what i need is friendly people out there to teach me something about dog's sport. i just want to know how you expert are doing with your dog that don't really focus. As i knowis that when a dog is not focusing nothing can be taught is it? so expert people please show me thanks

I would recomend getting the tape Vince mentioned above and use the positive methods to train the heel that he described above.

Chuck I just love to purchase all the tapes from leerburg I do have some of his tapes. I go broke if I keep ordering his tapes because my rate converted is 4 times the amount ie $65 x 4=RM280 not including freight

maxlee,

I think I hear ya!LOL

Sometimes some of us can sound like shameless promoters of Ed's stuff. That's not the case at all. Many times the best answer IS for people to view these oustanding tools. Then if you have specific questions people can address them. Since you have already seen the tapes mentioned, have you tried the suggestions that Vince made like holding the ball up high by your face or feeding up high?

Chuck
is your point of seeing thing LOL. I like to promote Ed tapes if possible is a very good training tools. Due to exchange rate I find it quick difficult down here only a few. my this dog does not like toy or balls only food when he feel no food in me he will just won't focus

Training philosophies and techniques are forever changing. Fads come and go and as we get a better idea of what makes a dog tick we adapt our training accordingly. An example of this is the forced retrieve. Years ago every trainer with an ounce of clout preached that the only way to teach a solid and reliable retrieve was through forced methods. Now a day this is starting to change while more and more trainers are using motivational techniques to accomplish this. The same is true with obedience. When Ed filmed his tape on basic obedience the use of a prong collar was the standard. Since that time training through drive has become more popular and Ed who is never afraid to grow has responded to this by producing a series of tapes featuring Bernard Flinks. Now does this mean that the other tape is outdated and useless? NO. It is still an excellent source to control behavioral problems or for dogs who do not have the drive to use motivational techniques. This is why choosing the proper dog like one from Leerburg Kennels is even more important now then ever. Now understand that this does require a new attitude and way of approaching training but once you do the benefits of this approach is apparent after seeing the dog work. As I have in the past I recommend the Book Purely Positive and the training tape Training DRIVE FOCUS & GRIP with Bernard Flinks as a good starting place. After reviewing this material and getting out there and applying these new techniques I am sure that the questions like how do I get my dog to heel without corrections will be very obvious. Good luck and if you have specific question feel free to ask.

Teaching Heeling with the "Watch me" vs "Without".

This message is to either Vince P. or to anyone else here. I already have the Tom Rose tape for the competitition Heeling Dog.

My dog is taught 2 separate commands: Slow and Fus, with Slow being used for our regular walks and not to pull on a leash. Also the dog automatically sits when I come to a stop. When it's time to go to relieve himself, I use the "OK" command as my release. I don't use the word "OK" in everyday speech at home, since at home, I speak Russian. The dog walks on my left, but my side, during the "Slow" command.

My problem comes in teaching the "Heel" or "Fus". It is too similar to how I've taugh him the "Slow" since the only difference is attention to the face being required, and a faster tempo. He doesn't understand what I'm asking of him. If I ask the "watch me", which was trained separately with food, he turns to me as I ask of him and gets his food reward, but turns away instantly afterwards, for which he gets a pop on the prong collar. He is confused, because he's not pulling or forging ahead, so he's not sure why he got corrected. If I use the "watch me" continuosly as I walk, I'm breaking this same command from when I taught it for the front sit from the recall, or the basic position. In which case, "watch me" will replace "fus" in his mind as the actual command for heeling, not as a step to be done during heeling.

Question: a) Do I combine the "watch me" with the "fus" command? I haven't been succesful so far.
Question b) Do I change my "slow" command to be less formal?
Question: c) Do I keep giving a correction for turning away the head during the heel exercise, since he's ok for a few steps but then his attention wanders. Using a ball makes him jump up in the air to get the ball and tossing the ball as a reward, breaks the hall exercise into a retrieve exercise of two balls. I need to stick with food for this exercise it seems.

The answer is simple. A basic principle of training is: Reward ends behavior. You ask for the behavior of watching you. After performing the behavior you reward him. Cycle complete. You must either request the behavior again or increase the period of time expected to perform the behavior before rewarding.

Great point! Reward ends behavior!
If your dog knows the "watch me" comand(I use "Ready" because the judge ask you, are you ready?),say watch me, take a few steps and then reward. Go slow, only a few steps, if he does well increase your steps before you reward. It will take a while but take it slow and soon he'll be watching you the whole way.

vince P and Lanegirl thank you and your are great people That's the answer I'm looking for and is right to the point. Thank you