FC Week 4 Glossary

                                Week 4 

         Foundation Course Glossary/Key Terms

 

 

Figure 8

Helps make your heeling better as it requires the dog to change paces to keep up with the handler. Use two stationary poles as heeling posts approximately 8’ apart. Go forward in the left direction and walk in straight lines (your dog hasn’t learned to heel in curves yet). Think of an hourglass, or two triangles, with the point ending in the middle between the two poles.

 

 

Left About Turn

Teaches dog to find heel position while moving.

 

While heeling your dog, turn TOWARDS the dog until you are facing the opposite direction while transferring the leash from the right to left hand behind you. The dog is moving forward, but you are facing the dog’s rear and the leash is behind your back and in your left hand.

 

Command “Heel” again as you step off with your left foot and give a small tug of the leash with your left hand to provide the dog which direction to go. Continue to move forward as the leash is then transferred from left to right hand and back into Walking Position.

 

 

Approach by a Stranger

Teaches your dog to accept a person approaching and hold its Sit/Stay, and eventually its Stand/Stay. Once the dog is in a Stay, have the person approach diagonally, no eye contact with the dog, lightly touch the top of the dog’s head and shoulders and hips...and move away briskly. The point is for the dog to accept a stranger approaching and being touched while it maintains its Stay.

 

 

Down

Helps dog learn to yield to the handler’s authority.

Start in a Sit with collar high and snug. Hold leash with left hand at snap bolt (thumb up for safety) and keep slight upward pressure.

 

Keep your head BEHIND the dog’s head (for safety in case of a re-direct). Use right arm under dog’s belly to grab dog’s left leg to sweep the dog’s front legs out. Left arm and elbow placed on dog’s back to help mold into the down and keep dog in that position.

 

Once dog is down, switch hands so the right hand holds the leash and the left does a very slow ‘Conditioned Relaxation’ stroke down the dog’s back. As soon as you feel the dog relax, give the dog a slack collar (tells the dog good job) and continue the ‘Conditioned Relaxation’.

 

After the dog stays relaxed for a few moments, stand up straight next to dog (make sure you step with right foot - tells dog to stay*) *Remember at this point in the training we are teaching the 'Down', not the Down/Stay. If your dog moves, command "Heel" and do an Exercise Finish like it was your idea all along.

 

End with an Exercise Finish.

 

 

Recall to Sit Straight in Front (SSIF)

This is the first time you will teach a dog to 'string a series of commands' to create a new command. The dog learns that the last command given is now superseded with a new command.

 

Use any aisle or alley, such as a hall in your home, or create an alley.

Command sequence:

“Fido”

“Come”

“Yes”

“Sit”

“Good dog”

 

Stand up tall and straight on the Recall, DO NOT bend over and bow to your dog. You may have to pull the dog to you, this is okay at this point. Dog should be sitting straight in front of you at the end of this command sequence.

 

Step back to your dog and do an Exercise Finish.

 

 

Supported stand circles

Expand your Stand by doing circles around the dog.

 

Once you’ve done the Stand mechanics, set your dog with slight pushing on the shoulders. Command Stay. Always step off on your right foot and pass the dog on your right foot to help your dog understand to remain in this position.

 

Maintain the supported stroking of the shoulders the entire time you are circling. Keep the leash loose and to the right of the dog’s face as you circle.

 

Always end your final circle with an Exercise Finish and praise.