Ring Training - Page 1

The WDA Universal is rapidly approaching. Those entered in the show that would like some ring training (or just anyone that's tired of running around calling their dog in some unorganized fashion) are welcome to attend a weekend of ring training THIS COMING WEEKEND!

Not far from Pittsburgh. Spend the week if you like.

The difference?

Ever noticed how your dog acts when it goes to the field? All excited and ready to go. Ever wonder why your dog doesn't act the same when they go to the ring? It's because they don't understand the ring.

Here's an invatation to spend this coming weekend ring training your dog. No running around in circles with some squeaky thing. We teach the dog what it's purpose is in the ring and what's expected.

Here's an example of a 3.5 month old male who's just learning. Look at his presence in the ring. Audio is on. No one yelling, no one calling, he knows what to do. He won his first class at a regional show a few weeks later, youngest in the class, largely based on his ring performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo2W_jkK2FA

E mail for more information. blauenbergen@att.net

Hi Dog1 - Stunningly handsome dog in your avatar.

So I went to your link and viewed the video. I also watched most of your other videos. Since many people showing won't be able to attend your training session, would you be willing to share with this board how you start your puppies/new dogs? I realize it is more effective to view and do the training in person but am hopeful you are willing to discuss.

I note your use of a flirt pole, double handler, and ring setup. Do you ever use a flexi?

Thanks for the comment on my avatar. That's my male Ronaldo Zellergrund. He was top 25 in the world in 2004, the highest placing VA1 Larus son. Mother is a super producing Quartz Templari daughter. Ronaldo was the youth and young dog sieger in the US. He's been VA rated 5 times in both the US and Canada. If you would like to see more of him, there are more pictures of him in his gallery.

My concept is pretty simple. For years I ran around the ring calling the dog with a toy or something. All the dog learned was what he naturally wanted to do, which was to go to me wherever I was.

They were never prepared for a crowd and didn't really do any better than my ability to double handle the dog. This unfortunately was not the best thing for the dog.

It dawned on me one day as I was watching some ring training that the whole process was backwards. Dogs going to their owner is not really training. There needs to be a behavior and a reward. Look at the dogs on the schutzhund field. They go out there with anticipation and when they see the field, they know just what to do and they are excited to do it.

Why not have the same response when a dog goes into the ring. Wouldn't it be nice to have a dog enthusiastically do what you want it to do in the ring. It is for me as I'm not as young as I used to be.

The process is simple. break the ring performance down into components and work on each aspect. Go step by step and let the dog progress from one exercise to the next. Once it's done your dog knows to go forward in the ring without you.

As far as the details go. I'll share those with anyone that cares to come out and train. I consider ring performance to be the biggest controlable factor in the final placement. I can't change my dog's anatomy, but I have an advantage over a dog with equal or better anatomy if I can assemble a better ring performance.

Dog 1 .. i think that  is a most wonderful  post .  my compliments [ for whatever it is worth !]. your insight .      two Larus offspring , my female & her brother were show trained , but i decided not to go national -- the female was invited to show in Germany / i declined . .. for me it is about in simplicity the fun .. your video shows how non-stressing and enjoying a past time it can / should be ./ . so thank you for sharing . you read my posts here most likely , but a moment to commend you on 'getting into the mind , emotion , motives , thoughts " of your dog as it applies to  the show ring and sharing . nice video [ and pup] !!!!. ...... PS  - no doubt . thumbs up to Renaldo !!

Thanks ALPHAPUP,

My results are much better and it's given my program a boost. This puppy was the youngest in the class. Called out in 5th place. All the other dogs were twice his size. As the class started he did what he knew to do and moved up a place. As the class continued, it looked like the other dogs fell off their program or the owners got tired of running. (Ever run out of steam double handling and see your dog go back as a result?) My pup continued to do what he knew how to do and he moved up two places to second. Dog in first place fell off his game and it was over, my pup had him then. Don't get me wrong, he's a good pup. He was also at a severe disadvantage against the older pups in the class. Normally I would have moved up a place until the my program fell apart and finished 4th or so. Now I'm competitive. I have a link to another video of his critique I'll post later.

Here's the judges comment, he was #7:

http://www.youtube.com/user/searackal?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/10/sWcAfR5iXLE

Hi Randy,

I think you meant this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWcAfR5iXLE

Sonia

Thanks for the correction!