All Breeds Obedience Training

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Training Aims

Although essentially a breed Club, the Rottweiler Club of South Australia Obedience Division has as one of its aims to successfully promote reward-based training to all breeds. It sees as essential the need for all breeds to successfully interact and socialise with each other as part of the training process and as such, opens its training classes to all breeds of dogs from the age of 12 weeks.

The training program is aimed in the first instance at having a well behaved and well adjusted dog in the home and in the community. It is hoped that the time spent in training will become part of the bond between dog and handler. It is hoped there will be a flow on effect that will see both dog and handler wanting to extend their knowledge to include other elements of training that can be mutually rewarding to the dog and his/her family.

The Club has the ability to take its members into the field of obedience competition if their interest leads in that direction. If a dog is capable of performing to a certain level, why not acknowledge and reward that achievement? A simple exercise for the pet dog – “loose lead walking” can then be refined to become “Heel on Lead” for the competition ring.

Although our training is aimed at the PET DOG, every pet dog has the ability to be a COMPETITION DOG if both the dog and the owner have the desire.

OUR AIM IS FOR YOU TO HAVE A WELL-TRAINED AND HAPPY COMPANION FOR LIFE

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Classes and Their Content

All classes will also contain an owner education element Each class consists of 4 weeks training.

Your dog must be fully vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Kennel Cough. You will be required to produce your dog’s current vaccination certificate on joining and every year thereafter.

Puppy Class
• Check all collars and leads are on correctly;
• Positive reward based training (explain what it is);
• Massage;
• Look or watch;
• Sit;
• Drop;
• Stand;
• Stay;
• Come;
• Fetch and Give;
• On your mat;
• Touch;
• Introduce clicker training;
• Loose lead walking.

Automatic graduation at the end of puppy class.

Grade 1 Graduation
• Check all collars and leads are on correctly;
• Hold eye contact "Look" for 10 seconds;
• Heel on a loose lead without pulling, including left and right turns and right about turns;
• Dog will sit, drop and stand on command;
• Recall on a long lead, and reward the dog as soon as it sits in front of the handler (make it
fun);
• Heel on a loose lead without pulling;
• Will do "sit" and "drop" for 10 seconds;
• "Stand" for 5 seconds, with handler immediately in front;
• Not aggressive when 2 meters from a dog which is sitting quietly with its handler.

Please ask if you would like "Certificate of Achievement" issued for your dog to enable you to a cheaper dog registration fee with your Local Council, because you are eligible for the registration training rebate once you have passed the Rottweiler Club's Grade 1.

Grade 2 Graduation
• Check all collars and leads are on correctly;
• Hold eye contact "Look" for 20 seconds;
• Heel on a loose lead without pulling, including left and right turns, and right about turns;
• Introduce "Left About Turns";
• Automatic sit;
• Dog will walk at heal and sit, drop and stand;
• "Stand stay" on lead whilst circled closely by Instructor;
• Recall off lead (handler always returns to the dog);
• Introduce Fast and Slow pace;
• "Stand" stay for 5 - 10 seconds;
• "Sit" and "Drop" stay for 30 seconds (with handler about 1 meter in front).

Grade 3 Graduation
Start to discuss Trialling.
• Check all collars and leads are on correctly;
• Hold eye contact "Look" for 30 seconds (at a distance of 1 meter);
• Heeling on a loose lead, with all turns;
• Introduce "Sit" and "Drop" during fast and slow pace;
• Recall off lead (3 - 6 meters);
• Introduce "Finish" as a separate exercise (and never after a recall!);
• "Stand Stay" with light examination;
• Left and right turns, left and right about turns;
• Introduce circles to the left and circles to the right;
• "Sit Stay" for 1 minute (from 2 meters to 4 meters);
• "Drop Stay" for 1 - 2 minutes ( from 2 meters to 4 meters);
• Introduce “drop” from a stand stay, pivot in front and teach drop command (face to face
with the dog.

Grade 4 Graduation
Discuss a bit more about trialling!
• Check all collars and leads are on correctly;
• Hold eye contact "Look" for 45 seconds (at a distance of 2 meters);
• Heeling on a loose lead, with all turns;
• Dog will sit, drop and stand in all paces of heelwork;
• Fast and Slow pace, with other commands;
• Introduce "Off Lead" walking at heel position, vary the pace and include commands;
• Recall off lead at a distance of 6 - 10 meters;
• Introduce "Figure 8";
• "Sit Stay" for 1 minute (from 3 meters to 6 meters);
• "Drop Stay" for 2 minutes (from 3 meters to 6 meters);
• “Change of Position” from stand stay, then go 3 metres in front of dog and tell dog to
“drop” whilst looking at dog (face to face).
• Introduce Dumbell work with , “fetch”, “hold” and “give” commands, and practice throwing
the dumbell.

Competition Classes
For those who feel they would like to continue working with their dogs, these classes will prepare dog and handler for the obedience competition ring. Even if you feel you do not want to enter competition you may participate in these classes in order to learn new things and to refine those things you and your dog have already learned.

Benefits of the Programme
This is a progressive training programme that will benefit you and your community by making both you and your dog happy community citizens and aims to make your life with your “best friend” a joy that will last for many, many years.

WE NEVER STOP LEARNING

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Further Information

Beverley Chapman - Phone: 0427 552 997
Narelle Medlicott (Obedience Liaison Officer) - Phone: 0417 870 784
Trish Osterman - Phone: 08 8263 5037

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Training Details

The training year commences on the first Thursday in February and concludes on the last Thursday in November.

When: Thursday night (February - November)
Where: Adelaide Cricket Oval No. 25, opposite the Police Barracks. Enter from North Terrace or East Terrace only
Cost: $2.00 per lesson as a member. Annual joining fee from $30.
Time: Classes commence at 7.30pm with puppy, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade3, and 8.15pm for Grade 4, Grade 5, and Show handler classes (every 1st and 3rd Thurs nights); please arrive 15 minutes early to exercise and socialise your dog.
Show Handler Class: Held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 8.15pm.

Map
Entry is from Port Road.

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Training Cancellations

Training will be cancelled if:

- the temperature is 34 degrees or over at 6pm
- there is constant heavy rain throughout the afternoon or evening
- there is thunder and/or lightning
- it is the Thursday prior to Easter

We ask you to exercise your own discretion, when conditions are uncomfortable for yourself or your dog.

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Exercise

Exercise allows the burning up of excess energy, steadies the nervous system, curbs the tendency to bark and puts the dog in the best possible shape for training class. Therefore, you should arrive 15 minutes early for the purpose of exercising your dog before training. Walk around, do some preliminary training, mingle with other members and their dogs. Please stay away from any class in operation, as we do not want to cause unneccessary disruptions to training.

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Training Equipment

Collar
The Club recommends the use of a fixed collar, preferably a soft collar or a correctly fitted slip collar. The slip collar should only be used for training. Do not leave it on around the yard; if it catches on a stake, or anything else, the dog can choke.

Leash
The leash must be of sufficient length (85cm is advisable), to permit the dog movement without it being tight when the dog is walking under control. A long lead will be provided for recalls and stays.

Jumps
Jumps may only be used by dogs that have reached the required standard and under supervision of an Instructor.

Food Rewards
These may be brought with you from home, or purchased from the trading table. Please ensure you have easy access pockets or a food bag.

Clicker
A Clicker is a small rectangular, plastic box with a metal tongue, that when depressed makes a clicking noise. It is one of the tools used in our positive reward based training, and teaches your dog to think and learn in a way that is exciting, rapid, humorous and, above all, fun for both you and your companion. Clickers can be purchased at a minimal cost from our merchandise table.

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