Obedience training and competing with your Swissy
At the foundational stage of obedience training, the focus is on assessing heeling skills, recall ability, and stationary exercises. Progressing to the intermediate stage, the evaluation includes retrieving and jumping skills. The advanced stage includes off-leash heeling, control from a distance without verbal cues, directed retrieving, scent differentiation, and precision jumping.
Swissies are excellent candidates for obedience training and competition due to their innate desire to please. Swissies really respond to rewards, whether it’s a simple treat, or quality time spent with their owner.
When embarking on training, seek instructors that use positive training techniques that emphasize enjoyment and socialization. Puppies can start right away with obedience training. Puppy training can begin as early as eight weeks of age. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) suggests that puppies begin socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age. By attending early, puppies can develop positive behaviors and build a strong foundation for their future training. Training also strengthens the bond between you and your dog.
There are many puppy classes to start with and you can continue with that training into the dog’s adulthood. AKC has trials where your dog can earn titles such as Companion Dog or CD, and Companion Dog Excellent or CDX.
Rally
Rally is an exhilarating team sport for dogs and their handlers! As a dog-handler duo, you’ll navigate through a course as at a brisk, continuous pace, responding to numbered signs that prompt various exercises. These exercises include: Sit-Down, Sit-Stay, Figure 8, Send Over a Jump, Spiral Left or Right, and Recall. Rally serves as a delightful test of obedience and reinforces the trust between dog and owner.
Swissies, with their love for challenges and unwavering work ethic, thrive in Rally. Beyond the basics taught in obedience classes, Rally provides an enjoyable avenue for continuous training and learning new skills and tricks. The mental stimulation, coupled with the sheer joy of pleasing their human companions, contributes to a stronger relationship and contented Swissy!
Drafting
Swissies have a historical legacy as cart-pulling dogs. Their innate abilities shine through, provided you approach this activity with ease and deliberative training. Patience is the key, especially as your dog acquaints itself with the cart shafts that will hug against their sides. Begin slowly and maintain leash control with your dog as they learn to wear the harness and attach the shafts and cart. Maintain leash control as you begin walking and eventually learn to make wide turns.
Some dogs show their natural breed instinct and are ready to pull within hours, while others may take a few sessions. Your Swissy should be fully grown before taking on any weight in the cart.
There is a wide variety of 2-wheel or 4-wheel rigs and even systems for 2 Swissies to pull side-by-side! Click below to see carts and parts options.
Pack Hikes
Pack hikes provide a delightful opportunity for owners and their dogs to connect with nature and each other. These outings serve as perfect socialization events for both canines and their human companions. While the intensity of the hike varies with the terrain, it’s a sport where most Swissies truly shine.
To participate, it’s crucial that dogs are in good physical condition and gradually build up their endurance for longer hikes. Many regional Swissy clubs organize events for a variety of hikes. If you are interested in pack dog titles, readiness involves carrying 20% of their body weight over a 10 mile trail, of course with water and snack breaks. For the more adventurous there are certain clubs that do 8 mile back to back overnighters.
When it comes to gear, there’s a variety to choose from.
Therapy Dog
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs play a vital role as therapy dogs for many individuals. As therapy dogs, Swissies offer short-term emotional support, brightening the lives of those they encounter. Opportunities abound for sharing your Swissy’s comforting presence, from visiting hospitals and hospices to nursing homes, retirement communities, mental health centers, and schools.
However, not all dogs are suited for this specialized work. Basic training, socialization, and maturity are essential prerequisites. While some facilities may allow dogs to these institutions, there are distinct advantages to certification. A certified therapy dog undergoes testing and evaluation by a third party. Additionally, certifying organizations provide insurance coverage when you visit institutions. Due to a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog’s substantial size, precautions are necessary because accidental bumps or foot-stepping incidents can occur. Some institutions require proof of insurance for canine visits.
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