When the week's not even over but 'Star of the week' has a clear winner 🎉🎉
This clever pup nailed her 'this ways', and the Woolly Frosts provided the perfect opportunity for steadiness and manners around livestock.
*Whilst we always advocate for heeling, leads and steadiness around livestock, it's great to have the opportunity to practice emergency recalls and socialisation - these are our sheep and they quite like helping out (for the right snacks!). *
He reckons that was a rock solid effort on his steadiness...
A win for the terriers, and further proof that you can teach an 'old' dog new tricks; even if we only began teaching him to retrieve to hand to prove a point!
Terriers by nature want to rag/tug/shake; they're not renowned for a soft mouth and leaving a retrieve in a pristine condition. But through practise and a lot of patience, new behaviours, even ones against instinct, can be taught. Breed specific training is great- it channels what the dog was bred to do, and what it thrives on. But we shouldn't allow breed stereotypes to become a barrier; phrases like : 'he chases squirrels, but he's a terrier, so I'm never going to be able to stop that', are best viewed as a training challenge and opportunity, rather than a permanent nemesis!
Recall Vs chase/hunting can be taught and impulse control can be learnt; it takes patience, practise and more patience, but it's possible!
For any dog, the process of learning, and the confidence they gain through working is where the magic happens- and usually where you learn a little more about your dog, and a whole lot more about yourself as a handler!
#workingdog #workthosebrains
Reactive Agility Group last week: 3 dogs & 60 minutes without a single bark, lunge or eyeball 🎉
It might be a bold statement, but no one works harder in a group environment than a handler of a reactive dog. They have to catch the glances before they become a stare, create space when the body language and lead handling indicates it's needed, and are continuously required to time their praise, and redirection, when triggers arise. So to be in a class where there's dogs running and jumping in close proximity, to sit and watch when it's not their go, and to coexist with other dogs, is outstanding!
It wasn't all that long ago that they weren't even able to take food when another dog entered the paddock due to being over threshold.
The next time you're on a walk and see an owner shortening the lead, creating space, and maintaining eye contact with their dog, be sure to give them some room- they're working hard to build confidence - and we could all benefit from practicing the same; eye contact around other dogs, off/on lead heeling, calm coexistence around dogs and humans.
Shout out to all handlers who earn themselves a brew at the end of each walk! 🥳🥳
It's great when your goalie, centre-mid, and forward, are all in sync...
Parks are often viewed as playgrounds for dogs, for them to hoon around with each other and run off some steam. But it's also often full of high level distractions; food, children, ball games, other dogs etc., and it's a place where if anything, a higher level of control is needed! Why not build in a few minutes of short training drills to get that focus/steadiness? You don't have to start with the football pitch challenge, a few sits/lie downs/loose lead walking would do!
And if a dachshund thinks it's more fun than seeking out the nearest picnic, then it must be...! 😅
