Call to Front Classroom

PDF Files to help your training!
Problem Solving PDF
Training Log PDF
Points to Remember PDF

Questions? Click to Email

STEPS TO SUCCESS
Level 1 – Teaching dog to come to front – stationary

Have your dog on your left in heel position (either in a stand or sit). Put your left foot in front of you and slightly to the left side. Your left foot remains stationary. Ask your dog to “come” or “front”. Use your hands to guide your dog to front (this extra cue will diminish as soon as your dog is confidently moving towards front). Ideally your dog should travel around your left foot and come to front. You can use a slight pop of your knee to help your dog straighten up on the front. Reward your dog while in front and release and play.

• The use of a treat lure is also acceptable but must be weaned off quickly.
• Also as your dog is coming to front, you can lean forward with your weight on your left briefly to aid in encouraging your dogs to move forward.
• ALL extra help, lures etc. should be weaned off quickly.
• Always add games to your training at all levels. This will ensure your dog is happy, driven and attentive. Games to add may be found in the “Games! A Must for all Great Dogs”.

Level 2 – Adding to heeling

• Have your dog in heel position (either in stand, sit or play with your dog going into heeling).
• Start to heel forward at SLOW pace.
• As you get ready to “call to front”, plant your left foot slightly forward and call your dog to front.
• Encourage your dog to come around your left foot and into front.
• Use your hands to guide your dog to front making sure you diminish the use of the extra cue. (The use of a treat lure is also acceptable but must be weaned off quickly).
• Once your dog is in a sit, reward your dog and play.
• Only when your dog is calling to front confidently and fast do you progress to normal pace heeling.

Always add games to your training at all levels. This will ensure your dog is happy, driven and attentive. Games to add may be found in the “Games! A Must for all Great Dogs”.

• Dog comes to front WITHOUT stepping backwards.
• Add skills together ONLY after dog is confident.
• Put games in ALL training sessions.
• Wean off any additional help as quickly as possible.

Tips

Once your dog is coming quickly and confidently into front, add a finish, either going into heel position from the right or left or practice having your dog start to go into heel and begin to move forward.

Always add games to your training at all levels. This will ensure your dog is happy, driven and attentive. Games to add may be found in the “Games! A Must for all Great Dogs”.

Proofing

The following are some proofing ideas from “Success is in the Proofing”. The book covers the how to’s and why’s of proofing for all levels from Novice to Utility.

Here are a few ideas;

• Practice fronts and finishes near distractions such as a chair, lightly colored signs, or between or next to people.
• Start to heel and abruptly stop and call to front.

Note: if your dog makes a mistake, mark the error and show your dog how to be correct. Start with easy proofing and gradually add difficulty as your dog becomes a STAR.

Questions? Click to Email