We might think we are good trainers,and many of us are. But there are times when we all need some help. I had one of those times last week. while I had made tremendous progress with one of my dogs, she needed just that bit more. The benefit of professional experience.
Professional trainers and handlers see many more dogs than we will ever see. Their experiences are so much more varied and comprehensive than ours. They know ALL the tricks and best techniques to solve or resolve a problem or behavior. Yes, they cost money and a little bit of pride,but in the end, the improvements the good ones can make in our dogs are well worth the investment.
Most trainers and handlers are willing to share their knowledge with enthusiastic owners. There's the key: Be open, enthusiastic about helping your dog and demonstrate a real desire to learn. You'll be rewarded many times with much more information than you hoped for,and possibly, you will begin building a relationship built upon mutual respect that will pay huge dividends in the future.
We're all in our various disciplines and dog sports for the benefit of our dogs. Use all the sources of knowledge at your disposal. Your dog will appreciate it!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Walking Dogs with Crutches
My wheels are coming off! Feels like that as I age sometimes. I've had a bad right knee for many years with multiple surgeries on that one. Now the "good" knee (left) is giving me fits with a small fissure fracture on the bottom of the femur. Am waiting for a knee brace to 'unload" the medial side of my knee so it can heal. Otherwise I have to stay off my feet or use crutches.
So I have been exercising my dogs around the ranch most days. They run off lead while I hobble around on cructhes. We havent been to the big park down the road in weeks. Yesterday I decided to get them out to the park somehow! And off we went. Dogs, me and a pair of crutches.
Now I dont recommend this technique if your dogs pull alot, but with Kate and Charlie who dont pull it worked out fine! I tied their leashes together and looped the combination over my neck. Left my hands free to handle the crutches and kept the leashes up in the air above the dogs so they didnt get tangled up in them. Just be careful that they dont crisscross the leads too many times or you may get hung! Must have been a sight as several people gave me "high fives" for effort as we walked.
Just goes to show where there is a will.....
So I have been exercising my dogs around the ranch most days. They run off lead while I hobble around on cructhes. We havent been to the big park down the road in weeks. Yesterday I decided to get them out to the park somehow! And off we went. Dogs, me and a pair of crutches.
Now I dont recommend this technique if your dogs pull alot, but with Kate and Charlie who dont pull it worked out fine! I tied their leashes together and looped the combination over my neck. Left my hands free to handle the crutches and kept the leashes up in the air above the dogs so they didnt get tangled up in them. Just be careful that they dont crisscross the leads too many times or you may get hung! Must have been a sight as several people gave me "high fives" for effort as we walked.
Just goes to show where there is a will.....
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Making the Most of your Time to Train
Now that I have four Border terriers at home and co-own another, the time I take to give one-on-one attention to my dogs is becoming more limted. Add to that the time I spend on my grooming business, my real estate career and my family, and I'm pushed to get it all in in any one day. Over the past year I have felt that I needed to change something in how I organized my training time so that I could better train and have more fun doing it.
What I discovered isnt new. Basically it comes down to ANY TIME you are out with your dogs, you are training. No matter if its conscious or not, deliberate or not, whatever you do with your dogs is a form of training- good or bad.
What I am doing is focus weekly (or daily) on a couple of things I want to accomplish or emphasize with my dogs that week (day). For example, say I want to work on my puppy's whiplash turn, recall or check-ins. I suggest that you WRITE DOWN (yes, you can try to mentally write this in your head but...) what you want to focus upon and place the note by your jacket hanger or where you hang your leashes. That way you'll see it before every walk and trip outside and remember to work on that item.
Then, while walking, incorporate your agenda into your walk. Call your pup back, treat him for coming, and then send him on his way again. This will train his recall AND his "go out" or "go find 'em" while being fun for you both. Sending him back out to do what he wants after a recall makes the recall less of a "final" command that ends fun. You will find this type of training teaches faster and more solidly than straight recall training.
If you clicker train, don't forget to put one in your jacket or pants pocket! If you use a tug toy as a reward, stuff one in your jacket pocket to pull out and SURPRISE your pup.
Lastly, remember that you can train bad habits just as easily (if not easier!) than good ones. So dont get lazy on your walk or zone out and forget that your are walking WITH you dog. I find that if I take my work worries with us, I usually unconsciously let my dog start into a situation that I dont want him to get into! Whether that's pulling on leash or not listening to my commands (why should he? I'm not there mentally with him! He may have tried to tell me something but I wasnt listening to him!), our line of communication is broken. And that usually leads to mis-communication or worse!
It's spring (almost!). Daylight savings time starts this weekend! Have some great walks with your dogs!
What I discovered isnt new. Basically it comes down to ANY TIME you are out with your dogs, you are training. No matter if its conscious or not, deliberate or not, whatever you do with your dogs is a form of training- good or bad.
What I am doing is focus weekly (or daily) on a couple of things I want to accomplish or emphasize with my dogs that week (day). For example, say I want to work on my puppy's whiplash turn, recall or check-ins. I suggest that you WRITE DOWN (yes, you can try to mentally write this in your head but...) what you want to focus upon and place the note by your jacket hanger or where you hang your leashes. That way you'll see it before every walk and trip outside and remember to work on that item.
Then, while walking, incorporate your agenda into your walk. Call your pup back, treat him for coming, and then send him on his way again. This will train his recall AND his "go out" or "go find 'em" while being fun for you both. Sending him back out to do what he wants after a recall makes the recall less of a "final" command that ends fun. You will find this type of training teaches faster and more solidly than straight recall training.
If you clicker train, don't forget to put one in your jacket or pants pocket! If you use a tug toy as a reward, stuff one in your jacket pocket to pull out and SURPRISE your pup.
Lastly, remember that you can train bad habits just as easily (if not easier!) than good ones. So dont get lazy on your walk or zone out and forget that your are walking WITH you dog. I find that if I take my work worries with us, I usually unconsciously let my dog start into a situation that I dont want him to get into! Whether that's pulling on leash or not listening to my commands (why should he? I'm not there mentally with him! He may have tried to tell me something but I wasnt listening to him!), our line of communication is broken. And that usually leads to mis-communication or worse!
It's spring (almost!). Daylight savings time starts this weekend! Have some great walks with your dogs!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
It's been awhile!
That's putting it mildly! I've been away for the past year having lived through some extraordinarily hard dog experiences and some fabulously wonderful ones. All of which have expanded my perspective on dogs, their training and how I interact with them. I look forward to climbing back on the blogging horse and sharing these new-to-me insights.
Some of the things I experienced over the past year, and which I will be writing about, include:
Bitches fighting
The importance of progesterone screenings in breeding
Neo-natal experiences and stress
Increasing your dog's threshold toward external distractions
Using OFA databases when choosing a puppy
Border grooming
No shows at shows
More thoughts on feeding
When I can't walk my dogs
RVing with my dogs
So please forgive my absence and stay tuned for these and more blogs!
Some of the things I experienced over the past year, and which I will be writing about, include:
Bitches fighting
The importance of progesterone screenings in breeding
Neo-natal experiences and stress
Increasing your dog's threshold toward external distractions
Using OFA databases when choosing a puppy
Border grooming
No shows at shows
More thoughts on feeding
When I can't walk my dogs
RVing with my dogs
So please forgive my absence and stay tuned for these and more blogs!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
More Long-Lines
Yesterday I took Devlin and Ellie out for one of our daily walks at the big park near here (4200 Acres big!). We decided to forego the normal walk on six-foot leads and do some long lining. I put each dog on a 30 foot line and off we went! We checked out all the meadows for rats, ground squirrels and other varmits! It was so much fun to watch them scamper through the tall grasses and brush and turn on command (they know "Left" , "Right", "That's It" (end of line), and "Here") at a distance from you and somewhat in sync! They had a ball and so did I. We all were exhausted in about 40 minutes!
If you are going to try long lining two dogs, practice first with just one to get your line handling skills refreshed and up to par. With two you can't reel in the line like you do with one dog as you have a line in each hand. I either move back and to one side to take up slack as they approach me or simply drop the lines and pick them back up as the dogs go past me. Most of the time while you are out long lining, you will have both lines dragging along the ground behind you, played out to some distance.
It takes some practice to handle two lines and you will occasionally get them crossed up or a dog with a line underneath, but that's when a good "Wait" command comes in handy while you get yourself or the dog untangled. And getting tangled up now and again is part of the fun!
If you are going to try long lining two dogs, practice first with just one to get your line handling skills refreshed and up to par. With two you can't reel in the line like you do with one dog as you have a line in each hand. I either move back and to one side to take up slack as they approach me or simply drop the lines and pick them back up as the dogs go past me. Most of the time while you are out long lining, you will have both lines dragging along the ground behind you, played out to some distance.
It takes some practice to handle two lines and you will occasionally get them crossed up or a dog with a line underneath, but that's when a good "Wait" command comes in handy while you get yourself or the dog untangled. And getting tangled up now and again is part of the fun!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Talk Softly.....You'll Be Amazed at the Results!
Our dogs have a great sense of hearing. They hear much better than we do. I have been amazed lately how well they respond if I talk softly. Even if out on a walk on the trail, while they are looking for varmits, a stage whisper works wonders! A soft call of one's name, or a softly spoken "Right Turn" seems to trigger almost an immediate response. Much more so than if I talk loudly, harshly or, worst of all, yell. And the response is ALWAYS positive and expectant! Try it yourself!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Hyper Puppy or Dog- Some Ideas
The following are some ideas that I sent to a friend whose dog ( a six month old puppy) seemed "hyper" to her. I met the dog and, yes, she was active, but not overly hyper. I could calm her down, make her quiet and make her walk quietly beside me. Here are some of the things we discussed:
1) Train her to "timeout" or "go to your rug/bed/crate/etc" . Start with asking her to go to her rug and entice her there with a treat. Whn she is there, have her lie down ("down") and ask her to "stay". Have her stay there for a few seconds and treat her for "go to your rug" or whatever you want as a command. Give lots of praise ("GOOD go to your rug!"). Work on this twice a day for a few minutes (2 or 3) each time. Gradually work up to having her go to the rug without you enticing her. When she will go to the rug by herself, give a bunch of treats and lots of praise. Then work on the down and stay while there. Start again with a few seconds of stay and work up to minutes. You can also just train this from a "down-stay" command. Using a consistent place like a rug , bed or crate will help her know where to time out.
2) Take her out on leash as much as possible wherever you go. As many places as possible. (I wish I could do this with all my dogs!!) I think some of her hyper-ness away from home is due to the novelty of the place and situation, etc. While out do your "sit-stay" and "down-stay". Sit at a bench along a mall and have her just watch the people and things going on. Praise her and talk re-assuringly to her. Work up slowly in intensity of crowds and noise levels- start in a quiet mall and progress from there.
3) Make sure she gets plenty of exercise- although you will find she becomes better and better in-shape over time! If you can't take a 20 minute walk, 5 minutes of obedience and fun training will tire her mentally and physically. The more you can exercise her MIND, the better. All dogs need a job to do. Terriers are hunters and love to go places. Play ball, play hide and seek, play with her and she will tire out.
4) When she does get over -stimulated (and I think that is exactly what most of this is), tell her to "easy" or "calm" and if necessary hold her gently but firmly. Take the source of the stimulation away if you can (ball, toy, etc). Have her "sit-stay" or "down-stay" for 30 seconds.
I think you will be amazed how good she can be and how good I think she wants to be.
1) Train her to "timeout" or "go to your rug/bed/crate/etc" . Start with asking her to go to her rug and entice her there with a treat. Whn she is there, have her lie down ("down") and ask her to "stay". Have her stay there for a few seconds and treat her for "go to your rug" or whatever you want as a command. Give lots of praise ("GOOD go to your rug!"). Work on this twice a day for a few minutes (2 or 3) each time. Gradually work up to having her go to the rug without you enticing her. When she will go to the rug by herself, give a bunch of treats and lots of praise. Then work on the down and stay while there. Start again with a few seconds of stay and work up to minutes. You can also just train this from a "down-stay" command. Using a consistent place like a rug , bed or crate will help her know where to time out.
2) Take her out on leash as much as possible wherever you go. As many places as possible. (I wish I could do this with all my dogs!!) I think some of her hyper-ness away from home is due to the novelty of the place and situation, etc. While out do your "sit-stay" and "down-stay". Sit at a bench along a mall and have her just watch the people and things going on. Praise her and talk re-assuringly to her. Work up slowly in intensity of crowds and noise levels- start in a quiet mall and progress from there.
3) Make sure she gets plenty of exercise- although you will find she becomes better and better in-shape over time! If you can't take a 20 minute walk, 5 minutes of obedience and fun training will tire her mentally and physically. The more you can exercise her MIND, the better. All dogs need a job to do. Terriers are hunters and love to go places. Play ball, play hide and seek, play with her and she will tire out.
4) When she does get over -stimulated (and I think that is exactly what most of this is), tell her to "easy" or "calm" and if necessary hold her gently but firmly. Take the source of the stimulation away if you can (ball, toy, etc). Have her "sit-stay" or "down-stay" for 30 seconds.
I think you will be amazed how good she can be and how good I think she wants to be.
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