Utility Signals - Focus & Fun

[@janineramsden1363]

As always, great training routine & tips. Thank you so much?

[@katsim6799]

Platform is great to keep them from moving forward on stays. I use natural or community platforms to have a chance to practice stay outside of formal training sessions at home. It keeps our walks interesting.

[@TheForeverchanges]

I keep on coming back to your videos to refresh my training routines. Thank you!

[@katsim6799]

Great ideas for maintaining focus, regaining compliance without negative correction. Training should be fun.

[@girlnpointer2741]

Thank you for posting this video! It is full of so many great ideas!!!

[@JaniceGunn]

Thanks for the comments! Kim to teach the heads down I place the treat on the ground near the dogs head/mouth after i ask for the down and the nano second the head touches the ground i mark the behaviour and reward. Then i build the nano second to a second and then 2 seconds until they can hold that position. Lots of rewarding for the behaviour in the early stages.

[@sopotiuk]

Nice video, just working through this with my dog. Thx.

[@wellmannereddog]

Wonderful! Thanks for posting!

[@Davey8]

I can get the ears up in training, but after heeling for five minutes in Utility and walking away 50 feet how to you keep that same level of excitement? Just re-watching as I get closer to Utility with my Golden!

[@JaniceGunn]

Your best chances for success in the ring are to keep signals fun and interesting in training - the habit of enjoying signals should then become something they look forward to doing in the ring. Just sayin'

[@Davey8]

Janice Gunn Makes a lot of sense... Don't get too formal too soon! Thanks!

[@jessicaarguelles4979]

You are fucking great!!!

[@watchmoivies123]

Janice, I love her head bob down at or before the down. Can you tell me how you teach this? Thanks Kim

[@loraseale5252]

what are the dimensions of your platform?

[@JaniceGunn]

To measure: Place your dog in a comfortable and balanced Stand, much like a conformation stance. Measure the space (width and length) the dog requires. Allow a few extra inches (at least 4) for the length. Too short can cause the dog to stand with the hind legs too far under or prevent them from getting all 4 feet on the platform. Width is purposely narrow to pattern train precise position. Ony an extra inch or 3 is needed on the width. The wider the platform is, the less precise Stand the dog will assume. The height should be 2 1/2 inches.

[@christopheclugston]

You don't do the sphinx down?

[@JaniceGunn]

No, I like a down that goes straight down, no folding back, takes to long for the dog to drop fast on a recall.

[@christopheclugston]

IGP and rings use it and those dogs are really moving

[@JaniceGunn]

@@christopheclugston I used to use it but no longer do. I have so much more fun creating a fast, flat drop, than training the fold back.

[@christopheclugston]

​@@JaniceGunn from a functional point of view that makes sense. Nowadays so much is stylized, like the Rings Focused Heeling prancing. It takes nearly 2 years to have a dog solid in it and it's never used for real tactical dogs.

[@jenniferreesdavies3353]

@@JaniceGunn what's a fold back?