Training started when Wilson came home, calling his name and watching him scamper across the floor to waiting arms and lots of praise. 'The Sit' command followed and came quite easy to Wilson. I held a treat, let him sniff it and moved it back over his head, he naturally sat and this progressed to the command "Sit". When he began to sit down the treat was given and praised, 'Good boy!'
These two exercises - 'Recall' and 'Sit' were practised over and over with lots of praise and play.
When Wilson was 10 weeks we enrolled him for puppy classes at 'Wigan and District Alsation and all Breeds Club'. He was taught the basics - 'Sit' and 'Recall' which he was quite good at, then the "Flat" command was introduced. This was done by offering him a treat and lowering it down to the floor so that he would follow and 'Go flat'. Then followed the "Off " command where he had to let go of an object on comand; this was a bit hit and miss as he is such a playful dog. We did a lot of walking to heel, treat in hand and walking through and over obstacles. After the eight week course it was time for the next level.....
Sit,Stay,Paw,& Flat click here to go to video
Training for the next level was done outside, reinforcing the commands 'Recall', 'Sit' and introducing the command, 'Leave it'. These proved to be a challenge for Wilson and I, as he was far more interested in the sights and scents around him than being taught to sit and stay ! After a few weeks of running around the field past dogs sitting quietly I gave up with this course, I think Wilson needed more one to one training and he was holding up the class (or was it a case of leave before being expelled? ! )
So, now training continues at home along with his daily walks. He has good days and bad days. I know he can do it but when he has his 'stubborn head' on and just looks at you ....well, that's a Springer I suppose ! When he got to around four or five months old the adolescent in him started to rear its head. He seemed to forget how to walk and pulling on the lead when walking became a real problem After a little research we bought a 'Halti Collar'. This proved to be something of a miracle ! From the first time I used it, Wilson walked by my side. A week passed then I tried his old collar but he reverted back to his old way of pulling. So, for the time being its the 'Halti Collar' for Wilson ( has anyone got any tips?)
Wilson is trying a new method to teach him how to walk correctly on the lead ,please see below
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Wilson has recently joined the Wigan & District Canine Society, where they hold training classes in 'Ring Craft'. We will keep you informed on his progress...
Wilson went to his second class where he was shown the correct way to walk for showing and the Stand position , very interesting we will keep practising and keep you informed on his progress.
Well its been a few weeks now and wilson has been entered in a show ,at first I thought it was a bad idea ,there was no way he would be ready ! but we were told to enter him and enjoy the day , training continued at home in short sharp sections and after a week Wilson seemed to grasp what we were trying to do regarding standing and walking with the show lead and so we thought maybe he would not be a total embarrassment . How wrong can I be ,tonight at the Christmas match night he was a laughing stock , he would not stand still ,he would not walk , and I could not go through with the two other matches he was entered in, so its back to the drawing board ,I may be fooling myself by thinking it was a long night for him , he is just not ready .............. I'm not sure what to do , he came home and did it perfectly !
Wilson continues to go to Ring craft and will walk ,and stand and let him be checked out by various judges, but one of the best reasons we take wilson to the sessions is so he can meet other dogs and socalise with other dogs and owners.
It was a match night Monday (04/06/07) at the ring craft training ,we entered Wilson in the junior section and he got 2nd place ,he was really very good thejudge said that his stacking (standing) and the way he let him look at him was superb !! well done Wilson ....
Wilson has always been a 'puller 'when on the lead , we have tried using a Halti coller and various other tricks but at last I think I found one that works ( at least in Wilsons case ) its called the loose lead method. basically the theory is you only move when the lead is loose, when the lead tightens as the dog pulls you must say NO! ,stop walking and DONT MOVE,do not pull back on the lead as this causes more pulling you have to become a tree and do not move (when a dog is tied to an imovable object it does not pull, it waits ) when the lead becomes loose as the dog realises your not going anywhere then start walking again with lots of praise and a treat when your dog is walking at your required pace.It may take 20 minutess to walk a 10 minute walk with all the stopping and starting but it was worth it ,I did this with wilson twice a day for a week and he has improved so much its now a pleasure to walk with him somtimes its as if he is not even on the lead.If you try this method good luck and I would be interested in your views on the subject ...........