Working trials? Help please?

[Inthepotty]

Have been taking 8 1/2 month old pup to puppy training 2x a week since October. Moved up through puppy beginners, and currently on 'Activity dog' (formall recalls and present, blind retrieval, distance control/send-aways) I've got 2 weeks left in this class and then move up to 'Advanced' (combination of what I've been doing and some small poles on the floor type jumps)Trainer mentioned that my Pup and I may enjoy her working trials training on a Saturday once I've finished these classes. Currently go on Sundays. Alternatively, she does do competitive obedience classes, too. Am a bit confused and stuck on what to choose!

Any help or personal experience (minimuu I looking at u!!!)

Working trials are a bit like agility but like over vertical walls, searching, tracking....like police dog stuff I think. My dog is on a course for this in May...or it might be June!

Competitive obedience is what i call posh training. Long stays, walking to heel and turning right and left, send aways, retrieve, sent work. Like you see them doing at crufts

That's a very simplified explanation

Personally I have never fancied the competitive obedience. It seems too slow and meticulous for me. I like the running about, hurtling over things and grabbing stuff activities!

inthepotty easy, do both

Working trials is fab, some dogs love it. It was started as a sort or civilian trail based on police dog work. It includes tracking, some retrieve, depending on the stage the dogs can track for half a mile, agility there are only three obstacles though long jump, hurdle and a high scale. There is also obedience work depending on the level you are at eg heelwork sendaway, stay, speak. At higher levels there are other control style work.

Working trials are good that you compete against yourself so if your dog reaches a standard it gets the "stake" and does not depend on what other dogs have done. You are outdoors in all weathers, it is socialable and great fun

Obedience as you know is accurate, and the training needs to have a real eye for detail- again better for some dogs than others but a most dogs love the training even if you do not intend to compete.

Joking apart I would give both a try and see which you and your dog prefer.

I do both disciplines with some of my dogs they enjoy them both.

minimuu had a feeling you may say that!

Am going to finish this set of classes, see how the next 8 weeks bunch go and decide from there.

In the meantime, is there any starter tricks/training bits I can start to do to give us a bit of experience in working trials? We already do lots of hide and seek games, and am trying really hard at send ways. Have a brilliant speak command that I use a lot as it makes my boy feel all big and clever! Taught with a clicker.

He is still young so I would work on motivation games and general obedience (sound boring but it is not)

Does he like a toy?

Hold a toy in your left hand and get him to walk alongside you with a close command
Put the toy in the right hand and give a side command.

Teach a good wait
Teach a fast recall by recalling between family members

does he like tuggies - great to get him working with you

Great to have a speak command

He loves loves tuggy toys more than anything on the world!! Will get going on close/side commands. Has a lovely strong wait, can do 90 yards with him in a wait, and use it as a formall recall op. Will start adding distractions to the wait, too.

Really excited about it all now!!

If you have a good wait -

set him up in a wait put the tuggy a few feet in front of him and send him to the tuggy.

This is getting him ready for sendaways and also tracking

Well, today took my own advice re toy using a toy as lure at training, have been struggling with send aways as isn't that bothered about food. Looped tuggy toy around target stick that we use and he bounded toward it (off lead!) and went straight into a down! Was very proud.

Am going to try some blind retrievals outside, as he can find his lovely red ball anywhere in the house now! Keeps both pup and DCs busy! Thanks to you both!