Heeling and Recall problems

[Luvs]

How do I get the excited, happy, heeling Akasha I see during training to appear in the obedience ring? I can take Akasha anywhere under almost any condition (except the obedience ring ) and get some awesome heeling. Yesterday we went to one of the local parks to work. I had her heeling up and down the field while several groups of kids played soccer near by. She was totally focused on me, even when a couple of the kids tried to come up and pet her as we walked by ( I made them stop and let them pet her when we finished). Her heeling was beautiful! She was very focused as she pranced alongside of me.

This focused happy girl disappears when we enter the ring. She becomes easily distracted and I usually lose her at least once during our off lead heeling. I know that part of it is my nerves, but I am wondering if I am maybe doing something else that may be causing her behavior to change?
During our training sessions I do reward her when she is doing well with her tug, but her reward has been coming farther and farther apart. I can get her to heel for a very long distance w/o rewarding her and I have been able to keep her attentive and excited. I always take her tug ringside with me and when the dog before me is just about to finish up we do a little bit of heeling and then play a quick game of tug before we enter the ring. I slyly toss the tug to the side just before we enter the ring so she thinks I still have it As soon as we walk out of the ring she gets her reward.

Another problem I had this weekend was her recall. Friday she ran into me. Her front feet almost hit my chest She has NEVER touched me on a recall before. She ran into me again Sunday, altho it was more of a bump compared to the body slam I received Friday. Saturday instead of stopping in front of me she decided to save me the extra work and just go ahead and finish. I think part of her problem with her recall is that we have been working on recalls from more of a distance while preparing for her BH. I know that in Schutzhund the recall is done at more of a distance than in the AKC ring. I think she has gotten used to being able to run full speed and slide to a stop just before she hits me. She was able to get up to speed this weekend but didn't have time to stop
Any suggestions on how I can improve in these two areas? Her heeling is a bigger concern for me than her recall, but I would love to improve both areas.
We will be attempting to get her BH Friday and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[Patty1231]

I just went through the same thing with Rocco. He became search and rescue dog looking for a body under the mat at our last trial. I've been working really hard with him in distraction and high-smell areas and he's doing excellent on his heeling but I know once we get in the ring all bets are off. Obviously we DQ'd on the heeling but I was surprised another handler who's dog jumped up and body slammed her TWICE on the recall actually qualified. That really surprised me. I'll be watching with interest to the responses you get, too - just know you're not alone.

[Judi W]

The bump will actually cost you less than a walk in. The automatic finish is 5 points. Neither will NQ you unless you really lost a lot of change on the other exercises. Don't ever worry about an enthusiastic recall. It will become tempered with time. Do not ever finish during training. Save that for in the ring and train it from a pivot in front, not in combination with the come.

The lazy heeling is likely your fault and that is a whole book itself. Susan Clothier gave us some really good information on this at her last seminar I attended. I think I put some of it here in the forum, but don't remember where. don't have time to write much as I am at work......

[MARYDVM]

Have you done complete run throughs in practice, with no reward other than the "good dog" allowed at the end of each exercise in Novice? By the time a dog gets to the heel off lead part, they have done the on lead pattern, the figure 8, and the stand. If your dog expects reenforcement, she may be losing focus by this time. Also pay attention to how much you praise, and talk during training. If your dog is used to verbal feedback, the sudden complete lack of encouragement can throw them off.

Also check your pace. In training you may be moving much faster than you are in the ring. I have marked off a ring size practice area at home, because my dog heels FAST, and I have to train myself to handle the small space, short legs and tight turns in an AKC ring. If you normally practice at one speed, but adjust it down in competition, it will confuse your dog.

[spoteet]

Originally Posted by MARYDVM

Also check your pace. In training you may be moving much faster than you are in the ring. I have marked off a ring size practice area at home, because my dog heels FAST, and I have to train myself to handle the small space, short legs and tight turns in an AKC ring. If you normally practice at one speed, but adjust it down in competition, it will confuse your dog.

I have the same problem with Sajan. He heels much better at a fast pace which is what we practice at. I find myself slowing down in a trial or if someone is watching us to critique us. Winds up looking horrible!

[diddybopper04]

It sounds to me like you need to get this dog out to a LOT of matches where you can do a little training and reinforcement in the ring if you need to. As someone else also said, you might THINK you have the dog worked up to where she can do a full routine, but that is a LOT of concentration for any dog, and you have to work up to it so that you are both prepared. You should be able to routinely have someone call an entire heeling routine for you without having to stop and reward the dog until the end.

What also might help you IMMENSELY is to get someone to film you both working the dog when she is "on", and when you are showing her. Sometimes the differences that show up on tape are shocking.

THEN you have something concrete so that you can say, well, my footwork was off here. Or I started without the dog here. Or I lost her attention here when we went from slow back to normal, I slammed that halt and caused her to miss it....etc etc.

Filming during training and trials is an extremely helpful tool esp if you have someone experienced who can help you analyze what is going on between you and the dog.



The other thing that finally helped me start to relax was I told myself: I have PAID my entry fee. I'm entitled to this time in the ring. I should be able to enjoy it with my dog. I smile, I move happily and briskly on the execises, I rely on my extensively practiced and critiqued handling, and let the dog do its part. If it's not there in the ring, time to go home and work some more.

You might already do this too, but I watch the pattern as many times as I can before I go in the ring. I don't want the judge to EVER have to tell me where to go for the next exercise in the ring. As soon as one is finished, I am heeling my dog briskly and with style to the place for the start of the next exercise, WITH ATTENTION.

My instructor always impressed upon me that once its time to go in the ring, it's time to relax. If your work is done, it will be just fine. If it's not, you'll know what to work on this week. Dress nicely (that never hurts a thing, to look nice) SMILE (even if you don't feel like it), have beautiful handling, and give the dog the chance to do it's part.

[Luvs]

I think I have discovered part of our problem. My girl prefers to work in a large open area rather than the itty bitty AKC ring. Yesterday we went out to the training field where our club is holding their Schutzhund trial this weekend. I did an entire BH routine and her heeling was AWESOME! She never tried to sniff and only looked away once and just for a second. We did the entire routine w/o any reward until we were totally done. I was VERY impressed!

Her recall yesterday was flawless. She ran full speed at me and stopped in time sitting very close and STRAIGHT! Of course I was across the field instead of just a few feet away from her, so she had time to run all out and then slide to a stop, WITHOUT running into me.
We got several compliments on her beautiful heeling and recall.

Why couldn't we have been testing for our B yesterday?

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this evening her performance is as good as yesterday. Now if I could only get my act together we may actually pass today

I just hope that my nerves don't stop me from getting a couple hours of sleep after work this morning. Oh well if I don't get any sleep maybe I will be too tired to be nervous

[diddybopper04]

Next time you work her, try to get someone to film you, and also during your test if you can. That way if you have issues with something, you have a copy of it to review and critique yours and the dog's performance.

Very good luck to you, maybe you have figured it out.

[LynnS]

Hi Carol

Although we have not actually been in a real trial yet, I have done quite a few run throughs and I agree a 100% with diddy...if at all possible get someone to video you!

It is unbelievable how inconsistant and I can be without being aware of it at all...quite humbling actually

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by diddybopper04

Next time you work her, try to get someone to film you, and also during your test if you can. That way if you have issues with something, you have a copy of it to review and critique yours and the dog's performance.

Very good luck to you, maybe you have figured it out.

I usually have my neice film during trials. I love being able to go back and see all the places I messed up and hopefully improve them for next time. It seems like once I get one particular problem fixed another one pops up It is a vicious cycle

[LynnS]

Originally Posted by Luvs

I usually have my neice film during trials. I love being able to go back and see all the places I messed up and hopefully improve them for next time. It seems like once I get one particular problem fixed another one pops up It is a vicious cycle

Sorry I spoke too soon...

The other thing I have noticed is that Bella seems to improve as she matures mentally...she focuses better in varying environments. But then again she is also a bit more opinionated

[diddybopper04]

Originally Posted by Luvs

I usually have my neice film during trials. I love being able to go back and see all the places I messed up and hopefully improve them for next time. It seems like once I get one particular problem fixed another one pops up It is a vicious cycle

I know what you mean. That is why it would be so valuable for you to compare one of her performances like that awesome heeling at the larger field you were talking about. Then film her again when you are trialing. If there are differences, then you can compare your handling on both tapes and see if you can find any inconsistencies.

Another thing that helped me was to find a song I like that had the proper speed for me to step to the beat while I was heeling. Once I did that for a while, my pace and stride became much more consistent and therefore easier for the dog to follow.

Another thing that is really REALLY important is to have someone call routines for you. You cannot duplicate your trial conditions if you don't have someone calling the pattern for you.

An unknown pattern is a good thing to do as well, forces you to THINK and use your footwork.

[Judi W]

Competition only lagging (when not in your training) is often caused by a stressed handler. The dog can sense your stress even if it is something as subtle as the tenseness of your neck or jaw or fingers. They feel that vibe and think "holy cripe, something bad must be going to happen" and the next thing is "I don't want to be near when it does"........ Your BH routine was still training and did not have a real judge with a real clipboard in hand.

One of the best things to de-stress, is to realize that a NQ is not the end of the world, they do not come in and take your dog away from you and they don't even announce it over the PA! Putting the whole thing in perspective and just plain having fun with your dog will make such a difference that you are much more likely to get that Q, your dog will feel more like hanging out with you in the ring.

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by diddybopper04

Another thing that helped me was to find a song I like that had the proper speed for me to step to the beat while I was heeling. Once I did that for a while, my pace and stride became much more consistent and therefore easier for the dog to follow.

Another thing that is really REALLY important is to have someone call routines for you. You cannot duplicate your trial conditions if you don't have someone calling the pattern for you.

An unknown pattern is a good thing to do as well, forces you to THINK and use your footwork.

The song with a good beat would be great during AKC trials. For our BH today I have to keep track of how many steps I am taking (which may be a problem ) so I will have to focus on that instead of trying the song. For the BH it is the exact same pattern every time, my problem is memorizing it. I thought I had it down, but then I got on the field yesterday and 1/2 way thru forgot what was next Today I will be getting there early enough to walk it without Akasha to make sure that I have it. To be honest I am MUCH more concerned about me that I am about her. I KNOW she can do it, not so sure about me

I actually do MUCH better having someone call out a routine for me. That way there is not as much thinking involved, I just do what they tell me

Judi, I totally agree with you (big surprise there huh? ) I know that my nerves play a HUGE part in her performance. Today is more for experience than anything. If she does well, GREAT! If not well there is always next month of we can try again next year. I am really proud of what she has accomplished thus far and not passing her B today would not bother me (I just have to remind myself of that when I am on the field )
Yesterday during our routine I was extremely stressed. The entire club, including members I have never met before were all sitting there watching us. I felt like such a DORK, since I am still learning the routine and of course I made some mistakes. Today I figure who cares. I am going to ACT like we know what we are doing and hopefully we can pull it off. Considering we decided to go ahead and attempt the B just a few days ago I can't get upset if we don't do well, since I have not put in the time walking the routine, ect....

What ever happens, happens
(still keeping my fingers crossed that we pass tho)

Thank you all for the input! It is greatly appreciated!

[diddybopper04]

I have never understood having the same pattern and no one calling it.

LOL

Good luck tho, and let us know how you do!