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ABC's of Irish Wolfhounds Puppy Tales: Find a person in your area for help and information
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Obedience
Let's begin with the bald statement that all dogs, from the tiniest chihuahua to the biggest wolfhound need manners. Manners are the behaviors that make your dog a pleasure to live with and welcome in public. Three times more dogs are euthanized for behaior problems than die of cancer each year. It is the number one reason dogs are euthanized.
Once you have decided a wolfhound is the right dog for you, start investigating training classes. You will be looking for a class where the trainer has had some experience with sighthounds and uses positive methods keeping the classes fun for the dogs and handlers. Wolfhounds do not do well with rote type training as they quickly figure out what you want, then get creative about how they will do what you are asking. As with selecting the right breeder, you need to feel comfortable that the trainer will listen to your particular concerns and work to both the dog's and your strengths. All puppies can benefit from a puppy kindergarten class. Now that you have completed your basic obedience course and have a well mannered hound, what more can you do? You can prove to the world that your dog has the basics by taking the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test. This test is designed to test those good manners you have spent so much time and trouble teaching your hound. The test also demonstrates your desire to be a responsible pet owner. Many states and localities have passed resolutions endorsing "Canine Good Citizens" and encouraging responsible pet ownership. In some cases, having a Canine Good Citizen certificate may make the difference between getting that apartment or not. For more information on the test see http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm Want to try something a bit more difficult? The American Kennel Club offers both Rally and Obedience trials in which registered dogs can compete for titles. Have a purebred wolfhound with no papers? No problem. The Purebred Alternative Listing/Indefinite Listing Privilege allows you to show your spayed or neutered wolfhound in any of the performance events. See http://www.akc.org/reg/ilpex.cfm for more information on how to register your dog. The easiest step after basic manners is Rally. Rally requires the dog and handler to complete a course of 10-20 stations. Each station asks the team to perform an obedience exercise such as a call to front, or a turn. Handlers may talk to the dog, offering encouragement and praise, and give multiple commands. They may not touch the dog or help them into the required position. While the dog does not need to be in strict heel position, they do need to remain on the handler's left side while moving through the course. Rally has three levels, Novice, Advanced and Excellent, each slightly more difficult than the one before. For more information about Rally see http://www.akc.org/events/rally/getting_started.cfm The last step is traditional Obedience competition. This is divided into three levels, Novice, Open and Utility. Novice is the basis for the higher levels. You will begin by working individually, first on leash, then off leash. You will finish with the group exercises which are the long sit (one minute) and long down (three minutes). Open is all off leash and adds retrieving and jumping exercises and out of sight stays. Utility drops the group exercises but adds scent discrimination, directed retrieving and jumping and signals instead of commands. Once you have earned your Utility title you can work toward becoming an Obedience Trial Champion or a Utility Dog Excellent. For more information on obedience competition see http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/getting_started.cfm |
