When should I start taking him to run-thrus?

[ShatteringGlass]

Shane can do all the exercises in the Novice class (besides the stays) and I am now starting to work in distractions while training. Yesterday I rented ring time at a local training facility for an hour to train and play. It was pretty quiet there besides a few dogs barking, a person doing agility in the next ring, and random people walking around the building. He did great and didnt get overwhelmed by the distractions. So Im starting to wonder when I should start bringing him to obedience run-thru's. I really want to expose him to distractions and really work on getting him to think that I am the most interesting thing in the world!

I also need help teaching the "Stand For Exam" exercise. I dont really have anyone who would volunteer there time to work on getting the wiggle but to keep his feet on the ground when someone approaches him.

I obviously am not going to or expect Shane to do all the exercises the way a dog that is ready trial will do, like for the stand for exam, I will stand infront of him feeding him to keep him still for someone to approach, and as far as the recall, I think I would just have the person hold his leash and I will call him. I dont expect him to sit and stay or anything. But I want to get him used to all these things early.

I did bring him to puppy kindergarten a few times, but that is more for socializing and manners.

So what do you think? Should I continue with the ring rental thing, and wait to do run thru's? If so, when should I do run thru's? 6 months old?

[BlackPuppy]

I started bringing Balto to run-throughs before he was ready. Turned out he performed better than during training. I guess the environment was different enough that he thought he'd do his best. Either that, or the lack of food reinforcement motivated him more. LOL!

[ShatteringGlass]

How old was Balto when you started taking him and how long had you been training him for?

I will still be using TONS of food and toy rewards when/if I go. Shane's favorite game is tug! He will play until my arms fall off lol.

Shane LOVES to heel, its his favorite obedience exercise right now, he can go for quite a while without little rewards while we are moving and he keeps his head up the whole time. When there are distractions, though, I will feed him more and more often.

[Kayos and Havoc]

You can start run throughs any time as long as you are fun, the environment is fun and highly rewarding for the pup!

But I think you know that already!!!

[Elaine]

I wouldn't waste my time or money taking a dog to run thrus until I was getting ready to show. I use them for finding any areas that still need polishing that didn't show up in regular training and for getting in corrections for the ring smart dog.

[mjbgsd]

Quote: I use them for finding any areas that still need polishing that didn't show up in regular training and for getting in corrections for the ring smart dog.

I remember seeing a dog that was very ring smart. He got up on the stays out of sight but before the owner came back he went back to the same place and either sit or down and the owner came back praising them not realizing what happened.

[Kayos and Havoc]

[quote=mjbgsd]

Quote: I use them for finding any areas that still need polishing that didn't show up in regular training and for getting in corrections for the ring smart dog.

Why would you want to "get in a correction"? Why not train the dog to enjoy working and not need to get in a correction? Don't get me wrong, I don't mean don't correct your dog but don't set them up for a correction either, that is unfair.

As long as that pup sees being in the ring as the most fun place to be I don't think his proud owner will need to feel like she has to "get in a correction".

Take him and play and have fun.

[Elaine]

Are you kidding me? Setting up my dog for a correction is sometimes the only way for the dog to learn especially after he becomes ring smart. I'm showing to have fun and see my dog reaching his potential. Watching him pull stupid stuff in the ring is a waste of my time and money and makes us look stupid. Why would you do any sort of competing if you don't want to do well? I've seen a lot of people in the ring that have no business being there and they make us all look bad. If you just want to play and have fun and don't give a rip about your performance, go home and play with him.

[amjrchamberlain]

That's silly. Some of us value the bond that we have with our dogs over some pretty ribbon and placement. I'd much rather see dogs that "have no business being there" having a great time with their owners at a trial than some cookie-cutter trained dog that has no joy in going to the trial.

I get constant compliments with my GSD bitch that is likely one of those that you would think has no business being at a trial. After all, we Nq'd atleast 4 times before getting her last leg of her title. But we had a fun time at each trial and it was an especial thrill when she finally Q'd that last leg.

If I want to take my dog to a show to have fun that's my business. None of yours. I'm pretty sure my dog doesn't give a whiff about what you think she should be behaving like or performing like. Neither do I.

Other people's dogs do not make you look bad. Your attitude about showing does.

[Elaine]

If you want to waste your time and money, go for it, but don't you dare call my dog a cookie cutter trained dog that has no joy in his work. You don't get a high performing dog without him having a good time while doing it. I seriously doubt you get compliments for your performance with your attitude. They are probably just laughing at how naughty she was and how much fun she had - yeah, that's just the response you should be looking for at a trial.