come to heel and heeling while walking a clover leaf. After class the other person in it (she signed up last night. She has a mini labradoodle) asked for a booklet like we were given in intermediate to tell us about what to work on for class. The instructor told us that the booklet didn't describe what she was teaching us. The heeling exercise (the cloverleaf) that we were working on was competition level.

When I got home I tried the come to heel exercise with Betty Jo and she did it perfectly the first time I was so proud of her. So I tried the stay while I called (I hadn't tried it before I hadn't the nerve) and the first time she started to come but I corrected her and the next time and every other she did it perfectly. I was so proud of her.

So now I'm starting to think about trying to get her CD (novice obedience). I was so excited I was checking out the requirements on the net last night. It will take some work for sure but it could be doable.

Anyway I just had to share .

CharismaticMillie

Yay Jenny and Betto Jo!! I think you should definitely go for her CD!! I am thinking of doing this with Millie, my trainer thinks we should! We will see!

ArreauStandardPoodle

What bright girls we have!!! Congrats Deb. You have worked hard to get them to this point! I would love to see them titled up the wazoo in obedience and rally. That would be so awesome, and would it ever make you feel like you have accomplished something. Way to go!!

amerique2

Sounds like a plan. You should do it! I don't know about up there, but here at the dog shows if you ask at the superintendent's table they often have an extra obedience rule book they will give you. Will be fun hearing about Jenny and Betty Jo's progress.

I finished a 16-week obedience course with Rebel, and the instructor gears the class to where each team (dog/owner) is. For some, it's their first night, others are more advanced. It was amazing, and I plan on starting another 16-week course soon. The really fun thing was going to a show, watching rally and obedience and seeing what we've worked on in class actually being done in competition. Had to come home and call my trainer and tell him how excited I was.

jester's mom

CONGRATS! That is so great. Poodles are soooo smart...lol! Good luck, I am sure you guys are going to do just fine.

Trillium

Thanks its fun trying to decide what to focus on next isn't it. Its also amazing to see the dogs learning more and so exciting. It would be fun if we both went for and and we could compare notes on it.

cbrand

Very exciting and I'm sure you will do well. If you are going to pursue competition, my advice would be to make sure that you get instruction from someone who has put Obedience titles on dogs before.

I don't know what experience your current trainer has and maybe she is a perfect fit, but competition Obedience has little quirks that you want to make sure that you incorporate into your training from the beginning (e.g. it is very hard to retrain crooked fronts!) Also, a heads up..... in CD competition you will in fact have to sit your dog off-leash, leave your dog, and then call her to front. I'm not sure I would do proofing exercises that involved teaching a her to "stay" and not come when she is called. I worry that you might end up confusing her.

Just some thoughts.....

debjen

That was also my thought..when I call my dog to come I want them to come no matter what they are doing so teaching them to stay when being called would be counterproductive...having said that I do a lot of proofing for stay including motion lots of other words except their release word or come, tossing toys, food etc..

Olie

Your doing a great thing with your girls no matter what activity or event. Clearly you are taking the right steps and I cannot wait to see the accomplishments.

Trillium

The booklet thing sounds like a great idea. Your obedience courses sound wonderful. Its great they can tailor them like that.