Freestyle

PUTTING IT TOGETHER
-Info courtesy of WCFO-

TRICKS- review what dog already knows or that you can train Sit up, wave, shake, roll-over, jump into arms, etc, etc See what might fit into your routine

OBEDIENCE- done with dance steps, regular obedience moves can be Incorporated into routine

NON-TRADITIONAL OBEDIENCE- heeling, about turns, right/left circles, etc. all on right side instead of left side

COPY CAT MOVES- you do a movement & then dog does same movement (or vice versa)

MUSIC- what music beat/style goes with your dog? Even dogs in same breeds move differently- what do YOU like? You must listen to the song repetitively

CHOREOGRAPHY- FIT routine to music using all of ring space CREATING AN ARTISTIC, FLOWING, COMPELLING ‘DANCE’

BALANCE- using space, movement & direction. (A routine that is just back & forth across a ring is not as pleasing as one that has other shapes ie diagonals, circles, serpentines)

ARMS-HANDS-BODY- use to emphasize music & present routine as more dance than obedience with tricks

SHOWCASE DOG who is the STAR

BEGINNING/END- Beginning & end ‘pictures’ should ‘fit’ music. If you can, have a shape/pose for you & dog at beginning/end of routine that complements music & leaves audience/judges with pleasing impression

COSTUMES - You -it’s role playing so costumes really help play up that role. As in all dog sports, make sure that you and your dog can move in & it’s not distracting or limiting for dog Dog - can wear decorative collar & ‘bracelets’

Parallel Moves: These moves take time and patience to teach because they need to be straight and the dog does not always realize he has back legs that move with his front legs. You can teach other fun moves as you are working on these.

BACK UP AT LEFT SIDE: Place the dog between you and a wall , hold his leash close to his collar and say Fido back. At first you will only get one or two steps especially if your dog wants to sit Praise for those steps as more will come with more e practice. After your dog can comfortably do this next to the wall. Back him up between two boards on the floor such as broad jumps. Practice going forward and back. Eventually you will be able to do it with no props. Backing a little to the left before going straight helps him understand how to keep straight as that is your goal. Always remember praise

SIDE STEP TO RIGHT: With your dog standing on your left side hold his leash close to the collar Go forward a couple of steps and then to the right a couple of steps telling him Side or In. Again praise for the 1 or 2 steps you get at first this will increase as the dog gains confidence in what he is doing

SIDE STEP TO THE LEFT: With your dog standing at your left side hold his leash close to his collar put your left foot between his front and back leg and your right foot parallel with his front foot. You will be moving your left leg gently into your dog as you move to the left and saying either Over or Move. Again do 1 or 2 steps and praise as this will also increase with practice.

BACK UP IN FRONT OF YOU: With your dog standing in front of you place your thumbs on each side of his collar and place your right foot between his front legs under him. As you tell him Reverse or back move into the dog and pull back on his neck with your thumbs. The foot is between his legs so he doesn’t sit. Again a couple of steps and praise. This can also be done between the boards on the floor.

MOVE TO THE RIGHT: With your dog standing in front of you place your thumbs on each side of his collar. Have him come forward the move to the right a couple of steps saying Gee which means right.

MOVE TO THE LEFT: Same as to right except say Haw which means left. Again a couple of steps and praise. I usually use a motivator that can be a toy, food, clicker, etc. These moves are some of the hardest for the dog to be confident in doing So some of them may take a while before you get it together. The dog should be straight while doing them. With little dogs as solid leash would help (consists of a dowel rod with hook at end to attach to dogs collar) or you can teach on a table being very careful dog does not jump or fall off

Circle Moves:These moves are some of the hardest for the dog to be confident in doing So some of them may take a while before you get it together. The dog should be straight while doing them. With little dogs as solid leash would help (consists of a dowel rod with hook at end to attach to dogs collar) or you can teach on a table being very careful dog does not jump or fall off

MOVE AROUND HANDLER TO RIGHT: Start your dog at your left side and with his leash move him in front of you to the back of you to the left of you. If you use a motivator it may be easier. You just want the dog to circle around you Tell him Around or Circle

MOVE AROUND HANDLER TO LEFT: Same as above only in opposite direction, telling him Wee or Dash

MOVE AROUND HANDLERS RIGHT LEG TO THE RIGHT: Basically have dog go around your right leg telling him Pole using your motivator to the right

MOVE AROUND HANDLERS RIGHT LEG TO THE LEFT: Same as above only in opposite direction telling dog Loop. Eventually you can change this to a pole. Which in a routine could be a cane or umbrella etc.

CLOCKWISE SPIN: Take your motivator and as you tell your dog to twist or spin and place in front of his nose and slowly move it in the clockwise circle

COUNTER CLOCKWISE SPIN: Same as above but going in opposite direction telling your dog to circle or rick. These moves are easier to teach and can be taught at same time you are teaching the parallel moves. With a small dog you can attach the motivator to a clothes pin at the end of a solid lead.

Other Moves: These moves may also be easier to teach off lead

WAIT: This one speaks for itself: You want your dog to stay in place. A lot of time you will have him stay while you dance around him or for pauses in music etc.

FIGURE 8 BETWEEN LEGS: This is done by the dog following your motivator in a figure 8 through your legs by telling him Weave

WALKING UNDER YOU: With the dog standing behind you with your motivator call him under you. And have him stop when he is under you. Eventually you will be able to walk with him walking with you Tell him Under when you call him

BOW: Have the dog standing and put your right arm under him at the back. Take you motivator and put it in front of the dogs nose and move it straight down as you say Bow or Courtesy. Your arm is holding up his rear and when the motivator is dowm move it forward all in slow motion. This will take some patience especially if your dog likes to lay down.

MARCH: Have your dog sit in front of you Take his right paw and tell him Kick or Paw then put it down and take his left paw and tell him Lot or foot When you take his paws hold them up high. Once you have him giving you his paws voluntarily. Then have him place them on your foot instead of your hand. Once this is done successfully you will move to his side and have him put his paw on your foot. Then eventually he will do it without your feet. Result when you and your dog stand side by side you will move your right foot and he will move his right paw and same with the left which will be marching

JUMPING OVER ARM AND LEGS: First you must teach the dog to jump. Use a utility jump or take 2 boxes and balance a five foot pvc pipe on them Sit your dog on one side and you stand on opposite side and call your dog over by telling him Jump or Over. Once you have him doing this balance the pole on one box with you standing in the middle and have him jump over each side going in a circle around you Then you hang the pole onto your body and have the dog jump it. Eventually put your leg up next to pole and eventually take pole away. To do this with your arms kneel down and outstretch your arms with the pole attached and have dog jump eventually taking the pole away

Always remember to have fun while training and always use positive training methods , Repetition and reward.