Cathi O. has a Rally good APDT weekend in Omaha Saturday & Sunday 2/20 & 2/21/10

As a trainer I am very proud of what my students can accomplish. Cathi has taken Jazzy and Lefty from my basic, intermediate and advanced obedience classes into the APDT Rally Obedience sport. At the end of last year Cathi entered 2 trials and did so well she and Jazzy made it to the APDT National Rankings and brought home lots of ribbons. There are people that compete and have a hard time passing let alone winning. Cathi attributes her success to my group classes. I have even started a Rally Obedience class on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
This weekends results:
(2/20/10-2/21/10)
Level 1- Jazzy
210/210 2nd place

204/210 1st place

205/210 1st place

209/210 1st place

Level 2- Jazzy
201/210 2nd place

196/210 1st place

193/210 2nd place


Level 1- Lefty

190/210

203/210 2nd place

195/200 4th place

200/210 3rd place
Not bad for Cathi's Box-Cat rescue that started out with all types of baggage. Poorly socialized and afraid of men. I always feel best helping the dogs that came with the most baggage.









Also congratulations to Cathi and Jazzy who also earned a CD-H from St. Hubert's CDSP

* ARCHX Jazzy, CD-H, RL2X(AOE),RL1X(AOE), CGC *

The bottom line is that it is fun to win ribbons and trophies but it is more important that your dog will listen to you. Your dog should come when they are called and walk without pulling. Being a responsible dog owner includes the time teaching them its your world and they are in it. They should greet friends the way you guide them to. When I see a dog act poorly I watch to see what the handler does to prevent or deal with it. Time, patience and calm repetitions is key to having the partner you want to spend life with. I know not everyone has the timing, patience or coordination to train a dog. That's why I offer Board and Train. I build the car and when you pick up I teach you how to drive. If you practice your dog will listen to you too. Cathi also takes some private lessons. Competition is fun but not for everyone. People are responsible for teaching some important basics and then using those techniques to control their dog.

Oliver K. • 4 month Yorkie mix Cutest Pup

Oliver and his mom came in to have a private lesson with me. Mom watched how good I was and realized it would be easier for her and better for Oliver to spend some time with me to work on beginning obedience. Board & Train is like building a car. I know from teaching group class that not everyone has the timing, patience, or coordination to be consistent while training a dog. In board & train I build the car and when you pick up we schedule an included outgoing session when I'll teach you how to drive. I know that if you practice the dog will follow you as well as me. Although clients often join the group class, continue with privates all over our site or are just welcome to come into the store and practice. It's the repetitions that convince the dog he's following you. Our dogs deserve and need us to spend some time with them. Some dogs are always testing and a few minutes a day can make a world of difference.

This little 4 month Yorkie mix just spent 2 weeks in outgoing Board & Train with me at Best Friends pet Motel. For 2 weeks his days were here and he went home at night. He came in with mom in a carrier because he was afraid to walk on a leash. He was picked up too much and needed to see the world from the ground. I encouraged him to walk on a leash although was he was quite shy. Daily I would watch him come out of the into the world. At first in the Canine College we would have fun and bond as he learned the elements of foundation obedience. Sit, down, stat, watch (make eye contact-I don't think our dogs or kids are paying attention unless they are looking at us while we talk). I also teach, off & take it, with food which eventually applies to a toy or even touching us with their paw or mouth. At first room noises would distract him but while focused on me he had nothing to worry about. Eventually the heaters and outside noises bothered him less and less.

I began to see the terrier come out. Now he has gone from a shy observer to to a vocal and willing participant with every person and dog that he sees. Now is when we begin using the bond through obedience we have created to help guide him to be what we want him to be. Oliver is no couch potato and needs to be taught how to act in social situations. I compare barking to kids swearing as people walk past, the adult needs to tell the young how to appropriately act. Sometimes it is not the size of the dog on the outside but the size of the dog on the inside. I see behavior not the size of the dog. It is not cute. When we control the way introductions take place there are fewer problems. We need to observe the body language of our dogs so that bad behavior can be dealt with while it is just a thought and certainly before they initiate an action. Group class is a place to practice letting our dogs know we intend to be consistent with monitoring their behavior.

Oliver K. & Bear A.• Watching kittens watching them

While I work on perfecting the obedience that I've taught to dogs in board and train I take advantage of distractions at Best Friends Pet Motel. In our lobby we have a retail area, hotel check in, grooming, bird boarding and cats in 2 areas. Young at Heart Pet Rescue has a shelter and the other area with Young kittens. I have the dogs I'm working either sit or down while they can see the cats. The Young kittens are equally fascinated by the dogs. I began to film this and find it quite relaxing. I think this is like watching a fireplace on television. What do you think?

The above video is Oliver a 4 month Yorkie doing board & train during day care and returning home each night after mom is finished with work.

The second video is Bear A. a 9 month German Shepherd puppy in his second week of board & train. This week is spent perfecting the skills we learned except in areas of higher distractions. Bear definitely found the cats most amusing and entertaining. They found him entertaining as I did with all of them. Enjoy.

Here comes Cathi & Jazzy & Lefty

Jazzy, RL1X (AOE), CGC, is a four year old Shih Poo who adores every person she meets. For most, the feeling is mutual. She began attending Allan’s Intermediate classes a few years ago and they were so much fun that she kept dragging her mom, Cathi, back for more. Under Allan’s guidance, she perfected the skills needed to earn her Canine Good Citizen title.

Jazzy really enjoys her classes because Allan’s creativity makes them fun for the dogs. Cathi enjoys them too because Allan’s sense of humor makes them fun for the handlers. The classes are an opportunity to witness Allan’s talent for working with all different types of doggy personalities and developing well behaved companions. Still, Jazzy wanted to know, “What’s next?” The answer: APDT Rally Obedience! Allan helped Cathi teach Jazzy all the right moves. In her first competition, Jazzy received her Level One title, earning second place her very first time in the ring. She also received APDT’s Award of Excellence for scoring 190 or better in her first three runs. After only two trials, she earned a place on the 2009 APDT National Rankings. In her third trial, this talented canine was awarded her Level One championship and received two perfect scores of 210. In her short career, Jazzy has been awarded five First Place ribbons and multiple other placements. Once again, the clever All American wanted to know, “What’s next?” That’s easy! Her wonderful trainer will work with her mom to teach her all she needs to know for Level Two and, eventually, Level Three. For this little cutie, the sky’s the limit!

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You’ve hear the expression, “Rally to the Rescue”? This is a case of The Rescue to Rally. Lefty, RL1X (AOE), CGC is a four year old Australian Cattle Dog/Boxer mix once so terrified of humans that he would lose control of bodily functions if anyone paid attention to him. He spent most of his time cowering in his crate or under the nearest table. How does a dog like this survive in a world filled with humans? The answer is training! His mom, Cathi, had been taking Allan’s classes with her other dog, Jazzy, for quite some time. After adopting Lefty, she knew Allan could advise her on the proper training techniques for this – or any – type of dog. Lefty still has a long road to travel, but he’s doing it with a lot less baggage these days. Although still shy, Lefty has gained enough confidence to begin competing in APDT Rally Obedience. In his first competition, he earned his Level One title in three out of three runs. His scores were respectable enough to earn the Award of Excellence. In ten out of ten tries, Lefty was awarded his Level One championship. He’s even earned a few placement ribbons and scores as high as 208 and 206 out of a possible 210. A successful Rally career lies ahead for LEFTY...and that couldn't’t be more RIGHTY.