Danny - going for AKC Open.

[CorgiMum]

Our training hiatus is over.

I've entered Danny in 2 obedience trials in Lynden WA May long weekend. Sat & Sunday. We'll drive down in the RV and spend the weekend.

The main differences that I have found so far in Open between AKC & CKC are these.

Where my hands are for the heeling patterns, CKC my arms can both be down. AKC my left hand is keeping my fingers at my waist, belly button and my right arm swings.

Where Danny's head and shoulder are in relation to my pant seam. CKC his neck & shoulders are in line, AKC my feet are to be in front of his. Not easy with a herding-dog-forger.

And the Long Sit is 3 min CKC, 5 min AKC. Correction: Both sits are 3 min, & 3 min down in CKC but 5 min down in AKC.

Bobbie, or anyone know if I've make any errors in my thinking here please let me know.

Last May in Lynden Danny won High in Class Sat & Sun for his first 2 Novice legs, and finished the third one also, HIC at the CPWCC Specialty in Olympia. It would be nice to have a matching AKC CDX even if they aren't HIC.

We request your vibes please. Danny laid down to snooze on the group sit at both of his last trials.:SHOCKED:

[Bobbie]

Long sit 3, long down 5.

I also think you can have both arms at your side. People here like to train dogs to focus on that hand at the waist so they do that but I don't think it is in the rule book. Rules say arms are to be held naturally (which to me rules out that hand at the waist!) Rules say scoring is the same as Novice so you already know all the heeling rules.

I learned heel as his shoulders in line with your legs. The rules say nothing about what it is as far as I can tell.

[thebeach.corgi]

Sending vibes to Danny and you for the upcoming trials.

[Jespah]

I'm sure that all of your hard work will pay off and that you two will be great! +THUMBUP+

Deb

[CorgiMum]

Long sit 3, long down 5.

Yes, that I knew, but typed it wrong. Thanks Bobbie. A 5 min sit would be too hard!:SWOON:

I also think you can have both arms at your side. People here like to train dogs to focus on that hand at the waist so they do that but I don't think it is in the rule book. Rules say arms are to be held naturally (which to me rules out that hand at the waist!) Rules say scoring is the same as Novice so you already know all the heeling rules.

I guess the one hand across the belly is what I am used to seeing ringside. And Danny is responding to the hand focus so maybe I'll go with that for these 2 trials. Mix it up a bit. And it might help kep him back a bit.

I learned heel as his shoulders in line with your legs. The rules say nothing about what it is as far as I can tell.

It was our trainer that told me that, I din't see it in the rule book either.

Back to reading Ring Ready! I love that publication, I get motivated every time I pick it up, and read a page of course. Some me-alone heeling practice today (it's raining) with Brown Sugar by The Stones playing. Danny's fun lesson for today...Rear End Awareness with a small box to pivot on.

Dylan is our coach, he hangs in there for the treats at the end!:WINK:

And thanks for the vibes guys.:SMILE:

[Betsie]

Vibes on the way for both of you. We knowyou and Danny are going to do great.

[Kassie]

Vibes headed your way for a most successful meet!+WUBCLUB+

[Bobbie]

Personally, if it were me, I wouldn't mess with his heeling. If you do a trial and the judge tells you great, but I had to take off XX points because he is lagging, then worry about it. But if you confuse him with two different heel positions he's liable to start really lagging. He heels beautifully- I can't see anyone faulting his position.

[CasaCorgis]

We are sending high performance vibes for Danny's and your next trial!

Thanks for telling us the details; as one who does not train her dogs for anything other than social manners (well, we try....) I love to know what you all do in the ring.

Best wishes again! :SMILE:

[corgiland]

All good vibes going to Danny and Barbara!

[manymuddypaws]

Good Luck!!

And I agree about not changing his heeling. I read through the rules a while ago (planning a trip to Montana to get the girls CD's) and it doesn't read much different than the CKC. I doubt you will lose points for it. Watching some of the youtube videos you can't tell which are CKC and AKC trials!

[taflar]

Where my hands are for the heeling patterns, CKC my arms can both be down. AKC my left hand is keeping my fingers at my waist, belly button and my right arm swings.

You can put your arms where you're used to. Many put the hand at the waist to keep from signaling the dog to "hurry". It's not an AKC rule that you have to heel that way.

Where Danny's head and shoulder are in relation to my pant seam. CKC his neck & shoulders are in line, AKC my feet are to be in front of his. Not easy with a herding-dog-forger.

I think you'll be ok with the position you're in now. I don't recall my feet being in front of Sparky's when I got his CD, although it was years ago.

I'd not retrain you or Danny for heeling! Just go for it and good luck!

Peggy

[CorgiMum]

Thanks, I've been keeping both my arms down, no need to confuse myself on purpose I guess.:TWITCHY:

[taflar]

Thanks, I've been keeping both my arms down, no need to confuse myself on purpose I guess.:TWITCHY:

Don't make it any harder than it has to be. You've got enough to think about when competing anyway!!

Peggy

[CorgiMum]

Yes I do. Listening to the judge, keeping an eye on Danny, smiling slightly, keeping good posture, looking stright ahead 20 ft, moving with my hips, but knees close together, heel toe, heel toe, walking pace, keeping to the beat in my head of Brown Sugar by The Stones and NOT breaking into dance!

Oh, and where my hands are.:TWITCHY:

And doing Obedience practice is not all boring as some would think. Danny loves the BPM.:WINK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B0Y3LUqr1Q

[Kassie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B0Y3LUqr1Q[/url]

I can only imagine the not breaking into dance (or strut) would be the hardest part!!:LAUGH:

[taflar]

Yes I do. Listening to the judge, keeping an eye on Danny, smiling slightly, keeping good posture, looking stright ahead 20 ft, moving with my hips, but knees close together, heel toe, heel toe, walking pace, keeping to the beat in my head of Brown Sugar by The Stones and NOT breaking into dance!

Oh, and where my hands are.:TWITCHY:

Dancing had never occurred to me!!! I was occupied with all of those other things. Didn't keep a beat in my head of anything. Thought about not tripping over my own feet when doing an about turn. Yup, plenty of other things to worry about.

Peggy

[CorgiMum]

Something that has made a big difference in my footwork with Danny is the years of doing Freestyle with Dylan.

I loaded up my iPod Shuffle yesterday, began heeling with Danny, he could of course hear what was coming out of my ear buds and loved it.

Humm, guess I couldn't use an iPod Shuffle in the ring though. But I just had a mental picture of Danny heeling with it on though! :LAUGH: