Berners learn happily and quickly. They are intelligent, impressionable and have excellent memories. Positive methods work the best with food treats, play, toys, and clickers as motivation and reward. Training sessions should be short, happy, and never boring. Exercises should be taught in separate increments before being put together as a whole. Generally, Bernese are not natural retrievers, but can be enticed to retrieve through games. Bernese like to have a job to do and to please their owners, however they do not liked to be drilled with long practice sessions. The trainer must be creative. The main reason for obedience training is to develop a pleasant adult dog that is easy to live with. This is a gradual process that will continue throughout the dogs life, for in living with dogs, we are training them to live under our rules. Training dogs requires the 4 "P’s" – Patience, Persistence, Positive, and Praise. Puppy Kindergarten: All puppies should attend a Puppy Kindergarten (3 to 5 months) with their owners. Conscientious breeders require this. Look for a class that uses food treats, clickers, toys, play, pats, and lots of "happy voice" praise! PK will provide needed gentling and socialization, satisfy doggy needs to play with other puppies, help owners to acquire valuable knowledge to meet a dog’s basic needs, and provide a good foundation for more structured training in coming months. PK instills confidence and helps shy pups to overcome insecurities. PK gives all pups an excellent headstart. Good Manners Class: When the pup becomes an adolescent at around 6 months of age, a Beginners or Good Manners class is a good way to continue socialization as the dog learns to " watch-me," sit, down, stay, come, leave it, wait at doorways or gate, and heel around other dogs, distractions, and people. It is also a good way for owners to meet other dog owners to talk "dog." Adolescence can be a trying time for owners as the dog learns how to meet human expectations and rules. A dog training class can provide information, guidance and support. Attendance with your adolescent puppy is highly recommended. Select a trainer who favors the use of food treats, clickers, toys, and games for motivation and reward. Good obedience reference site: http://www.dogpro.com/designs/links/obedlinx.htm Obedience books available at: www.amazon.com and www.dogwise.com CANINE FREESTYLEFreestyle a relatively new sport combining obedience with music. It is dancing with your dog employing choreography and creativity. "Canine Freestyle is a choreographed performance with music, illustrating the training and joyful relationship of a dog and handler team. Watch for the dog to be moving to the beat of the music and look for the bond between the dog and handler. You will see graceful and intricate maneuvers performed with precision and artistry. Every movement is accomplished through the subtle use of verbal cues and body language. The emphasis is always on the dog, with the handler completing the team creating a harmonious whole. Freestyle is an excellent discipline to illustrate the conformation and movement of the dog. The reach, drive and beauty of an athletic, trained dog moving to music can take one’s breath away." The above paragraph is from the website of the Canine Freestyle Federation Website: http://www.canine-freestyle.org/index.html
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 "HEIDI" at the Specialty in 1983 when Bernese were required to jump 1.5 times their shoulder height in AKC obedience. In 1985 AKC allowed Bernese to jump shoulder height. In 1998 this was modified to 3/4 their shoulder height.
OBEDIENCE AMENDMENTS effective October 1, 2000 Rally Obedience - Non regular AKC Obedience ClassRally-O requires teamwork combining obedience, agility, and a course with stations. It is a good confidence builder for dogs.... and people. It is relaxed and great fun! *There is a walk-through for the handler prior to the start of the class as in agility. *The stations are numbered and each will have directional signs. *Handlers are allowed to talk to and encourage their dog during the routine. *No commands from judge after the Start. The judge will make deductions for errors, but will be less exacting than obedience. Berners will benefit from Rally because they rely heavily upon their handlers "voice" and attitude. Rally will be a good tool and conditioner for teaching your Berner to focus on you in the ring like they have been doing in practice! It will prepare your Berner to showing in regular obedience classes for the CD, CDX, and UD titles where the ring atmosphere is more stressful. |
