Re: Healing

In Reply to: Healing
Category:   General Training
Posted by:  Angelina
Posted on:  February 25, 2002 at 20:17:43

: Hi
: This site is Great....We have a 1yr.old JRT. We were not looking for a dog but I was in a mall and saw this SO unhappy puppy who was being feed chips and was in a crate with another breed of dog that had worms in its waste...I had NEVER even considered having a dog...Next thing I know I own a JRT without papers and 700$ dollars later..Wow what a surprise.....in the first week I had Casper he swallowed a stick that came out sideways another 1000$ at the vet...I was wondering WHAT am I doing?......But its been a year and I can not picture my life without him.....We have sent money on crates and toys and classes....He is quite a little man...and stuborn! He can drive me nuts and he can put the biggest smile on my face...But to my question is that we have been trying to teach Casper to heal with NO results...I've been told that JRT's will never heal???? Any Tips???
: Thanks Angelina & Casper....

Response:

Hi Angelina & Casper,

Glad to hear that Casper has found a wonderful home!

Any dog will heel if given enough practice. It would take me too long to explain all the methods used to get a dog to obey the "heel" command.

My suggestion is another obedience class and tell the trainer your main emphasis is on heeling work.

Remember, an obedience class is only as good as the homework you put into it. A good trainer knows who is doing the homework and who isn't every time you show up at class.

Your practice sessions should only last 5-10 minutes tops and you can do maybe 2 sessions a day.

My one terrier that does agility gets practice just about everyday. He was getting sloppy with his jumping so I bought practice jumps and even in the winter it takes nothing to set them up in the family room.

Every day he has to do jumps even if it's only for a minute or two at a time. He now has jumps down pat.

Always end your sessions on a positive.

As my trainer says "Be brief, be fair, be fun." She is so right, it really works!