Competitive Obedience Training

Whatever dog sport you wish to compete in, I believe that competition preparation is crucial to your dog’s success.

One way or another, your dog needs to understand when work begins and when it ends. And you, as the trainer, need to be able to portray what you want them to do in between and at the start and end of each exercise in the ring.

The ring changes the picture. There are new rules, new expectations, a judge and a steward, less training aids, and often less obvious feedback for the dog. If you haven’t trained for those differences, the dog is left to guess, and guessing is where confusion and stress creep in.

Foundations like a clear switch on and switch off, flexible preparation routines before entering the ring, confident set ups and cues for each exercise, engaging transitions between exercises, rewarding in the ring (when allowed) and after the ring.

These foundations help create familiarity and clarity. They tell the dog this is still the same work, with the same rules, in a different place. But the picture remains the same.

When these foundations are in place, the ring stops feeling like a test and becomes just another place to work together.

This is the true value of training. To get to the point where you eliminate doubts and worries and enter the ring together knowing you’ve done what you needed to do to in order to work the round you want to work.

When you have less to worry about, your dog works better because you do. If things don’t quite go to plan, which can happen, you have more mental capacity to respond in the moment without destroying the whole round.

This is the ideal world of training! From time to time, the wheels fall off and it’s back to basics…which is why it’s good to have clear foundations to return to and useful to revisit the basics regularly.

P.S I must have heard ‘he can do it in training but not in the ring’ – a thousand times, along with all the reasons given for why that might be. BUT most of the time it’s just a gap in the training. And gaps can be trained. Soooo… just train the dog!

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Competitive Obedience Training & Workshops.

Training is held outside on a level grass area, in a fully fenced field all year round.

All breeds, sizes, and levels of dogs are welcome as are all levels of handler experience.

Private 121 lessons are held by arrangement.

Peer Group Self-Help Sessions are held once a month – Max 6 handlers per group. Groups have handlers at different levels of ability, and everyone’s contribution is valuable.

Monthly Competition Training – Max 6 handlers. Individual and group tuition provided by Angela.

Ring Prep Pro Courses are held at The Paddock throughout the year.

Ring Clarity Workshops are held at The Paddock throughout the year and at clubs, by arrangement.

All ring equipment is provided at the paddock. Just bring a chair, a drink, snacks, and the usual dog training paraphernalia.

To enquire about lessons, group sessions, and workshops either use the contact button below or message me directly on Facebook.