More George

I was so happy to have George back a Boston Terrier in for a visit.  I always get some intense pictures of him as I control the games with food.  He has strong food drive which helps to get him through difficulty.  In the previous post he is looking at a dog in my office.  This may be easy for some dogs but can be problematic with George.  I like to redirect which tends to lessen the degree of  distraction.  Want to sit close and be getting treats and playing food games while getting petted or shall we walk away, calm you down and work back here before you get more praise.

While Jen shot the video for me she said, "it looks like a magic trick." I call it the reappearing food.  It looks cool.  One time, "off" for  all of  the food and then he must wait for, "take it" before he can take each additional piece that pops up from my hand.  Now Here we are using this trick while a cat watches with envy.

Thanks Bryan and Anna and I hope to see you in class.  Tuesday night at 7pm or Saturday morning at 10am.  Rally could be fun.  There is one dog on the course at a time.  The Rally Class is Saturday at 11am.  There is a Halloween Party here at Best Friends on October 30 from 10am until 4pm.  There will be a Level 1 Rally Obedience Course  and  a ZOOM Course to try at 12-1pm.

Watch Jazzy ZOOM on my post Oct 2 or see some Rally Demo and Sign sample exercises on  June 18th post performed by some Rally dogs.

Poblem Solving

  Buddy R. is a Yorkie who has spent some time with me in Board and Train, had some private lessons with his mom, and even come to some group classes.  He has played with my dog Pflash.  He is like a friend of the family.  When he comes to the Dog Park he has some issues with the mowing.  Well his mom was out of town a few days and requested that I spend some time on Tuesday working when the landscapers are here helping to resolve this problem. So of course here we are out in the field watching the mower go by.

Then of course we watch the guy with the trimmer and then finish with some more calmer work watching the mower go by again.

Now here comes George H. a Boston Terrier with some aggressive problems when around other dogs.  I try to set up controllable situations so I can guide the dog through what otherwise would be difficult.  Here we are outside of my office and there are some visitors.  The more we can have positive experiences rather than the usual outbursts we begin to change the norm.  Time, patience and calm repetitions is key.

ZOOM JAZZY ZOOM

Wow! What fun we had in Rally Obedience Class today.  Instead of the usual Rally Course we set up a ZOOM Course.  This is similar to a Rally Course and many of the signs are similar.  The difference is there is NO STOPPING. You can receive deductions for being out of position or making corrections or any of the usual Rally deductions.  Level 1 is on leash and Level 2 and 3 are off leash. 

This was a Level 1 Course and the first time we tried a ZOOM course in class. 

Winston and Bentley...a coupla Westies

Winston and Bently are two brother Westies.  They are 11 months old.  I have worked with them at about 5 months and now have them for a week in Board and Train. We brushed up on our basics.  Long sits at all doors and gates that are closed and then open and we do not proceed until they make eye contact or acknowledge the leader.  Easy exercise and your patience will be rewarded. Now the fun starts.  I want to work the two together.  I've had 2 German Shepherds, 2 Great Danes,  2 Labs, 2 Daschunds, 2 Wheatons, 2 Lhaso Apso and lots of unmatched pairs.  I usually keep one on the left and one on the right.  This way if one is correct he is not as influenced by his partner and if you make a tug it will be for the one that needs it.

We were out on our 6 acre facility practicing with distractions after working together in the Canine College.  As we left the parking lot and down Pet Lane towards Aptkisic Road we passed the landscaping facility across the street and both dogs were bothered by a tractor.


Now we had to stop and watch for a while. I like to have them sit or down and absorbe while praised and kept in a calm state of mind.  When we came back they paid no attention to the boreing tractor noise.

Well we hung out watching traffic go by as they learn with me and off to the side we are safe. It is important to be aware and not afraid of noise and distractions.  Practice makes what is new old.

Now we just hang out in the lobby and watch the campers and the guest come in to the motel.  I had fun working with this energetic duo and hope to see them in group class on Tuesday night at 7pm or Saturday morning at 10am. 

Daizee at 11 weeks

Well here is the future Rally Queen in the Canine College. She is an 11 week old Great Pyrenees.  She is practicing walking on my left on a loose leash.  Daizee will sometimes sit as I stop without me asking her to, "sit".  She will lay down easily.  We are working on stay more from the sit position and I am able to do a walk around.  She will come as I run away and I can bait her to come and sit right in front of me as I stop.  I can tell her to, "watch" and she will make eye contact and she will not bark as long as I don't wait too long to give it to her.  After numerous recalls I have even been able to lure her to finish on my left. Instead of me going to her she comes to my side.

Here I have Daizee walk next to me then, "sit" when we stop. I have her , "watch" which is to make eye contact with me.  She then goes, "down"  and makes eye contact.  Then I have a bunch of food in my hand which is, "off" until she avoids then she gets every piece but has to wait until I tell her to,"take it"  A fun way to play and also control the food.  Make her do some work for every meal.  Have fun and remember when you control the games you control the dog.

Most people would avoid a day like this................ Not me, I embrace it !

Bear A. is an old friend of mine.  He is a German Shepherd that is about 14 months old.  He can do obedience pretty well with me and his owners.  With his family he he can be difficult when he is around dogs.  We started in his room, then his wing, before we even made it to food preparation practicing obedience.  There was an American Bulldog being picked up with an attendant and his owner.  We practiced heeling and then a long sit watching the trio leave following the dog.  I decided to give Bear a potty opportunity which comes after a sit at the field then with command he was productive.  With dominant dogs the world is not their toilet and I only let them go when and where I say.  I always have dogs sit and make eye contact before going into any new area.  I never follow entering a room or heading outside.  Walk slow and practice long sits.  Make the impatient dog learn to wait for you.  APDT Rally Obedience has a sign that says  Halt, SIT 1,2,3,steps.  What you are supposed to do is halt and sit, take 1 step forward and sit, then 2 steps and sit , then 3 steps and sit.  Boring but also a good way to convey who is following whom.

I decide to practice on the street in front of Best Friends, Pet Lane and work towards Aptkisic Road.  On the way we passed a residence on the premises that happened to have 3 Australian Shepherds acting very territorially at the 4 foot fence. 
At first I did some heeling to get Bear working with me.  Then I had him do a long sit watching the barking dogs.  After a while the Aussies got no feedback got bored and walked away.  Chalk up a win for Allan and Bear. Lets head for the road.  Guess what Bear is stimulated by cars and trucks

Here we are after working on Pet Lane towards the cars, we are now on Aptkisic working next to the cars on both sides of the street and on the island in the middle. Good job Bear.  On the way back why not practice walking by barking dogs. 


Not bad and Bear walks and turns without corrections. What an excellent place to be able to have areas to practice problem solving.  Lets go to the lobby.


I embrace distractions as an opportunity to do problem solving.  We practice and bond in quiet areas then perfect with distractions.  I use distance at first.  There is more praise and fewer corrections but being a trainer I always target distractions and with practice and patience almost all problems can be resolved.  I am as stubborn and tenacious as any dog I work.  The more excited they get the calmer I must be to help guide them through their issues.  After Board and Train it would be great for his family to work Bear in one of my group obedience classes.

Welcome back Bailey ...Talk about getting lucky!

I've had the pleasure to work with Bailey, a Shetland Sheepdog in Board and Train and her mom used to bring her to group obedience class.  She loves to have a job to do so she can relax and just go for the ride.  She has had an issue with barking so first we watch some dogs playing in an outdoor camp area.

Bailey S. in the courtyard watching Vlad and Woody bark at her. Baily was happy to be with me and did not react negatively towards the dogs that were barking at her. That's my girl!

Talk About Getting Lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Mom dropped her off for a couple of days and asked me to spend some time working around cars. She gets stimulated and is difficult. Well Dianne, I don't think you would enjoy this coincidence as much as I did. We get to Aptkisic as I hear an ambulance and fire truck coming towards us from Weiland Rd. I had to get my camera out and bam here is the video. Good Girl Bailey!  Hope to see you back in class.