Novice Syllabus

Week 1:

* Call to Heel, Moving call to Heel, Understanding & Establishing Dogs Head Position while Heeling.

* Understanding your dog’s Body Space, Different ways to Stand Dog, Sit for Exam.

* Recall. Establishing your criteria. Attention, Speed, Straight, & Follow through.

* Stays. Establishing your criteria. Making them clear to your Dog. Sit Stay and Down Stay practice.

Week 2:

* Focusing on the Dog: Dog’s body awareness & Dog’s Balance in Heel. Introduction to Figure 8

* Gaining Confidence on the Exam making it weird in practice so it is easy in the trial, Stand or Sit for Exam.

* Teaching Front. Using Body Ques.

* Explaining the Stay to a dog that is Distracted or Board. Sit Stay and Down Stay practice.

Week 3:

* Focusing on the Handler: Handler’s Footwork, Body Posture & Trusting the Dog. Heeling Starts & Halts, Proper footwork for the Figure 8 exercise.

* Explaining the Stand for Exam to a dog that is Friendly or Shy. Confidence building exercises. Stand for Exam.

* Teaching Finish. Using Body Ques.

* Stays. Bad Habits, What to Avoid, What to do if you already Have a Problem. Sit stay and Down stay practice.

* Knowing Your Dog, Does he Rev Up or Down for Trials? How to Train with this in Mind.

Week 4:

* Heeling Style & Rhythm, Leads & Pace Changes, Gaiting and Speed Transitions for Figure 8.

* Confidence building Continues. Stand for Exam.

* Proofing Recall.

* Active Stays & Making them Rewarding. Sit Stay and Down Stay Practice.

* Introduction to Proofing. How to Use Corrections Fairly.

Week 5 :

* Heeling Endurance & Keeping it Exciting. Figure 8 Practice.

* Stand for Exam. Making it Formal, Making it Clear.

* Proofing Front.

* Proofing Stays.

* How to Teach Corrections

Week 6 :

* Off Leash Heeling, Making the Transition. Figure 8 Practice & Proofing.

* Proofing Stand for Exam

* Proofing Finish.

* Stays. Making them Formal, Making them Clear.

* In Between Exercises: How to Effectively Use This Time, What is Best for Your Dog (What is Best for You)

Week 7 :

* Proofing Heeling & more Figure 8 proofing.

* Working on Individual Stand for Exam problems

* Recall. Putting it all Together. Making it Formal.

* Sit Stay and Down Stay practice. Focus on Individual Problems.

* Preparing for Trial. Developing a Warm Up and Cool Down Routine. Fading Toys, Treats, Leash Corrections & Praise.

Week 8 :

* Dealing with Nerves, Ring Stress and Dogs that Shut Down.

* Putting it all Together. Run Thurs (mock trial).