Obedience Tips
Helpful Hints
- Be there for your dog - it is your job
to be 100 percent attentive
to what is going on so you can help your dog when necessary.
You are a team, but you are the team leader! Keep your thinking
cap on!
- Spend at least 15 to 20 a day and at
least 5 to 6 times a week
practicing with your dog.
- Use lots of praise and happy talk when
heeling with you dog.
- Remember to talk to your dog when
training. They are not
mind readers.
- Do not feed your dog before showing.
If the dog goes in the ring, you could be excused.
- Teach your dog to always sit straight.
Allowing them to constantly sit not straight teaches bad habits.
- When teaching the Come, never call your
dog to you and give harsh corrections. The dog will not want to come
at all. Smile at the dog when calling them, they will know you are
happy with them. And remember to praise.
- When teaching the Stand for Exam, Do not
get rough with your dog. Heel your dog into a stand, and place your
hand under there belly to keep them from sitting. When the dog is
relaxed, move your hand, tell them to stay, and leave your dog. Do
not hover over your dog in this exercise.
- On the Figure 8 exercise, do not
slow down when heeling. Keep your normal pace. The more you
slow down, the more likely your dog will lag. When starting the
Figure 8 always go to the left first.
- Do NOT yell at the dog during training.
- Do NOT work the dog immediately after
eating.
- If you give 100% to your dog, your dog
will give 100% to you.
- You are proud of your dog, so make them
proud of you.
- Always be a good sport. Bad Sportsmanship is unacceptable.
What a Judge is Looking For In the Ring
The following is what
judges are watching for when judging obedience.
This information was giving to me by a highly respected 4-H judge.
Remember, points are taken away not given for obedience.
The following information is for the show ring only. The amount of points taken off for a mistake is at the discretion of the judge. Not all judges judge the same.
· Straight sits – A dog must be in heel position. Sitting in front or behind, even if straight, is points off.
· Lagging – If a dog is behind the handler while heeling, points off.
· Forging – If a dog is ahead of the handler while heeling, points off.
· You can say your dog’s name and hell each time the judge tells you “Forward”, but if you move your hand to heel forward, or give your dog extra commands while moving, or give extra hand movements, points will be taken off.
· When the judge asks you if you are ready, you cannot take your hand or leash and physically set the dog. But you may say sit to your dog.
· If your dog does not sit when the judge says sit, do not make them sir. Wait for the judge to say “Sit your dog” or “Correct your dog”. Sometimes the judge will say neither and go right into the next “forward”. Do Not correct your dog unless the judge tells you to. Correcting the dog will be a handler error and extra points will come off.
· On the Fast – The dog needs to stay in heel position. Usually you will see a lag on this. Extra hand movements, commands, or corrections will be points off.
· On the Slow – The dog needs to stay in heel position. Usually you will see a forge on this. Extra hand movements, commands, or corrections will be points off.
· On the Figure 8 – Most of the heeling on this is the same as on heeling on the leash. Sits, lagging, and forging, are judged the same. The only exception is handlers have a tendency to step into their dogs on the halts, and dogs have a tendency to crowd their handlers. Points will be taken off for these errors. Sniffing the posts will also be a deduction.
· Stand for Examination – You should always stand your Dog Facing the judge. When you stand your dog, do not rush. You can place your dogs feet if necessary, but when you leave your dog, you must not have any hands on their body. You can only tell you dog to stay one time. You must walk to the end of the lead and turn and face your dog, while the judge goes over them. Return when the judge asks you to. Upon returning, go around your dog into heel position. Points will be taken off for your dog moving, not returning to heel position, hands on your dog when leaving, dog sitting during the exercise, and dog being aggressive or fearful. You will also receive points off if you back away from your dog.
· Recall – Remember, you cannot place your dog in a sit by using your hands. The judge will tell you to leave your dog. Do not touch your dog when you tell him to stay. Walk to the end of the lead and turn and face your dog. When the judge tells you to call your dog, call your dog to you. If the dog does not sit in front, wait for the judge to tell you to correct your dog. The judge will then tell you to finish your dog. Dog must go to heel position. Points will be taken off for dog getting up before it was told, touching the dog, dog not sitting in front, and the dog not sitting straight in front or not sitting straight after return to the heel position. Points will also be deducted for stepping back to finish your dog, or bending over to call your dog.
· Long Sit – Dog must be in heel position. Dog must stay for full amount of time. You will tell your dog to stay only one time. Do not touch your dog when leaving him. Walk to the end of the lead and turn to face your dog. Return to your dog when the judge tells you to. If your dog should break during the exercise, DO NOT go back and place your dog again. Pull dog out of line and wait for the exercise to be finished. Points will be deducted for the dog breaking the stay, you placing your dog, dog getting up when returning to heel position, dog getting up and wandering, dog whining or barking, or dog bothering another dog.
· Long Down – Dog must be in heel position. Dog must stay for full amount of time. You will tell your dog to stay only one time. You may point to the ground and tell your dog down only one time. Do not touch your dog when leaving him. Walk to the end of the lead and turn to face your dog. Return to your dog when the judge tells you to. If your dog should break during the exercise, DO NOT go back and place your dog again. Pull dog out of line and wait for the exercise to be finished. Points will be deducted for the dog breaking the stay, you placing your dog, dog getting up when returning to heel position, dog getting up and wandering, dog whining or barking, or dog bothering another dog. If the dog does not go into down position, you may place them, but it will be a point deduction.
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