Preparing for Obedience, Part One

Widget's New Goals

A little while back, I mentioned that Widget would have new goals. I would love it if he could be a conformation show dog. He's turned into a stunning teenager. His side gait is amazing, with lovely angles and smooth motion. His color is brilliant. His markings are so well-placed they almost make me cry. He might be a bit big for UKC conformation competition, but he's bang on for AKC and can still compete in UKC companion and performance events. Still, there's that barking/growling/biting thing. He needs time to get over it and a diversion for his mind to help him do it.

As a result, we're going to start him in companion and performance events: trick dog, Rally obedience, and maybe nosework and agility. None of these things require that a stranger touch him, while at the same time they help him build his confidence. I like my dogs to have titles at both ends of their names--conformation titles typically go in front, while other titles go in back--so we would eventually have done these things in time, anyway.

What's Widget's First Goal?

Glad you asked!

Every dog should have some basic skills. Basic obedience should be capable of recognizing his or her own name, how to walk quietly on a leash, how to sit and lie down on command, how to come when called and how to stay when ordered to do so. These skills are needed to do any other event, even conformation. All other training is more advanced and is probably not required by the average pet. For the purpose of entry-level performance events, Widget will learn all of these skills, as well as how to sit or stand for examination, how to heel with attention, and how to move away from me when asked. These skills will all provide the foundation for more advanced skills, specific to the events in which he will be competing.

Widget already has a few basic skills. He recognizes his name--you'd be surprised at how many dogs do not--and he knows how to walk quietly on a leash. He does have the basics of coming when called, formally called a "recall," but he is not reliable with it. We'll be starting with the sit and the recall, as they will be the skills used most often in the near future. As he learns to sit reliably at my side, then we'll be working on refining his leash walking into a focused "heel" with an automatic sit.

Trick Training?

Trick training can be used to make basic training fun! For Widget, it seems that we will need to focus on making training both fun and educational. Today, many trick training groups and titles exist, all of which have a variety of goals for the dogs participating. I personally like Bella's-Trix & Training "Freshers List" on Facebook. Their trick list starts with the simplest tasks that help the trainer feel accomplished. Their "Manners Matter" list can provide a bit of guidance for Widget, too, due to that growling/barking/biting thing. Bella's-Trix is a private group, so I like supporting it, but their more advanced tricks also provide a nice foundation for other groups and sports. As Widget advances, I might look into the "Do More with Your Dog" program or the AKC titling levels.

Necessary Equipment

I don't use a lot of equipment when starting a dog. I find that it's easier for the dog to understand the commands without a lot of extraneous equipment to distract from the actual tasks. Since we're going to retrace our steps to the very beginning to make things fun for Widget, we'll just be using a leash, a collar, a clicker, and some treats. We'll be adding a PVC training bracket when he understands what is expected of him, but he's not there yet.

• Collar: I'll be using a chain slip collar for Widget for all his training. No, it's not a "choke" collar. Used properly, the slip collar rarely moves from its open position. I like a chain slip collar because it rattles when the dog starts to move out of heel position. I can offer a voice correction or a treat to move the dog back into place without continuously looking down or watching him. Looking down moves my shoulder back, causing the dog to lag behind me, which automatically starts the dog out being "wrong."
• Leash: Basic dog training requires that the dog has some freedom of movement; however, he or she should never be able to move too far away from the trainer. The four-foot leash sold in most stores is fine for walking, but I'll need a five- or six-foot leash. I currently have a sturdy, five-foot fabric leash for Widget. Eventually, we'll be moving to the thin, six-foot leash we'll be using for both obedience and conformation competition.

• Clicker: I like the Starmark clicker when I do clicker training. The rectangular box-type clickers that some pet stores keep stocked on their checkout counters are just fine, but the Starmark clickers fit my hand a bit better, and I find them easier to use. These clickers have a loop to which I can attach an accordion-style wristband, so I can drop the clicker when I need both my hands, while being able to recover it easily when I need the clicker again.