Amstaff Obedience

AKC CH Van Gunn's Double Jeopardy, CGC CD DD RAE ROH, "Sidle" Open A practice. AKC Ptd. Van Gunn's Key to Titletown, CGC CD DD RAE, "Rush" Novice B practice.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• amstaff
• american
• staffordshire
• terrier
• obedience
• Open
• Novice
• Battlestar
• Galactica
• Titletown

[wkd209]

how long does it usually take for amstaffs to learn the basics if you start when they are puppies

[TitletownAST]

Not very long, puppies learn very quickly and respond really well to positive reinforcement. With most puppies I can usually teach sit in a few hours using the lure method and get good response to the command in a couple of days. Down usually takes a few days. More complicated things - heeling, automatic sits and stays take longer. Alot depends on the puppy how much drive they have how motivated they are to work for something.

[moolilpie]

Thank you so much for the advice. We are lucky in that my girl's most favourite-ist reward is me. I think your suggestion will help because we get awesome eye contact in any other position, so buiding up from there one step at a time makes good sense to me. Ta!

[TitletownAST]

I think the least amount you can use food the better, the expectation of food and then quickly realizing that in the trial situation they don't get any can frustrate alot of dogs. But sometimes you just have a food motivated dog and then, well...lol you do what you gotta do...but if verbal praise really works that great b/c in the ring as soon as the judge says "exercise finished" verbal praise is a reward you can give in the ring!

[moolilpie]

My little Pit girl and I are just doing our level 2 now. We are late starters and struggle with eye contact when heeling. I needed a little inspiration. Thanks that hit the spot just nicely! Sidle and Rush are gorgeous!

[TitletownAST]

Really get your "watch" command solid, find the motivation that works for your dog, toy or treat - the blue dog above was attention trained solely with a tennis ball on a rope I hung around my neck. Get the watch command ingrained stationary and then put heel movement with it one step - literally - take one step at a time and reward only for that step being taken with them giving the attention you desire. Good luck!

[MrTomkaboy]

can i teach my amstaff to fetch me beers and other stufff???

[TitletownAST]

It's repetition.....with the healing exercise everytime I stop they are asked to sit and when they are first starting out they are rewarded each time. Then they figure out that the automatic sit is what they are supposed to do everytime and the reward is phased out. I start mine out as puppies but older dogs can learn this as well.

[frakkan]

awsome vid, you must be very proud over your dog!