Mavis has been having fun at Woofworthy Secure Dog Field while we're away 🥰 She's quite happy to entertain herself hopping over the jumps!
If you've sent an email/message over the last week, I will reply once I'm back. Thanks for your patience.
🌬 Be careful out there! 🌬
Mavis isn't particularly impressed with the winds today, so instead we're spending our time inside playing games and doing a bit of training practice to keep her mind occupied, and going outside as little as possible 🥰
Do your dogs like the stormy weather?
Mavis's physio appointment has confirmed she needs to be on strict rest for a little while longer, so we're going to take this time to brush up on some of our basic skills and develop them (add distance/duration/distraction) so that her brain is still kept busy 🧠 Starting with progressing a chin target!
Out for an evening stroll with Mavis tonight and we were lucky enough to spot two barn owls hunting 🦉 She didn't see them which I'm glad about as we haven't trained to owl-resisting level yet 😬 You can always trust wildlife to test your training when you least expect it!
I've been a bit rubbish with my posts this last week... So here's a cute video of my sweet sensitive little drama queen! 😄
We've got lots of training to do this weekend - what have you got planned with your dogs?
I like to give my dogs choice.
Think about it. We decide everything - what food they eat, when they eat it, where/when they go outside or for walks, where they sleep and what they sleep on, which toys they have, what they wear, who they say hello to... The list goes on.
So if I can give just a little bit of autonomy back, a little bit of choice, then I will. It's not always appropriate, but the more you do it, the more things you'll find to offer them choice. And the more confident and trusting they become. I don't know about you, but I want a good relationship with my dog - not a dictatorship.
So I let Mavis choose which harness to wear, which direction she'd like to walk (where appropriate), which spot she'd like to rest on (she has two beds, access to the sofa & a rocking chair, along with our bed), which flavour food she'd prefer, which toy she wants to play with.. And which treat she'd like after a walk, even if it's always the same one!
Mavis is... well... bored!
Apparently. Yes I've been working, doing boring work things. But we have also done some training outside, and we're about to go for a walk with friends. Apparently though, sometimes it's not enough 😅 She's normally quite patient and happy to chill out, but not today it seems!
🏖 Holiday notice 🏝
I will be away from Sun 30th June - Sun 7th July (inclusive).
I'll be unavailable for the week so will reply to any emails, messages, calls etc on my return. Apologies for any inconvenience 🐾
Mavis LOVES her tuggy toys! They're one of her favourite things to play with and have made her recall cue so much stronger. But it's really important that she's able to release if/when I need her to!
We've been practicing dropping toys & items since she was 10wks old. It was a bit hit & miss in the beginning but she learned fast and is now a pro. But tuggy toys are her favourite (because Staffy!) so they can be harder to let go of.
She's been doing so super well with the verbal ("thank you") and visual (hand under toy) cues together that I decided it was time to test our training and make sure she could respond to both of them individually too. This was really fun for her, especially as we can't go out for our usual walks while she's in season. How great did she do?!
Happy bank holiday ☀️ We're spending time with friends and family this weekend - what have your pups got up to?
Puppy throwback... to the evening zoomies! Tail chasing in her favourite chair, ft shrill barking 🫠 But wasn't she cute?!
Happy Sunday early morning walkies! ☀️
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No... it's a Mavis & she's bringing you something exciting later on today! 🤔
