John Heffernan

For years, I have been working with the wrong dog for obedience. Wyatt is so motivated to learn and so quick to learn that I worked with him for years and trained him to utility. However, despite many, many attempts (I stopped counting), we have never been able to qualify in AKC Open Obedience. He needs lots of double commands in the ring, especially for the recall, does not sit while heeling, and has trouble with the long sit. He does all these things perfectly at home and even right outside the ring. He does this even though he is an awesome rally dog (you can talk to your dog in rally) frequently scoring 98, 99, and 100 and placing in large classes full of traditional obedience breeds. The lack of verbal reinforcement and stimulation provided by agility seems to really hamper him in traditional obedience.

Patriot has been much slower to learn and not nearly as motivated to practice and especially retrieve. I started training him more seriously about a year ago. He has multiple issues in his first outing but I was amazed at his performance last week where he would have got a 193/200 and a second place had be not went down on the long sit. So I learned that confidence in the ring is even more important that being a quick learner, at least if you want to compete. I am excited to be working with Patriot more and competing again. We have been working daily on the long sit.

I am sneaking in some rally and obedience Friday at the Big E Thanksgiving Cluster. Have not trialled much at all so we’ll see. I think with my dogs, I would really have to trial a lot and proof a lot, to really be successful in traditional obedience. Agility is the priority so we trial once in a while for fun and don’t get too attached to the results.

I noticed at our last NADAC agility trial that I was not using our “Switch” command in Chances. Chances is the NADAC distance game that we need for our NADAC championship. It seems like I am not that good at seeing when to use “Switch” on new courses. So I need to remember that (along with all the other things I need to remember!) for next time. I have been practicing at home, including the timing, which needs to be fairly early.

I hope that I am finally understanding NADAC Elite Chances and how to improve. Despite the fact that Wyatt has improved tremendously in his ability to work at a distance, our qualification rate in Chances still remains low and constant at 2-3 a year. I did figure out some time ago that I need, as a handler, to focus on what I call the 3 Cs: keep Communicating, early Cueing, and Keeping moving. At our last trial, one the first run I froze up and forgot to cue and a critical point. On the second Chances run, I did not keep moving at the critical switch. We did get the weaves poles though as I was great at communicating early and often and cueing early. The difficult part is doing all three and not just 2 as well as adjusting to your dog’s speed and keep connected with your dog all at the same time. We know from learning theory that it is hard to do multiple new tasks simultaneously because tasks are not automatic yet.

NADAC Chances Mix of Course Sections

Part of the freeze I had on the first course was due to the fact that I still don’t have the Switch command 100% clear in my mind. I did figure out at home that the first course shown is NOT a Switch. I use an Out, Jump or Out, Hoop command. The second one is. The map shows my correct handler path. What I messed up on was not keeping moving. I need to remember to keep a path going for me even if it means little footsteps. I practiced this at home this week. Wyatt is very honest. If I stop, he stops. However, if I keep moving, even in little steps he will follow as long as I am communicating what to do. The third course is where I froze. I am going to set that up this week and try and see the best way to handle it. We are really getting good at home so I hope I can translate this to the ring soon. The added pressure and excitement of the ring for both dog and handler can change things enough to cause omissions in the 3 Cs. I think when Wyatt is not where I expect from walking the course, I also have trouble adjusting.

I am really noticing some differences in Wyatt and I have good side and a bad side in certain distances moves. I have noticed this most with the switch command, which is essentially a rear cross at a distance. I have been trying to practice more on our weak side – my left. The timing has to be really good anyway but especially on the left. As usual, I wonder if I am handling differently, which causes him to be confused (most likely.) This is supported by a feeling I have of just not being as comfortable with the left switch. Or is Wyatt less comfortable on the left (least likely.)

I am once again struck by the nonlinear aspects of agility, especially trialling. Wyatt and I have been working on a NADAC championship for 3 or 4 years. We’ve had the required jumpers and standard Qs for quite some time. We have 7 Chances Qs and need 6 more. We have got 3 Chances Qs a year for the past 3 years (2 this year but hope to get 1 more.) All we work on is the distance skills needed for Chances. This year, after lots of hard work, I thought they might come more quickly. We were really coming close a lot early this year. Then I got a little discouraged but got 2 in one weekend so I was once again hopeful that they might come more quickly. Of course, we have not got once since and have not really come close either. What’s going on? The course difficultly does vary but that does not seem to account for it. They go up and down in terms of difficulty. I have had some back and hip pain. Is that resulting in me running more slowly and messing Wyatt up. He is super sensitive to my handling up and downs. Is this a bigger lesson in patience. Does Wyatt not want to retire?