Learn By Watching

While there are many things I like about judging, watching the dog & handler teams work their way through the course is by far my favorite.  I always come back from shows with tips, hints and some "don't ever do" thoughts.

Today's Excellent Standard course had 2 interesting challenges that I'll be bringing back to practice.  

The first sequence was #1 & #2 on the course which was a fairly straight tunnel to the weaves.  Of course I should mention there was an off-course dog walk straight ahead of the tunnel that pulled many a dog despite desperate calls from their handler.  What incorrectly signaled the majority of the dogs was the handler's motion.  While handlers were intent on moving toward the poles, they didn't realize that the dog's line of site was the dog walk.  Many handlers were surprised, and some not so happy, when their dog understandably went up the ramp that was staring them in the face.

I want to try this sequence 2 ways:

1. Using the assumption I have a stay at the start so that I can do a lead out past the tunnel.
2. Next, using the assumption I don't have a stay at the start so I'm starting with my dog.
   

You might be wondering "Why?"  Simply put, I ultimately expect my dogs to be able to perform each obstacle regardless of where I am. I also like to train using both motion & verbal cues. After all, sometimes I'm with the dog, sometimes ahead of the dog and sometimes behind the dog.  In any of these situations, I need my dog to take responsibility for the obstacle performance because sometimes I can't be there and sometimes I need to be else where on the course preparing for the next challenge.

The next sequence was 2 jumps and a table.  The sequence was #10 jump to #11 jump, wrap back to the #10 jump (which is now #12) and then wrap to the table.  Think figure 8's with the jumps.

I was very interested to see how this section would run since practicing wraps & crosses (front & rear) using a figure 8 pattern is a basic skill that every dog & handler has probably practiced a dozen or so times.  The trick to this section was that the dog was coming into this sequence with quite a bit of speed.  Keeping that in mind, I designed this section with 21 feet to any off course option, leaving plenty of room for dogs to turn and handlers to manage.

Here's were watching really came into play.

1. It was VERY interesting to see the difference between well-timed rear crosses and the not so timely ones.  Watching something being done right helps me to capture a visual picture that I can play in my mind, like a mental practice session. This helps me to be more timely in the real world when I'm running my own dogs.  There were some beautiful rear crosses!
2. Some handlers were very successful using the opposite arm to signal collection over a jump which resulted in a front cross.  What I learned from those that executed this move smoothly was that it was clear they'd practiced this with their dog often and it was natural to them.  Oh yeah, and the obvious - they were in front of their dog .  While on first appearance, the arm may appear to be the cue, I couldn't help but notice that MOTION (slowing down or a lack of motion) was also key. Those that tried to race their dog to get in front only encouraged the dog's forward momentum when in collection and a turn was soon needed.  Another component was the direction a person's shoulders faced (straight ahead signals run and turning in to face the dog is another collection signal).

I'll work to get the course up on my website so you'll have a visual of what I'm referring to.  In the meantime, I have homework to do as I'd like to do some basic work to start preparing my young dog for these types of ques.  Coal and I had the cues down perfectly, but Ru is a different dog with a different body type.  When I eventually get back home, I'll let you know how it goes!

First Night in Denver....

Well, I didn't meet anyone interesting on the plane trip. I admit, I was more engrossed in designing courses for a surprise assignment I wasn't aware I was engaged for .  These things happen and so I'm playing catch up.

At the moment I sit in a hotel bar, drinking a glass of wine, designing courses on my laptop and I can't help but over hear conversations around the area.

There are a few guys talking about various topics.  They started out discussing cultural differences.  It was a friendly conversation and stayed informative - I was impressed that neither side took a hard stance (especially since I'm certain lots of alcohol is involved).  They then went on to discuss their wives.  Now in a typical bar situation you'd expect it to turn raunchy. I have to say, these guys just love their wives!  They bragged about them, outright said how much they LOVE them and on and on.  Maybe it's the pending Valentine's Day or maybe their just secure with themselves.  At any rate, I was impressed.

You might be asking what the heck this has to do with dog training?  Well, the answer is absolutely nothing.  Bottom line, there is more to life than just dog training (I can't believe I said that out loud).  Any way, balance in your life is important.  If you have a significant other, be sure to pay lots of positive attention to them as well.  I have to admit, dog people really get caught up in our dogs and sometimes neglect the humans that are around us. 

Sometimes I think it's easier to relate to dogs because they're so simple in their needs and really aren't capable of ulterior motives, lying, talking behind our backs and a lot of negative things humans tend to do.  Regardless, we have to remember that part of living life is taking risks and interacting and connecting with the 2-legged race as well.

Ah, just my rambling thoughts....back to courses!

Flying - to Denver

I love flying.  As a kid my father traveled quite a bit for his job and I was lucky enough to go with him on many a trip.  For me, the destinations of the world are only a flight away.

Today I'm in the Seattle airport getting ready to head off to Denver.  This will be a 4-day show, so I'll actually be able to settle into a hotel room for quite a few days.  That also means packing the very large suitcase instead of the smaller carry on that normally accompanies me.  Since this is a breed show, it also means more clothes as I'm required to wear suit jackets, slacks and make-up .  Another change from the dockers that would normally be acceptable!

Judging this weekend means I won't be spending Valentine's Day with my husband and I won't see him or my dogs for a good 5 days (including flying time).  There's always a sacrifice when judging, but there are always good points as well.  Judging is one of the few times that I get time to myself.  Sometimes that's on the airplane designing courses and at rare times I get to spend a bit of time in a hotel hot tub or in the room watching a chic flick.

At any rate, the best part is meeting new people.  I almost always meet very interesting people and I really need to take time to write about them. Some have been:

• A professional bicyclist on Team 1
• Professional basket ball & foot ball players
• Lawyers
• A lady with a very interesting love story
• and more

Some are ordinary people with extraordinary stories and some are extraordinary people who want to be ordinary.  In any event, I always learn about myself or others during these trips.

I'll let you know what I learn this time through.

Tully - The Chocolate Lab

I've spent the last 10 days working with a WONDERFUL chocolate lab named Tully.  His owners were off to Hawaii and while they wanted a great place to board him, they also wanted a bit of training for this big boy as well.

Tully's owners got him a few months back from a family that decided they couldn't handle him. I'd suspect he had little prior training and unfortunately, was very over weight as well.  His current owners are wonderful people and this boy has an incredible home.  The owners are very smart, dog savvy, and live on an incredibly dog friendly environment - Tully is a lucky, lucky boy!

Tully's issues were that he jumped on people, pulled his owners while walking, barked very deeply & loudly when he didn't get his way or while very excited.  I should add that Tully is 1.5 years old so he's still young at heart.

The first order of business was to get Tully on a high quality food that would allow him to shed some of those extra pounds.  In all, I suspect Tully needs to loose about 35 lbs.

Next, we allowed Tully to become a part of our household so that his training occurred throughout the day.  Tully was immediately taught what the clicker meant and we shaped a sit to be his default behavior.  We required Tully to sit and wait until released before he could do any behavior such as eat, leave the x-pen, go out the door, come in the door, before we would pet him, before we would put a leash on/off him for walks, etc.  We kept the training sessions very short, 3-5 minutes and they started at 5:30 a.m. (feeding time) and continued until bed time.

Tully didn't train 24/7, I'm a big fan of letting dogs be dogs!  He had a TON of time to run around our acreage with our dogs and they played and played and played!  To see Tully run and jump over the logs as he chased Ru or Burton was really great fun to watch.  Tully also had daily naps and he is a dog that snores!  After running and playing, all of the dogs would lay on the carpet while I did paperwork on the laptop and get in a nice long afternoon siesta - I'll admit that one day I joined them in catching some zzzz's.

Tully took to clicker training very well and as we worked attention exercises (some call it doggy-zen) and recalls, he would get better and better each time.

When I returned Tully to his owners yesterday, he did each task exceptionally well.  There's always a concern that when they return to their home environment that the training they learned elsewhere if a distant memory.  Not for this handsome boy!

I'll be visiting with him and his Mom next week for some additional in-home, issue specific training (he brings back the neighbor's garbage ).  I'm really looking forward to it.

Tully is a wonderful dog and I'll admit, I'm going to miss him in our household!  However, I know he is well loved and taken care of in his current home and I'm lucky enough to be able to visit.  I'm also looking forward to watching his weight come down so we can see that beautiful structure of his!

See you next week Tully!!!!!

Agility Class Course - Feb 11, 2009. Where's the Best Path?

When first looking at this course, the optimal path isn't immediately clear.  As a matter of a fact, it's not clear at all!  

Most handlers put in a pinwheel in the beginning, attempted a push to the jump after the tunnel, maybe a rear cross to the jump prior to the tunnel and on it went.  Lots of fancy foot work and a ton more praying that it would have the desired effect on the dog.

I've attempted to put the optimal path down to the left, the first part is done in red and the second part is done in green.

The goal for this path was to decrease the handler standing time, to decrease the fancy footwork, to increase the dog's speed and clarity of the path being created for them and to keep it FUN.

By starting with the dog on your right, pushing up to the jump after the teeter and immediately working via a straight line down to the tunnel entrance, you're trusting your dog to take jump #4 so the handler can execute a timely front cross at the tunnel entrance.  This path also allows the handler to get down in between jump 6 & 7 for another front cross.

What is key to this front cross is to begin execution as you are in front of the jump up right on the LEFT side of the jump and pull down to jump #7 (don't just "cross" the dog's path as that puts your motion heading toward the wall that the dog walk is on (wrong direction!). In other words, move from the left of jump #6, down to the right of jump #7 in this pattern " \ " and not like this " - ".  Clear as mud?

From the table, push to #9 and then treat 9-11 like a serpentine.  The same with #15 - 17.  Push down to the dog walk contact, don't hesitate to go in a little deep here and then pull back, treating the next few obstacles like a serpentine as well.  Remember to face your shoulders toward the dog and have your hand back behind you indicating the path.  After all, if your shoulders are facing forward, your dog should run parallel with you and not pull into the desired obstacle.

Beyond Weaves - the other things

Well, Ru is just starting to come into season and so I haven't been diligent on my weave pole work.  She tends to be very needy the first few weeks and requiring a bit of distance & independent work from her during this time period is just too much for her hormonal brain to embrace.  No problem, there's so many other things to do!

Last week I had planned to start her on the chute (she's confident on tunnels and has been for a long time) and after setting up the chute up I was talking with another student - there went Ru, through the chute, checking it out as casually as possible.  OK, so much for "teaching" it to her - she's a natural.  Good dog!

I did some sequencing with her for the first time and she really caught on to that concept quickly.  I started out working 1 obstacle at a time until I could chain 3-4 together.  I've learned that she is very quick to head off to the contacts - clearly I've made those a worth while obstacle in her mind!  It's funny to watch her because she recognizes them and runs over as if to say "here it is Mom!".  I just stop where I'm at and wait for her to come back to my lead hand of course treat and praise - then go on.  It was neat to see Ru piece together the concept of multiple obstacles.

I've done quite a bit of ground work for front and rear crosses so adding those in was very easy.  of course I would work it through with her and take the time to reward those steps that were on the path to success.  I'm careful to break down each action into tiny steps to help her be successful throughout the experience.  That keeps it fun for both of us!

I just bought a large (3' high) construction cone to work on some additional send & turn work with all of our dogs.  I like this cone because it's tall enough that even the big dogs can't go over it.

Weaves 2x2 - outdoors

Today I took my 2x2 weave pole training outside with Ru. Since I'm moving from my confined & sterile living room to the spacious outdoor pasture, I wisely chose to start my weave work from the beginning.

Ru tends to get VERY excited when we go out to the pasture because that's our "play land". The agility equipment is out there, we throw balls/Frisbee's/bumpers and whatever other toy we have and encourage our dogs to stretch their legs and have fun.

Ru and I started tugging on our toy and when she just about ripped my arm off, I knew she was hyped (and I've never felt that much power from her before!). For the first 3 attempts, Ru passed by the weave entry with her eyes glazed over by enchantment for the rustling leaves, the coastal breeze and anything else that caught her attention. I have to laugh, I've never really seen her that hyped before!

The fourth time was a charm, she made the "entry" (going through the gate perpendicular) and off she went with her toy. It took a few minutes for her to burn a bit more energy off and bring the toy back. The next attempt, it was clear to me that she IS pausing at the entrance of the weaves (this is when I start to toss the toy). To get her to move her entire body through, I began tossing the toy only when her back legs were beyond the base. We did a few more reps (working both sides) and that seemed to do the trick.

Tomorrow we'll go back to the same place and do it again. My ultimate goal is to have Ru taking the "entry" from any side, any angle, driving through them and with any distractions.

I should probably note that Ru's training would more than likely move along much faster if I trained several times a day for about 3 minutes. I have to be honest, I'm not interested in moving it along that fast with her and prefer to work my 3 minute sessions on other base work. Burton, our other dog who is about 6 months older than Ru is a perfect candidate for the extended weave training.

Weave 2x2 - Chapter 2 on DVD

So my goals for today's mini weave pole session was

1. to have faith in the toy that I throw, so I've changed over to a braided material that is light (i.e. can't break vases or a window), is long enough for Ru and I to tug on and I can confidently throw
2. To observe how willing Ru is to go to and interact with the poles
3. To observe the number of repetitions and count how many are successful/not
4. Start with Perpendicular poles and move to the poles in the 8 & 2 o'clock position, keeping the success
   
5. As always, have fun!
6. Keep it short, to 1-2 minutes tops

I'm still in my living room and using 2 poles. I'm starting with the 2 poles perpendicular to me and we work only in 1 direction.

Just as I was pulling out the poles, I stepped away to move an unrelated object in the room and saw Ru dart between the poles. Yeah! That tells me she's recognizing them and knows the first action. We did the poles 3 more times (with me moving so the dog is on my right and on my left sides at different times). Ru was successful each time and without hesitation. I played with her after each rep as a reward and to get her nice and excited for the task at hand.

I then moved the poles to the 8 & 2 position. Ru easily continued the game and we did 5 more reps - all with success & play between reps.

In keeping with my goal of a short training session, we stopped there and continued our play. Ru is quite happy with the toy and gets very excited to be working.

Now that I'm confident with our living room training, tomorrow I'll move our session outdoors. Since I'll be in a new environment, I'll start our training from scratch (straight poles) and add a bit of distance. I want Ru to really drive to the poles - getting the correct "entry" of course!

25 Random Things About Me

I was recently 'tagged' and asked to provide a little information on me. I remembered a few things I'd almost forgotten, so I thought I'd share. If anyone wants to add their 25 Random things, feel free!

Lisa

1. I was raised in the Midwest (just outside of Chicago, IL) and moved to Seattle, WA about 5 years ago.

2. I have a degree in Criminal Justice, - I was originally interested in Law Enforcement but quickly realized I was far too gullible for that career. Instead I went on to get a degree in Business Administration and actively used my law background in Human Resources. My last position in that field was with Boeing as an Investigator.

3. Whatever you want to call it, I believe in a higher plane/God, etc. I don't see it as religious, but rather spiritual.

4. When I was 14, I once hitchhiked on the advice of a friend who wasn't the best influence. Let's just say I'm a very lucky girl and never did that again.

6. Suduko is my favorite!

7. 20 years ago while helping me with Calculus homework, an Engineering friend informed me that I'd never use it again - so far, they've been right!

8. I have a concealed gun permit and a registered handgun. That also means I have a clear background check : )

9. I'm a wine drinker with Washington & Australian wines being some of my favorites. Don't worry, I don't mix drinking and shooting!

10. I have a dream that all dog trainers will treat the people around them the same way they treat their dogs. With a smile, a warm voice, openness, respect and sincerity. This seems to be a lost art....

11. Tivo is my friend! Chuck, Designed to Sell, Enterprise, The Mentalist....but usually not reality TV.

12. My grandmother was very talented and got me started in oil painting at the age of 4.

13. I create & sell custom high end jewelry using silver, gold and natural stone. I've been commissioned to create custom jewelry to match a bridal gown and have created custom pieces for my client's significant others.

14. Pinky was my first dog. I could never have imagined the world she opened me up to - Agility, Obedience, Judging. She brought me new friends (most of whom are now old friends, a husband & terrific family).

15. Yes, I am one of the few who met their husband while doing agility.

15. I'm from the Midwest where food equates to love, so, I enjoy cooking.

16. This city-girl once helped show sheep (the ones with big pointy horns!) at the WA State Fair. When we got into our place for the judge's review, I said "Kona, Stay!" The owner laughed and told me sheep didn't know commands. I responded "But, she's doing it!" The sheep didn't move the entire time and we still laugh at my dumb luck.

17. Since moving to WA, I rarely wear makeup and am very happy with that decision.

18. Seattle has the highest suicide rate of any other city in the U.S. and quite a few people here are unhappy and negative. I wonder if Happy Pills were invented with Seattle in mind...

19.I learned I was a fighter - When I was 24, I was diagnosed with a genetic disease that makes my immune system attack my own body. There are days I know that without my dogs, I'd never get out of bed. They make me fight to continue to move forward and to focus beyond myself.

20. My darkest time - I lost my first dog this year, he was young and to make things hard, I made & bare the decision of putting him to sleep. This event threw me into a tailspin and I felt caught in a feedback loop of emotion (the loss, the guilt in "killing" my dog, etc.) and the logic that we all try to put on the passing of a soul.

21. I'll often tell my Agility students "Run" and "One more time!" One day the sentences combined as they came out of my mouth and became "Run More Time!". We've kept it ever since.

22. Why is it that when dog's fart they don't even blink, but when you fart, they turn and smell their butts?

23. At the age of 36 I had cataract surgery (remember #19). The best thing that came out of it - no more contacts or glasses!

24. In the past, my idea of learning a lesson had been to see the situation, think "I'll bet that would be a bad idea...", decide to do it and then think "Yeap, I was right - bad idea!"

25. I've learned that ultimately, your outlook on a situation is sometimes the one and only thing you can control.

Weave Training - Kind of....

Well, I had planned to do some weave training with Ru this evening, but after feeling not so well today, watching a puppy, teaching a few classes - I'll admit, the thought of coming home and just cuddling up with the dogs won out over training.

I have however, dug up a soft tug toy that I'm comfortable throwing (i.e. won't break a window if I'm indoors) and yet I can still tug with my girl.

I also started my beginner dogs on the basic "going through the gate" on weave work and I have to admit, I'm jealous. Dan and Burton did GREAT and Burton is far more driven than Ru is...I'll need to figure out - is it me not quite working enough drive with Ru, or is is Burton outdoors just thrilled with going after treats?

Tomorrow I'll do a test on both, indoors, and let you know! Then I'll move the experiment outdoors and...let you know!

In the meantime, sleep well and I'm off to care for my stuffy nose.

Weaves 2x2 Chapter 1 & 2

Tonight was the second mini-lesson for Ru on the 2x2 weaves. I started training in my livingroom and of course it snowed last night so there was no moving our training outdoors. To top it off, I'm sick with a cold so we'll only have 1 mini session today.

I started with the 2 weave poles perpendicular to us so the "gate" was the simple "go through the poles". After a very brief moment, Ru went between them and I tossed the toy and played with her. After doing that a few times, I moved the 2 poles to the 8 & 2 o'clock position. Ru got it right away, but it began to deteriorate after that first success.

Part of the issue is that she appears to be stopping/pausing (even though I toss the toy and then she continues) at the entry. Part of this may be I'm slow at tossing the toy and I also think that a part of the issue is that all of the things I've been shaping and rewarding has a "stop" at the end (i.e. her 2 on 2 off contact behavior, her stay, her play bow, etc.). Of course I am training in the house and I'll admit a little fearful of tossing a toy toward a window!

I can't wait to get outside so I can encourage her to run more and have the room to stretch and play on a larger scale. In the meantime, I want to be sure I'm not reinforcing a stop/pause prior to going through the poles....

A wonderful thing is that Ru has a ton of drive and really likes to play. Her tail just wags and wags and wags while we're training!

Weaves 2x2 - Chapter 1

Today I started the basics of weave training. I've decided to use Susan Garrett's 2x2 method since I prefer shaping obstacles and I like the concept of working entries immediately. Besides, I've trained with every other method and want to continue developing my Agility Skills.

I've started this method with some of my students and really liked what it did for them, however those that didn't have poles at home were less likely to succeed while those who did work at home progressed very nicely.

Things I like about the video so far (Introduction, Chapter 1 & 2):

• Susan talks about letting dogs figure things out on their own
• Encourages very short (1 minute) training sessions
• Promotes having fun and keeping it a game
• Shows how to do things with an inexperienced dog
• I like that the "line" or "path" the dog is to consistently take is reviewed and
• Susan addresses how the dog should only go in 1 direction at all times
  

Things I wasn't as excited about:

• The main thing that really caught my attention was the poor video quality. When paying almost $70 for a DVD, I was unpleasantly surprised by this. The picture is very grainy at times and I was constantly distracted by the squares on Susan's face (low pixel quality I assume) during "close-ups" while she is talking. Watching a distorted face was very distracting and might also explain the next bullet point.
• There's a lot of talking. I'll admit, I got bored quickly as some of the information was very basic (a good thing to have in a how to video, but things I already knew) - regardless, Susan is sharing a lot of great information that is good to consistently hear.

Overall, no surprises on the video so far and so I began with Ru.

• I first put all of the other dogs away as they have a way of barging in on the play!
  
• I kept my session short (maybe 3 minutes, including lots of play).
• I started w/ 2 poles in my livingroom, treats & a tug toy that Ru loves
• I started out with treats, but quickly went to the tug toy as it was more exciting to her
• Getting her to go between the poles progressed very fast. At first she offered up all kinds of actions (sit, down, play bow, putting her back feet on an object near me, etc.). I simply ignored those actions and when she looked at the poles, I tossed the toy so that she'd have to go through the poles to get the toy.
• After that, she moved in to the poles (to go between them) quickly.
• After I tossed the toy and she brought it back, we'd tug and play.
• A quick session and then we were done for the moment.
  

Training the Teeter

With past dogs, I've trained the teeter various ways.

Pinky was taught to stop at the pivot, push and then walk down - that was 12 years ago and I won't be returning to that method!

Spot was terribly afraid of the teeter and I had to make a compromise with him - if I wanted to do Agility, I was going to have to adjust to what HE could offer me, not necessarily demand what I wanted. The compromise was that I taught him to down at the pivot point. Flattening himself made him feel secure and over the years the teeter has turned into what I would have hoped for, with no pressure from me, Spot began to like the teeter and now he goes into the yellow and rides it down.

Coal had the best teeter of all as he was taught to go to the end of the board and ride it down. He loved the movement and loved his teeter.

With Ru, I'd like the same teeter performance as Coal. Since Ru has had quite a bit of 2 on 2 off training, she tends to offer that behavior at the end of the teeter. I have to be consistent in my desire to have her run to the end and ride it down. She's comfortable with the movement and has been on moving things since she was 4 weeks old (the breeder was great about that).

At this time, she's just starting to offer consistency on going to the end of the board and riding it down - of course we're still at the point where I'm helping with the board until the consistency level hits at least 90%.

Basically, I need to be working this on a daily basis for at least 3 minutes a day.

An Agility "System"

The latest and hottest trend in Agility these days is to be a part of a "System".

For those that hadn't heard of a "System", it's a set of rules designed by a specific trainer that handlers (such as yourself) must follow while handling your dog on course. You see, there are several different trainers that have come up with different systems and most are making a pretty good buck selling DVD's, Books, Magazine Articles, Yahoo Group Memberships and more. There is quite a following of each trainers system and often times mini-arguments will ensue on course during a walk through when different fractions (and even amongst those of the same system) disagree on how a particular challenge should be handled.

Having come from a Training background with extensive experience in Adult Learning Theory, I firmly believe that People are individuals and our dog's don't all fit into a cookie cutter training plan as well. I also have to admit that on a personal level, I enjoy the challenge of tailoring my handling to each of my dog's strengths and weaknesses and love engaging my brain to solve the Agility Course puzzle presented to me vs. having a handling system dictate how I should run. I think most people feel that way since that's where the satisfaction begins and it allows me and you to take full responsibility (good or bad) for whatever the training outcome is.

As I mentioned before, Systems do have some great parts! I'd be lying if I didn't say there was an item or two, or three that I'd embraced from each of the Systems I've seen. I might like them for myself, or I might like them for one of my clients. However, a system is only as good as you train and you can train ANY system, so I really can't say one is better than the other or that's the way to go.

Do you need a system? Systems do have good information and they come up with some great terms for maneuvers most of us have already been doing for years. Heck, everyone likes a hard and fast rules in life - however, life isn't about hard and fast rules and I don't think Agility is either so I'll say "Maybe, but I'd venture to say the best System you could come up with is something that is intuitive for YOU and your dog and then incorporate consistency in your training."

The word INTUITIVE is important. If you can't remember a skill, don't understand why you're doing something, don't move like a finely-tuned athletic 25 year old or simply want Agility to be your hobby, then don't feel you're doing something wrong by not joining the "System Bandwagon".

Finally, I'm often asked what System I use. I have to say the System of Common Sense. Basically, I believe in strong team communication (generally done with body language, which is the dog's first choice in interaction), positive training which shapes correct behaviors (I like a thinking dog!) and I treat my clients the same as I treat their dogs - with respect, kindness and encouragement to try new and different styles to see what works best for them. Oh, and most importantly, I want my clients to succeed!

Young Dog Skills for Life, Obedience & Agility

My puppy, Ru (short for Rouge), turned 1 year old on Jan 5th. Although small and petite, she's still a growing girl and up until now, there wasn't too much I could directly do in Agility (and I'm fine with that). However, there have been training skills we've been working on.

She's been active in:

• Conformation
  
• Socializing with the world
  
• Playing and getting to know all kinds of people and different dog breeds
• Working on her basic obedience & home skills (sit, down, stand, stay, walking on a loose leash, ignoring distractions, going on car rides, hanging out at dog shows, etc.
  
• working a 2 on 2 off position on a flat board in our living room
• working on Agility Flat Work such as a rear cross on the ground, a front cross, following the lead hand, etc.
• Trick training such as crawling in a suitcase, playing with cardboard boxes, balance boards, etc.

I think any positive interactions you can create with and for your puppy will add to their experiences and make them a more well-adjusted dog as well as a positive family member.

Burton's Break Thru - Why Obedience & a Strong Bond are important.

Burton, my husband's newest Chocolate Lab, has been with us for about 4 months now and is about 18 months old.

When we first got him, while well-loved and cared for, Burton was 20 lbs. over weight and typical of a young dog, was very energetic and in need of a lot of exercise to burn off some of his exuberance. As is typical when going to a new home, he didn't exactly listen to us at first (I'm sure he was thinking "Who the heck are YOU?!?!) and so with patience and love, we taught him the rules of our house.

While Burton did have previous training, it was important for us to build a rapport & review the skills with him. Some of the things we worked on:

• Recalls - since it is our job to keep Burton safe, a solid recall is a must to keep him out of trouble. I love making this a fun thing for the dogs so they come running when they hear "Come!"
  
• "Please - may I?" - before Burton could go out a door, have his leash put on, be fed and even petted, we required him to SIT first. In a sense, this was his way of asking "Please". This made him think about his actions and required him to control himself. A good lesson for him, but we reap the benefits as well. After all, he wasn't knocking us out of doorways, jumping on us, spilling food, etc.
• Walking WITH us (i.e. next to us vs. pulling us down the road). Since we're the leaders of our dogs, things like walks should go at our pace. This prevents broken backs, longer arms and potential mishaps on walks, but also, it teaches Burton to look to us, to ignore distractions and he gets rewarded for all of these things!
• Stay & Release Word - Stay is a great exercise to teach Burton to control his impulses and to listen & understand the one word that means he is done. We love to train this game and one of the ways is by playing hide & seek in the house.
  

After 4 months, Burton's really blossomed, bonded, gained confidence and it was very apparent this evening as we did some beginner Agility training.

Dan did some basic tunnel work, taught him the chute and began rear-crosses on these obstacles to get him (and Dan) used to the body language and handling that's envolved. Burton was loving it!

I had started shaping the beginnings of Burton's 2 on 2 off contacts using a board on the ground several weeks back. I love this ground work because it forces the dog to think about their back legs. It wasn't always easy - when I first started, he was still very young, overly excited, wiggly and a chomper when it came to taking treats. However, now that we have the basics on his obedience/house rules training, we've been far more successful on his Agility Training.

Tonight Burton was really offering up and becoming much more rear-leg aware - it was neat to watch! I tend to let the dog figure things out and reward the desired steps, while Dan wants to jump in and manage the actions himself, which is typical of most humans .

Either way, Burton is a champ at going with the flow and really enjoys himself when it comes to training time.

Courses - WI Jan 2009

Potential Fargo (think the movie) Adventure...in WI

Well, the day started off like this - a very nice lady picks me up and says "I don't want you to get scared that we're leaving town and heading out to the middle of no where...I really am bringing you to the trial site..." My response was "Yeah, I saw the movie Fargo!" Luckily, no creepy adventures to report, no wood chippers in sight and everyone was friendly and nobody said said "egh?" (only those from WI & MN will probably understand that joke).

I do miss the Midwest! Not the cold mind you. Heck, the snot froze in my nose when I breathed in and I heard they did a test to see how long a cracked egg would take to freeze outdoors in a pan (BTW, it was 3 minutes). But the people really are the salt of the earth! It was so nice to hear people cheering for each other, sighing when a dog took an unexpected wrong course and just laughing when the handlers were lost on course. There was no talk of "How fast..." or who could beat who and the phrase "World Team" is never uttered. Heck, people didn't brag about "last week..." or say "I need..." instead they chatted about community things (did you know the local Farm & Fleet is having a big sale right now?), ate lunch together (someone brought homemade cookies) and everyone jumped in to help when needed. Just as I'd think I could use another bar setter, one would appear as if by magic.

There were no clicks of groups and nobody cared about who trained with who. As a matter of a fact, one of the BEST trainers I know of is here and she was the first person to step up to help, consistently sets a wonderful example as a person and choses not to travel because her family is her first priority. Anyone want to try to guess who that is?

Any way, coming back home to the Midwest has been wonderful and is something I hadn't realized how much I missed.

Frozen Tundra - 1st Morning

It's -17 here in the frozen tundra (commonly called Appleton, WI) and I'm thinking that if I hide under the covers, the club will never find me. I'm not ready for the Siberian Torture Experience!

The good news, I don't have to be ready until 10:30 their time so I slept in, walked in my PJs down to the lobby for breakfast, brought it back to the room and now sit with the covers wrapped around me. 

The hallway was warm. It was wonderful. I still can't figure out how to work the damn wall unit heater in my room. When I arrived last night the heat was off - yes, it was cold in there. Then the heater overtook the room and I could barely breath it was so hot. At some point in the night the "heater" turned itself to "cool" and by morning it was again cold! I wonder when I'll be overcome by heat again...probably just before I have to go out into that -17 weather. Did I mention they say it feels like -31 below with the windchill?

Reason #1 on why I left the Midwest is clear...although the fried cheese curds last night where really good! I'd forgotten how I missed them.

More later, if I survive the Siberian Torture Experience, Take 1.

Ru's Bird "Gifts"

For months I've been telling Dan I think he should train our young Dalmatian, Ru, in bird hunting (after all, he trains his Labs). He's laughed, but I was so proud when the other day she noticed the local birds flying in the air and would chase them. Now I'm not so sure!

Yesterday and today, she's proven to be a bird dog. Each day she's brought me a bird as a gift. Unfortunately, they weren't fluttering by the time they got to me. I can't figure out if she's finding birds that have hit our window or if she's catching them herself. That will be the mystery I'm going to need to solve!