Piccolo's Poodles

01/20/2025

An update from Willow’s handler: “Willow is doing wonderfully and enjoyed another trip to her groomer this morning! She was perfect for getting her clean feet and face trim.

We also have our first week of puppy class this week, but she’s already doing so well with her training. In addition to doing more exposure outings, she’s been working on:
Crate (going in and also waiting to exit)
Look (make eye contact with me)
Sit
Down
Stay
Come
Stand
Touch
Leave it
Heal/Forward/Halt on loose leash
Place (go to her mat and lay down)
Spin

This week will be great to practice at puppy class and add the distraction of other dogs and a new environment.“

Willow is from our October 2024 litter

01/19/2025

Hercule loves playing in the snow with his big Aussie “brother.” Hercule is from our October 2024 litter

01/19/2025

Congratulations to Bash on earning his AKC CGC title. He’s 2 years old

01/18/2025

Ozzie from our October 2024 litter

01/18/2025

Jinn received a new beautiful collar from Celtic K9. It matches his blue collar when he was born. He’s from out April 2022 litter

01/18/2025

01/17/2025

Pez had a spa day including bath, fluff dry, grooming, ears, and nails 🛁 We hadn’t seen her in a while because of Pisa’s litter. She got a full makeover back into a HCC trim. She’s from our April 2022 litter

01/17/2025

Bader is doing well with her nosework training. She’s 2 years old

01/16/2025

Hercule enjoyed a socialization visit to Lowe’s. He’s from our October 2024 litter

01/16/2025

Perla had a good OFA eye exam with Dr Hyman. She’s 13.5 weeks old

01/16/2025

“What’s the hardest part about having a dog?” they asked, their tone casual, like it was just another question.

I glanced at the worn leash hanging by the door, my chest tightening. “Letting them go,” I said quietly.

They frowned a little, waiting for me to explain. “They come into your life like they were always meant to be there,” I said, trying to find the words. “They make everything better—simpler, brighter. And you think it’s always going to be that way. But it’s not. One day, they’re gone, and you’re left with all the space they used to fill.”

They nodded, but I wasn’t sure they understood. “It’s not the messes they made or the routines you have to let go of,” I continued. “It’s the absence. You walk into the house, and it feels... wrong. The quiet is heavier. The mornings don’t feel the same without them nudging you awake.”

“So why do it?” they asked, their voice softer this time.

I sighed, glancing down at my hands. “Because the love they give you is worth every bit of the heartache. They teach you how to love without holding back, even when you know it’s going to hurt in the end. And you keep choosing that love because you know it’s one of the best things you’ll ever feel.”

R.M. Drake 🐶 from the book ' Dog People'

Artist Credit : Iain Welch

01/15/2025

Phreyja had a spa day including bath, fluff dry, grooming, ears, and nails 🛁 She’s 21 months old

01/15/2025

Bader at 2 years old

01/14/2025

Pet body condition score guide illustration

01/14/2025

Kuzco enjoyed a walk at the park. He’s 3 years old

01/14/2025

Congratulations to Bader on earning her qualifying run in USDAA Gamblers agility. She’s 2 years old

01/14/2025

Congratulations to Bader is earning her NACSW ORT scent work title. She’s 2 years old

01/13/2025

When training isn’t going well, the first instinct is often to try to change your dog.
But the answer is more often found in changing yourself—

Blame is easy.
And handlers often assign responsibility to the wrong source. They may rationalize:
it's limited time (frequency/duration of training sessions)
the sheep
something that happened off the training field
their dog’s innate ability
temperament, or other.
The cause they attribute (often unconsciously), eliminates their accountability.
This includes, “It’s me”, if said with resignation.

Change can be hard.
It can feel frustrating, counterintuitive, messy and almost always requires admitting you’ve made mistakes and need to alter course.
It’s uncomfortable.
But when you’re humble enough to evaluate your mindset, your training method
your commitment to continue learning
and be accountable,
you’ll find the answer is within yourself.

One way to get started is to revisit the challenges you are facing. Evaluate how you can develop to become a better, more intuitive teacher.
View training obstacles as a catalyst to gain knowledge, develop skills, and grow.
Reframe frustration and fear of failure; instead of “I have to change” embrace the opportunity, “I get to change”.

If self discipline is difficult, you need motivation or if a training issue is outside your experience level, recruit help.
With technology, even when you’re unable to travel, you have access to experts and can immerse yourself in knowledge.

When I understood it was my responsibility to honestly assess my dog and change my teaching approach to best match his individual characteristics (including amount and type of eye, excitability, maturity, temperament, self confidence, etc.)
it was a game changer.
Instead of expecting him to figure it out or adapt to my style, I needed to learn how to adjust to him.
While the principles stay the same, the individuality is paramount; for both training and for partnership.
The more I work on myself, the more my dogs improve.
macraeway.com