Training Tools

Dog Training Tools for Tracking

By Maya on February 27, 2011

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Here are the tools you’ll need when you’re teaching your dog to track:

1. Long line or “tracking line”. I got one that is too narrow so it is difficult to hold properly. You should hold the line with our fingertip and let the line gently slide through your fingers as the dog moves ahead tracking. This one here is “1 and I plan to order this. For now I’ll make do with my too thin one. NOTE: run the line UNDER the dogs front leg when it’s tracking.

Tracking Line

2. Fur saver collar. This is on every Schutzhund dog I’ve seen and used for all parts of the training. Generally they are not at your local pet stores, you’ll have to order. The chrome plated steel is least costly, but will eventually rust. You can find chrome on Amazon, but the stainless you can find at Leerburg, Elite K-9, or other specialty stores.

3. FOOD! High value food. Chicken, beef, livers…things the dog doesn’t usually get and loves.

Posted in Dog Sports & Training, Lizzie - GSD, Product Reviews, Schutzhund, Tracking, Training Tools Tagged Dog Tracking, long line, Schutzhund Tracking, Teaching your dog to track, tracking line Leave a Comment

Obedience training tips: focus and heeling

By Maya on February 27, 2011

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Sometimes, you just get lucky. I happened to stumble upon the nicest couple in the world that happens to also be amazing dog trainers in both Schutzhund and AKC. They have competed internationally with their dogs since around 1975! They specialize in German Shepherds and just bred what may be their last litter. If I could only have five dogs! No, even I have limits.

AKC obedience is easy to get into. There are many clubs with that tend to have a congenial, friendly atmosphere. It’s easier to get help and instruction at these clubs. Schutzhund, on the other hand, is much harder. There is a lot to learn and if you are a newcomer it’s hard to find someone to take you aside and really teach you. Most have to just try to learn by watching. I am so lucky to have found these people who are willing to take their time to show me the ropes. I’ll share as much as I can here.

Here is the list of main items to master with Lizzie in obedience over the next few weeks. (I’ll work on focus with Riyo as well).
1. Work on focus: get dogs attention by making a quick little gasp noise to get them to look, the make a “click” sound, and treat. Keep treats all over the house and do this randomly all day long as well as in training sessions.
2. Heeling. Treat in left hand, up over dog’s head to keep dog looking up. Start one step at a time. Heel a step, sit, heel, sit while keeping the dog’s attention.
3. “Here” or “Front”. Get the dog right up to your belly and sitting straight. Hold your hand right on your stomach, palm up, so the dog gets right up on you on the here. If dog is not close enough, step back and pull it closer.
4. All this is done with motivation (food). No force.
5. Keep lengthening sit stays and down stays. Down stay needs to get at least 10 minutes.

Some additional focus tips:
Get a handlers jacket with high chest pockets. Pull the treats from there and hold in your mouth. If you always have your treats in your pockets, the dogs are always looking at your pockets and not up and your face. Added bonus is you don’t get all your shirts and jackets dirty with dog treat crumbs.
Handler’s jacket that I just ordered from http://leerburg.com/trainersvests.htm:

Dog Training Handler's Vest

Teach the dog to catch and improve focus:

1. first lob the treat underhanded to the dog so it sees it coming clearly

2. once they are good at that, hold the treat in your lips and get the dogs attention. When the dog looks, make a click sound with your moth to mark the behavior and then launch that treat toward the dog like you would a spit ball. Click must come within 1 to 1.5 seconds after the correct behavior.

3. The purpose is to get a dog that intently looks as your face. You don’t always have to launch from your mouth. The purpose is to get good eye contact and have the dog focusing on your face and not what hand the treat is in!

Hide treat all around you house: Put treat in place where you can reach them but your dog cannot. This way at random times all day you can work on this focus game.

Suggested treats: Pupperoni. They are dry, not gross, and easy to carry around and store.

Posted in Dog Sports & Training, Lizzie - GSD, Obedience Training, Product Reviews, Schutzhund, Training Tools Tagged dog focus training, dog training tips, obedience, pupperoni Leave a Comment

Emergency recall using shark line?

By Maya on February 18, 2011

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Here’s one method someone at the training club, who is really a professional, suggested for the emergency recall. She said she went down to the local sporting goods store and bought fishing line, shark strength. Then she attached that line to her dog that had a real problem coming when called. Every time she said come, no matter where that dog was, she “magically” reeled him on the invisible line. Apparently after a few hundred repetitions, it sunk in!

I found this shark line online at a fisherman’s outfitter. If you have a big strong dog, I assume you’ll need something of that strength if you want to try this. I haven’t tried it yet. If anyone has, let me know how it worked.

I figure for Riyo, since he tops out at 4.5lbs, shark line is an overkill. Depending on the dog weight, I’d just check the line strength and buy according to your dog’s size, tadpole to shark.

While looking into shark line, I did find this interesting tool. It’s a short shark line that is apparently useful when making the transition from on-leash heeling to of-leash heeling. I have not yet purchased it yet since I haven’t gotten any kind of heeling looking up to par, but if anyone wants to try it out and let me know how it works, I found it online at J and J dog supplies.