Instructor: Shade Whitesel
Course Details
This course builds on the foundation skills introduced in Foundations 1, and introduces other core skills to both the dog and the handler. I teach advanced stages of the tug game, including the beginnings of letting go and barking, and expand on obedience and self control in both the tug and the 2 ball game. Always emphasized is a thinking partner in the training process and your role as the handler to create an environment that promotes good choices by the dog. Keeping criteria in the obedience skills while adding energy and motivation with the prey games is a handler skill.
I cover back up, turning, use of platforms, a focus/leave it cue, more duration stays and go into teaching heeling, both stationary and moving, in great depth. Heeling is worth a lot of points in IPO!
I end the course with starting to teach the dog many different places for reward, and teaching the handler how to use these different cues to start fading the reward off the body and in places that help you on trial day, for instance the send out spot.
Like in Foundations 1, the format is 2-3 topics a week, with discussions to keep the silvers on their toes and participating!
While this course is geared towards dogs with the drives and interest toward IPO, it is also helpful for dogs with prey instinct and handlers who are hoping to channel it rather than fight with it!
Here's a promo video to give you a tiny taste of what we'll be working on in class:
