Splash 'n Dash K9 Sports

11/12/2023

We hosted our fall Teacup Dogs Agility Association trial on November 12, 2023. We had a small but mighty group of dogs teams for our fall trial. Lots of laughs. Lots of Qs, Lots of new titles!

If you have an agility dog under 20 inches at the shoulder (withers), you CAN play with us. Keep an eye on our website for upcoming workshops and trials.

Congratulations to everyone on your successes!

08/31/2023

It is with deep regret that we share the passing of former Splash 'n Dash President, Instructor and long time friend of the club Sherry Caldwell. She had a sudden medical emergency while out shopping Tuesday morning. Emergency responders at the scene and medical staff at the hospital were unable to revive her.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends, four legged and two, as they grieve the loss of their loved one.

At this time there is no information regarding visitation or services. We will endeavor to update this post as we learn more.

02/12/2023

Splash n'Dash Canine Sports is actively raising monies to help fund adding turf to the floor of our training facility, and we have a new opportunity for you, members and friends of the club, to score a pair of Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers home game tickets for April 2, 2023.

Tickets are $10 each and the winning ticket will be drawn during our Annual Banquet on Saturday, February 25, 2023

Tickets are available from select members, so if you'd like to purchase one or more, leave a comment, send a note here on FB or send an inquiry to [email protected]

Thank you so much for your support! The dogs will thank you for sure for the nice turf to run and train on! Best of luck!!
(Please feel free to Share)

01/11/2023

Happy 8th birthday to my dear Halo!!! Can’t believe it’s EIGHT years ago when you were born! Wow! Named Halo because she is my angel - but don’t be fooled!!! Angels are actually fierce warriors in the Bible 🙂 and she doesn’t disappoint! She fiercely attacks everything with joy and reckless abandon as only a Malinois can do! Love ya Halo! My shadow and best bud through all our dog adventures!!

12/30/2022

Iliopsoas Strains: Common in Humans & Dogs
Dr. Sherman O. Canapp, Jr., DVM, MS, CCRT

On-Demand Webinar

Iliopsoas strains are generally regarded to be an overuse injury. While any of us can injure our iliopsoas, sprinters, gymnasts, athletes who perform repeated hip flexion movements, and athletes who engage in plyometric jumping exercises (short-term, high-energy exercises) are at a much higher risk for the condition, due to the nature of their activities.

Our canine athletes are also required to sprint as well as perform high-energy jumping and other repetitive activities. So, it's easy to understand why hip flexor strains are identified so often in performance dogs.

Is your canine athlete... Showing less power and drive from the hind limbs? Reluctant to jump or knocking bars with the hind legs? Slightly off-loading or turning a hind limb out to the side when he's standing? Do you see a shortened stride or step length in the hind limb at a trot? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may be dealing with an iliopsoas issue.
Has your dog been previously diagnosed with an iliopsoas strain and it keeps recurring? Was the strain in the muscle or tendon? You and your medical team need to know the exact location if your canine athlete is going to have the best response to treatment and return to sport. Based on the data in human athletes, this information is critical, as is the type of treatments used.

In this webinar, we dig deep into iliopsoas strains. We will cover everything from the performance-related issues being noted in training and competition, physical exam findings, anatomy, diagnostics, treatment options, and cause of injury to prevention techniques and maintenance (including supplements, home modalities, iliopsoas and core exercises, conditioning activities, etc.).

Whether you train and compete in performance dog sports, or you are a veterinarian or rehab specialist that works with performance dogs, you need to tune in. It’s all about education, awareness, early identification, and prevention.

NOTE: RACE approved - 1 CE credit.

https://www.cleanrun.com/product/iliopsoas_strains_common_in_humans_dogs_on_demand_webinar/index.cfm?ParentCat=1256

12/30/2022

NIPPERS ON THE MOVE: With Pip's pups now a month old, Cathy is already beginning to introduce them to car travel. Excellent practice for any breeder, if you want to minimise collies having issues with cars and car travel later in life. Too often a puppy's first experience of a car will be twinned with the major trauma of leaving home for the first time, or they will not have had sufficient time to make more positive connections with car travel while still very young and before they leave home - leading to more problems with this experience in the future. If you have got a new pup you should get them out daily travelling in the car, for short journeys, before they have even finished their jabs. You can then either go straight back home with them again, or visit somewhere where you can carry them, until their vaccination programme is complete.

12/09/2022

Give your new puppy and your family the gift of a great start in the new year! Our group Puppy Class starts Sunday, January 8, 2023 | 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. There is no class on 1/22. 7 weeks. Non-Member price is $104. We are located in Plum, PA, northeast of Pittsburgh, near Monroeville/Murrysville. Class description and how to register is in the comments.

10/11/2022

Some think it’s ok to train a young dog an aspect of work that he doesn't enjoy, as long as they follow it up with a type of work he likes—instead of recognizing that the problem isn’t the dogs lack of keenness for a new concept, rather it’s with the method/handler not making the training enjoyable.
While being insistent might work for dogs that have high drive at a young age, for many others, it’s too much pressure, too soon, and can have detrimental consequences.

Trainers that make lots of corrections with young dogs, including not letting them be tight, fast, etc. often believe their dogs should “push through” training, even if their body language and demeanor isn’t keen for the work, usually in an effort to accelerate the training.
The problem with this is, you cannot recreate initial enthusiasm. For some dogs, the resentment for the phase of work that was forced upon them, stays with them and could have been avoided if the handler had changed their training approach or method.

If you try to shape or push your young dog and he gets reluctant, sniffs, is master conscious, turns tail or comes back to you for reassurance, etc.. he’s telling you that you’re spoiling his enjoyment. It’s his way of letting you know he’s not ready for the pressure you're applying—It’s not normal or acceptable that a dog should quit working.
Handlers may blame their dog rather than recognizing something about their training has a bullying mindset rather than a teaching mindset.
While many dogs can’t accept being pushed at a young age, with patience, those same dogs can have great accomplishments and we've trained countless dogs that were labeled by others as 'not keen enough’ to train or too immature.

Watch your dogs body language and demeanor. If he’s not enjoying what he’s doing, he’s probably not ready for the next step and/or he needs you to change your approach.
Once he is enthusiastic and confident, try the next step and make adjustments based on his response.
Take the time it takes, to be certain your dog fully understands and enjoys a new training concept before you set expectations. Patience empowers your dogs confidence and development.
macraeway.com

08/07/2022

08/05/2022

On July 30th and 31st, Splash 'n Dash hosted a Teacup Dogs Agility Association trial at our building. We were a small but mighty group of dogs playing on fun and challenging courses provided by our judges, Patrick Rockhill and Darla Annonio. If you have a small dog, ask about TDAA agility!

Thanks to Clare Stefanini for the pictures.

06/25/2022

It's time for CPE Speedway at Splash 'n Dash K9 Sport. We are rocking our Speedway shirts and having FUN with our dogs!

06/04/2022

Splash 'n Dash K9 Sports is well represented at CPE Nationals. Left to right: Sheri, Dave, Jim, Sara, Emily, Mike, Rayna, and Dawn. Single picture: Rick. Not pictured, our support squad: Glen and Kate.

05/23/2022

AKC Canine Good Citizen, AKC Community Canine
AKC Trick Dog Evaluations - July 18, 4 pm to 8 pm. See our Website at www.sndk9.com for details.

Splash 'n Dash K9 Sports is a dog training club promoting all aspects of canine sports by providing quality instruction, sanctioned canine sporting events, seminars, and dog related curriculum to our members and other dog enthusiasts in the Western Pennsylvania region.

04/25/2022

SNDK9's will honor Double Digit Dogs in it's May Trial this year. There is still time to get your entries in! This was our 2020 composite photo credit Life's Memories Photography.

03/15/2022

I congratulate some of the top teams in flyball! Is anyone with me?

01/29/2022

Flirt poles are a much better option to play with your young and small dogs in a small space. You don't want your young dog or puppy to develop OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

06/15/2021

I love this post! I'm reminded that it doesn't just apply to the canine side of the team! By that, I mean as instructors we have to reward progress, break things down and celebrate the fun in achieving small pieces!

The easiest, and fastest way, to make training boring and difficult for our dogs to focus on perfection and precision before we actually have the confidence, the fun, and the desire to give more and more from our dogs. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting exactly what we are looking for and yet often that means we aren’t giving our dog the information and feedback they need to be successful at the task.

Reward their effort and embrace the journey you’re on together.

This is so, so important for young dogs that are still learning to navigate the world, where your relationship is a work in progress, and you want to make sure that they feel secure in your expectations.

Fortunately, everything we do with our dogs can be broken down into the smallest increments so that we can reward them for even the smallest effort. Luring and the dog is tentative to follow, but they lean toward the food? Yay! Celebrate that effort!

Working on a retrieve and your dog demonstrates a beautiful play retrieve, bringing the object back the first time! They drop it 3 feet away. It’s not to your hand as you would have liked… For the first few times, reward that effort! Gradually increase criteria while still maintaining celebration over the smallest increase in effort (instead of 3 feet, the next attempt your dog brings it a smidge closer!).

Race away to have your dog chase you! Change the picture and change the criteria if your dog is faltering. Perfection isn’t as important as having an incredible relationship with your dog.
It is not important that you get it all, it is important that you try! The same goes for your dog!

06/13/2021

Registration for July/August classes opens tonight (Sunday June 13th) at 9 pm. Please see our website at www.sndk9.com to register.

Splash 'n Dash K9 Sports is a dog training club promoting all aspects of canine sports by providing quality instruction, sanctioned canine sporting events, seminars, and dog related curriculum to our members and other dog enthusiasts in the Western Pennsylvania region.

05/11/2021

Agility equipment constructability - screw, don't glue!

https://www.agilitynerd.com/blog/agility/equipment/screw-dont-glue-pvc/?fbclid=IwAR0w0W6T3Y8QOcrtBsuBAtu28uH-gDLhhW7qY8C-Ah0fkFt-PTL_xr_IIAs

Screwing together PVC and fittings holds the pieces together and gives you the ability to replace any cracked/broken pieces and the flexibility to redesign your obstacles in the future.