Basic Steps Towards being Hooked on Obedience ...
Step 1 : Have an interest in really bonding with your dog and extending their training and your dog training knowledge.
Step 2 : Find a dog training club or private trainer that offers competitive training using only reward based training (toys and/or food) see Training Classes for links to clubs/trainers .. Finding a club is relatively easy, finding a good one that also does competitive training is harder!! If you go along and see dogs being punished with abuse or hard use of check chains or other collars, then walk quickly away and start your search again. There is also a Facebook group called ObedienceUK, if you are on facebook then join that group and ask about trainers in your area.
Step 3 : Train your dog in all situations and venues. Dogs learn to only do certain things in certain places, so ensure you extend your dogs skills to include various venues with varying distractions.
Step 4 : Go along to a show near to you (without your dog, so you can relax and take it all in) and take a good look around and watch others in the lower classes to see exactly what goes on.
Step 5 : Register your dog with the Kennel Club (if your dog is a pure bred then it should already be registered with the Kennel Club – ask your dogs breeder if she registered your pup). If your dog is not registered then you can register them on the Activity Register.
Step 6 : Look for dates of Shows near you on ObedienceUK.net and join ObedienceUK.net to be able to download show schedules, then enter a show!
You can also use this facility from the Kennel Club to search for a show near you .. click on link: Kennel Club 'Find A show' choose obedience in 'Show Type' and select distance and I suggest you click on 'in the next YEAR' option.
Step 7 : Enjoy your day out at the Show! (See 'What to Expect at a Show')
Step 8 : Ensure you become a valued helper at as many shows as possible to help keep shows going so that you can continue to enjoy this sport.
Step 2 : Find a dog training club or private trainer that offers competitive training using only reward based training (toys and/or food) see Training Classes for links to clubs/trainers .. Finding a club is relatively easy, finding a good one that also does competitive training is harder!! If you go along and see dogs being punished with abuse or hard use of check chains or other collars, then walk quickly away and start your search again. There is also a Facebook group called ObedienceUK, if you are on facebook then join that group and ask about trainers in your area.
Step 3 : Train your dog in all situations and venues. Dogs learn to only do certain things in certain places, so ensure you extend your dogs skills to include various venues with varying distractions.
Step 4 : Go along to a show near to you (without your dog, so you can relax and take it all in) and take a good look around and watch others in the lower classes to see exactly what goes on.
Step 5 : Register your dog with the Kennel Club (if your dog is a pure bred then it should already be registered with the Kennel Club – ask your dogs breeder if she registered your pup). If your dog is not registered then you can register them on the Activity Register.
Step 6 : Look for dates of Shows near you on ObedienceUK.net and join ObedienceUK.net to be able to download show schedules, then enter a show!
You can also use this facility from the Kennel Club to search for a show near you .. click on link: Kennel Club 'Find A show' choose obedience in 'Show Type' and select distance and I suggest you click on 'in the next YEAR' option.
Step 7 : Enjoy your day out at the Show! (See 'What to Expect at a Show')
Step 8 : Ensure you become a valued helper at as many shows as possible to help keep shows going so that you can continue to enjoy this sport.
Record your Show Results in a Booklet and on Obedience Leagues site ..
Do I need a Border Collie to do this?
It is true, the sport is rather dominated by the Border Collie/Working Sheepdog breed, but there are also so many different breeds and crossbreeds enjoying a successful day out competing too. Hopefully this site will let you see the variety of breeds out there competing each weekend at the Obedience Shows around the country.
You definitely do not need to have a collie for this sport, and to be honest Border Collies are certainly not for everyone and are not the easiest dogs to live with or train. Hundreds of collies end up in rescue centres every year due to their 24/7 type natures and often obsessive behaviour traits. Some may say that collies often win the classes, but then what breed usually comes last too .. oh yes the collie! Collies do not come tailor made for obedience, every dog takes alot of time and effort to train, but collies can come with other behaviours that make it difficult for them to even cope in a competitive environment.
So stay true to your breed or crossbreed and set out to 'beat the collies' in this sport :)
You definitely do not need to have a collie for this sport, and to be honest Border Collies are certainly not for everyone and are not the easiest dogs to live with or train. Hundreds of collies end up in rescue centres every year due to their 24/7 type natures and often obsessive behaviour traits. Some may say that collies often win the classes, but then what breed usually comes last too .. oh yes the collie! Collies do not come tailor made for obedience, every dog takes alot of time and effort to train, but collies can come with other behaviours that make it difficult for them to even cope in a competitive environment.
So stay true to your breed or crossbreed and set out to 'beat the collies' in this sport :)
ObedienceUK, Competitive Obedience, Obedience Shows, Dog Training, Obedience Competition,
Dog Shows, Dog Sports, Dog Activities, The Kennel Club, Heelwork, Retrieve, Recall, Sendaway, Scent, Distant Control
Dog Shows, Dog Sports, Dog Activities, The Kennel Club, Heelwork, Retrieve, Recall, Sendaway, Scent, Distant Control