Re: Two Trick Pony (Sophie's CD -NOT)

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

At 01:49 PM 7/23/01 -0400, you wrote:
>I have a question - what is "proofing"??
>Thanks
>Peggy

Proofing: making sure the dog KNOWS what he/she is suppose to do after you 
know you taught the dog.  In formal obedience work when you are going to 
compete in trials [pay entry fees] you want to make sure the dog knows, so 
you don't blow your entry fees...  So you practice and you practice and you 
proof by setting the dog up for failure and hope they don't break.

Long sits: the dog must sit without moving or disturbing other participants 
off leash with the ring distance between the dog and the handler for 3 
minutes.  No laying down, no sniffing, no getting up.  3minutes is a very 
long time to "sit still" try it some time. :-)  It's not uncommon for dogs 
to know what they are suppose to do but just simply don't.  Distractions 
are in abundance at dog shows, and obedience trails are often right in the 
middle of the whole ball of wax.

I think what blew Sophie's sit at this trial was Deb's trainer and 
friend  Deb Roth was also in the ring with her dog and Deb Roth moved her 
foot, Sophie just went brain dead and stood up.  Oh the stories one can tell:

My Hobby at his second trial left the ring on the long down, he saw a dog 
he knew and went to go play.... So we had to proof that one by getting 
together with that dog and handler and practicing long sits and downs while 
that dog and handler tossed a ball, ate food,  ran past him, saying words 
like let's go, come one, wanna cookie?  All the time I hung on for dear 
life... <smile>  We made it through everything including the long sit but 
blowing the long down by leaving the ring was an automatic 
disqualification.  Breaking sit's or downs is 30 points off and one break 
is all it takes to lower the score enough to call it a day.

Gina