Author: debby quigley

Difference between a skill and an exercise.

What is the difference between a skill and an exercise????

An exercise is something I am required to do in the ring.  Drop on recall, heeling, each sign in rally, obstacle in agility, etc.  All of these are exercises.   They are the “Things” we are required to do at shows.

Skills are individual tricks that I teach my dog. As my dog learns more tricks, I can start combining tricks that will be combined together to complete an exercise at a show.

Think of all “exercises” as nothing more than a bunch of tricks chained together! 

So…. Tricks include things like going around me for the short finish, jumping to my either my right or left hand for the beginning of the long and short finish, etc.

When training, I teach skills. I break down any exercise I might need for a show and teach all the skills separately. Once my dog is proficient with the skill, I start to mix and match what I may need for a ring performance but I also mix and match just to be random and test my dog’s knowledge and understanding of all the skills.

My point is for you to start thinking out of the “exercise box”. (Don’t just train exercises.)

Start training skills/tricks.  Proof and perfect each trick/skill to meet your criteria (which you should set high).  Mix and match tricks/skills, to test your dogs knowledge and have fun!!!

 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #26 Handling Cues 100% Consistency

26 handling cues
Heeling Handling Cues – For PERFECT Communication

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Watch to the end for a NEW Training TIP

THE HANDLER’S (YOUR) JOB WHEN HEELING:  For your dog to be able to heel well with unwavering focus, your dog needs to know where you are going.   Since heeling is a TEAM SPORT and both members of the team must be able to do their job, I have developed the following handler cue guidelines for myself and students.

Straight Line Heeling – Your goal is to keep your footwork as simple as possible.  Hit that “EASY BUTTON”!

  • Eye cues – Look on the floor about 2 feet in front of you when heeling in a normal pace.  Look where you are going.
  • Head cues – Relax your head and slightly tilt it downward so you can see the floor and your dog’s nose out of the corner of your eye.
  • Walk a straight line – Use a line on the ground to walk on for practice.

Halts, Head and Eye Cues

  • When doing a Halt, look to your toes.  Yes, it is that easy.  LOL
  • As you hear Halt, think halt and then slowly look towards your toes as you stop.
  • Relax your head and slightly tilt it downward so you can see your toes and your dog’s nose out of the corner of your left eye.
  • Always be confident and don’t worry about where you are or where you are stopping.
  • I find it helpful to stop on my LEFT foot with a new or inexperienced dog.  The left foot is closest to the dog and will be easier for your dog to pick up the cue.
  • Keep your shoulders pointing forward.

Pace Changes

There are four speed transitions you will need while you are heeling.

NORMAL TO SLOW TRANSITION: Use a rolling break step (slowly roll from heel to toe) to transition from normal to slow pace.  Move your eyes to about 1 foot in front of you or where your next step will be. Keep shoulders and weight slightly forward (do not lean back or your dog will think it is a halt).

SLOW TO NORMAL TRANSITION: Slow pace should be about half the speed of your normal pace.   When you transition from slow to normal, you want to make the pace change in 1 or 2 steps.  Keep your shoulders slightly forward.

NORMAL TO FAST TRANSITION:  When you transition from normal to fast, move your shoulders slightly forward, and push off with your foot.  Look about 2 strides in front of you during the fast.  In FAST pace, ideally, you need to actually RUN.

FAST TO NORMAL TRANSITION:  From fast pace, use a break step to go back into normal pace.  Focus your eyes back to about 1 stride in front of you.  Move your arms back to proper heeling position, keeping your shoulders and weight over your hips.

When heeling think HEAR IT, THINK IT, DO IT!

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 27 – Intro and Teaching FAST PACE for Heeling 

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #25 Teaching a PERFECT Left About Pivot

25 left about pivot
Heeling Intro & Teaching Left About Pivot

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HANDLER CUES: LEFT ABOUT PIVOT FOOT WORK

The LEFT About Pivot is a foundation skill and can be used for your pivots during Scent Articles, Gloves, as well as many signs in Rally.  The Left About Pivot is a 180 degree pivot to the left.  In order for this pivot to be performed accurately, it is important for your dog to understand how to move backwards and have rear end awareness before progressing with teaching this turn.

NOTE: Review the weight shift from the LEFT Pivot section before starting to train the Left About Pivot.

When doing a Left About Pivot:

  • Start standing with your feet together.
  • Shift your weight to your left leg.
  • Step 1, move your right foot to make the “T” step by placing the ball of your right foot against toe of your left foot.
  • Step 2, place the heel of your left foot against the heel of your right foot and point your left foot in the direction you will be going or sending your dog.
  • Step 3, bring your right foot up to your left foot.

Teaching the Left About Pivot

  • Use a high value toy or pocket to place under your left arm.  Drop it on the first step for a number of repetitions.  Once your dog will keep his head up on the first step, start to drop the toy on the second step and so on.  Do randomly reward each step during practices to maintain the heads up behavior.
  • Hold your leash in your left hand to rein your leash as you shift your weight and start your turn.
  • With your dog on your left side, start to rein back on your leash as shift your weight to your LEFT leg.
  • Bring your RIGHT foot to a T in front of your Left foot.
  • Turn your Left foot so that the heel of the left foot is touching the heel of the right foot.
  • Turn your right foot so that it is even with your left foot.
  • Praise and release your dog up to a treat or toy BEFORE the sit or completion of the pivot.
  • Add a sit to the pivot only once the desire is built in each individual movement to build desire and focus.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 26 – Handling Footwork and Body Cues for Heeling 

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #24 Teaching SLOW PACE

24 adding slow
Heeling Progression
Teaching the SLOW PACE

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Watch to the end for a NEW Training TIP

Pace Changes – There are four speed transitions you will need while you are heeling.  When teaching each pace change, I reward a lot going into as well as coming out of the individual pace change.  In the long run, teaching these changes well now will help my dog speed up and slow down when we start teaching pivot, turns, Figure 8, etc.

Spend time rewarding going into each separate pace change and break off and play often. NOTE: My dogs LOVE toys so I often have a toy to drop up under my left arm. A treat or treat bag/pouch may be used in the same way.

TEACHING the SLOW PACE

Pace change

  • There are 3 main skills to teach on the slow pace. Break Step into slow, Maintaining focus through the duration of slow, and the POP out of slow.
  • Start to heel your dog forward at a Normal pace, do NOT start from a sit!
  • After a few normal steps, do a “break step” into a slower pace AS you rein backward on your leash.
  • Praise your dog for slowing with you while maintaining focus and reward him at your left side. It is important to reward your dog’s effort to slow his pace as well as keep focus up on you.
  • Release and play before repeating.

SLOW TO NORMAL TRANSITION:

  • Start with your dog heeling at a Slow pace.
  • Break into a normal pace and drop the toy from under your arm.
  • If your dog is NOT DRIVING off rear to speed up quickly, reward by bringing the reward in your right hand up and forward. This will encourage your dog to drive off his rear end in order to get the reward.
  • This extra drive off the rear is what will help your dog stay in heel when we do turns, and different drills including the fig 8.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 25 – LEFT ABOUT Pivot – Handling Foot Work & Building DESIRE 

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

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TRAINING IS 24/7

When is the best time to train your dog?
The answer is all the time!

Dog training is done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whether you know it or not. Bad habits are created during everyday life scenarios. For example, if Spot jumps up on you and then you pet him, you have just reinforced jumping up on people. Same if your dog is bolting out of doors.

Do you just open that back door and your dog races through it?
What have you just taught him?
Think about what you are reinforcing anytime you are interacting with your dog.

What is the best way to train your dog?

Don’t schedule only one training session a day for your dog. Do training constantly, every minute you and your dog are together! So if you are going to give your dog a treat or play, do some training so he might be rewarded. Be creative and use this time to teach some tricks or perfect skills.

Training 24/7 will get your dog into the great habit of being alert and be ready to respond to commands for food, walks, and attention!

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #23

23 heel wean off treat hand
Heeling Progression
Weaning off Treat and Hand Position

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Weaning off treat in hand.

  • Once your dog is moving with his head up focus for 20+ steps, it’s time to start weaning off the treat in your hand AND randomly move your hand/arm to a normal heel position.  That is down at side or up at waistline.
  • All this is done in a straight line with NO SITS.
  • This process will take time and patience but worth it in the long run.
  • NOTE: the hand up at shoulder position may also be used in Line-Ups for focus and is addressed further in the Fronts&Finish class.
  • Over repetitions randomly put your arm at your side or at waste.  Line-Up (no treat in hand), toy under arm and as long as your dog is in a focused active state, heel a few steps and reward.
  • Take your time with each step of training and build a solid foundation.  When problems arise down the road, it will be these foundations that you will fall back on.
  • Remember that adding skills BEFORE your dog has a true understanding of straight line heel will only confuse your dog and decrease his confidence and desire.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 24 – Slow Pace Introduction 

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #22

heeling # 22
RIGHT ABOUT PIVOT
Intro, Handling and Teaching

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Watch to the end for a NEW Training TIP

HANDLER CUES: RIGHT ABOUT PIVOT FOOT WORK
The Right About Pivot is a foundation skill for your about turn in heeling. In additions, it can be used for your turns for the Scent Articles, Gloves, as well as many turns in Rally.

When doing a Right About Pivot:

  • Stand with your feet together.
  • Shift your weight to your right leg.
  • Look down past your right foot and back onto the line of travel you will be turning on.
  • Step 1, move your left foot to make the “T” step by placing the ball of your left foot against the toe of your right foot.
  • Step 2, place the heel of your right foot against the heel of your left foot and point your right foot in the direction you will be going or sending the dog.
  • Step 3, bring your left foot up to your right foot.

Teaching the Right About Pivot

  • Review the weight shift from the Right Pivot section before continuing to train the Right About Pivot.
  • Hold your leash the same as in the right pivot so you can rein your leash as you shift your weight and start your turn.
  • With your dog on your left side, start to rein forward on your leash as shift your weight to your RIGHT leg.
  • Bring your LEFT foot to a T in front of your right foot.
  • Turn your right foot so that the heel of the right foot is touching the heel of the left foot.
  • Turn your left foot so that it is even with your right foot.
  • Praise and release your dog up to a treat or toy BEFORE the sit or completion of the pivot.
  • Only add a sit to the pivot once the desire is built and your dog understands how to move on your weight shift and turn while keeping his head up and focused on you.  This can take many training sessions.
  • Use a high value toy or pocket to place under your left arm.  Drop it on the first step or as your dog starts movement for a number of repetitions. Once your dog will keep his head up on the first step, start to drop the toy on the second step and so on. Do randomly reward each step during practices to maintain the heads up behavior.
  • Keep training sessions short.  Use HIGH VALUE rewards and use games with any effort your dog offer to build desire.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 23 – Heeling Progression – Wean Off Treat and Hand in “heel” Position

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

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WHO is Calling the Shots?

or Getting Control of a PUSHY Dog.

Building rapport and becoming an obvious leader figure by being consistent in all interactions with your dog is the best way to start getting a handle on that pushy pet.

Teach your dog to defer to you by sitting and waiting quietly for anything he wants.

This includes sitting and waiting for:
1. Food (mealtime) and treats
2. Petting and love
3. Grooming
4. Going out of or coming in (including entrances, exits, crates, doors, cars, etc.)
5. Putting on and taking off the leash
6. Being invited onto a piece of your furniture (if desired)
7. Playing games with your and/or playing with toys
8. Any kind of attention
9. Anything and everything your dog wants!

Eliminate problem behaviors such as jumping up on you or mounting.

  • Discourage and correct all jumping up.
  •  Watch for signs that precede any jumping or mounting behavior.
  • As soon as possible redirect your dog to different behavior. For example, as soon as you see an intent to jump up or mount, redirect your dog to play ball or ask your dog for a sit and stay. Have your dog continue to sit and stay until he relaxes.

Deter all “attention seeking” behavior.

  • Set aside 3 to 4 times during the day to specifically interact with your dog. During this time, exercise your dog’s mind and body. For example, practice obedience or agility training followed by an exhausting physical game such as fetching a ball or frisbee, cycling, swimming or jogging your dog. You want your dog to be both mentally and physically worn out when you are finished.
  • Unless it is “his time” to interact with you, ignore your dog. If your dog approaches and waits for your attention in a calm manner, reward him with praise and brief (10 seconds or less) petting.
  • If your dog pushes you for attention, move away and ignore him. If he makes it impossible for you to ignore him, put him in a crate or in another room.
  • Avoid inadvertently giving your dog attention when he subtly demands it from you! For example, resist the temptation to reach out and stroke your dog if he leans on you. Instead, move away from him. If you are distracted during reading or watching TV, make sure you don’t reach out and stroke him if he is soliciting attention from you.

You will discover, if used properly, a puppy crate and a leash are both useful training tools and keep your house a happy place for your new puppy or dog.

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #21

#21 heeling
Heeling Progression
Raise Hand Shoulder
and Wean OFF Treat

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Coming UP – NEW Training TIP

Weaning off treat hand close to your dog – This process will take time but it is worth your patience.

  • Your last hand position will be treat hand in heel and bent so your hand is at your shoulder.
  • Once your dog is moving with his head up focus for 20+ steps, move your hand up again so your arm/hand are shoulder height and repeat Steps 1-3 with your hand in the “new” position.
  • REMINDER – NO SITS.
  • After this step, the treat in your left hand will be weaned off over several training sessions.
  • NOTE: the final hand position may also be used in Line-Ups for focus and is addressed further in the Fronts&Finish class.
  • Take your time with each step and build a solid foundation.  When problems arise down the road, it will be these foundations that you will fall back on.
  • Building foundations takes time and rewards. Be patient!
  • Adding skills BEFORE your dog has a true understanding of straight line heel will only confuse your dog and decrease his confidence.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 22 – Handling Cues RIGHT ABOUT Pivots & Teaching

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #20

20 first step
Heeling video 20 Teaching
 
First Step Of Heeling With FOCUS!

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The First Step is the beginning of your heeling.  It can make or break a performance.  Take Extra care in training the first step!

When heeling, my goal is to have heads up attention from my dog.  This criteria implies that my dog’s head remains up when we do the first step off into heeling.  It is for this reason that I like to practice the first step of heeling separately from other skills.

Once adding starts or the first step from a sit into a heeling sequence, I randomly reward just the start to keep my dog energized, focused, and ready to heel.  When training, if you start heeling from a sit, you must make sure your criteria are being met, OR instead play with your dog and then fall into heeling without doing a sit.

Footwork for the First Step

  • Start with your weight slightly on the balls of your feet. The left foot will start the step off to heel. This is the leg closest to your dog and is easiest for him to pick up the cue.
  • As you are stepping off, present a treat in your right hand saying “get it” for your dog. Your dog will jump up and slightly forward to the toy/treat.
  • Bringing the toy/treat forward and up will encourage your dog to drive off his rear end in order to get the reward.
  • NOTE: watch over rotation of your shoulders as you present the dog’s reward.
  • Play and engage before repeating the “start”.  DESIRE first.
  • Commands for the first step – Say your command and THEN step off with your left foot.  When showing, I actually like to take a breath and then step off.
  • When working on starts, watch your line-up to start your training.  That is, a sit in heel is still a sit in heel and should be to your criteria and with heads up focus.
  • Keep your weight on your toes and step straight forward on the first step. NO rocking back on your heels before stepping off. Rocking back on your heels can delay your step off and a responsive dog will seem to anticipate commands.
  • Make sure to say your command, take a breath, and then step off.  This gives your dog a second to process the command and react accordingly.
  • Keep starts FUN! Add games and upward releases on your first step of heeling randomly throughout your dog’s career.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 21 – Heeling progression – raised hand and wean off of treat in hand

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley