I've been training Ollie with a aim at one day doing competetive obedience, he does his heelwork nicely but when he comes into the front he sits crooked(sp) and then getting him to sit in close at the side from front he bounces his way round. Has anyone got any good tips on how to stop him doing this? Im taking him to a training where they are surposidly(sp) exerienced in comp obedience but they dont really seem to be doing alot, so im looking for somewhere new to take him.

try doing presents against a wall. lean with ur bum on the wall & your legs out in front of you at a angle. keep the V of your legs quite narrow so at your feet theres just room for his bum.
you can throw food out (to get him to be away from you) then call him back in,to sppeed him up & give him confidence

Teach the present in isolation from everything else.  Not sure how old your dog is but I start from a puppy in a chair, bum on ege, legs stretched out, gradually moving into an upright seat with my feet flat on the floor, then moving to leaning against the wall, then upright with knees slightly bent and then fully erect (so to speak).

You don't mention whether you are doing a German or English finish but walls can help with the latter and again need to be trained in isolation from everything else.  Only put the heelwork, present and finish together when all have been taught perfectly separately.

Just my point of view.

Difficult to put into writing, but here goes.

Sit on a chair near to the edge, legs out with feet on the floor and lined up straight.  Your legs should have enough room between them for the dog to come through.

Throw treat out away from you, bring dog into a recall between you legs and sit infront of you.  If he is crooked, your legs are in the wrong position.

Move onto throwing treats to the side of you and then bring him in the same way, don't let him jump your legs.

When and only when he has this, start bending your legs so you are sitting more normally, although you will have to still sit on the edge of the chair.

Then move onto sitting/leaning on the back of the chair, legs still bent.  Then onto leaning against the wall, legs still bent.

He should start learning to sit straight, as with all these methods if done correctly he can do nothing else.

This will take a long time, with still going back to these basics even when you think you have it.

Have fun
Sandra

Three great minds I reckon :D :D

if im in the park,i sit on the edge of the swings,so its easy to get different heights

Thanks i will try that, as to English and German i dont know but i finnish him to my left if that makes sense. He's a rescue dog possible a rott x collie and about 3. Now im off to go find some walls and chairs.
By us people moan if we take the dogs on the park.

Well it is true that most children's play areas that include swings etc are generally not open to dogs, and for good reason as there are so many irresponsible ones that allow their dogs to foul and not clean up so giving the rest of us a bad name.

But you don't NEED swings :D just different height chairs/tables etc.

if your dog swings round to the left it is called a German finish.

yes allright! i was just commenting on how useful they are!
didnt suggest she go & kick a kiddy off !! blimey!

if he goes to the left its a german/continental finish, to the right (behind you) is a english. most people do left handed one. i do.
BUT  dont always finish after your present as this may make him wonky in anticpation

If i let him go behind me i stand more of a chance of him seeing something far more intresting or sending me flying fowards lol. Also when do you start competing as i havent a clue i wouldnt dare take him now whats the lowest level include?

http://www.obedienceuk.com/book/page0.htm

thats why most people do the left hand one! ;)
pre begs,heel on & off lead,inc left turns,right turns about turns. all at normal pace. recall & finish, sit & down stay in sight
beginners as above but also retrieve your dumbell & finish

Im only brave enough to have a play at companion dog shows, hopefully one day ill get to a good level with him.

its really friendly in the lower classes dont worry!
you will need to reg him on the activites register (with the kennel club),when you are ready to try open shows, plus you get to think up some "posh" names for him

Im going to be really stuck when it comes to picking his pretty name lol.
I been pratising with the chair it works really well it just aches my legs a bit, anyway im off to one of my millions of trainings i go to.

my three names whiuch i made up myself are

TARA: alatar razamataz
Nell: Clanistan Hullabaloo
flynn :Jaffson Black Magic