OBEDIENCE IS A DACHSHUND’S WORLD Proofing

PROOFING

by Brenda Reimer

This is part 1 of a two-part series covering proofing. In this article, proofing is defined and examples for the obedience exercises are explained. Part 2 of the series covers one form of proofing: Judge pressure.

A familiar refrain at obedience trials is that our dogs are perfect in practice, in matches, but not when it counts. We scratch our heads and wonder what is going on in their little heads. After all, heeling is heeling no matter where we do it, right?

Alas, although we believe heeling is heeling no matter where we are at, for our dogs, they need to be introduced to different settings so that they understand that when we say a command, they are ready to do it. This is the goal of new situations and the goal of proofing.

Let’s start with new situations. I have been taught by trainers to take my dog to different locations so that the dog comes out of the van ready to work. When I first heard about this, I thought, how ridiculous. After all, usually I am sitting at the show site for an hour or more before showing. And then came the pandemic and we were showing out of the van. And I had a dog who could come out of the van crate with attention and ready to work. Where do I practice this?

Think about a large parking lot (movie theater, strip mall, etc.). Park the van. Take dog out of the crate, play, and make it the greatest thing ever. Then put back in the van. Move to a different part of the parking lot and do it again. I’ve even done this on residential streets. The goal is to have a dog ready to work. Once we do this, we can take the show inside. When practicing this, 3 or 4 locations for about 1-2 minutes is all you need to do.

In my neighborhood, JoAnn Fabrics is dog friendly (it’s on their website, but always check), Lowes, PetsMart, and some others. Some Home Depot stores are dog friendly (not by me). Let’s think about Lowes. The dog comes out of the van crate ready to play and do lessons. You might heel to the door, and then choose a location of the store that is appropriate for your dog. There are quiet aisles and louder aisles. For example, I don’t want to train when there are a lot of dogs in a store. I take Zelda to the back of the store around 7 a.m. The store is not busy, but there is the sound of boxes being unloaded, etc. And there are lots of employees to use as distractions. Know your dog when you take the dog on the road. Is your dog at the stage of being exposed to new environments or is the dog ready for proofing? Let’s review!

Before we proof our dogs, we want to make sure that the dog understands the exercise. For me, proofing is not a “GOTCHA” moment. Proofing is a way for me to understand what level my dog is at with the exercise or skill. Once I know what the dog can’t do, then I can work on that situation. Therefore, proofing is creating a situation where you, as the trainer, increase the difficulty of a task. What is the purpose? One purpose is to recreate mistakes the dog makes in the ring so that you can train through that mistake. The other purpose is to make the ring easier than in training so that the dog can be successful.

Proofing from the time you take your dog out of the crate to the ring entrance is important for all events. Let’s look at how we can proof for the obedience exercises.

Before we proof our dogs, we want to make sure that the dog understands the exercise. For me, proofing is not a “GOTCHA” moment.

All levels (and sports):

• Entering the ring with attention

• Practice walking through doorways. Practice walking through ring gates. Make the entrance narrower. Practice walking through ring gates with toys on the ground (set the toys before the entrance). Grab friends! Practice with someone outside the ring, then someone at the gate, and last, someone inside. Build up to 2 people inside (think judge and the steward to takes the leash). Add noises (This is important for every exercise.)

Heel/Figure 8 & Heel Free • Heel in a narrow area (a confined space). • Practice halts closer and closer to the ring gates. • When practicing the figure 8, do an about turn or a 270 turn as you are going around a cone. Stand for Exam • Have your dog stand with a cone behind her. Work up to 3 cones (sides and back) from a few feet away to less than a foot from the dog.

Have a friend conduct the “exam” while wearing a long coat, or other baggy type clothes. Recall • Leave your dog and dance, walk funny, skip, etc. Will your dog stay? • Leave your dog and before calling the dog, take a deep breath. Shrug your shoulders. • Call nonsense words instead of your come/front word. Novice Sit Stay Get Your Leash (SSGYL) and Stays • Can your dog do the stay for a little over a minute? For 30 seconds? Vary the time. • There are times a young dog will get up when the leash is in a hand. Proof walking back to the dog (SSGYL) with the leash in one hand, the leash dangling, around your neck, etc. Give the dog a lot of different looks in practice. • Proof walking around the dog. Walk a tight circle, a wider circle, etc. Skipping in a circle around a small dog can be hard and I do not advise that movement.

Open examples

Drop on Recall • Give your down signal/verbal at different points. Not all judges down a dog halfway. • If you do not give your down signal/verbal, does the dog slowdown in anticipation? • Have toys and food on the ground that the dog has to pass or drop near. Be fair to the dog. Start this with the toys or food at a reasonable distance. Then bring the food/toys closer to the recall/drop path. DB Retrieves • Practice off center throws. It is the dog’s responsibility to find the db.

BJ •

Similar to the novice recall, you should be able to dance your way to the handler location, take a deep breath, and then ask the dog to jump. Can your dog hold the sit? Stand Stay Get Your Leash (SSGYL) • The same proofs as the novice SSGYL.

Utility

Signal exercise • Ask a friend to wave arms, etc. behind the dog for signals. Is the dog looking at you and waiting?

• Most judges have a right or left turn, stand your dog, leave your dog pattern. Practice this a few times.

Then turn and keep heeling. Did the dog anticipate the stand? Articles • Articles are so much fun! And for our scent hounds, it’s the exercise that calls their name. Have fun proofing articles. Put them close to each other, and then spread them out much further than you will ever see at a show. Put the article pile in one room of your house and send the dog from the hallway. Be creative and fun! Gloves • Put 6-10 gloves in a large circle and pivot/send to each. Can your dog ignore the other gloves? • Put gloves 1 and 3 in their usual location and move glove 2 closer. Will your dog ignore #2 and get the correct glove? • Put gloves 1 and 3 closer and glove 2 in its usual location. Can the dog get #2? Moving Stand • Will your dog keep moving if “stand your dog” is said and you keep moving? • Will your dog hold the stand if you dance away?

Directed Jumping

Can your dog do an extra-long go out? Stop your dog multiple times on the way to the go out location. Go – sit- go-sit-gosit. Many dogs find this to be great fun. And it shows you that the dog understands the go out command you use and listens when you say sit.

Remember, this is a control exercise. Wait before sending to jump. Is the dog waiting for the command?

I hope these proofing suggestions help your training. You can set up proofs by yourself, and with others. Please remember the key: Proofing helps us know what the dog has learned, and it will help you solve the problems you are having in the ring. Avoid using proofing to set up your dog just to confuse it.

As you proof your dog, you will soon see that the dog can do the exercises at shows, and will pay attention to you,

Last, I would like to mention that there are proofing books available for purchase. Two books that I would recommend are:

“The Art of Proofing” by Adele Yunck (Northfielddogtraining.com) “Success is in the Proofing” by Debby Quigley (debbyquigley.com)

Please note that the books are cheaper directly from them than on other sites.!