Hi All

Just to let you all know we eventually passed the silver test in dog training on Sunday evening with Robbie my westie, it was the 3rd time he had taken it because he wouldn't do the 4 min relaxed isolation out of sight but he did it this time and i am soooo proud of him, then we sat the gold just to see when he would fail on and he failed on 1 thing when they have to retrieve the article that the judge places without them seeing it they have got to find it and bring it back and present it to you without dropping it until you take it from them, he found it but dropped it about 8 inches from me so he failed, they said i have got to go back to basics and teach him to hold the item until i take it from him so am gonna try now to teach him this, so any ideas on the best way i would appreciate it.
I just couldn't believe he only failed on 1 thing as the other aspects were really hard, i am so proud of him he has done so well cause he is only just over 1 yr old, we are still gonna stick to it as he enjoys it so much i didn't think he would do his emergency down when you have to drop them from the other side of the room but he did this no probs and also the stay with distractions he did fine, he is just my super little westie i love him to bits.

Helen

Wow what a win-and a Westie-I know they have a mind of there own-so for all your hard work you to need a medal.

I am sure you will get him to hold his article-just pop in mouth whilst you are watching the TV and say hold-and after several attempts he will get the hang of it-took me several weeks I hasten to add but I did it slowly slowly-did not make a song and dance about it-I think she had no idea what was happening as Mum was busy watching the TV-ha ha got you I thought.

Keep up the hard work

Well done to you and Robbie.

We didn't have a retrieve in our Gold test and I can't find it here either.  Are you following a different programme?  This isn't an easy one for some breeds is it?  My terrier is happy to retrieve but isn't quite so willing to hand it over but I used socks with my gundog as he instinctively wants to find and hold these for as long as possible.  .  If you have an item that Robbie likes to carry it's a good start.  Mine will always drop some items much faster than others so I have to maintain my catch!!  Good luck

Hi

Yes we are doing the british institute of professional dog trainers bronze, silver and gold, the 4 minute relaxed isolation out of sight is only in the gold with the kennel club i was told before but with this dog training its in the silver and seems a harder sort of training as i did the kennel club 1 with my other westie about 6 years ago.
I was very surprised he did his drop on command as that was what i was having trouble with, its just a shame he dropped the article otherwise he would have sailed thru the gold aswell, he is so clever i am sooo proud of him, because they trainers said that seeing as he is not a working breed and being a terrier they are harder work to train aswell, i must admit i have been spending time every day with him though as he enjoys his training so much it has defo paid off.

Here we come with the gold

Helen

Well done Hamish

I have a westie (Lucy) who I took to dog training classes.  But she hated it and just was not interested!  She is very bright and quite crafty (as I am sure you know) but she is veru stubborn!

Snowflake

Well done Helen and Robbie ......Go for gold your get it !