Redyre Rotties do you have any advice for this

[Bantamlover23]

I was wondering have you ever trained a dog for competition obedience. I really would love to do this with my corgi. She is has all the basics pretty much down but the standing for the judge is not great. Do you have any suggestions. Thank you!!!

 

[kcardella]

It just takes practice, practice, practice! Have different people (start with people she knows, then move on to strangers) come up to her as a judge would, and give lots of praise and/or treats when she does well. She will get the hang of it. Corgis are very smart.

Have you tried classes? Look for a local obedience club. They are usually very inexpensive (some even charge by the class), and are run by people that compete in obedience. These classes are a must for serious competitors.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Yes, I have trained and titled quite a few dogs in the obedience rings.

Attention and the dog knowing the basic positions of front and heel are very important. Your dog should learn to find heel or front from anywhere on a verbal command.

For the stand for exam, this is building on another basic, the STAY command. Begin to teach your dog to SIT for exam. Once the dog can sit nicely, and stay, for head touching and a stroke down the back with you at the end of a 6 foot lead, you can start with stand for exam.

I teach the stand by putting my right thumb down through the collar with my hand on the front of the dog's chest, to keep the dog from moving forward. With the left hand, I tickle the flank, or help the dog to pop its rear up into a stand. Once the dog is standing willingly on command, I begin to work for time and distance. ONLY when the dog can stand on its own, with distraction, for several minutes do I start the exam part.

I begin with a person just walking towards the dog near it, and then moving away. I return after this just like in the regular stand for exam. Use lots of rewards, and work gradually up to the person touching the head, and then eventually going on down the back.

Here is a clip of my dog Penny doing the stand for exam exercise. She was nearly ready for trial when this clip was taken.

 

[Bantamlover23]

Thank you for the video!

What type of rewards do you for your dogs.

The only type of reward I can use for my corgi is her dog food which loves but she already has a minor weight issue and cannot use other types of treats becasue she had to have bladder stones removed in January and I do not want that to happen again.

 

[Bantamlover23]

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I would use classes most of the classes in my area are in the evening and I work from 6pm to 11pm so classes are out. Also they one place I might consider is an hour away.

 

[Bantamlover23]

Here is my Corgi I would like to show. She just turned 4 this July.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

OMG she is so adorable!! I use a variety of things, but if you can only use kibble, and she likes that, so much the better. Many things can be rewards for dogs, some dogs love to tug, fetch, whatever.

The main thing is to not rush stays. Don't rush to leave the dog. DOn't rush to get to the end of the lead. Take your time. Don't punish mistakes, just put the dog back.

Don't repeat STAY, the dog has to learn to remember this. You CAN repeat the position command. (sit, for example). I work dogs to a point that they are staying for longer than they will ever have to in the ring, with much higher distraction levels, so a trial or real life stays seem simple to the dog.

 

[gaited horse]

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Do you have any tips for novice level? I moved up last night and I am really nervous about the next show next year