Training for compitition without a class

billsmom

Does anybody else train their dogs without the benifit of a class situation?

I am not sure about what your town is like, but if you work crazy hours  sometimes retired people , other shiftworkers etc are only too happy to join in.

Even though i could go to dog classes i don't. i get some great one on one help and proof all over the place. Last night we worked next to soccer training and a highway.

Do you have a pet supply store nearby?  Doing sit/stays where other doggie smells are, lots of activity, stimulating sights and smells is helpful. A farm or feed supply could have a similar effect.

What are the aspects of your performances that you think need help?  If you have video, there are a number of folks here who like to help by evaluating and offering tips.  We can see if your shoulder is lagging, your hand signal is unclear, whatever might be an area where points are getting knocked off.

I'm getting ready for some competitions and I'm going at it on my own, but I have a background with some heavy training experience, so I'm using those and just brushing up me and my dog.  Dusting it off, as it were.  I'm bringing my dog into busy foot traffic areas with LOTS of heeling (I feel like 80% of a performance is good heeling), practicing around other dogs in a dog park-type situation (she must maintain her stay if a dog runs up to play).  It's harder for me to practice jumps, but I get creative.

     Thanks for the ideas! We do have a small pet supply store in a nearby town that I could go to several times a week. I bet someone there would go over the dogs on a stand stay, and there's room to do a little heeling. The Tractor Supply store might work as well.

     My work is such that I'm on the road a lot.  On these jobs I sometimes work 11 to 14 hours per day, 6 days a week. I normally haul a travel trailer and work the dogs in the RV park after work if I have time. Right now there's very little work anywhere so I'm home trying to get to a few shows.

     Do have a few brags.....on Jan, 31 my Boo finished his Companion Dog title. We won't mention his score. Then this past weekend Tease also finished her Companion Dog title with two first places (small class). Next weekend I'm going to try to get Boo's Rally Excellent, and Glory is in Novice B obedience. Maybe will be lucky again.

Here's another odd spot to practice (particularly useful for indoor competitions.)  HOME DEPOT!!  Ask the store staff first, but every one that I've asked has allowed dogs in the store.  The floors are a smidge slippery, so I don't do recalls, but the noise and traffic is a fantastic distraction.  There's always someone willing to test your stand for you, when they see your dog is so well-trained.

Congrats on the titles!!  Even in a small class, two first places tells us you put the work in (wow, training while on the road so much, you should pat yourself and your dogs on the back!)   

I often find my dog does better than me, and when our scores are low, it's because of ME.  The beauty of owning a smart breed is she can still do the work even if I screw up. lol  Our last competition (again, done blindly w/out any classes or training help in over a year) I took a step and cost us 10pts - from 99 (1st or 2nd place) to 89.  Argh!

Good luck at next weekend's competitions!  Fingers crossed for good runs for Boo & Glory.  Will be checking back here to see how you did.   BTW, what breeds are your dogs?

     Most of the points off are because of me, I'm sure!!  We have a Lowes Home Center over in Clovis as well. I'll ask if they will let me bring a dog in. I have 7 border collies. My old girl is 14, and she is my herding buckle winner. The rest range in age from 3 to 11 years.

      Six of the seven have various titles in Obedience, Rally, and herding. We piddle small time, and I always admire those folks that are able to put the advanced titles in multiple venues on their dogs. Wow!

 Just wanted to say good for you. I wish I had the time and schedule to allow me to do that. I get into a class when I can, if I can find something later in the evening, or midday on a day I don't work midday. I have weird schedule. I work early mornings, and afterschool, not much midday, and a lot of work on the weekends. I've gotten to a few midday classes, and I found a place, though it's 45 minutes or so each way, that offers classes later at night, starting at 7:30 and 9:00 PM. That means I can get to some of them.

It is all about the proofing.  I have been using two books to help me plan my rally classes.. Both are available at dogworks.  I have also used Diane Bauman's Beyond Obedience Training.  She has a workbook to accompany her book. 

 RIng Ready  An Obedience Workbook by Marie Sawford

The Art of Proofing  Preparing Your Dog for Obedience Trials  by Adele Yunck  Adele does seminars too.

You can also get considerable milage out of a workshop/seminar.

Sandra Ladwig comes to mind as does,  Celeste Meade  I have yet to take a seminar from these two ladies.  However two trainers I know personally (multiple OTCH dogs and HITs High Combines)  highly recommend these seminars and take them personally.

mrv

,  Celeste Meade  I have yet to take a seminar from these two ladies.  However two trainers I know personally (multiple OTCH dogs and HITs High Combines)  highly recommend these seminars and take them personally.

Celeste Meade and her daughter were the two people who got 100s my very first Rally event ever (with their Border Collies).  I've trialed under her as a judge, too, and against her students.  I'd say she's got the stuff to make good Rally & Obed prospects.  I've never taken her seminars, but her attitude is pretty friendly and upbeat, and I personally get the impression she plays to win, so for those of us super-competitive folks, she could be just what you're looking for.

mrv

It is all about the proofing.  I have been using two books to help me plan my rally classes.. Both are available at dogworks.  I have also used Diane Bauman's Beyond Obedience Training.  She has a workbook to accompany her book. 

 RIng Ready  An Obedience Workbook by Marie Sawford

The Art of Proofing  Preparing Your Dog for Obedience Trials  by Adele Yunck  Adele does seminars too.

You can also get considerable milage out of a workshop/seminar.

Sandra Ladwig comes to mind as does,  Celeste Meade  I have yet to take a seminar from these two ladies.  However two trainers I know personally (multiple OTCH dogs and HITs High Combines)  highly recommend these seminars and take them personally.

 

This is a book that I like a lot: http://www.amazon.com/Clicker-Training-Obedience-Shaping-Performance-Positively/dp/0962401781

I have heard good things about Celeste Meade - she had a Bloodhound with OTCH points!  I've been to her place many times for other seminars, sadly not with her, though.

When it comes to preparing for competition (whether it's agility, rally, Schutzhund, conformation...) I've found that *I* am the one that needs the most work!  Generally, my dogs are either prepared and enjoy it or they're not.  If I don't feel like they can handle the environment, I spend more time working on the drive and motivation rather than lots of proofing in different environments.  I would rather have a dog get momentarily distracted in the ring but show a lot of drive and really enjoy giving it a try than have a dog that is proofed to perfection but performs like a robot.  That's just me.  The main thing is that I am consistent and don't let nerves start effecting me, lest I change up commands or start giving weird body language the dog has never seen before.  This throws my dogs off way more than a change of environment or ringside distractions.

miranadobe

I often find my dog does better than me, and when our scores are low, it's because of ME. 

mrv

RIng Ready  An Obedience Workbook by Marie Sawford

The Art of Proofing  Preparing Your Dog for Obedience Trials  by Adele Yunck  Adele does seminars too.

Since Dogwise was at the show yesterday, I got these books, thanks for the reco's.  My "measure" is if I learn 2 or 3 things from glancing through the book, then it's worth the buy, and I did with the Art of Proofing.  The guy from Dogwise said the other book by Adele Yunck, A Balancing Act, is their "best book on training for obedience."