Have you ever observed someone who, with their dog, is
engaged in an activity where both of them seem to truly enjoy each
other? There seems to be a sense of communion along with a strong, solid
bond. Here is a relationship that has endured and thrived over
time. Do you find yourself wondering how they reached this point
and if you will ever get there?!
| When you got your puppy, you defined the relationship. You
went on to develop the relationship by helping him through the different
stages of growth and development, and you did the training required. As you
watched him grow and learn, you marveled at how quickly he caught on, and
maybe you were even inspired to look for more things you could do together
that would build on these early successes. If this is the case then,
congratulations! You are already on your way to further success. |
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Unfortunately, it is possible you might be tempted to think,
"We’ve been through some classes, the dog has done pretty well so now I
can relax because the work has all been done." WRONG! Think again. The
real work has only begun. As is the case with any relationship that we have
worked hard to establish and we value (such as marriage), we must maintain and
nurture it if it is to thrive. The early work and training provided you with a
means of communicating with your dog, the tools to move forward and really
enjoy each other.
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Obedience is a sport that, according to the Canadian Kennel
Club, demonstrates the usefulness of the dog as a companion of man and not
merely the ability to follow specific routines in the obedience ring. The
Obedience rule book states: |
"The basic objective of Obedience Trials is to produce
dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in
the presence of other dogs, in a manner that reflects credit on the sport of
Obedience."
In the process of training for competition, a truly aware
handler will experience a sense of becoming a "team" and the
relationship will move to a higher level. Another advantage of getting
involved in one of the more organized activities is that it can tap into our
competitive nature and serve to motivate us to work towards improvement. It is
important to mention, however, that if we are involved in a competitive sport,
our dog should have a personality that rises to the occasion.
Not every dog is suited for every activity, however every
dog needs to be included in some activity. Someone once said to me,
"When I first got my dog, I took him for walks because I figured it was
good for him and he needed it, now I take him for walks because it’s good
for me and I need it."
At Tsuro, we are proud of the accomplishments of our
students who decide to compete and we are always ready to help someone get
started. We also work with students through the more advanced levels.
Competitive Obedience is basically divided into three
levels; Novice, Open and Utility. Anyone having successfully completed
our Intermediate program could, with just a bit more work, get their dog ready
for Novice trials. The exercises you will be tested on at the Novice
level are:
- Heel on leash
- Figure 8 (a heeling exercise)
- Stand for examination (on leash)
- Heel free (off leash heeling)
- Recall (Come when called)
- Group exercises - one minute sit and three minute down.
The Canadian Kennel Club has published the specific rules
governing all trials and anyone wanting to trial should get a copy of those
rules.
