EnglishBabe
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania
Posts: 3316 |
Puppies have a very short attention span, so make it fun. Put her/him on the bench and work at just placing the feet, 4 square., you'll be lucky to get 3 minutes from a young pup, but do it EVERYDAY!!!!!! Make it longer each time, but no more then 5-10 minutes at a time. Look at the magazines and see how other dogs are set up and work from there. Go to a local club and fine a person that is willing to help you and show you what to do. Above all, make it fun for the dog, if your in a bad mood, DON'T work the dog when you are like that, you only will get upset and the dog can sense that and squirrel around for you and make it worse. Picture in your mind a box. You want a box when you set the dog up, front legs one side, back top of box, rear legs are the other side and the bench is the bottom. I start my pups on the bench at 6 weeks on up and by the time you are ready to hit the shows, you should be in good shape. Get the dog use to all kinds of stuff, a rabbit running loose, a cat sitting on the bench, a small dog running around, kids screaming and making noise, all that conditions a dog to be use to commotion and still preform for you. I never give treats on the bench or off the bench, my dogs thrive on praise and hugs and kisses and yes, I do it at the shows. When Tori won the state show last year, I flung my arms around her and gave her a big kiss cause she gave me 110%, ask anyone who see's me show a dog and they will tell you I always hug and praise my dog, no matter win or lose, if they gave me their all, they get praised for it.
Good luck.
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