Hi guys

I wonder if you can give me some tips on what i can do next. Both of my gsd's are obedience trained to Good Citizen gold standard , as well as a few extra things that i trained them just for fun, however now i am thinking that i would like to take it a bit further but don't really know what to do. They no longer go to classes as our local ones just seem to train the Good Citizen scheme which they have both completed. They love learning new things and are both very active, they both do flyball and agility for fun. It is the obedience that i would like to take further.

Any tips.............................

Look for a trainer that does competitive obedience training -sometimes they lurk closer than you think. :) That's what I did. I now travel an hour for mine but don't mind as I'm learning such a lot of new stuff all the time -and it has been very interesting this year to go from  being top of class at the pet training to being at the bottom at the competitive class. :D

Hi Goldmali

I have thought about competitive obedience and i am sure there are trainers lurking in this area...............but i can't find them!!!:rolleyes:

What kind of things are you learning? I don't mind being at the bottom of the class at all, myself and the dogs love learning new things and i enjoy a challenge.

Mich x

Have you spoken to each trainer and asked specifically about CO training?  A couple of years back I started one-on-one training with Remy, the trained we went to showed no indication of CO training until I actually mentioned that I was thinking about it in a session one day - turned out she competed with both her dogs, and we started training for it then.  Sadly she turned out to be a very abrupt, condesceding woman, but it does show that you sometimes need to ask directly!!

I agree on looking for a good competative obedience trainer.

My Pippa loves learning tricks so I got into clicker training. I was lucky as there is a class not to far from me that teaches competative obedience using the clicker. They also teach things like closing doors, playing dead etc etc.  I even taught her how to use a mini basketball hoop and to use a skateboard :)

Being GSDs maybe they would like working trials? I have never done them so am not certain what they involve (beyond tracking) but I know there are people on here that do them and might tell you more :)

Depends on what you like to do.

Do you like precise heelwork and lots of it?  Then Obedience competitions may be for you.

If not and you fancy the challenge of Working Trials you could train your dogs for that (all breeds have the opportunity to qualify in the two lower stakes and all the bigger ones the next 2/3).

This involves 3 sections:

Agility: 3ft hurdle, 9ft long jump and 6ft scale.
Control: heelwork on and off lead and slow, medium and fast pace; sit out of sight stay for 2 mins, down out of sight stay for 10 mins; speak on command; retrieve; recall; sendaway (up to 200 yards or more and redirect); steadiness to gun.
Nosework: 1/2 mile track from 1/2 hour to 3 hours old on a variety of terrain and recover up to 3 articles; search square finding up to 4 articles in 5 minutes.

The PD stake also includes Patrol work: quartering and detaining a criminal; recall, etc

I really fancied the idea of working trials but there are no clubs or training classes.  It seems a bit lonely to train by oneself - I bought the books but am doing agility because I like being taught.  It is me who needs to be taught - the dog just does it naturally - I need someone to tell me where I am going wrong.  I am sure she could be good at whatever she is given to do - except perhaps the gun shots!!  But one can compete at the lower levels - that is challenging enough.  To do working trials means being either experienced in dog training (I am not) or to have a lot of time to dedicate to learning from books - and then if you want to take part you have to be prepared to travel around - because most dog competitions are well spread out - at least that is how it seems here in South Wales.  Perhaps the situation is different in other parts of the UK?

I'm lucky - working trials are held at one of our local kennels a couple times a year.

One of the guys I know from the kennels has given me a couple one-on-one 'lessons'. However, IMO its much more hard to get into for beginners as there arent classes you can go to or anything like that. Everyone I know who does working trials trains by themselves or arranges to go out training together on the odd occasions.

Hi Tohme

Many thanks for your reply. I posted a good few months ago after i had seen some working trials whilst i was away for a weekend and was completely in awe of these amazing dogs however i am finding it really difficult to get a way in, i can't find anywhere locally , although i don't mind travelling.

I don't suppose anyone knows of anywhere in Kent that does it??? I think my dogs would love this and i am sure i would do too

Hi Mich

I have been looking for working trials info in Kent as well. So far haven't found any but depending how close to Sussex you are I did find a club at Billingshurst - I am no good at links but you could try this website www.workingtrials.co.uk/Billingshurst.htm. I live in East Kent so is a bit far for us but looks great fun. If you do happen to find a club in Kent I would love to hear about it. Thanks.

Hi Harley

Thanks for the link, i will have a look. I am in Sittingbourne but would be prepared to travel. I will keep looking and if i find anything i will let you know.

Not far away then as I am in Whitstable. I would be prepared to travel once we had some training under our belt but for now could only travel about an hour each way in any direction - unless it was a weekend. Perhaps I will have to look for some books and make a start by myself.

ooh we sometimes drive to whitstable and have a look round or walk the dogs on the beach. I will keep you posted if i find somewhere but in the meantime i too might buy some books and have a go myself

Anne Bussey MSc Hollybush Farm, Poundhurst Road, Ruckinge, Kent, TN26 2PQ  Tel: 01233-731287 Email: anne@workingtrialsmonthly.co.uk

You have possibly one of the best WT/Obedience Trainers around in Kent!  She is also a member of the APBC.  Anne has made up a WT Champion who also has an OW!

IT is not difficult to find a way in to Working Trials if you want to do it badly enough.  There ARE various clubs/classes around the country that hold regular training sessions or "one offs" and there are plenty of trainers who can teach you 1:1.

TBH it is virtually impossible to train WT alone whilst you are a beginner.

I like WT as it suits me and my dogs (Weimaraner and GSD) but it IS time consuming and, unlike agility or obedience, training and competing is ALWAYS done outside, whatever the weather.

There is a list of clubs/societies and dates and venues of trials on the this site:

[link]<a class='url' href='http://www.workingtrials.co.uk/'>http://www.workingtrials.co.uk/</a>[/link]

HTH

Thank you Tohme  :)- I had previously heard of this lady but when I googled for info she was based in a different county ( can't remember which one) so will give it a try. I can't get the link to work but then I am a computer numpty so it is probably me. :D