News and ResultsMalcolm says I have a death wish for my boy.
Routine 1 Hakan got eaten by a crocodile "Never smile at a Crocodile" Routine 2 "A Small World" he was safe Routine 3 (Still to come) Hakan gets stabbed "Mack the Knife" ?What next? The end is in sight. Our last competition is Labour weekend, this is the big one for Obedience, Tracking and "Paws". Hakan competes in Obedience on Saturday and Monday and "Paws" on Sunday evening abour 5.00 pm. Not many entries as 1/2 our competitors will be in Christchurch for the Agility. Onlookers will be home in time for the Rugby. | Events featuring our Swedish Vallhunds |
A few words about Hakan and me. My name is Yvonne and I am the other half of Malcolm( he comes up a lot on the group. Hakan turned 8 in April, he is an only child so tends to miss his birthday because there are no others to remind his negligent mother. Thank heaven for his godmother who rarely forgets. We belong to Titahi Bay Obedience Club in Wellington though don't get there very often due to work. The rest of the family consist of Kuri, a 31/2 year old heading dog and a 17 year old Burmese cat. I am a nurse at Wellington Hospital and have been involved in dog obedience as a trainer and competitor for 25 years.
We also do "Paws and Music" which is a relatively young dog sport for New Zealand but has been running for many years in Britian and Australia. There is a picture of us in fancy dress on the June month of the calendar. There are two main groups to "Paws", Heelwork to Music where there are only 8 positions which are allowed and 2/3 of the routine must be heelwork. The other group is Freestyle where anything goes but no more than 1/;3 of the routine can be heelwork.
The idea is to teach your dog tricks, and we all know how easy this is for a Vallhund, find a piece of music that you can listen to hundreds and hundreds of times and interpret this into a routine. Two links to hopefully show what I mean.
Yvonne and Hakan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqb2gi2JhDk
Yvonne and Kuri(honorary Vall)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjfZGGxzyJs
I hope this makes sense, I am new to editing, enjoy your Valls they will keep you smiling. Yvonne
"How Too"
Roll Over.
Put your dog in a down position.
Crouch beside and hold treat, in your left hand, in front of dog's nose
Slowly move the treat, keeping it low away from you, around to dog's shoulder/rib area, the nose should follow.
Move treat over the dog's body and the head and legs should lift, off the ground, to follow the treat.
Keep treat moving and encourage dog to follow.
Help flip the dog over if necessary.
As usual lots of praise for attempts made.
"Front" (I use a clicker for this but it is not essential)
Stand with your dog in front of you at a 90 degree angle.
Use your cue work and feed dog.
Repeat several times until you think the dog has got it.
Use the cue word and through the treat out to the side.
Use cue word to see if dog returns to the position, you may need to use a little body movement as encouragement.
Continue until your dog is steady on return then try moving one step sideways.
Dog may find one way easier than the other(left or right) so work to the strong side.
When that is secure, try the other way.
"Touch and tap"
Stand with dog at 90 degrees to you in front.
Use cue word and put one foot out.
Keep trying til there is movement from dog. A gentle touch to his foot with yours can help.
Keep trying until he gets the message.
Change feet and use another cue word. This side should be easier as he will have the idea.
Once dog is secure with either foot and command try alternating.
Then it is a clever dog that can tell the difference and only use the command given. ( 3 touch or 3 tap) or whatever variation given.
ABOVE ALL ELSE DO NOT FORGET TO GO OVERBOARD WITH THE PRAISE, TOY OR FOOD. WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOUR DOG.
"Weave"
Stand with dog beside you. Food in both hands.
Step forward, allow room for dog to go between legs.
Encourage dog to go through between legs
Feed only when dog is completely through or he/she will stop 1/2 way and you will fall over dog(as I did)
Take a step with the other foot and encourage again back to side.
Continue alternating steps and increase pace.
Once dog is secure in the weave, lessen the amount of bribery
Jump Over
Agility people will not understand the need for this but Hakan needed to be taught so ----
I used tins from the pantry, two each side of the doorway ond a long enough stick on top across the door way..
Dog is on one side about a metre away and you on the other side.
Call your dog and ask him to jump. Reward when he gets to you.
Continue until the dog understands the command.
Once secure with his command, try the hall without the barrier using your arm or leg.
When this is going well progress outside in unfamiliar areas..
We also do "Paws and Music" which is a relatively young dog sport for New Zealand but has been running for many years in Britian and Australia. There is a picture of us in fancy dress on the June month of the calendar. There are two main groups to "Paws", Heelwork to Music where there are only 8 positions which are allowed and 2/3 of the routine must be heelwork. The other group is Freestyle where anything goes but no more than 1/;3 of the routine can be heelwork.
The idea is to teach your dog tricks, and we all know how easy this is for a Vallhund, find a piece of music that you can listen to hundreds and hundreds of times and interpret this into a routine. Two links to hopefully show what I mean.
Yvonne and Hakan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqb2gi2JhDk
Yvonne and Kuri(honorary Vall)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjfZGGxzyJs
I hope this makes sense, I am new to editing, enjoy your Valls they will keep you smiling. Yvonne
"How Too"
Roll Over.
Put your dog in a down position.
Crouch beside and hold treat, in your left hand, in front of dog's nose
Slowly move the treat, keeping it low away from you, around to dog's shoulder/rib area, the nose should follow.
Move treat over the dog's body and the head and legs should lift, off the ground, to follow the treat.
Keep treat moving and encourage dog to follow.
Help flip the dog over if necessary.
As usual lots of praise for attempts made.
"Front" (I use a clicker for this but it is not essential)
Stand with your dog in front of you at a 90 degree angle.
Use your cue work and feed dog.
Repeat several times until you think the dog has got it.
Use the cue word and through the treat out to the side.
Use cue word to see if dog returns to the position, you may need to use a little body movement as encouragement.
Continue until your dog is steady on return then try moving one step sideways.
Dog may find one way easier than the other(left or right) so work to the strong side.
When that is secure, try the other way.
"Touch and tap"
Stand with dog at 90 degrees to you in front.
Use cue word and put one foot out.
Keep trying til there is movement from dog. A gentle touch to his foot with yours can help.
Keep trying until he gets the message.
Change feet and use another cue word. This side should be easier as he will have the idea.
Once dog is secure with either foot and command try alternating.
Then it is a clever dog that can tell the difference and only use the command given. ( 3 touch or 3 tap) or whatever variation given.
ABOVE ALL ELSE DO NOT FORGET TO GO OVERBOARD WITH THE PRAISE, TOY OR FOOD. WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOUR DOG.
"Weave"
Stand with dog beside you. Food in both hands.
Step forward, allow room for dog to go between legs.
Encourage dog to go through between legs
Feed only when dog is completely through or he/she will stop 1/2 way and you will fall over dog(as I did)
Take a step with the other foot and encourage again back to side.
Continue alternating steps and increase pace.
Once dog is secure in the weave, lessen the amount of bribery
Jump Over
Agility people will not understand the need for this but Hakan needed to be taught so ----
I used tins from the pantry, two each side of the doorway ond a long enough stick on top across the door way..
Dog is on one side about a metre away and you on the other side.
Call your dog and ask him to jump. Reward when he gets to you.
Continue until the dog understands the command.
Once secure with his command, try the hall without the barrier using your arm or leg.
When this is going well progress outside in unfamiliar areas..