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.

Newest Rally Obedience student, Daizee

Here she is the youngest prospect for Rally Obedience in her first visit to the Canine College.  Daizee is a 9 week old Great Pyrenees who came to visit the Canine College where she will learn to love the game of obedience.  She followed Onslow her Goldendoodle brother into the room after going potty outside.  She came in with her head up her tail wagging and willing to take food.  Food is a barometer of stimulus and stress. 

I had Daizee come to me several times.  I would call her and run backwards then kneel down.  She was not afraid to follow me all around the new room. It is important for survival that puppies have a strong food drive.  This can help the trainer to bond and to motivate a young dog.

After practicing recalls a bunch of times she was comfortable walking with me around the room. I tried to keep her in the heel position on my left side then suddenly backed up and called her to me. In Rally Obedience we refer to this maneuver as a Call to Front.

Make sure to follow Daizee the Great Pyrenees through her Rally Obedience adventure right here on my blog. Her mom Sue predicts she will be one of the top APDT Rally Obedience dogs in the country. I'm here to make this wish come true. Good Luck, Allan

Look Ma' No hands!

Look Ma' No hands! I just had Cinco G., a 10 month Golden Retriever, for only 2 training sessions over the weekend. It was really hard to keep his nose off the ground but with some practice he caught on quick. Here we are in the lobby of  Best Friends Pet Care. I'm walking with the leash over my shoulder. He makes 2 about turns without a reminder tug, and sits automatically as I stop without saying, "sit".

I hope to see his family so I can show them how I work with Cinco.  Hopefully after they practice they will sign him up for the group obedience class which is a great place to practice or perfect the skills with the distraction of other dogs. 

There are three ways to get into my intermediate class.  The easiest is Board and Train.  I compare this to building a car.  I build the car and when you pickup I'll teach you how to drive.  I begin in quiet areas to bond and teach basic skills.  We then perfect in stimulating areas which are abundant on our 6 acre facility. 

The second is private lessons.  Sometimes we can work together to train your dog.  It is a little easier than group classes which have more distractions; which is a good thing when you and your dog are ready. 

The last is to attend my 8 week Basic class.  In the first classes you learn how to bond and guide your dog so by the end we are able to work all together as a class.  If you need we can schedule a private along the way if you think it might help.  If you have taken classes elsewhere give me a call or stop in and show me what you and your dog can do.  Allan

Jack F. practices the Recall

Jack  is a 3 year old Golden Retriever . After some bonding in the Canine College where we practiced basic obedience. He is here for a week of Board and Train. The biggest problems were stay and coming when he is called. Hopefully we didn't teach him to run away or avoid coming to us due to an association with discipline of something he might not want to do. ie, "Come here to go into your crate or to cut your nails or to see the poop in the living room."  Whatever the reason start with a leash.  He must come and most important praise him when he comes with your voice, food, pet or throw a toy. Once he learns there is a positive reward he should come and avoid repeating the reasons he won't.

Here we are in the Canine College practicing.  I have him "sit" and "stay" then return several times before I call him.  This way he finds he just has to sit and I'll return to reward and he doesn't have to do anything.  Then I try to stimulate to get him to come as fast as possible.  We're just having fun hanging out with each other.  You can tell he is enjoying this by how fast he comes.  I also have to try in more stimulating areas.

Here we are in the lobby in a controlled area. I could use a long line or retractable to guarantee the desired result.  He is enjoying the game and learning at the same time.