In Praise of solitude, patience and Nature.
Last week I spent a lot of time on my computer, my phone and in a state of worry. I found myself in a bit of a state or exhaustion and fretfulness. I am sure this is “normal” in the process of transitioning from one way of living to the next. You see I have been a schoolteacher for many eons … 30+years. A lifetime of earning a pay cheque. Of living in the routine of school. The ebbs and flows of watching small children and young adults metamorphosis through the process known as school.
Now my life looks different. It hasn’t fully “jelled” yet and YES I know IT WILL TAKE TIME but … that is not what I want to hear!
I want everything firmed up and CERTAIN NOW
I know that you understand because you come to me all the time with the same request for your dog. I UNDERSTAND
We live in such an odd time (I suspect every time is odd just specific in the oddities LOL) – access to SO MUCH INFORMATION – a true cacophony of words and images. Which ones are “true”, how do we identify and pick the “right thing”. I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by it all. The noise and the abundance of choices feels deafening.
I am writing this out to advise myself on how to navigate change. I believe this advice is pertinent to any improvement you wish to make in your canine friend’s education. Deep Shifts, change and growth START with small deliberate changes in our behaviour. Small changes are only made when we are mindful and consistent. These shifts make an impact when they accumulate over time.
Generally, they aren’t “flashy” or exciting … just little daily rituals that pay off when we fully commit to them.
Here’s my list for myself for the next month:
1) 5-10mins of focused training: Zinnia, Magic, Lift and Lola
2) One day WITHOUT looking at my phone
3) Scheldule time to work on Creative Canine and then LET IT GO for the rest of the day
4) READ something – an actually
Zinnia working on SWITCHING between toys - a useful skill for dog sports and also a nice one to have for real life ❤️
Magic Advanced 🥰 Standard Q
Magic’s Advanced Standard Q❤️🥳 at FAST in Sussex
Some of What Zinns is learning
Today’s snippets from training. I’ve been thinking a lot about:
- what do dogs really KNOW … as in what do they understand DEEPLY
- how do we gauge what is the right amount of PRESSURE and/or stress … make no mistake about it ALL learning and certainly any performance demands entail some of both
- JOY if I want JOY at the forefront of our daily practice AND excellence… what do I need to be doing to promote that
- CLARITY everyday I try to be a good observer, take mental notes and build
I started training with a food bowl on the ground last week. The dogs found it really challenging to concentrate with it there GOOD we established a stress “puzzle” to work through
They were all more relaxed today and had considerably more clarity in the face of this challenge. Lola’s stand needs more work. Lift’s sit which was broken in the face of bowl … has reappeared
EDIT: 1 available spot
SCHOOL FOR YOUR CANINE FRIEND
September Classes on Wednesdays filled in 24 hours so I’ve decided to add a second option 😂🤣
The ABC’s and 123’s of Dog Training the September Addition
Monday Nights 6:30-7:30
September 9, 16, 23, 30.
It will be capped at 6 dog/handler teams.
This course focuses building many fundamental skills using easy to train FUN games AND innovative learning puzzles to help you apply and improve your skills. You will have access to a closed Facebook group with all the instructional videos and handouts on all the skills I teach in the course.
It’s an excellent starting off point for: life skills:
⁃ manners
⁃ sit/down/stand/stay
⁃ Loose leash walking
and/or, rally, agility or competitive obedience. As long as Facebook permits it, you will never lose access to the training videos and handouts
6:30-7:30pm
COST: $140
Payable via e-transfer
[email protected]
Catherine Thomas
No Refunds/make classes or Transfers are available once a class has started
Feel free to contact me if you would like to sign up
Deck Waiting
The itty bitty beginning of “deck waiting” for the Zinns
Zinns 12weeks
Zinnia at 12weeks … this is my priority at this stage. Instant name recognition and response, no matter what, no matter where
This was challenging lol Lift forgot her sit a bit …. Time to head outside for agility 😂🤣
Challenging What We Can Do! After a disastrous trial in July Magic and I have been working on improving OUR SKILLS
I have huge areas to work on as far as ring craft and smoothing up my handling goes 😂😭
Magic’s proficiency and clarity in the face of significant distractions will continue to improve as long as the daily work is put in.
Here we are working with a food bowl on the floor. I am sending her to the bowl to get her reward … she’s not quite as fluent in the presence of this food as she would be if I were rewarding her from my hand BUT this is an improvement over yesterday so I am pretty pleased
My friend Carla had this awesome balance beam for sale … it’s pretty perfect 🤩 Zinns approved
Puppy Mayhem
The best part of Puppy Class
George and Andrew
George and Andrew working on hoopers and tunnels 🤩
☕️ and retrieving
☕️ and training … multi-tasking
Lola woods
I wish I could have done this as a “Facebook live” lol this is unedited. The first almost 2 mins of our arrival at our lake spot. The dogs are released out of the car and are at complete liberty.
What’s exciting as far as my little red dog Lola goes is that at about 7Months of age she started putting her nose to the ground and taking off on walks.
Last summer, a year ago, we had an epic early morning chase that resulted in her being GONE for 3 hours. It was one of those crazy events lol 😝 that couldn’t be prepared for! It was dark - I put the dogs out into a my FENCE and a bunny was inside the fence. A great chase ensued. It was dark, I had not had my coffee 😂🤣. I idiotically opened the fence to call the dogs in. Everyone else came in and Lola shot off
Anyway, all that is to say, here we are a year later. Lots of management, lots of relationship building, lot of reinforcement and not a lot of “crazy happenings”
No tools, no gimmicks, time, rewards and commitment to skills building
Lola and Zinnia
Perfect Guests at Grandma’s House ❤️
