Ricky Tics Dog Training

18/12/2024

Our puppies are 2 years old today! They are a fun bunch to train. All 4 have UKC and AKC titles. I can't wait to see what 2025 brings.

18/12/2024

Please, please do not buy rawhide for your dog or another dog for Christmas or any other time of year.
Rawhide is harmful to dogs. They can not digest it and can cause blockage which leads to expensive veterinary care.

18/12/2024

Evaluated my first Advance Trick Dog submission today. The handler and dog did awesome!
If you are looking at adding trick dog titles to your dog's name you can send me a link of your video and I will judge it for you. $10.00 per level.

17/12/2024

I need to double check all the videos, but I am sure I got all 10 intermediate tricks recorded for Credence. WOOHOO!!!
The last one was teaching him to shake hands. This is not on the intermediate trick list, but there are two spaces for handler choice, so I used those for 2 tricks with Credence.

16/12/2024

Today is National Ugly Sweater Day!
I does your canine partner wear a sweater?
Post up a picture of your pet in their sweater and you in an ugly sweater!

I do not have any sweaters for myself or my dogs.
Maybe next year I will post one up if I can find sweaters at rummage sales this summer. LOL

16/12/2024

Resource guarding.
I see a lot of people seeking help because their dogs resource guard socks, tissues, toys, bones and more.
I often wonder what caused the dog to start resource guarding these objects. I have had dogs my whole life. We have had puppies to senior dogs, badly abused and very well socialized confident dogs. I have only had one dog that displayed any resource guarding.
Ninde came to because her previous owners could not handle her guarding issues. She bit her owner when they tried to take away a sock. I guess that was the last straw for them. Ninde was a 4-month-old pup, when the breeder refused to take her back, they looked for a new owner. I was lucky enough to be the one chosen to get the pup.
Long story short I only had one time she snapped at me when I wanted a sock she had. I started training her the day I got her. I played enrichment games, and I let her have certain things to rip up and destroy.
I think the common mistake people make is always grabbing the forbidden object away from the dog. They chase the dog and scold the dog over having the object.
I always like to think about how I would feel if I had something, and someone came up to me and just took it may be slapped my hand and harshly said "THATS NOT YOURS!!" I would think that if this happened enough times, I would try to hide what I had from this person. I might try slapping them back.
This is how I think our dogs feel over their "forbidden" objects.
When you first get your dog weather it is an 8-week-old puppy or a senior dog you have to think about the rules and the training as if they are all puppies.
Make sure you have plenty of toys that they can play with. Set up time for training every day even if it is just a few minutes at a time over the course of the day.
When they have something that could be harmful don't chase, yell and slap your dog. Offer them something they can have. When they come up to with the forbidden object ask them to "give it" and offer the new toy or treat.
You can take this one step further and train with the forbidden items on the ground and work on "leave it". When your canine partner gives you, their best throw a party for them. It is not going to be easy at first but just like with all things practice makes perfect.

Ninde went on to a new home where she is very happy being the only dog. She travels all over the place. Loves everyone she meets and is living her best life.

15/12/2024

I bought a new agility training tool. It is a 6ft travel plank/ contact trainer. I want to teach 2 on 2 off with Purple Reign.
I am glad I have the remote treat dispenser so I can work on getting him less focused on treats in my hand.
This is our first morning using it.

15/12/2024

Hopefully this information is never needed by any of you.
I have had lost dogs in the past. It is so scary. We had 2 young pups get out of their outside kennel while I was gone and summer. We drove to all the neighbors in a 5 mile radius. I had signs posted everywhere, calls into the radio and police.
We hunted for 3 months. People telling us they saw them, but when would get to the spot they were gone.
1 day 3 months later I stepped outside and Timber was sitting on the deck. I quickly got him the house and started calling for Forrest. About 5 minutes later he came running from across the field.
We have no idea where they had been how they came back home. They never took off again we had them for 8 years before they passed on with days of eachother.

15/12/2024

My dog club had our Christmas party last night. It was a lot of fun.

14/12/2024

Very good advice. I have 2 anxious dogs they don't want people approaching them.

14/12/2024

I have not had any time to work on Encores 360 lefts and rights since Andreas did the video earlier this month. I worked on them yesterday. As you can see she is doing pretty good (with a treat) going to the right. I think it is harder for dogs to have the pressure put on them when we turn to the left.
How does your dog do preforming these behaviors?

14/12/2024

Do you have anything planned for the weekend?

Saturday is here is supposed to be in the 30's so I think I will set up a fun search for Credence, Valor and Notorious on the deck. Practice their skills in the cold.

13/12/2024

This Sunday! This is a good opportunity to get your dog out in a safe environment.

13/12/2024

It has been so cold that I have not done much training as I don't want my older dogs outside in the cold. This morning I decided we could do a few minutes of training.
As you remember Andreas did the video of "Around" with Encore. This is our 3rd time working on this behavior.
I am really impressed with her progress.

13/12/2024

I love this. Dogs are so loyal. They will forgive us for everything.
They will be there during every step of our lives.

13/12/2024

I want to go to this.

Minnesota Agility Club is excited to announce that we'll be hosting Maddy Turner of Kinetic Tails for an all-day workshop on Friday, January 31, 2025.

Maddy has provided bodywork services to humans & canines for over a decade. She recently traveled to the 2024 Agility World Championship in Belgium with Team USA.

What you will learn:
* Postural assessment of your dog & what to do with your observations
* Canine massage guidelines & benefits
* Basic massage techniques & passive stretches

Registration opens on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 8:00 am CT. A link to the registration form will be posted at that time on Facebook and the MAC Events page. Current MAC members will receive priority during the first week of registration.

Workshop costs are:
* MAC Member: $145 working | $35 audit
* Non-Member: $165 working | $55 audit

Working spots are limited to 8. Auditing spots are unlimited.

More about Kinetic Tails: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562288708634

13/12/2024

I sent Purple Reigns video of his intermediate tricks to my evaluator and he passes!!
Pending ACK approval
Ricky Tics Baby I am A Star BCAT FTI TKI

11/12/2024

I know the temptation is real to get that cute puppy or kitten for a loved one this holiday season, but I implore to STOP and ask is that truly what the person wants. Are they ready to care for the animal for the next 10-15 years? If they are not ready for the training, the vet care, the food, are you ready to jump in and take care of the animal?
Animals are not presents to be given as an impulse buy. They are living, breathing beings that require our love and attention.
If the person truly wants the animal they can wait until after the holidays to pick out that special pup, kitten, bunny.