Are we ready?

[elisabeth_00117]

Stark and I have been working very hard with our obedience as I would like to trail him in the spring for the first time.

We have been working with distractions and it has been going good. We have our off days, but who doesn't.

My question is.. how do you know when your dog is ready?

We train in different locations every week and I can honestly say that he is very good at ignoring his surrounds and focusing on me about 90% of the time. The only issue we are having is a squirrel obsession.

His sit/stays, down/stays, stand/stays, come, finishes, heeling, etc., are amazing and I couldn't be more proud of him. We have worked very hard to get to this point but I am still not sure if we are ready for competition.

How do you know?

Thanks everyone!

[Kayos and Havoc]

I would consider entering some fun matches to see how he will do in a show like setting. If he does well there than enter your first show when he is amture enough.

Do you have a training club close by? You might even go take a class with them as well to get him used to working around other dogs.

All of my dogs are squirrel obsessed. I would not use the ability to ignore squirrels as a barometer unless you are going to a show in the middle of squirrel haven.

I also see that Stark is 6 1/2 months old? Or you have not updated your siggy. I know of very few dogs that are mature enough to handle the stress of showing at that age. I have pushed a few dogs into showing by the time they are 18 months old. They may heve been technically ready but not emotionally ready and they ended up not really enjoying it. I would make sure Stark is mentally ready before you go dog showing but that does not mean you can't go to matches and have fun.

I had planned on starting Havoc this fall and he is 2 1/2. He has been technically ready for a year. With this deployment I have been forced to wait as he is in Oklahoma and I am watching the sand blow in Iraq. So we will shake off the dust and probably start showing next summer. He will be 3 and truly mature by then.

Don't rush in til you are both very ready. And I read somewhere it takes 2 years to build a solid heeling dog. I believe that.

[Jason L]

Hey, we're more or less on the same schedule. I'm also planning to do some UKC shows with Obie sometime next year. Also starting April 2010 mutts like Obie will be able to compete in AKC under their own category so we could do that as well. Obie is a mellow, sweet, goofy, low drive, wonderful house dog (What Liesje described of Coke reminds me a lot of Ob) but he already has his CGC and I would at least like to get a CD on him before I "retire" him LOL.

Like Stark, Obie knows all the exercises. A lot of stuff need polishing (like crooked front for example) and I as his handler need a lot of work but he can do the basic. Now the question is can he do it in a ring or will he get so freaked out by the setting that he shuts down. I really don't know ... it'll be interesting, that's for sure!

[Jason L]

Kathy,

What you say about mental maturity is very interesting. Obie just turned one in September and I know he definitely has a way to go before he can handle the stress of the ring (He is not good in strange or crowded places).

[Kayos and Havoc]

I would probably start working with him on that (I am sure you know that and are!)

Also consider showing outdoors. That environment of course has it's own set of distractions for a dog but I have found that the noise level is less, things are a bit more spread out so less crowded for a dog with space or crowd issues.

Where I am at now (Oklahoma) most shows are indooer, unfortunately. When I was in Oreogn, most were outdoors. I prefer an outdoor show myself as I don't like the noise and crowds.

Havoc got his RA in Oklahoma City in August, it was inside, loud, hot and wall to wall dogs, people and crates. He did very well with the level of distraction and the hectic tempo. I was proud of his performance (3 First places) but not every dog can do that especially an immature dog. Even at 2 years and 3 months, Havoc was ready to go home at the end of the day. So was I.

[Jason L]

Obie's trainer told me for his first show (whenever that may be) she will find me one in some one horse podunk town somewhere. I like the idea of outdoor show too. He is a thousand time better on grass outside then on that dog show mat thing inside. The only problem is he turned into a sniffer outside.

[Deejays_Owner]

Do correction match's, they are just like a Trial with Judges.
We go to Campaign Dog Academy, they have lots of match's with two CKC Judges on staff.
And have been at them before and they will bring in an outside CKC Judge, so the dogs get to see other people in the ring.
Fee is $10 for a run, 2 rings on Sat. Nov 21st, Go to Campus Events.

http://www.campaigndogacademy.com/index.htm

Good Luck!!!

[Kayos and Havoc]

You two must live near each other! Don't get jazzad about a "correction" match. They call them that because you can fix what the dog made a mistake on or what you made a mistake on. In other words "Train". They are about the same as a fun match.

[Branca's Mom]

Have you done any Rally trials? If not you may want to ease into Obedience that way. Lot less nerve racking since you can talk to your dog.

[Liesje]

I would do matches! Don't get nervous over them. Heck, Nikon has never taken a rally class (yet) or really trained for rally or AKC style obedience but if there was a match this weekend, you bet I'd enter! They are cheap and a good way to practice in a "real" ring without it counting for anything.