How amazing is it that we can run agility outside, on the sport field, in 54° hoodie weather on December 14?! How did you and your dog(s) enjoy the unseasonably nice weather today? ☀️🐾❤️🍁
Looking for some training help? Consider a Board and Train!
We have one opening for January for a board and train! We normally book several months out, but just had a reschedule!
Our board and trains are geared specifically to help you and your dog and to get the results you want. We have different programs to suit your dog's needs. We only take in 2 BnT dogs at a time; this way everyone gets lots of one-on-one time. Our BnT's all include several field trips; we go to stores, on hikes, work around the livestock, in classes, etc. We want to ensure your dog has many different training experiences while they are with us, which also helps to solidify their training! Our BnT is lifetime guaranteed, too! If your dog needs a refresher, they are welcome back at any time. Dogs of all shapes, sizes, ages and breeds are welcome. If you'd like more info you can read about our BnT's on our site at: https://whisperingechosfarm.weebly.com/boot-camp.html
In the mean time, enjoy the fun little video I put together of some of our BnT adventures over the past couple of years! <3
⭐️Upcoming Class Highlight ⭐️
Nosework!!
This class has been widely popular in the past and we expect nothing less this time around! Nosework is a great game that encourages both mental and physical stimulation in your dog. They already use their noses for everything; why not make it into a fun game? In our nosework classes we teach an indication behavior quickly, we teach on a cocktail of odors and do not pair with food. This class provides and excellent foundation for your nosework future! Students who start this winter and commit to working their dogs are very likely to be ready to trial come spring! Any dog can play this game- there are no age restrictions or training prerequisites! If you're looking for a new fun sport that you can train in your home on these cold winter months, nosework is the game for you! Enrollment in the physical class also enrolls you in our online version too; so you have all of the class info easily accessible at all times!
This class is also open to previous NW students- if you have trained w/us before and want to keep working, we'll set hides appropriate to your teams level of training. :-)
When: January 10-February 14, 2023
Time: 6:30-7:15pm
Cost: $100/team
Limit: 3 min/6 max
To Register: https://whispering-echos-farm.square.site/product/nosework/95?cs=true&cst=custom
(video is of an 8.5 m/o puppy who hadn't played this game in over 2 months, but picked right up where she left off 2 months ago!)
⭐️ Upcoming Class Highlight ⭐️
Agility: Weave Poles!
This class will be for teams who want to start their dogs weave training, or work on what they already have. The focus will be to produce consistent, independent weave performance over the course of the 6 week class. We will use a hybrid 2x2 method for most dogs (we understand that no one method works for all dogs, so we'll modify it as needed to ensure your team gets the help that works for them). This class will be a ton of fun! Winter is a GREAT time to train weave poles!
Students WILL need to practice at home! We will include plans for DIY PVC weave poles with class registration. Space requirements are simply a hallway or a living room/basement; enough for 6 total poles. Dogs should have at least an agility foundation and be a year or older to attend.
This class does require instructor approval; if you haven't taken agility classes with us before, just send us a quick PM and we'll chat. This class is limited to 6 teams. It will meet for 45 mins weekly for 6 weeks!
When: Jan 12- February 16, 2022
Time: 6:30-7:15pm
Cost: $100/team
Limit: 6 teams (4 spots remain)
To Register (Specialty Class): https://whispering-echos-farm.square.site/product/agility-classes/92?cs=true&cst=custom
The video posted is of one of my personal dogs 6 weeks into this same training process. <3
Many of you know I spend the fall in Omaha doing shows... But what does that mean? A friend created a cute video showcasing us and the dogs and their crazy skills! We wrapped up our season today - after 96 shows spread out over the last 6 weeks! The dogs would love to do 96 more, but I'm exhausted 😂. We return home tomorrow evening ... Can't wait to see everyone again!!! Happy Fall!! 🍁🎃
Last Jumper, Firefox! And with that, the pool is closed for the 2022 season! Thank you to everyone who came out and supported it! We hope you had a great time!! We'll see you all next summer! ❤️💦
🌊🌊 We started opening the pool today! Classes and rentals are on track to start early June!
Classes will be posted this week! 🌊🌊
NOSEWORK CLASS! Are you looking for something fun to do inside this winter/spring that doesn't require a fully agility course of equipment? Nosework is the answer! In nosework we teach the dog to find specific odors in a fun, relaxed method. We teach an indication behavior quickly and never pair with food- we strive for an enthusiastic, independent worker. Our next class is starting next week- all levels welcome!
When: Thursdays 6:30-7:15pm
Dates: March 3- April 7, 2022
To Register: https://whispering-echos-farm.square.site/product/nosework/95?cs=true&cst=custom
(Video is of Presto- a 6 m/o puppy, showing his nosework and indication skills! He's had maybe 5 individual training sessions to get to this point!).
NEW ONLINE CLASS! Agility Foundations!
I've decided to put our entire agility foundations class online- this is a great class to work on indoors when it's too cold to do much outside! LOL This class is appropriate for dogs of ANY age and training level. Minimal equipment is needed (a few hoops, a bucket and a couple barrels- we go over the equipment list in the class). These are the foundation skills I put on ALL of my dogs. Agility isn't just about doing equipment- you have to be able to direct your dog as well as building forward focus, independent obstacle performance and obstacle commitment. This class will help you put an excellent foundation on your dog and set you up to succeed in agility.
This class will be held via a private Facebook group. Students will be able to ask questions and post videos for feedback. This is a 6 week session initially but will be available for audit in the future. You will retain access to this class indefinitely (although commenting/posting videos will end after the initial 6 weeks).
CURRENT WEF AGILITY STUDENTS WILL ALL BE GIVEN FREE ACCESS TO THE CLASS.
Cost: $50/per dog (you may post up to 2, two minute videos per week for personalized feedback)
Equipment: Approx $75-100 to purchase/make equipment for the class. You'll need minimum 3 hoops, 2 buckets, and 2 barrels- we'll help you make the equipment or direct you on where you can purchase it. This will be an incurred fee on your end and will not be paid to us or for the class.
Class Dates: Jan 30-Feb 6, 2022
To Register: https://whispering-echos-farm.square.site/product/online-classes/24?cs=true&cst=custom (once you register you'll be sent an email within 24 hours with an invite to the private group!)
Included is a video of my sheltie pup, Presto!, working on some of the skills we'll work on in this class! He is 6.5 months old and has been trained solely with these methods!
Hey All..soooo, we've got some big news! Earlier this year I applied to become a North American Sporting Dog Association (NASDA) club and we were approved! So, what exactly IS NASDA?
NASDA is a newer organization that started out west. They currently have 4 games- shed hunting, 2 games w/rats, and a locating lost item game.
I gave it a try when I was in MT last week and had a BLAST. Ed and I did shed hunting, Zinc and I played the two ratty games. One ratty game is kind of like tracking the rats and finding where they are hidden (safe in a quarry box) and the other is kind of like nosework but w/rats instead of odors (not like barn hunt w/a ton of straw bales).
I didn't do the lost item recovery as I haven't got a dog quite ready for it, but the concept is pretty basic.
I felt the level 1 was very beginner friendly- dogs can be off leash or on leash in most classes. They can even have potty accidents in everything except one rat game and still Q!
I am hoping to attend at least 1-2 more NASDA events in MT this summer and then would like to try to schedule our first event for later fall. In the mean time I'd like to gauge interest and maybe get small training group that meets one or twice a month to practice and learn more about the sport.
If you're interested in learning more, check out their site at: http://nasda.dog/ I'll include a video of one of the Urban Locating Level 1 runs from the trial last weekend.
Ultimately if you like tracking, nose work, and ratty games- you'll LOVE NASDA I think! Drop me a note if you're interested in potential training groups. If there's enough interest I'll create a separate group for it. :-)
Busy weekend!!! We had a 100% Q rate at our AKC Farm Dog Test this morning! There was also tons of success at our AKC ACTs this weekend too. While everyone played with their dogs we continued work on getting the pool ready to go! It's just about there but we took a quick break to welcome our first canine jumper of the season- Kona got the honors this year.
Thanks for coming out everyone, it was a great weekend!!!
