6-Week Class

Finding the FUN in Fronts and Finishes!

Start Date: April 1, 2023
Registration Opens: March 22, 2023

Class Description

Are fronts and finishes essential to your sport?  Do you have a young pup who needs to learn these important skills, or an already-trained dog who could use a refresher?  Maybe your dog is getting a little burned out because you’re working too much on precision and not as much as fun.

If so, you’ve come to the right place!

During this class we’ll break down both the front and finish exercises into tiny little pieces to give your dog the skills and help the dog understand exactly how to perform both behaviors.  We will build up the skills through games so your dog learns that fronts and finishes are FUN!

Although our emphasis will be on enthusiasm and attitude, we will also teach the dog how to be accurate by splitting the behaviors into fine little chunks that are easily mastered.  We’ll work on some body awareness exercises that will help the dog maneuver into the correct positions.

As you rise up through the levels of performance sports, fronts and finishes become more numerous and more difficult.  Ensure that your dog’s foundation is solid so you can focus on having fun!

Teaching Approach

Lectures will be released weekly on the first day of each week.  Each lecture contains written information with short videos to demonstrate.

Videos do not include captions or voiceovers.  This class would work best with students that prefer written out instructions with video examples of each step and prefer a systematic approach to training.  I will provide written feedback with additional video examples if necessary.

Class Syllabus

Week 1

  • Props
  • Chin Rests
  • Nose Touches
  • Eye Contact

Week 2

  • Spatial Pressure
  • Front Games
  • Reward Strategies

Week 3

  • Find Heel Games
  • Putting Together the Finish

Week 4

  • Attach Cues to Behaviors
  • Increasing Complexity

Week 5

  • Fading Props
  • Lateral Fronts

Week 6

  • Generalization
  • Fronts with Holds