Cool Trick's class has come to an end, and it was such a joy watching everyone have a good time with their dogs.
Our last workshop on Impulse Control is full but you think we should offer more workshops in the new year?
#dogtricks #bondingmoments #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #victoriabc #dogowners #trainsmart
Remi (10 months old) working on his understanding of "stay" in our Intermediate class. What I love about this is how solid Remi's stay is. His person is moving around and behind him (which can be a bit weird for some dogs!), and Remi is watching her but his body is relaxed and he's firmly holding his stay. Good job, Team Remi!
Training can be full of fun times!
Wintrow (15 weeks old) learning to be comfortable with brushing in our basic training class. Over the past week, his person started with just touching his body with her hand, then progressed to a single brush stroke, then multiple brush strokes. Good job, Team Wintrow!
Loki (9 months old) practising recall off a high-level distraction in our Intermediate Class. He's fully engaged in playing with a toy, and can still recall immediately. Recall off playing with a toy is a step towards recall off playing with another dog, and Loki is well on his way!
What I also love in this video is that after his recall, his person offers him different reinforcement options. When it's clear that he prefers food over toy play, she drops the toy and goes right back to food. Recall can save a dog's life, and we need to make sure that what we're offering for a recall is the thing the dog truly wants. Great job, team Loki!
If your pup loves toys, they can be used to reinforce behaviour instead of food. Mango thinks toys are great reinforcement!
That's a wrap folks.. made in the shade AAC trial was definitely part sun, part shade and part lightning - in the sky and on courses. Big thank you to Ivy Marie and Anna Lupacchino for keeping us thinking, learning and stringing some brilliant moments together!! Your courses were fun, your company lovely and your wisdom and humour much appreciated. Brags and titles to come tomorrow or Tuesday.
As many of you know life gets in the way sometimes... we missed Margaret a lot, and hope you are recovering well Margaret Parkinson. People came forward in ways that were so inspired.. I know life is getting in the way for many of you too.. So many things to do and yet you still find a way to show up.. Thank you old friends and new ones too. I am deeply honoured to know so many thoughtful, hard working and fun people.
Swift my new puppy survived her health scare and despite my lack of sleep Saturday night and concern for her Sunday the trial finished successfully and early. Thanks again so much for the extra hands at the end of the day. You people get stuff done!!
We didn't quite get as many photos as sometimes but i do have a little video of a very few snippets of what i get up to on a typical Friday morning before a trial. .. I always hope the footing, the courses, the light is as good as it can be for you and your fur friends.
We finished Intermediate Class with some dog tricks! This is Loki learning how to spin. See the comments for a video of Griffin learning how to weave legs.
Training should be fun, not just a chore. Teaching tricks to your dog is one more way to engage them and have fun with them!
Ode recently had an eye infection and needed eye drops every 8 hours. With time and patience, it's possible to teach a dog to willingly accept necessary care. Ode now sits calmly through the procedure and gets a yummy food reward!
Weekend reminder to let your dogs have moments to slow down, sniff and explore their surroundings. It's good for all of us to slow down and take it all in.
