6. PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR EXHIBITION 6.1. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE PERFORMING OF THE EXERCISES Before I explain the next exercise, I have to talk about the following things: how to dose stimulus, types of stimuli and how to trigger off stimulus. Of course, the most important thing to know is to what extent a stimulus should be used. Each dog has a specific and different degree of irritability. Some dogs need a stronger and others need weaker stimulus which can cause dog’s attention that we use for training. A dog’s character is greatly significant. Some dogs do not care for work, ball or any other object, and the others are interested in everything. They can even be too interested which is not a good thing. You should aspire to have a dog of good character, but balanced and ready for work. The important thing to remember is that the dog responds to stimuli. Stimuli can be positive and negative. Of course, that does not mean that the negative stimuli are something wrong, or that by negative stimuli we only punish the dog. On the contrary, positive and negative stimuli in a particular time of application give good results. For example, if we express commands loudly and sharply to the dog, it does not mean that it should be afraid. This way, Commands should be expressed this way - loudly, clearly and quickly. When the dog walks by our leg and we want it to follow our direction, we can say the command beside or leg and pull the leash sharply. This way, we actually show the dog which direction we want it to take. The commands yuck or not that given sharply and loudly seem frightening, but have a positive effect for the dog and for us. For example, your dog wants to eat something found on the street. By saying “not that” slowly and quietly without pulling the leash, you cannot stop a dog from eating the food found on the street. We would still eat it! Therefore, the proper use of stimuli has a right impact and results, and therefore it is of great importance to know it. There is a very big difference between how it looks like in practice and how it looks like at the exhibition. At the exhibition, we have no ambient like the one we have in training time for setting the dog, one assistant, and complete silence. There, we are among a lot of other dogs, crowd, more assistants, more items for calling the dog and the audience. At the exhibition, we have to do everything within a couple of minutes. Remember This: The most important thing is that the dog develops the desire for the object, resulting in stimulation – that is exactly what we need. Stimulation can be induced by small ball, big ball, ball with rope, sausage for biting or any other thing which the dog can react upon. Of course, we should not attempt to induce stimulation with living things - cats, dogs, etc. That would be a wrong thing to do. What should be noted is that the leash, while there is a leash, should always be held tight, because, as soon as the dog starts loosening, you will feel that on the leash and then you should immediately signal the helper to intensify the stimulation. It is also very important that the dog gets used to the tight leash because that way it feels the pressure on its neck and we know that the dog wants to go ahead and that it is tightened. Later, after a lot of practice, when you out the dog in the desired position, you can loosen the leash. Dogs often confused by a tight leash, do not stand in the desired position, or move backwards. As I said, an helper is equally important person in this exercise. Only one man can never take a dog to an exhibition. Assistants must carefully observe guide’s signals and the dog itself and must evaluate how much and what way he should call for the dog and what moves he should make. The most important thing is that an helper needs to watch the dog and see if it loses attention. Sometimes it may not be noticed because the dog keeps ears positioned forwardly and in fact loosens the body, and the helper is the person who can feel that the best way. In time, assistants must start to understand what the dog acts upon easily (which object, sound) and whether he needs to hide behind something and call the dog that way. An helper also follows the instructions of the guide on how to throw the ball or other object. In similar exercises, all participants play an important role. To make this show look good, all are equally important - a guide, a dog, an assistant.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 18:45:55 +0000
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