Iris' Den
Obedience
Graphic providied by Babycass's Den
In this page, I'll try to explain to you what the AKC obedience program is. I feel that the correct method to use is the Koehler method.
The Koehler method teaches the dog something by showing it how to do it. Once he's in the position, LOTS OF PRAISE!!! After awhile, your dog will no what the command means. If you say it and the dog doesn't do it, correct. Once he does it, PRAISE!!! If you just use corrections all the time, it would be unfair.
Training wise, I would recommond you stay away from any place using treats and what they call "positive reinforcement" and "motivational training." I've tried it with one dog and seen many other dogs trained with it, and it did't work anywhere near as excellent as training methods such as Koehler, Bauman, Ammen, and Strickland. Using treats in dog training, all the time as a motivator, doesn't work. Esspecially with GSD's. They love to please you, just from your voice, not from a piece of food.
The AKC has 3 different levels of obedience. In all the classes the perfect score is 200 points. You must have a minimum of 170 points. You can get 5 different titles. The different titles are (from easiest to hardest):
CD (Companion Dog) class, Novice
CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) class, Open
UD (Utility Dog) class, Utility
UDX (Utility Dog Excellent) class, Utility and Open
OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) class, Utility and Open
(All of the info on the different classes are from the AKC web site.)
In Novice you have to do the following exercises:
Heel on leash and complete a figure eight.
Stand for examination.
Heel free (off the leash).
Recall: After staying on command while the handler walks away, the dog must come and sit facing the handler, then go to heel position.
Long Sit: While a dog stays in heel position, the handler leaves the dog and walks to the other side of the ring to face the dog. The dog must then stay for one minute, until handler is back in heel position.
Long Down: While the dog lies down, the handler leaves the dog and goes to the other side of the ring to face the dog. The handler then goes back to the dog, which must remain down until judge orders the end of the exercise.
In Open you have to do the following exercises:
Heel free and complete a figure eight.
Drop On Recall: From the heel position, the handler commands the dog to stay, then leaves the dog and walks to the other side of the ring to face the dog. The handler calls the dog to come, then halfway to the handler, the dog must drop down on command. Finally, the handler recalls the dog, who sits and faces the handler as in the Novice Recall.
Retrieve On Flat: On command the dog must retrieve a dumbbell and return to the handler.
Retrieve Over High Jump: Dog must go over jump, retrieve dumbbell and return with it, again over the jump.
Broad Jump: Dog must stay where left until signaled to jump over two to four hurdles (depending on the size of the dog), then dog must return to handler as in Novice Recall.
Long Sit: Similar to above, except handler walks out of sight and the sit period is longer.
Long Down: Similar to above, except handler walks out of sight and dog must remain down for more time.
In Utility you have to do the following exercises:
Signal Exercise: Handler signals dog to Heel, Stand, Stay, Drop, Sit and Come.
Scent Discrimination: Dog must select handler's article from among other articles by scent alone, then promptly return the right article to the handler. The dog performs this exercise twice.
Directed Retrieve: The handler instructs the dog to stay until directed to retrieve, then the dog must go to the designated glove, and retrieve it promptly.
Moving Stand And Examination: Dog must heel, stand, and stay on command and be examined by the judge.
Directed Jumping: Dog must go away in the direction indicated by the handler, stop, jump as directed, and return as in Recall.
Even though I do obedience myself, it is hard to explain all these things without having a whole web site about them. Here are some links so you can find out what all these things are:
This part of the AKC web site on obedience
The Dog Obedience Page
