WW258: Sept 12- Happy Heeling: Mastering Distractions

Heeling is easily the most complex behavior in competitive obedience. Adding distractions makes the exercise even more challenging. It’s not uncommon for dogs to either worry about distractions. Other times dogs don’t understand that they are supposed to ignore the distractions and stay focused on their handler. To often dogs develop a negative association with distractions that results in stress. It’s important to teach our dogs to have a positive relationship with distractions so they can be relaxed and confident in training and in the ring. In this webinar, I break distraction training down into small pieces so the dogs can be successful. Done correctly, ignoring distractions becomes a game. When dogs know how to win, it builds their ego and they become more confident and secure. Mastering distractions prepares dogs to successfully handle the demands of the ring. In this workshop, we will address environmental distractions, human distractions (judge and stewards) and barriers (ring gates, wall).

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Lecture Publish Date: Sunday September 12

Video Submissions Due Date:  Sunday September 19 @ 12pm noon PT

Feedback & Questions Video Publish Date: Wednesday September 22

Instructor: Petra Ford

Petra (she/her) graduated from Rutgers School of Health Related Professions 17 years ago with a degree in physical therapy and has experience working with an extremely varied caseload including pediatric through geriatric clients with a vast range of diagnoses. Her areas of expertise included in-patient rehabilitation, orthopedics and neurology. (Click here for full bio and to view Petra's upcoming courses)