front & treats

[debbiej]

I apologize if this has been covered in past threads. When practicing obedience with Hilda, sometimes I use treats as rewards and sometimes not. Before I knew better, I had been keeping my hands folded in front of me when I called her front. she runs in and sits just right every time-treat or not-if my hands are in front. But now I've learned I have to keep hands at sides, (just a couple of weeks ago) about half the time she runs in, sniffs a hand and sits pokey and crooked, or does an automatic finish. when she does this, I take her leash and call her front and use a leash correction to reminder her what she was supposed to do. Just 5 more days to work on this, and I’d like to feel more secure about her fronts. When she does it right I praise like crazy, but am wondering if there is anyother way to make it more failsafe.

[Judi W]

If you are talking about a trial, the automatic finish can cost you up to 5 points. She has been using your hands as a target. (your instructor's fault for not teaching you correctly).

No matter.

As she is getting right near position, give a quick "sit" command, while keeping your hands at your side. Make sure you have a big smile starting the second after you give your come command so she learns to focus on your face, not your hands. A smile ahd happy eye contact. Give that sit without moving your mouth if at all possible, but with a big grin. You can actually guide her into position with your smile and face (looking down to the right place for her to be as she comes near) Focusing on your face will give you a straight front. Do NOT finish your dog ever at the end of a recall. That leads to automatic finishes or crooked fronts as the dog prepares to finish.

Try this and see if it works. If you aren't moving your mouth, but just getting the word out while smiling at her as she moves closer (and yes, bending your head a leeetle tiny bit) it should work. Remember that in Novice A, the judge is not likely to point you for your head, face following the dog's progress towards position. It won't be Gains for heaven's sake. Even if they do, it would only be 1/2 or 1 pt. Certainly not the 4 or 5 of an automatic finish.

[Miabella]

I always reward my dog from my mouth, spitting treats for close, straight fronts. Of course, I'm not sure if you can re-pattern in 5 days.

[Judi W]

Laurie,
First we'd have to teach Debbie to spit, then the dog to catch........

[debbiej]

sorry, I know I can't learn to spit in 5 days! we will keep smiling...

[lblax]

also between now and the trial dont do anymore finishes just the front she already knows the finish or she wouldnt be jumping ahead and doing it on her own so dont practice that. she will do the finish in the trial when you give her the command

[debbiej]

ok, will practice finish seperately from fronts. Hilda loves eye contact and happy faces, I think I can hiss, "sit" through a smile. I will try it first thing in the morning. (not home right now)

[lblax]

Originally Posted by debbiej

ok, will practice finish seperately from fronts.

she doesnt need the practice on the finish at all

[Miabella]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Laurie,
First we'd have to teach Debbie to spit, then the dog to catch........

How true, it does take some practice! And then you have to get over the embarrassment of people thinking you are weird and gross. All in all, too much to do in 5 days. Go with the smiling, Debbie.

[Judi W]

I agree with Larry. Once I teach the finish, I don't practice it at all, other than a few from the come fore, and then I'll take off as they start to get around to teach them not to dwaddle but I keep it as part of the heeling work, not the recall..

[debbiej]

ok, but I want to make sure she doesn't mess that up either. I think you're right though. maybe one runthrough before saturday...

[MontanaRott]

Also, should she do the automatic finish when you trial, before the judge says exercise finished, tell her to finish. If she gets up from the heel postiion and goes around and back to the heel position, you will get SOME of the lost points back. Guerin blew by Phil in the recall and went to the heel position, Phil told him to heel, he got up and went around and back to heel and the judge told him after, that they saved themselves and she gave him back some points.
Judi will correct if this was just this particular judge.

I just asked Phil if he remembered how many points he got back and it was 3.

[Judi W]

Depends upon the judge. The missing front is 3 points. The no finish can be 2, some judges will gift the finish if the dog goes all the way around........

[flyballmom]

This isn't going to help for in 5 days from now, but at a seminar I went to awhile back, the trainer was way big into using toys more than treats. For straight fronts she rolled a small tug toy into her shirt, then when the dog sat in the proper position, she dropped the toy. HER dog caught the toy as it was dropping. The first few times I tried this with Blitz it was very scary. Now she sits and waits while I fumble to get the toy OUT of my shirt.

[debbiej]

someone at class suggested smushing treats into my zipper. like you say, probably don't have enough time to really try a lot of new things, and really I didn't know she was going to come to my hands at my sides...
I like the toy idea, and I have brought toys a couple of times to class, but Hilda got really rowdy with toys at the time. now she is better and may realize it is a reward. I like the visual of you trying to get the toy out!! I didn't know Blitz was patient!