Tonight was the inaugural fun match at Shake-a-Paw Dog Training.
Fun was had by all, everyone celebrated their successes and went home with lots of homework.
Thank you to @AJ Mouchet for creating our great courses.
Thank you for the students for working so hard with your dogs. The proof of all that work showed up tonight, great job!!!
Thank you to Kim Hutt-Archer for giving up her Friday night to help out.
Next fun match Friday December 6th!
Proofing Video
Why does keeping connection with a dog seem to come so easy for some teams, yet can pose such a challenge with others?
Why do some dogs go visit the ring crew?
Stop and sniff in the middle of an agility run?
Why are they slower at trials? Or running so fast they forget to think?
And then you've got the dogs that run aimlessly around doing obstacles as they please, ignoring their handlers - forgetting their training...
(Yet they actually are amazing at home and at class!)
This winter I'm diving deep and problem solving these concepts in my new workshop series:
Agility SOS
This will be a series of local seminars I'm teaching here at our building, Shake A Paw Dog Training. Each seminar will be like mini private lessons with the advantage of learning from other teams as your dog rests between turns.
Details are getting finalized so message for info!
In this video, some of our instructors are testing out some of the games we will be working through at the workshop.
We start with a simple sequence and add in distractions. The goal is not to blow your dog's brain and have constant failure.
The goal is the other side of that.
When your dog learns to work through distraction, your dog actually learns how to focus harder on the job at hand.
When the dog is free to focus on the job at hand, that's where the magic begins.
That's where your engagement in new environments improves and your relationship suddenly starts feeling effortless.
Then you see your dogs skillsets start to increase. They start looking to you for information instead of disengaging.
This is where they start to speed up on course, drop less bars and meet their criteria with greater accuracy.
We worked though noise distractions by playing a video of barking dogs loud. Then we added people and toys.
The important piece here, and the focus of the Agility SOS workshop is customizing the distraction level for what every dog needed to be challenged but successful.
This is the missing
One of the skills we work on in both our Basic Manners and Beginner Agility Classes is for the dogs to learn to sit quietly on a bed while other dogs work.
There are many aspects of the skill that build your relationship with your dog.
š¶ learning to focus on their handler
š¶ watching other dogs work and move around the room
š¶ understanding the beginnings of stay
Some situations where understanding how to stay on the bed is useful
š at a picnic
š camping
š when you have company over
š teaching your dog to settle
Message us for more info if you think this is a skill you would like your dog to have
Part of agility training is teaching your dog how to stay focused on the job at hand. Anybody who has ever been to an agility trial knows there is a lot going on and this is very challenging for most dogs.
In our classes we start working on this by having two dogs working at once. At the beginning we have gates and students standing there helping the dog make good choices.
It doesnāt take long for the dogs to ignore each other and learn to work under this level of distraction.
Getting them one step closer to not just competing in agility but having a dog that can stay calm and collected regardless of the environment.
Then and Now - Heeling at the Byward Market
Dog training is all about problem solving.
Every dog presents you with a unique set of challenges that you work through to achieve your goals
At the beginning it sometimes feels overwhelming as you struggle through a problem but then you look back and are able to see how far you have come and how much you have learned.
So when you want to bang your head against the wall LOL keep doing the thing success is right around the corner
Of course enlisting the help of a trainer might help too :)
Ellie doing jump grids
Cuteness alert!!!
Ellie doing jump grids.
#elliethebasset
Behavior, Distractions, Agility, Nosework!
Dog Training Classes Starting Soon!!
We are located 20 minutes east of Kemptville and 40 minutes south of Ottawa.
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Starting Nov 7: Thursdays at 11:00 am
All Ages Basic Manners
Starting Nov 21: Thursdays at 7:15 pm
All Ages Basic Manners
Starting December 1: Sundays at 10:15 am
Agility for Beginners
Starting December 1: Sundays at 9:00 am
All Ages Basic Manners
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All classes run for 6 weeks for 1 hour a week.
Cost for the session is $230+HST.
Message for help choosing the class thats right for you and your dog.
1on1 programs available if your dog isnt ready for group yet, or you need more indepth and personalized options.
Facility: Fall classes are indoors in our climate controlled new building, built in 2023 dedicated to dogsports!
Our flooring is on sports turf footing for the safety of dogs and humans!
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Message to register or for more information!!
Address: 3327 Wallace Road, South Mountain, Ontario. We are located 20 minutes east of Kemptville and 40 minutes south of Ottawa.
Unlock Your Dog's Potential with Our Scent Class!
Is your furry friend ready for a new challenge?
Join our Dog Scent Class and discover the amazing world of canine scent detection!
Whether your dog is a novice or has some experience, our class is designed to bring out the best in every pup.
Why Enroll in Our Dog Scent Class?
Stimulate Your Dog's Mind: Scent work engages your dog's natural instincts, providing mental stimulation that keeps them happy and healthy.
Strengthen Your Bond: Work together with your dog in a fun, interactive environment, enhancing your communication and strengthening your bond.
Boost Confidence: Watch your dog's confidence soar as they learn to identify and follow various scents, celebrating their achievements along the way.
Great for All Ages and Breeds: Our class is suitable for dogs of all ages, breeds, and skill levels. From puppies to seniors. Everyone can benefit from the joy of scent work!
Expert Guidance: Learn from an experienced instructor ( Certified Nose Work Instructorsā ) who is passionate about canine training and behavior. They will guide you and your dog through every step of the process.
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Class will be 1 hour long and the cost is $230+HST for a 6 week session.
Our next session starts Thursday August 22nd, at 6pm.
Located at Burrittās Rapids Community Hall.
2904 CR-43, North Grenville, ON.
Message us with any questions and to register!
Happy Training!
Agility for Beginners is more than just a recreational activity; it's a transformative experience for both you and your dog.
It's an opportunity to deepen the bond between you, while imparting essential life skills that extend beyond the agility field.
We often refer to agility as "stealth obedience" because it's an incredibly effective way to shape the behavior of your dog.
Imagine having a dog that listens attentively under the most distracting circumstancesārunning off-leash around other dogs and people. This level of obedience is achieved through our engaging, game-based training that your dog will love.
Our program is designed to guide both you and your dog through progressive stages of training for agility. For the human half of the team, it's also about building a supportive community.
You'll find encouragement and camaraderie among instructors and fellow students, all of whom share a passion for creating a fulfilling life for their dogs.
Whether your aim is to compete at the highest levels or simply enjoy the journey, our program has something for everyone. For those interested in competition, we provide a pathway to master-level agility. For those seeking fun, we offer community events, fun matches, and game nights.
The journey begins with our Agility for Beginners class.
This interactive course covers the fundamentals of dog training, including reading body language, handling and the science of using positive reinforcement, that gets results.
Each week, you'll rotate through different stations, learning skills ranging from self control to navigating obstacles such as tunnels and jumps.
These agility skills have real-life applications, helping you to:
- Reward and motivate your dog effectively.
- Read your dog's body language to better understand their needs and responses.
- Practice leash work to improve control and communication.
- Enhance your dog's focus and attention on you.
- Add and reinforce cues (commands) to build a reliable r
Why Enroll in Our Dog Scent Class?
Stimulate Your Dog's Mind: Scent work engages your dog's natural instincts, providing mental stimulation that keeps them happy and healthy.
Strengthen Your Bond: Work together with your dog in a fun, interactive environment, enhancing your communication and strengthening your bond.
Boost Confidence: Watch your dog's confidence soar as they learn to identify and follow various scents, celebrating their achievements along the way.
Great for All Ages and Breeds: Our class is suitable for dogs of all ages, breeds, and skill levels. From puppies to seniors. Everyone can benefit from the joy of scent work!
Expert Guidance: Learn from an experienced instructor ( Certified Nose Work Instructorsā ) who is passionate about canine training and behavior. They will guide you and your dog through every step of the process.
******
Class will be 1 hour long and the cost is $230+HST for a 6 week session.
Our next session starts Thursdays at 6pm.
Located at Burrittās Rapids Community Hall.
2904 CR-43, North Grenville, ON.
Message us with any questions and to register!
Happy Training!
Distractions in Agility
A couple of weeks ago our Shake-a-Paw Dog Training team participated in K9 cup.
For those who aren't local, K9 cup is a team event that is like a mock trial.
The participants get to experience a trial-like setting without the added pressure of a real trial. Multiple rings running at once, stressed/excited dogs and handlers, judges in the ring and the biggest challenge for, the ring crew.
Ring crew are people sitting in chairs around the ring ready to put up a bar if a dog knocks it or to move bars at height changes.
The dogs participating are mostly newbies that have not experienced a trial setting before.
A lot of them had a hard time ignoring the people sitting in the ring and visiting was common.
In this class we were working on the dog learning to ignore what is happening around them, even the people in the chairs, and focusing on their handler and running the course.
We started with everybody walking around the ring on leash rewarding their dogs for just looking at the people and looking away or for just ignoring them completely and working with their Handler.
They would then run a course and see if they could continue to work with their handlers even when they are now off leash and running.
The dogs and handlers did great so every turn we increased the challenge by having the ring crew do different things.
One run we had them clapping slowly and the next run we had them spinning on a pinwheel.
..
Connection and focus is an important part of agility training, without it you never know what your dog is going to do.
Leave the ring to go visit another dog or chase a bird.
Anyone who runs one of these dogs knows how stressful this can be and eventually causes a lot of people to quit agility because they are just too frustrated.
..
If this is something you have experienced or you want to work on this training before you start competing
Reach out to us about fitting you into a class and helping you achieve your dogās potential in agility and in
