Today Zulu, Echo & I attended the Top Dog Film Festival - an awesome and well deserved celebration of the achievements of dogs and their people from all around the globe. We met a crowd of dog lovers and answered some questions about conservation detection. It was a blast!
#apexcanine #topdogfilmfestival #conservationdetectiondog #detectiondog #workingdog #blacklabrador #workinglabrador #detectionlabrador #koaladetectiondog
Easy Sunday Search
I try and relax on Sundays. Try…
But I’ll throw in a little session now and then.
In this search, you’ll see:
* Flappy, feathery distractions
* Me calling Zulu off the target odour to search where I direct him (I do this every now and then just to demonstrate to him not to listen to me all the time AKA ‘Obedience to Odour’)
* Me rewarding him for finding target without a ‘proper’ sit and stare indication, something I’m often a stickler for - I could write a novel about why (basically its a newish odour and right now I care more about the engine for power in the behaviour than the gear box for controlling it), but I’ll just quote a dog trainers favourite thing to say, ‘It depends…’
* I’m using a toy to reward instead of food (It’s good to mix it up)
He’s such a champ.
#apexcanine #zulukoaladetection #apexzulu #dogtraining #workingdog #workinglabrador #detectiondog #detectionlabrador #blacklabrador #koaladog #koaladetectiondog #koala #cutedog #conservationdetectiondog #conservationdetection #australiandog
Indication Training
I am of the opinion that a clean, clear indication is essential for team communication in detection work.
Some people, including professionals, don’t require their dog to sit or down to indicate they have found the source of odour - they instead rely on their ability to read their dog and pick up more organically when they are communicating they have found the target. I’m sure that works fine for some, but the only issue i have with that is we preach ‘clarity in communication is the key’ for dog training, so if we aren’t telling a dog what WE want them to do when they locate the source (so that we slower creatures understand), They instead are now trying to teach US their sign to show they have found it, which adds to their learning load/ frustration.
If you just teach the odour to be a cue to perform an obedience command (like sit or drop, or even point) and develop power in the hunt drive for the toy/ food - you eventually pair the two together and … well, you’ll have to wait for that in the next vid.
Confidence Building
Echo is shaping up to be an awesome little detection dog, but my biggest concern with him is his confidence - novel objects, loud noises, uneven surfaces - he can be a very cautious dog. ⚠️
We therefore play lots of games to help build confidence, and one such game is simply playing with a toy together, and using my poor acting skills, I make out like he is pushing me around, outsmarting and overpowering me to win the toy. It makes him feel tough. 💪🏽Which in turn, makes him feel confident!
I may be creating a monster…! 😈
#apexcanine #dogtraining #powerofplay #dogconfidencebuilding #puppyplay #detectiondog #workingdog #epanuelbreton #brittanytraining
Retrieve
Lyca (our pet, a ‘snow shepherd’ - Husky/ White shepherd/ Samoyed) loves training. So, I have spent time teaching her to retrieve random things. I hope you enjoy her enthusiasm as much as i do.
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #husky #fetch #retriever #apexcanine
Mill work
Miki from @wooferwagon_runningdogs recently helped out at the Conservation K9 Camp run by @conservationk9podcast, which meant the mobile treadmill gym came along too - I wish we’d had more time to take advantage!
Slat mill work is such an incredible tool for dog training, I honestly believe it is often over looked as a simple piece of exercise equipment.
When I think slat mill, I think:
- conditioning and exercise
- confidence building
- physical therapy
- aggression rehabilitation
- impulse control
- obedience in arousal
- shaping
Don’t overlook slat mills for your training!
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #slatmill #millwork #workingdogs #trainingdogs #detectiondogs #conservationdetection #thunderfang #wooferwagonrunningdogs #conservationk9podcast
Conservation Canine Camp, Coffs Harbour NSW 2022
That’s a wrap, and in my opinion, a huge success!
The weather was incredibly kind to us! There was an array of experience amongst the participants and everyone contributed their own spin on things. We got to hang out (virtually) with some big names in the field of conservation detection (involving a dozen people huddled around an iPad, due to technical difficulties!!), played with various techniques and pieces of equipment, make new friends and connections, learn new skills and sit around a camp fire with a drink and good company, nerding out about dogs.
Thank you to James Davis for organising such a cool event, and thank you to everyone for coming with such great attitudes and open minds.
This is Teddy. He recently stayed for a Board & Train with APEX to fast track his training as a Therapy dog working in a school. Both his people are teachers, and they have done an awesome job of continuing his training - look at this awesome down stay with lots of distraction! Fist bump 👊🏼 to Teddys team!
#dogtraining #dog #therapydog #workingdog #labrador #labradorretriever #obediencetraining #apexcanine
Echo Update
This lil champ is awesome!
His detection training is going very well, but here I have included a clip of some obedience in public. Continuing to maintain social and environmental exposure as he matures, but often doing so whilst being engaged and focused with me.
You’ll notice there are other dogs around, but I very rarely go out with the intention of a social walk where he interacts with the other people and animals in the environment. For sure, I make sure he sees what’s around him and if I come across a nice calm dog or interested human, I’ll encourage him to interact on cue with a ‘say hello!’, but I want this fella to think I’m the bees knees and should always be his number one focus!
#echosjourney #detectionpuppy #detectionpuppyintraining #workingpuppy #puppytraining #apexprofessionaldogtraining #dogtraining #workingdog #detectiondog #detectiontraining #koaladog #koaladetectiondog #koala #cutedog #conservationdetectiondog #conservationdetection #epanuelbreton #frenchbrittany #workingspaniel #workingpointer #puppytraining
Thursday’s are always busy training Assistance Dogs!!
Sunday’s are technically my ‘day off’ with my family - but I almost always have dogs staying with me (plus my own 4)!
So, Sunday mornings I take all the dogs for a nice, long walk through our property!
Don’t worry, I know how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place!
These dogs are: Thea, Milo, Misa & Ruby (plus Trooper, Zulu, Lyca & Sparrow!)
A truly momentous occasion - first Beta class and first synchronised group drop! Good work APEX Pack!
Working with Rosie. This girl is exuberant! Just a 5 month old staffy x, she was reactive to dogs on leash and had very few manners! Lots of improvements have been made, especially working on engagement with the handler - but more progress to go.
Rosie will be up for adoption after her Board & Train program is complete, and I will work with new owners to ensure her new training is put to use!
#apexprofessionaldogtraining #dogtraining #dogtrainer #staffyx #ridgebackx #puppytraining #dogbehaviourmodification #coffsharbourjetty #fosterdog #boardandtrain
Our first APEX Pack class of this year is finally kicking off this Saturday!
Everyone is excited!
AaaaWhOOOooo!
#apexprofessionaldogtraining #theapexpack #dogtraining #groupdogtraining #dogclasses #cutedogsandkids
TIPS FROM THE DOG COUCH
(Watch in HD!)
This weeks topic - Clear Communication with your dog using Marker training
*Maybe watch twice so you actually listen to me, not just watch pretty Lyca!
Disclaimer: This is just one way of using markers, and I've found it the best to help pet owners. There are many methods of using markers though, however, I don't want to complicate things more by explaining them!
TIPS FROM THE DOG COUCH
(Watch in HD!)
This weeks topic - Puppies & preventing future problems!
*Maybe watch twice so you actually listen to me, not just Burger!
TIPS FROM THE DOG COUCH
*new little segment I’m trying out 😉
Some helpful advice about getting your dog to listen to you when you leave the house!
