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On Target K9

Search dog training and coaching for sports and working dog teams. Courses and webinars in detection
(15)

14/08/2024

Fierce little Neko

14/08/2024

Webinars, anyone?

Check out this page for upcoming events and webinar replays:

https://www.ontargetk9.co/webinars

05/08/2024

Black sharks… Paco, Neko and Luca at the lake today

05/08/2024

How do you build your search dog’s foundation?

There are many ways to get there. To me they’ll fit under one of the other principle:

a: Train it like an obedience exercise or a trick, the dog searches and you reward, or

b: Empower the dog to discover how it’s completely up to them whether and how fast they’ll get their reward, independently from you.

Scenario a will be more like this little bird here, your dog will likely keep looking to you for guidance, or in any case have high expectations of you. The way I see it, I don’t have the answer to a search dog’s puzzle. I want my dog to work independently so I’ll go for scenario b and play lots of Hunting Games.

You just need to keep an open mind to apply principles potentially new to you, and be ready to have fun with your dog.

Check out my Momentum coaching programme if you want me to walk you through search dog foundation training as I do it with my own dogs:

https://www.ontargetk9.co/1-1-training

https://youtu.be/R6TiVOZZZj4?si=USUusdBzL0UKT27h

young birds think food will automatically jump to their mouth since their mothers fed them like thatSource:https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasf**k/comment...

27/07/2024

This wasn’t easy for me to video, while puppy maneuvering through a crowd. A different kind of walk for Neko and Luca, full of new people, scents and sounds. These two are fast learners.

09/07/2024

Food chasing and body awareness play with puppy Luca

08/07/2024

Paco’s enthusiastic comeback to the search wall. He doesn’t want to leave it, for obvious reasons.

A touch of indication training added. I’m actually not in a rush with that.

With the pups arriving, Paco is now the adult dog. He’s just turned one year old in June.

If you’re developing a search dog or puppy and want to do something similar I’ve done to get this result with Paco, check out Momentum Coaching with me:

https://www.ontargetk9.co/1-1-training

08/07/2024

Video editing on the patio today. It’s my day off, but I’ve decided to dedicate some time to catching up after a while travelling to teach, do ‘dog stuff’ (yes, they all travel with me) and meet friends.

Tomorrow I have catch-ups with my coaching students attending my Momentum programme, and a preparatory session with one of my trainee instructors and the host of the Polish version of my Hunting Games webinar this coming Thursday.

If you’re interested in working with me, check out

Instructor Coaching (for trainers teaching Detection as a sport) https://www.ontargetk9.co/instructor-en

Momentum (for handlers, working or sports dogs)
https://www.ontargetk9.co/1-1-training

08/07/2024

Little Neko enjoys a good chase, as well as biting that rag.

We play this in the build-up for her Detection dog training.

08/07/2024

Neko and Luca

08/07/2024

Raven back on the search wall.

We’ve been travelling for a while, a great opportunity for the dogs to gain new experiences, but also a time without brick wall training. Still, sometimes taking a break means we’re coming back with yet more enthusiasm.

02/07/2024

A year on playing with Paco at our workshop venue in Mid Wales, in the same place I’ve played with Tora last year, resulting in the controversial video of him fighting to pull back to the Kong I’d left behind (link in the comments).

Training can now get serious with Paco, who shares the same genetic material as Tora and is now around three months younger than Tora was then.

He has the same possessive tendencies and loves to chase a Kong. Just like with Tora, I’d like to strengthen his targeting. He naturally fights me for the Kong, it’s not quite Tora level, let’s see if he’ll react the same with a few months more build-up.

Paco is now the big dog, since the new puppies have arrived. He’s got many common traits with Tora, but also his own quirky personality. He was walking on a roof the other day, searching for something.

02/07/2024

Fun with Neko, mini searches in the woods early morning

01/07/2024

Puppy Neko is now 16 weeks old and is doing her cat name proud. She’s done some growing but still only to tiny Kong size. I love how playful she is.

19/06/2024

Luca food chasing this morning straight after my Yoga practice, and a little example of how you can give your pup their breakfast.

13/06/2024

Who is up for more puppy footage? Meet Luca and Neko

11/06/2024

Give a Like to puppy Jäger, or to me for resisting stealing him from

My first dog when I was a child was a German Wirehaired Pointer. All the instinct and intensity in one package, what were my parents thinking... Exactly the type of dog I love now.

07/06/2024

Thanks to everyone who attended my Hunting Games webinar yesterday! I've enjoyed presenting it, as well as our discussions during the Q&A part.

The replay, as well as the promised information, will be in the Email that has gone out today to all those who have signed up. Please check your Spam filter if you're missing any Email from me!

Happy training and see you at the next event!

21/05/2024

Snippets from Lucifer, Fenix and Paco’s most recent brick wall practices

21/05/2024

Do you own my DIY mini programme Hunting Games?

Below is an overview as to how my Hunting Games events differ from each other. They're not interchangeable, they complete each other.

Next week on Tuesday 28 May I'll be kicking off this year's 5 x 5 Hunting Games Facebook Challenge

If you own the DIY mini-programme with the same name, I want to invite you to take part as well, free of charge.

Are you up for it? Simply reply to this Email and I'll let you know how to register. But hurry, this offer is only valid for three days, today onwards!
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If you're interested in other Hunting Games events you'll find dates on my website https://www.ontargetk9.co/

20/05/2024

Raven’s turn to have fun.

He’s had fewer brick wall sessions than the other puppies, he’s still developing his own strategy to tackle this exercise.

19/05/2024

Fenix having fun with brick wall searches.

Of all the puppies, Fenix is now the most experienced at this. This is still a no rules search, with no trained indication. But I can still subtly influence when he has success, with target placement, for example. At the moment, his highest expectation is at the left of the wall. I’m working to change this, for a more even search.

19/05/2024

Have you considered that some types of play may be helpful, others possibly counterproductive when used with a search dog, especially in a search context?

On 06 June I'll be presenting a webinar detailing the principles of play that can improve the performance of a search dog.

Presentation and Q&A. Bring your training questions to assess and fine tune your play.

To sign up:

A webinar about play and motivation.Have you considered that some types of play may be counterproductive when used with a search dog, especially in a search context?A webinar detailing the principles of the play that can improve the performance of a search dog, vs the one that, albeit enjoyable, gen...

18/05/2024

Lucifer’s brick wall practice last night. It’s all still 100% natural, motivational and fun, zero obedience, zero impulse control.

Backing vocals by Paco, impatient for his turn.

Want to learn the games I play with trainee search dog puppies for motivation and search development? A few places are still available for my Hunting Games workshop in Pembrokeshire, UK, 14-15 June.

More info and booking:
https://www.ontargetk9.co/courses/hunting-games-workshop-2days

14/05/2024

This year's 5 x 5 Hunting Games Facebook Challenge starts on Tuesday 28 May!

Sign up now for 5 games in 5 days. It's the 6th edition, and once you've joined you can participate again next time, free of charge.

This hands-on training experience will take you through 5 simple games I play with trainee detection dogs and puppies. Everyone is welcome to join, whether you're training a search dog or just want to learn a few simple but effective ways for keeping you dog engaged, motivated and having fun. Be the source of fun and games for your dog!

All you need to take part is your dog, some food and a favourite ball.

You can take part from any time zone, everything will be saved in our group, so you can catch up and play in your own time. I include written summaries of the game briefings, so if English is not your first language, you can still keep up.

Sign up: https://www.ontargetk9.co/courses/hg-challenge

13/05/2024

Thanks to those who have filled in the website form to express their interest in my Detection Instructor Coaching programme.

Numbers are high, and I want to make a decision ASAP.

If you've filled in the website form and haven't had an Email with information on how to book this call, please check your Spam or Junk folder or send me a direct message here through the page, to reserve a slot in my schedule ASAP.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Are you a dog trainer?

✔ Do you teach Detection as a sport, or do you want to start teaching it?
✔ Do you want to improve your business by adding this new offer for your clients?
✔ Do you want to explore progressive training methods and how to adapt them for different dogs, motivated by food and/or toy?
✔ Would you benefit from having a coach, to support you once you begin to offer this training to your clients?

On Target K9 now offers a unique opportunity to follow a 9-month programme, from wherever you are in the world, to be coached by an international trainer specialising in the development of search dogs.

Develop your skills to offer Detection training to your clients and maintain their motivation in training. The coaching will be personalised for you and can also include conversations on developing your business. No previous experience required, but availability is limited.

What you'll learn is meant for teaching pet dog owners, in a recreational and sports context. This programme is not suitable for teaching professional detection dog handlers.

Intrigued? If you've answered yes to most of the questions above and want to find out more, go to:

https://www.ontargetk9.co/instructor-en

12/05/2024

Will you be in the UK in June?

Want to learn and get hands-on experience with the games I play with my dogs early on in Detection foundation training? Come to my Pembrokeshire workshop on 14-15 June. Likely the only Hunting Games workshop in the UK this year!

You can use these games to build and increase toy motivation and develop the search as part of your own foundation training, or simply as a fun activity with any dog. I'll also be sharing food games, most are quite simple, but really effective when you understand the principles to keep in mind.

We'll discuss how Hunting Games differ from 'the usual' ways to play with your dog. Did you know that the way you play can help or hinder your search dog development?

Our venue is a beautiful and spacious campsite with private toilet and shower facilities. It's reserved for us, so you too can stay - simply contact them to arrange once you've booked the workshop.

Find out more and sign up via the WORKSHOPS page on my website:

https://www.ontargetk9.co/courses/hunting-games-workshop-2days

______

Note: if you're not in the UK and want to work with me on this topic and more, check out Momentum, my 1:1 Training programme on my website.

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Tuesday	10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00

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Videos

Black sharks… Paco, Neko and Luca at the lake today

Neko & Luca

This wasn’t easy for me to video, while puppy maneuvering through a crowd. A different kind of walk for Neko and Luca, full of new people, scents and sounds. These two are fast learners.

Food chasing and body awareness play with puppy Luca

Paco’s enthusiastic comeback to the search wall. He doesn’t want to leave it, for obvious reasons. A touch of indication training added. I’m actually not in a rush with that. With the pups arriving, Paco is now the adult dog. He’s just turned one year old in June. If you’re developing a search dog or puppy and want to do something similar I’ve done to get this result with Paco, check out Momentum Coaching with me: https://www.ontargetk9.co/1-1-training

Little Neko enjoys a good chase, as well as biting that rag. We play this in the build-up for her Detection dog training.

Raven back on the search wall. We’ve been travelling for a while, a great opportunity for the dogs to gain new experiences, but also a time without brick wall training. Still, sometimes taking a break means we’re coming back with yet more enthusiasm.

Paco

A year on playing with Paco at our workshop venue in Mid Wales, in the same place I’ve played with Tora last year, resulting in the controversial video of him fighting to pull back to the Kong I’d left behind (link in the comments). Training can now get serious with Paco, who shares the same genetic material as Tora and is now around three months younger than Tora was then. He has the same possessive tendencies and loves to chase a Kong. Just like with Tora, I’d like to strengthen his targeting. He naturally fights me for the Kong, it’s not quite Tora level, let’s see if he’ll react the same with a few months more build-up. Paco is now the big dog, since the new puppies have arrived. He’s got many common traits with Tora, but also his own quirky personality. He was walking on a roof the other day, searching for something.

Neko

Fun with Neko, mini searches in the woods early morning

Puppy Neko is now 16 weeks old and is doing her cat name proud. She’s done some growing but still only to tiny Kong size. I love how playful she is.

Luca

Luca food chasing this morning straight after my Yoga practice, and a little example of how you can give your pup their breakfast.

Puppies

Snippets from Lucifer, Fenix and Paco’s most recent brick wall practices

Raven’s turn to have fun. He’s had fewer brick wall sessions than the other puppies, he’s still developing his own strategy to tackle this exercise.

Fenix having fun with brick wall searches. Of all the puppies, Fenix is now the most experienced at this. This is still a no rules search, with no trained indication. But I can still subtly influence when he has success, with target placement, for example. At the moment, his highest expectation is at the left of the wall. I’m working to change this, for a more even search.

Lucifer’s brick wall practice last night. It’s all still 100% natural, motivational and fun, zero obedience, zero impulse control. Backing vocals by Paco, impatient for his turn. Want to learn the games I play with trainee search dog puppies for motivation and search development? A few places are still available for my Hunting Games workshop in Pembrokeshire, UK, 14-15 June. More info and booking: https://www.ontargetk9.co/courses/hunting-games-workshop-2days

Jump! Fun at the lake with all the dogs

Training our dogs to search for a scent and pinpoint the location of its source is fascinating. But we’re often tempted to rush into expecting the dog to deliver the ‘end product’, to run before they can walk properly. Over the years I’ve seen naturally driven dogs stop after two or three short searches, to just look at the handler - infuriating. With some other dogs you can tell their heart isn’t in it, and also that it could be - how much better would it feel to watch them then. I also see frantic, inefficient searching - what an unnecessary waste of energy. Some years ago I’ve changed my approach to search dog training. I'll postpone the satisfaction of having a dog searching and indicating on scent asap and, instead, first make sure that they have a strong foundation, with tonnes of motivation in the bank. It's fun and the results speak for themselves. This video is of the end of a play session with Tora at just over one year old. What do you think about his desire for the toy, and that he’d do anything he can to get it? During my 2-day Play and Motivation in Detection Dog Training: Hunting Games Workshop, with Astrid Lowe in Pembrokeshire on 14-15 June you can learn and experience games like the ones I’ve played with Tora before we arrived to what you see here. Hunting Games, how I like to call my games for search dogs, are not tug-of-war. They’re different from playing for a fun interaction or as a reward for other activities. If you’re just starting to build your dog’s foundation in Detection or want a recap or an overhaul, this is where I’d start. I’ve also scheduled a one-day event straight after on 16 June, to focus on indication - a topic that shouldn’t be as big as it can become. We’ll look at how to prevent and address problems in indication training, whichever way you decide to train it. You can attend both. To learn more and to sign up visit my website: https://www.ontargetk9.co/courses/hunting-games-workshop-2

Paco and his unique way to approach the search wall

Floyd

This is puppy Floyd practising his passive indication on a piece of Kong, at different heights. There are many ways to train an indication for detection dogs. I’ll be coaching you through training one of these methods during my upcoming Detection Indication Facebook Challenge. We’ll work with the same training progression I used for Floyd. You can use food only, or introduce a toy reward at a later stage, which is what we’ve done with Floyd. My webinar ‘5 Common Mistakes in Training an Indication for Detection Dogs’ is good preparation ahead of starting the challenge. It has however already been delivered last night. If you’ve missed it and would like to purchase access to the replay get in touch. To book the training challenge go to https://www.ontargetk9.co/courses/detection-indication-challenge

A glimpse of the physical conditioning work I do with the puppies: Lucifer’s first session to learn the handstand. He’s since also done it without the platform, back paws straight up the wall, like Fenix in my other video. More fun with sound!

Body awareness exercises at dusk Training with Fenix is always fun, he's one of my fastest learners. Real footage of his first time up the wall. We'd done some walking backwards on a flat surface before, plus one session working up to almost this. For added fun, watch with sound.

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‘Every dog needs a nose job’

Just like us, each dog is an individual and this is how we train at Surrey Search Dogs. One team at a time, the task, the pace, everything tailored to the dog and their handler. In a session with five dogs we may work in five different ways.

Nosework is a journey of discovery we enable for our dogs to take us on. This is where we trust them and we watch and learn about them, while they learn to navigate the challenges we set. You cannot force nosework and you cannot rush it, you simply enjoy being part of a team out on an adventure.

Be prepared to be surprised and fascinated by discovering this wonderful activity together! Or, if you are already addicted, you know... the learning never stops.

Why we love nosework...

Any dog with a nose can do it. Puppies’ sense of smell is there since they are born, whereas for other skills they have yet to develop physically or mentally. Sniffing is still fully functional in dogs recovering from physical injury or older dogs whose exercise levels are limited, hence it’s a great way to provide them with mental stimulation. It can focus reactive or easily distracted dogs and provide an outlet for hyperactive dogs. It can help shy dogs gain confidence.

Our dogs already know this game. Sniffing is a fundamental skill in dogs, since it’s been a main reason why humans have bred dogs over time - think about the role it plays in hunting, herding and guarding. It’s up to us now to harness this incredible talent in a way that makes best use of it. Detection training is quite different from other forms of dog training.

It enables our dogs to live a more fulfilled life. It wears them out, in a good way. Most dogs will be more affected by half an hour searching than a three-hour walk. Nosework may not always be physically demanding (though it can also be - as physically demanding as you want to make it), but it takes so much concentration. Either way, the brain will need a good rest afterwards. Fido will need to recharge in dreamland.

Possibilities are endless. Scentwork for example can be done indoors or outdoors, in any setting, with other people involved or just handler and dog. Equipment needed is minimal and low cost. Some days we keep it as simple as hiding a tennis ball while out on a walk, on others we search for a scent underground. We do, of course, have serious nose games (searching for illicit substances or lost people), but we also have an option to search for lost coins when we’re bored at the pub. Not to mention finding those keys lost in a field...

It’s fun. Dogs can find nosework rewarding for the sake of it. They can ignore food, toys and favourite people while they are busy searching.

It builds a good relationship. I need my dog to solve a puzzle I can’t solve by myself, and my dog needs me to read and handle him to so he can search most efficiently – we’re a team.

14/08/2024

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27/07/2024

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19/06/2024

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21/05/2024

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12/05/2024

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Neko

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‘Every dog needs a nose job’