I see a lot of people coming out to agility and forgetting to warm up their dogs. Before beginning, please remember how cold it is and give your dog a chance to warm up. It helps them to mentally , physically, and emotionally focus and prepare to work!
Here are a few ideas.
- Practice left and right side heeling, walk, jog and run.
- Quick and random drops from a walk, jog and run as well as from a sit and stand.
- “Pet tricks” are also a good way to get the dog focused on you.
- Attention work using “here” or “this way”.
Your warm-up should take about 5 to 10 minutes with some 1 -2 minute down stays as well. Include your stretching exercises before jumping. Start the dog at a low height and gradually work up during your practice session.
Obedience From Mary Zacharatos
Why attend an obedience class? The answer may be different than you expect. Obedience classes offer your dog much more than just learning how to sit nicely or come on command. Here are a few important benefits of attending class with your pup.
The primary job of an obedience instructor is to help dog owners understand what motivates their dogs and the theories behind training so that they will be able to continue to work with their dogs in years to come. The learning steps to teach a dog to sit-stay outside a grocery store, shake a paw or play dead on command are the same. If properly taught, dog owners should have the knowledge to teach their dogs dozens of commands and tricks over time.
The most significant lesson learned by the dog in class is that he must pay attention to his owner in all situations. It is one thing to be able to get a dog to sit while his meal is being prepared in the kitchen. It is quite another to expect him to sit in a classroom with other dogs around. Obedience training, when done in a positive manner, helps your dog understand that obeying his trainer is fun and rewarding in all situations.
While most adult obedience classes do not allow dogs off leash, obedience class is often the first time a dog is exposed to members of its own species. We bring these animals into our homes when they are 6 to 8 weeks old and are warned by the Veterinarians to keep them away from other dogs until they have had all of their puppy shots at 4 - 5 months! This is a long time for a social animal like a dog to be isolated from its own kind. As well, city bylaws prohibit dogs from running free in the streets, thus isolating them further. Obedience class allows dogs to be exposed, sometimes for the first time since they were babies, to other dogs.
Lastly, obedience classes gives dogs a job to do. Most dogs come from working lines and dogs love to work! As early as 75 years ago the vast majority of dogs were expected to work in protection, pest control, herding, hunting, rescue and even in the fishing industry. Now, the vast majority really have no job to do and obedience work, using positive motivation, gives dogs a purpose.