Novice Class
- Heel on leash
- Figure 8
- Heel off lead
- Stand for Examination off lead
- Recall and Finish off lead
- Long Sit off lead
- Long Down off lead
Week 1
Week 1 is a review of all the exercises we learned last year. Please click the button below if you need to brush up on any of the exercises before working your dog. You should be doing these exercises everyday with your dog, and then adding/modifying the new exercise each week.
Week 2
Heel off leash- exactly like the Heel on leash except no leash. To start getting your dog ready to go off lead practice with your leash draped around your neck or tied around your waist. This gives you the ability to still control your dog if they try to take off or if they are not doing the exercise properly. The leash should be loose and not tight so that you can use your left hand to jerk for corrections if needed. Practice all aspects of heeling- different speeds, about turns, sitting, etc.
Week 3
Start practicing for the long sit off lead by dropping lead on the ground next to your dog before you tell your dog stay and leave your dog. You will go the entire length of the ring, not just the lead, and your dog must stay for 3 minutes instead of just 1. You may not be able to go the whole distance at first if your dog gets up, and that is okay. Each time practice going a little further.
Week 4
Start practicing for the long down off lead by dropping lead on the ground next to your dog before you tell your dog down, stay, and leave your dog. You will go the entire length of the ring, not just the lead, and your dog must stay for 5 minutes instead of 3. You may not be able to go the whole distance at first if your dog gets up, and that is okay. Each time practice going a little further. Also, please check showmanship page for lesson.
Week 5
Start practicing for the stand for examination off lead by dropping lead on the ground next to your dog before you tell your dog to stay. Make sure to practice with someone going over your dog. If you can have different people do this it will help prepare your dog for when the judge does it. Please check showmanship page for lesson,
Week 6
Start practicing for the recall and finish off lead by dropping your lead on the ground next to your dog before you tell your dog stay. This way you have something to catch your dog if they do not come to you when called. You will go the entire length of the ring, not just the lead. Practice the finish off lead by either letting dog drag leash of holding leash very loose. Please check showmanship page for lesson.
Week 7
These are all the new exercises for Novice. If your dog is doing well with the off lead exercises, take lead off and you can cut a cheap leash a couple inches long, snap it onto the choke chain and use that to correct your dog by grabbing it when needed. It is hard to grab the choke chain quickly without it. Continue to practice all these exercises- your dog should be proficient off lead by end of Novice year.