Big Stick Dog Training

12/23/2024

Tibb's Eve Drop in Class - Tonight at 7pm at Nova Dogsport

Get out of the freezing cold and into training! This class is handler's choice - want to work on something in particular? Let me know!
$35 per drop in spot

12/22/2024

Thank you for donated prizes to our trial this coming February!
East Coast Dog is a local Nova Scotian business located on Isleville Street in the north end of Halifax. They have a store front where you can buy all the essentials for your dog. They also offer walking and grooming services.

Willow and I love to pop in to East Coast Dog to get a treat and have a sniff-session.

12/14/2024

CARO Versatility Rally has both left side and right side heeling - so how do you get get from one side to the other? Here are demonstrations of the 9 CARO Versatility Side Changes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ULs37Wz4Gs

400 - Turn In
401 - Turn Away
402 - Side by Side Right
403 - Side by Side Left
404 - Cross Front
405 - Cross Behind
406 - Weave Through Legs
407 - Spin Left Right Turn Cross Behind
408 - Spin Right Left Turn Cross Behind

All of these signs (except for 407 and 408) start with the dog on either side of the handler in heel position, the sign ends with the dog on the opposite side of the handler in heel position. This video shows the dog starting each sign in both left or right heel position.

With sign 407, the dog must start in left side heel and end in right side heel.
With sign 408, the dog must start in right side heel and end in left side heel.

You will know which side your dog should be on when you approach signs 400-406 based on the colour of the previous sign. If the sign was green, your dog is on the left, if the sign is orange, your dog is on the right.

If you need help learning to do the CARO Versatility Side Changes, I offer virtual training sessions. Email me at [email protected] to find out more.
You can also check out my website at bigstickdogtraining.com

12/07/2024

Our February 2025 CARO Trial is officially open for entry!
Entry form: https://forms.gle/rj5CQ79WBJxxshhk8

The trial is being held at Ace It Canine Academy on Saturday and Sunday February 1st and 2nd. Come join us in the fun, win special judge prizes, try out Rally Team.
Teams are welcome to enter as FEO (for exhibition only) where you get to enter a round as a non-competing dog.

I'll be available to answer questions today, feel free to comment or PM me if you need guidance in filling out the form.

FAQ:
-If you forgot your dog's CARO number, just put 0000 and tell me it later.
-If you don't yet have your dog's CARO number, put 0000 and tell me later when you have it.
-You can enter FEO without a dog CARO number, please put 0000

Photo by Epic Tails Photography

12/04/2024

Entries open for our next CARO Trial this Saturday at 9am!
Being held at Ace It Canine Academy in Harrietsfield, Nova Scotia, on February 1st and 2nd, 2025.

https://forms.gle/SdGJmSVEMKF728Me7
(the above link won't be open until Saturday the 7th at 9am)

Let me know if you have any questions!

Your dog needs a CARO ID number to compete in CARO, you can get a number on the canadianrallyo.ca website under "dogs"

12/02/2024

Official Premium for our February 2025 CARO Trial:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TvCsz480wk4GHf0ID1qS4P339LU1IyhH3WafXyeD8EM/edit?usp=sharing

Entries open this Saturday the 7th at 9am

Official Premium for Big Stick Dog Training’s Winter CARO Trial To be held on February 1st and 2nd, 2025 Hosted by: Big Stick Dog Training Judges: Saundra Clow and Lily Jackson Venue: Ace It Canine Academy Address: 35 Builders Drive, Harrietsfield, NS, B3V 1A3 Trial Numbers: T25-014 Trial Cha...

11/13/2024

Advanced Rally Obedience Class
Starting next Wednesday, November 20th at Nova Dogsport

This class is great for trial prep, working around distractions (food!), working over and heeling around jumps 😎 and perfecting your heeling.

Wednesdays 7:10-8:10pm
6 weeks for $210

I have a few spots available in this class, PM here or email [email protected] to grab a spot in the class.

11/12/2024

CARO Novice Rally Obedience at Nova Dogsport
Mondays 7-8pm
December 2, 9, 16, 30, January 6, 13

This class is great for any dog owner who wants to go beyond basic life skills - you and your dog will learn to heel and focus in a distracting environment, while playing the fun game of Rally Obedience

Spaces available - please PM or email [email protected]

This class is open to a variety of skill levels - whether you already have some heeling skills, or are just learning, you'll fit right in!

10/15/2024

Feel like you're missing out? I've got a new CARO Rally Novice class starting on the 21st at Nova Dogsport
Please email [email protected] to reserve your spot in class.

Come join the fun!
Don't know what Rally Obedience is yet? Here is how the Canadian Association of Rally Obedience describes it: "RallyO goes beyond basic heeling by interspersing over 40 obedience movements with the sits, turns and paces of traditional heeling. It also requires a brisk pace, positive attitude and happy demeanor."

The best part about CARO is that they encourage participation of ALL dogs purebred or mixed breed, as well as dogs and/or handlers of different physical abilities. CARO offers accommodations on course to make things more accessible to those who need it. For example, handlers with dogs over the age of 7 are automatically given the option to lower their jump height.

10/10/2024

Big Stick Dog Training and students have been very busy training for and filming Virtual Trials. Pretty neat!

09/15/2024

CARO Fun Match on Turf!!
Date: Sunday, September 22nd
Time: 2pm - 7pm
Location: Leanne's agility field in Whites Lake, NS (25 minutes from downtown Halifax). Address is in the entry form. Thank you Leanne for offering us a field for the fun match!
Entry form in bio
A Fun Match for everyone to come and practice CARO Rally Obedience in preparation for the upcoming Virtual Trial, and the For the Love of Dog trial on PEI which will be in turf.
We are offering the CARO Working exercises (10 minutes in the ring), two runs of CARO Rally Novice, and one run each of Advanced, and Excellent, and Versatility.
Let me know if you have any questions!

09/06/2024

Each virtual trial we host a run filming day (or two!) to help competitors film their runs. The set up and filming is the hardest part of the virtual trial, because everything needs to be set up correctly, the camera needs to be in the right place, and you have to remember to hit record, on top of getting yourself and your dog ready to compete.

In my first two virtual trials, I made all of the classic mistakes, learned a lot of lessons, and realized it is simply too hard to do the virtual trial alone!

There is no requirement to film with us, BUT we make the whole experience fun, friendly and community oriented. We also try to accommodate our sensitive dogs by giving them time to do their runs with no other dogs in the building.

Our filming dates are to be determined, if you have entered the virtual trial and would like to film with us, please send me an email with your submission information so I know which runs you will need to have filmed.

09/05/2024

I’m so excited to announce an upcoming training challenge, 21 Days to Tighter Heeling! Over the course of 21 days, we will provide you with daily exercises and training tips that will help you achieve a tighter heel position with your dog.

Registration will open next week, so follow along here for more details soon!

09/03/2024

The Barkside Pet Supplies has an amazing toy selection, often supplying things you can’t find at big box stores. Tugs, bumpers, frisbees and more - check them out for Back to School toys !

09/02/2024

I'm so thankful, and absolutely thrilled to get these photos from Wet Nose Images - Halifax Dog Photographer

Here are some of the adorable silly ones.

09/01/2024

Kate does the best drawings!!! I can’t wait to get this as a shirt

Ramma-lamma-lamma-ka-dinga-ka-dinga-dong

Available now at Kate Knows Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/we-stick/ or link in bio!

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Illustration: Two fluffy red Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers proudly carry one Big Stick between them

Text: “We stick together”

08/28/2024

I have a few spots left in my CARO Rally classes starting tonight at Nova Dogsport.

Come build your dogs confidence, life skills and leash walking all in one class, and all while playing a sport! Rally obedience is a great sport for building connection between dog and handler, you really can't go wrong.

08/21/2024

I have some spots this evening in my Rally Novice class from 5:30-6:30pm at Nova Dogsport and my Rally Advanced/Excellent class from 6:40-7:40pm
PM me or email [email protected] to grab a drop in spot!