A testing time

Ruby Red · 12-12-2009, 06:27 PM

Ruby has her end of year exam at obedience class on Monday evening. She has to do a series of basic obedience challenges with the added distraction of other dogs in the background being walked around on lead. I am not panicking [much!] as I know my little madam, she will do whatever suits her on the night! Honestly, some weeks at class she is a little star and other weeks she is the naughtiest dog there and won’t do a single thing, so how this test will go just depends on what mood she is in I guess!

Below is a link to the type of things we hope to be doing. Apparently [not sure whether my trainer was joking with me or not!], there are going to be 4 examiners in the room!!!! - I’m dreading them asking me anything, I’m sure my mind will go completely blank!

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/down...gcdsbronze.pdf

Spyglass Sally · 12-12-2009, 07:57 PM

That's pretty impressive. How old is Ruby again?

To be able to do that in a room with other people - or dogs - would require a lot of discipline and training. Buddy sure wouldn't be up for it. I know you've worked hard with her and I'm sure you will do fine. That's very cool!

AussieGirl · 12-12-2009, 11:10 PM

That looks really good Stephanie. Wishing you and Ruby lots of luck for the test!

Doreen · 12-12-2009, 11:27 PM

Yes, Good luck with the test!

bruinsBoxers · 12-13-2009, 09:59 AM

Best of luck .

KeeperBoy · 12-13-2009, 10:01 AM

Good luck! We are getting Boo ready for the Canine Good Citizen test, which sounds similar... it's harder than one would think, especially when you can't use treats.

Ruby Red · 12-13-2009, 11:44 AM

Aww, you guys are so nice, thank you for your good luck wishes – we need them! Graham has been testing me on and off all day on the 5 freedoms as my trainer said I will definitely be asked about those:

Quote:

The Five Freedoms are:
1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.

5. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Ruby Red · 12-13-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyglass Sally

That's pretty impressive. How old is Ruby again?

Well, according to the paperwork we were given when we got her [which was filled in by the previous owners], she was 4 years old in June. I never trust the paperwork though and we weren't given anything official like a pedigree/KC registration certificate or anything like that. She probably is around 4 but acts like she is 2 most of the time!

Ruby Red · 12-13-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeeperBoy

Good luck! We are getting Boo ready for the Canine Good Citizen test, which sounds similar... it's harder than one would think, especially when you can't use treats.

I’m lucky Andrea, I can use treats because my test is being organised by the training club and not the KC – whose rules are much stricter. Ruby is used to do all these exercises with other dogs/people around but they are the dogs that go to the class every week, she knows them and they know her. During the test it will be unfamiliar dogs and people and this is what may cause problems for us – Ruby is so nosy and so easily distracted.

The walking on lead worries me a bit too as we have been told to expect other distractions on the course that Ruby will be expected to ignore – e.g., food treats on the ground, a ball, a toy, etc. She has quite a good ‘leave’ command, but she is so unpredictable that anything could and probably will happen - if she lay there and went to sleep I wouldn’t be surprised – she’s done it before in class, believe it or not!

Andrea, do you have a link to your test? I would love to read up about it and see how it compares.

Ruby Red · 12-13-2009, 11:57 AM

Here is a link to my class – http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(f...ng)_128158.htm

You can see the hall where we go and where I’ll be doing the test tomorrow night. If you open the ‘view picture book’ you’ll see Karen – my trainer in pics 3 and 4 – she does loads of work with deaf dogs AND has just taken on a white boxer puppy who is 100 per cent deaf............she’s called him Gollum. I said it wasn’t a very nice name [think of the gremlin creature in Lord of the Rings] she said, he’s deaf so he can’t hear it anyway!!