Basic is done now on to bigger things

[Sheltiemama]

Brandi and Abby had their class tonight. What a way different kind of class it was too. We observed the use of the training stick and were given one to use this week. The object is to have the dog follow the end of the stick (succession of training is as follows: to look, then to touch, then to follow) Our girls did very well with this first lesson. We are to do homework 3 times a day for 15 minutes each session on making them comfortable with the stick and getting them to follow it. From there Ron says the sky is the limit with training just get them to follow the bouncing ball so to speak.

Next week we do some free shaping on what they call the ladder. We are going to teach our dogs to move and work away from our sides with this class. I'm just so excited. Brandi actually walked away from me and went to Ron to get treats for a few behaviors. He was impressed. Abby, Julie, Brandi and I were in a small gazebo type structure with an Australian Shepherd, and a Golden Retriever and their handlers. All of us were using the training sticks. What a hoot. Brandi kept looking at the other dogs instead of the stick so I stuck the business end of the wand in my treat bag and twirled it around in the treats so it would smell like her treats. Man she followed that thing half way across the gazebo and completely forgot about the other dogs. When I stopped she touched it with her nose I treated her big time for learning her lesson so well. We worked on that the whole evening. More or less just introducing them to the sticks. He showed us how to use a set up so the dog succeeds every time and that the only outcome is for the the dog to touch the stick before they get the treat. We're gonna have lots of fun this session....

Brandi and Judy