Session #2: Building Blocks for Beginner Dogs
Saturday 1:00pm-4:00pm
Who can participate?
This session is appropriate for dogs who are comfortable working in a group of other dogs. Many will have no previous draft experience. It is appropriate for all handlers, regardless of experience level.
Overview
In this session, we present the basic skills you need to start draft work with your dog and show you how to introduce your dog to draft equipment so that they will become confident and happy pullers. Most of this session will be conducted with you and your dog working together; for some parts, you will work while your dog is crated. There are kennels at the facility that you can use for crating.
During this session, the teams will work using a pool noodle apparatus instead of an actual draft cart. The pool noodles provide a fabulous opportunity for inexperienced dogs and teams. They allow the dog to feel some of the unusual sensations of pulling a cart, without the safety risk that comes along with a hard, heavy, cart and shafts. They also allow the handler to visualize a draft cart and sample all the fun of drafting, without having to do the boring work of getting the dog comfortable in the cart first. It’s like having dessert before you eat dinner! You may take home your noodles at the end of the day.
Once the dogs are hitched to the noodles, we will focus on the building block skills that all teams need in order to draft successfully. Most of us already utilize these skills in day-to-day activities with our dogs, or in other dog sports. When honed, these building blocks will help you find success in both recreational and competitive draft work. In this hands-on workshop, we will show you how to train, practice, and reinforce the building blocks and will also offer strategic tips for how to perform the maneuvers of a draft test, while also identifying and avoiding common pitfalls.
What to Bring
A six-foot non-retractable leash, lots of training treats and/or toys, drool towels, a water bowl, and a harness if you have one. Most participants find it helpful to bring a notebook for writing down information they want to remember later.
Fee: $40 for NCNC members; $50 for non-members
Early Registration for NCNC Members: Feb 1 - Feb 3, then registration will be open to Non- NCNC Members also.
