funmatch

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Fun Match
Thanks to all that made it all possible - Dale Gordan, Dawn Jecs, Patty Ruzzo.

Fun matches are mock trials. You get an opportunity to work your dog in a distracting environment. I fun match my dogs from the time they are little puppies so they get accustom to going to different places and seeing and hearing different things.

Important points.

· Work at the dogs level of training. Go to a lower level if necessary do not be afraid to step back with your dog.
· Think of the fun match as a training environment, we don’t make corrections but we do want the dog to work correctly. Help the dog to be right.
· I work dogs in Novice, Open and Utility at the level they are working my job at a fun match is to utilize a helper.
· If I find a problem I try to go on and work on the problem at home. If it is an attention issue you may be asking to much from the dog at the time.
· Sit and Down - make sure you know all the dogs around you. Find out if they have stay problems and watch if you see a training issue. You can not do the stays or stay close to your dog - even on leash. Don’t be afraid to step back you will only be giving confidence to your dog.
· Practice you foot work if the dog isn’t ready to heel in the ring. Learning to be comfortable with a judge person calling commands takes time and practice. Utilize this opportunity.
· Have a helper watch your dog for signs of stress on recall and stand - yawning etc. Go back and reinforce.
· Stand - If your dog isn’t ready for a stand for exam do a sit for an exam.
· Have fun and smile at your dog. I usually take special treats and toys so they think of shows as fun.
· Go and just play in the ring with the judge person standing around. Do some "Lets GO" and line up and play with your dog. You don’t have to do the whole run through.
· Do the exercises backwards.
· Have a jackpot for your dog at some point in the run through. Variable and unpredictable.