Teaching the Stand

I teach the stand "hands off". How, depends on the size of the dog. If it's a small pup, I am probably still luring the pup into the sit/stand/down. To do the stand I will be a little off to one side of the pup. Lure it into a sit or down. Then holding the…

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Focus for Heeling

This is how I start it with all dogs, pup or adult, trained or untrained. I do modify it as I progress and see either strong progress or issues. Each step is started in a neutral environment, as the dog progresses in that step distractions are slowly added. I hold my hands away from my…

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Retrieve with Scent Discrimination

I wrote this article in 2007 in response to a question on Belg-L. Someone was having problems teaching their dog the AKC Utility retrieve exercise. This is not some breakthrough concept, I was just playing fetch with Enzo a number of years ago on a riverbank. I think it was back in 1996 or 97…

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