Dalmatian Puppy Obedience Training -Attention Heeling

[AmberFaithChloe]

I just uploaded a video of my GR puppy. Go check it out. I too put my hand on my stomach area & sometimes my chest too. He watches my hand not my face.

[AboensisAdamant]

Ok. Here by us that is very unwished position and you loose a lot of points by doing so. Are you allowed to give treats in trials? We are not. And all helps are forbidden for example showing with hand when taking dog on your left side.

[shatteringglass]

Food, toys, etc are not allowed. Your arms can have only 2 positions, either, both hanging naturally at your sides, or the one im doing in this video, the right hanging naturally and the left carried infront and against the body. You also cant give extra commands/double commands, praise or encouragement during the exercises, only after the judge says "exercise finished" you can give praise (not excessive though)

[AboensisAdamant]

Very nice for such a young dal! If I may give a tip, try to fade your left hand from your stomach and keep your head up. I made those same mistakes when training with my first obedience dal and it was really difficult to correct later. My 1,5 yrs old male is doing much better job when trained correctly from the beginning. But anyway, looks really nice and hope to see some more of your trainings :).

[shatteringglass]

thanks! I compete in AKC obdedience, the left hand at the waist is an accepted position in trials.  I've always felt more comfortable keeping it in this position.

[AmberFaithChloe]

Thanks for your comment about my Dallie. Yours is beautiful too & good training. My Dallie can't seem to watch me. She tends to be on the shy side & cannot make eye contact. But she still heels very well but not that great...

[shatteringglass]

Thanks! With this puppy I started teaching attention heeling at 8 weeks by holding food with my hand and letting him nibble, keeping his head up and in heel position. I have a video of him at 9 weeks, then also 12 weeks. I gradually moved my hand away, and fed him less often as he learned keeping his head up and staying in position was what I wanted him to do. My older Dal who I started training at 7 years, had a harder time keeping her head up, still does actually!

[jco5ta5]

How long and often does he have to train until he's ready to compete? And I noticed when you guys are playing he comes at you and you push him away. What's the deal with that?

[shatteringglass]

in AKC a dog has to be at least 6 months old to do any competing in obedience. I train with him everyday, but I keep the sessions short (no longer than 15 minutes) filled with tons of play. If you over-train your dog will get bored with it and takes the fun away. Im just playing with him when I push him away, he likes to play rough. I push him away, and he comes back for more, im just keeping him interested in me.

[hernandeznathan50]

That is a smart dog! Very cute!

[shatteringglass]

thanks!

[shatteringglass]

um....no...im not gonna let my dog run into the street! thanks for watching!