The Mifflin County Dog Training Club

Looking Back: On Obedience Training

Written by Kathy Molek
Saturday, 17 January 2009

A humerous excerpt from the Mifflin County Dog Training Club's December 1989 Newsletter via "Spotted Dick’s Almanac".

So your owner doesn’t take you to obedience. Get your dog appeal going. Make your owner think how much nicer you would be if you were obedient. You haven’t live if you haven’t been to class. You meet girls (or if you are one) you meet boys (how ‘bout that?).

Would you believe that your owner comes to learn to be a handler (i.e., the stooge you have on the other end of the lead)? The first thing he learns is that if you run away, it doesn’t make a difference as long as eventually you come back and sit by him. You can’t be punished because if you are, you won’t come back. See? Remember when you are ready, go back and sit and look up innocently. Do this and you can get away with murder! The tests, as the handlers think they should be done, will bore you, but with your own variations you can play forever and score your own way.

EXERCISE #1 – Heel on Lead

A bit of a grind. Hang your head, walk as slowly as you can, then without warning, spring forward with all your weight. If your handler falls flat on his face, you score 25 points.

EXERCISE #2 – Heel free

Anything goes , AND SO GO YOU. Usually at least one other dog will run with you.  If you are out of doors, attend to the wants of nature. This gives you an alibi and shows your handler as a cad who forgot to look after you before training started. In your own time, return and sit with maddening precision and smile. You score 5 points for each minute of freedom.

EXERCISE # 3 – Recall

Handler walks off. Let him go – but when he turns and shouts at you, assume rock deafness, or show him how perfectly you can stay. Look anywhere but not at him! If you see something worth investigating, go investigate. In your own time, go to your handler, preferable cringing, with your ears laid back. This will convince the other handlers that yours is a secret dog beater, and he will lose face. On no account, sit in front of your handler as he will only make you move around him. Assume the “Heel” position and look up with indifference. If your handler loses his voice, you score 25 points.

EXERCISE #4 – Retrieve the dumbbell

Watch handler throw away the dumbbell with respectful interest. On no account fetch it back – he will only throw it away again! If the silly so – and- so- wants his bit of wood, let him fetch it – you will be helping to train him not to throw away what he wants. Variation: run out with enthusiasm and sniff the dumbbell, smile and return without it. He can’t hit you (see notes above). Repeat as often as handler wishes, you score 5 points every time handler retrieves the dumbbell.

EXERCISE#5 – Sit

On no account, really sit. They always train you on cold, wet ground. A squat is enough. You stay one inch from the ground at the back end. From this position you are able to spring away fast with no hesitation ( see hints on “Heel Free”). Five points for each successful squat.

EXERCISE #6 – Down

Here you have to lie down. With practice you can travel yards on your stomach to reach other competitors! If they move, pretend you think the exercise is over and leave.