Obedience Trialling
The following are the various levels you can work towards if you consider Obedience Trialing. This aspect offers not only titles for your dog, but also the social companionship of traveling with other Club members to Trials held at other Clubs and venues throughout the State.
For those wishing to begin Trialing, there are a few pre requisites we suggest:
Buy an Obedience rulebook from the equipment shop.
To enter a Trial you and your dog must be members of the VCA.
When the Club holds our Obedience Trials, volunteer as a Steward (at present, Stewards must be VCA members) which will give you a great insight into the world of Trialing.
You and your dog are judged as a team and how you work together. The CCD exercises include heel on lead, stand for examination and both a sit and down stay and you must achieve 50% of your marks in each exercise to achieve a pass. A passing score is 75 points out of 100. Four your CCD title you are required to achieve 3 passing scores under at least 2 different judges for your CCD title.
Novice
This class includes the exercises as above but is all off lead which includes an off lead recall. A pass in this class requires a score of 170 points out of 200 with a 50% pass in each exercise. For your Novice title you are required to achieve 3 passing scores under at least 2 different Judges. This will then give you your CD (Companion Dog) title.
Open
This level adds a new dimension to your competitive skills with the addition of retrieving, broad jump, change of position and the out of sight stays. Passes in this class are as for Novice which when achieved, will give you your CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) title.
Utility
One of the highest aims of all Trialers in Obedience is to achieve a UD (Utility Dog) title. The exercises include your dog using its excellent sense of smell in the Seek back and Scent Discrimination exercises and his ability to work without voice command in the Signal exercise. There is also a seven-minute Down Stay with the handler out of sight.
Utility Dog Excellent
The highest obedience class which includes distance control, positions in motion and multiple retrieve.
Agility & Jumping Dog
If you have tried Agility at the Club you may wish to go on and try for one of three Agility Titles. Passes are gained by having a clear round of the course within a certain timeframe, designated by a Judge at an Agility Trial. The requirement of VCA membership is the same as in Obedience.
Tracking, Field Trialing and Endurance
Although the Club does not currently offer these disciplines, they are competitive areas you may, at some time, wish to consider.
HAPPY TRAINING
Important Reading - Understand Your Dog
Left to themselves dogs show an incredible capacity for learning. Too bad that most of this learning is not to our advantage. Training channels the dog’s energy.
TEN GOLDEN RULES
taken from the GSD Club of Australia Manual
Always make the dog feel that he is your companion and friend.
He does not possess a human mind, can not reason and comprehend language.
A close relationship between master and dog will lead to harmonious living.
Dogs vary in their attitude to us, in willingness to learn and adapt.
You should recognise the talents of your dog, develop and mould them.
The dog is learning only by memorising his past experiences.
Never lose your self-control, instead show love and understanding.
The dog is a trotter a (German Shepherd) and needs plenty of exercise for his well being.
Praise or correction at the right time will lead to final success.
Senselessly hitting your dog is useless and unworthy of a dog lover, but too much pampering would make him lose his respect for you.
How Do Dogs Learn?
Dogs learn from experience. If an experience is rewarding to the dog it repeats it, if it is stressful, frightening or painful, dogs avoid repeating that experience. In training, we should try to make it fun for the dog so active participation by the handler, using fair and consistent training methods, is necessary.
All dogs, regardless of size, have certain needs. They need a firm and fair leader who will provide for them, play with them, train them, groom them and generally make them part of the family; always remembering this is a DOG, not a human in a furry coat. Join our library or go to the local one and read about dogs and their behavior. You are the driver now and must know how a dog thinks to get the best results from your training. Whoever trains the dog becomes the dog’s pack leader
What Is Training?
At Geelong Obedience Club we train YOU how to train your dog. Training is teaching the dog to respond to certain sounds or signals, “Cues” for certain actions. Dogs react to voice tones NOT words. MODERN TRAINING METHODS use ASSOCIATION and MOTIVATION. Show, tell, and do, with praise for honest effort.
THE SECRET OF HAPPY TRAINING
We show the dog what we want him to do and praise when in the correct position.
We induce him to do the action and praise him.
We induce him to repeat the action, with mild compulsion and praise.
We practice and praise every time the dog assumes the right position.
TRAINING THAT WORKS, REQUIRES EFFORT FROM YOU, THE HANDLER
Location Breakwater Road, Belmont Common
Phone ( 03) 5243 4555
Postal Address P.O. Box 186 , Geelong , Vic. 3220
E-mail to Geelong Obedience Dog Club
Weekday Office Hours Thursday 4 pm - 6:30 pm
Training Sunday Mornings.
