My little dog Cody, the dennis the menace of terrior mixed breed- is really starting to amaze me. He just wants to learn and learn and learn and is so eager. One day we will be getting a back yard agility kit to help him and Bindi (our other mixed terrior) have fun and exercise and to learn more self control.
THat will probably be within the next year. At present I am looking for an obedience class to proof their basic obedience training in, and while we are waiting to find a good one here in the Riverside area, I would like to ask some of you who are more experienced than I or are trainers what you would recommend I do with my dogs while I am waiting to take them to obedience class to proof the obedience I have already taught them. Cody is only 7 months so he is just a baby, Bindi is 1-1/2 to two years, the rescue shelter wasn't sure of her age. Bindi is a little ahead of Cody, I am working on Cody walking on a leash at heel, Bindi does very well in that area. They both can sit, and wait, and down well. Cody hasn't had as many distractions as Bindi has, so I am working on that.
I am having a real blast working with them and don't want to do anything to hinder their progress. any advise is apprecioated.
God bless you

just keep upping the ante on distractions: make them harder and harder - for the older dog. with the pup, i would keep it fun for now, while broadening the spectrum of exercises that you're teaching him. teach "sit" "down" and "stand" from different positions, and with the dog in different position in relation to you: i.e. next to you, in front of you, behind you. i would also start 'stay' as it is a natural progression from any of the stationary exercises that you've already started.

Kristin: Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. I am so excited about the progress they are both are making. I have great fun and they are so eager, it really is a blessing. Yes, I am working on Cody waiting longer and longer in the down. And will soon start with Bindi on stay. My greatest challenge with Cody is the heel or walking at my side, he is so full of energy he has a real hard time staying back with me. But I am sure we will make progress.
Last night my husband made me a flirt pole and boy did we have fun with that!!!
I have been really sick and unable to keep to our regular schedule during the day, but looking forward to getting back at it.
Thanks again for your reply.
God bless you

Sharon,

I would just keep refining the obedience you already have and work on the distractions.
Remember as well, when making distractions harder, and the dog does well, do some easy stuff that they know as well.

I tend to look at things like this...

Humans are linear thinkers-we tend to learn something and not forget it.
Dogs are more circular thinkers-they tend to need refreshers as well as adding new challenges. And, when training, if the dog is having a difficult time learning it is always good to drop back a step to help the dog learn.

Always make it fun for the dog AND for you.

How do you teach 'stand'?

If they heel, put them at a heel, stop and before they sit reach down under their tummy and say stand. Treat,treat,treat. You can also loop your leash around their tummy and hold gentle tension to keep them standing. You can also stand in front and coax them up from a sit with a treat. Are you training for a "stand for exam"? After the stand is perfected, have someone walk up and touch the dog while having it remain in a stand position. Useful in the vets office.

Dogs do need refreshing on everything they learn, it is kind of a "use it or loose it" type of thing. Also before you take your pups in for obedience testing, be sure to let them go potty and go through the routine. Take it from my own personal experience, don't take them right from the vehicle into testing (yikes).

I am no expert on obedience but have trained dogs that purpled in 4H local and state level competitions (shown by my son), AKC CGCs and police level obedience (NAPWDA). Recently joined up with a group of ladies doing AKC obedience and agility. Good way to get your dogs out, socialize properly with other dogs and hang out with good ol' dog people.

Have fun!

Thanks, Sandra.

I just have a little dog, house companion but I am trying to train her to make her a good pet.

She does sit and I'm working on down (she does pretty good) and place (a little better). She doesn't heel yet, I am having trouble keeping her from pulling the leash on a walk right now.

It looks like stand may be a little later but now I will know how to achieve it.

I have been doing marker training but I think I have been making mistakes (sit, sit, sit) so last night I started over with marker training and doing just touch.


ps

That is a GREAT picture.

Nora, I have been looking at your signature photo and meaning to ask...what type of dog do you have? Skiperke?

Yes, she is a schipperke. She's about 7 months old and about 7 pounds and I have had her about 7 weeks.

Sometimes I think she is part cat.

Any advice for that breed?

 Quote: nora ferrell

How do you teach 'stand'?

When another member starts a thread with a question, it's good if we can post answers, suggestions, etc., but not so much a new question of our own that hijacks the original poster's thread.

Sometimes new folks aren't completely familiar with the "rules" of no-hijacks, but you can see here how the O.P.'s question ("I would like to ask some of you who are more experienced than I or are trainers what you would recommend I do with my dogs while I am waiting to take them to obedience class to proof the obedience I have already taught them") got lost in the shuffle.

So ... just a reminder!