Building Focus, Attention, and Connection Before Entering Ring
VIDEO 1: Pre-ring Preparation for FOCUS, ATTENTION & CONNECTION
Beckett has spent a lot of time in his doggie gym learning tricks, working on balance discs, tugging with sister Myst and just thinking this is so much fun since it is highly rewarded, light and happy. I have also incorporated during this time, the Utility SIGNAL exercise, fronts, finishes, dumbbell pickup to fronts, dogs taking turns for double article piles and much more. All of this has built great value for our pre-ring entrance where Beckett is focused, happy, connected and attentive. You will see that there are people with their off leash dogs off to the side talking loudly; not once does Beckett look at them or get distracted by them even though he has never seen them before. He has great value for what we are doing outside the ring.
Petra Ford recommends having a pre-ring program that one does every time before they go into the ring for chaining or run throughs. By doing this the dog knows what to expect and is already connected going into the ring. My eyes are never taken off my dog during this time even with ring entrance as you will see in VIDEO 2 and the above videos of our first ever Utility run. I am communicating to him that he is the most important thing to me at this time and is getting my FULL ATTENTION. Once one looses the dogs attention it takes at least 3-5 seconds to get it back if that.
This very important pre-ring introduction and practice has several very important advantages:
VIDEO 2: Teaching the Dog How to Stay CONNECTED When Entering the Ring
The pre-ring tricks is what I use when preparing the dog to go into the ring. I watch carefully when the dog ahead of me is in the ring and has one 1 or 2 exercises from the class. When he finishes the judge has to spend a short time entering her final comments which adds a few minutes. By waiting until the dog before us is though some of his run, we are not having to wait and stay connected for a very long time.
I always eye the jump set up and height since in the past I have had the jumps set at the wrong height causing a pulled bar and re-do of that exercise. So many people totally forget about their dogs when they are entering the obedience ring.
There is so much already to distract the dog occurring around the ring that a loss of focus and attention from their handler can be deadly for hoping to have that lovely connected, focused obedience run. It has been said that when a dog looses focus it takes at least 5 seconds to gain it back... if at all. When we enter the ring, the dog must be our most important point of focus - not the judge. We should know where we are going. to be set up so once we come up, slip off the leash we are ready to go to where the judge is going to direct us to begin, Beckett is doing much better with this but as you will see, with my 2 actual Utility runs (his first time in the ring doing Utility), it is still very much a task in progress.
When I practice ring entrance, I ask for total focus and attention when entering the ring. If the dog drops his attention and focus I say, "let's try this again" until I get the focus I am looking for. I break up this focus coming into the ring into several parts which are HIGHLY REWARDED when the dog stays connected and focused.
Beckett has spent a lot of time in his doggie gym learning tricks, working on balance discs, tugging with sister Myst and just thinking this is so much fun since it is highly rewarded, light and happy. I have also incorporated during this time, the Utility SIGNAL exercise, fronts, finishes, dumbbell pickup to fronts, dogs taking turns for double article piles and much more. All of this has built great value for our pre-ring entrance where Beckett is focused, happy, connected and attentive. You will see that there are people with their off leash dogs off to the side talking loudly; not once does Beckett look at them or get distracted by them even though he has never seen them before. He has great value for what we are doing outside the ring.
Petra Ford recommends having a pre-ring program that one does every time before they go into the ring for chaining or run throughs. By doing this the dog knows what to expect and is already connected going into the ring. My eyes are never taken off my dog during this time even with ring entrance as you will see in VIDEO 2 and the above videos of our first ever Utility run. I am communicating to him that he is the most important thing to me at this time and is getting my FULL ATTENTION. Once one looses the dogs attention it takes at least 3-5 seconds to get it back if that.
This very important pre-ring introduction and practice has several very important advantages:
- First it helps us practice CALM, SUPPORTIVE TEAMWORK.
- It helps us to practice BEING IN THE PRESENT for being our dog's partner and not worrying about class results. While in the ring we should be only focused on HELPING OUR DOGS and being their partner in supporting their work in exercises. Our presence should let them know they are SAFE and we are there for them. Thus, our undivided ATTENTION to them only
- It helps the dog learn that when they are with us they do not have to be STRESSED AND WORRIED. We are teaming up with them to do their favorite offered tricks and other pre-ring fun that has always had HIGH VALUE and this is just the same as they do all the time with us... so NO WORRY.... LET'S GO IN AND DO THE DANCE TOGETHER.
- We cannot suddenly when we show turn off our worry, stress, or thinking about qualifying.... we need to practice this and practice how we will be for this practice sessions and in the ring when we show.
- Most importantly, we are depositing into the dogs bank account feeling SAFE, CONFIDENT, and HAPPY for what they are about to do.
VIDEO 2: Teaching the Dog How to Stay CONNECTED When Entering the Ring
The pre-ring tricks is what I use when preparing the dog to go into the ring. I watch carefully when the dog ahead of me is in the ring and has one 1 or 2 exercises from the class. When he finishes the judge has to spend a short time entering her final comments which adds a few minutes. By waiting until the dog before us is though some of his run, we are not having to wait and stay connected for a very long time.
I always eye the jump set up and height since in the past I have had the jumps set at the wrong height causing a pulled bar and re-do of that exercise. So many people totally forget about their dogs when they are entering the obedience ring.
There is so much already to distract the dog occurring around the ring that a loss of focus and attention from their handler can be deadly for hoping to have that lovely connected, focused obedience run. It has been said that when a dog looses focus it takes at least 5 seconds to gain it back... if at all. When we enter the ring, the dog must be our most important point of focus - not the judge. We should know where we are going. to be set up so once we come up, slip off the leash we are ready to go to where the judge is going to direct us to begin, Beckett is doing much better with this but as you will see, with my 2 actual Utility runs (his first time in the ring doing Utility), it is still very much a task in progress.
When I practice ring entrance, I ask for total focus and attention when entering the ring. If the dog drops his attention and focus I say, "let's try this again" until I get the focus I am looking for. I break up this focus coming into the ring into several parts which are HIGHLY REWARDED when the dog stays connected and focused.
- First is just passing through the ring gates
- Second is being able to slip the leash off and hang it up (when I practice I use a small ribbon which slips off easily). When showing I use my leash but do not attach with the clip but allow it to slip off
- Third I ask the dog to stay connected and walk with me to where the exercise begins
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