Here's little Sebastian doing some retrieve foundations too!
He already understands the "grab this thing I am holding" concept so we quickly moved to "pick it up from the ground" and "release it to my hand."
He's a smart kid!
Oakley has been joining us for day training to learn about remote collar and work on socializing nicely with others
...but sometimes we do tricks too! Today we worked on arm hoops, retrieve, and roll-over!
Check her out!
Today's coffee break crew!
It is 🔥🔥 HOT 🔥🔥 this week! Which, unfortunately, is not super conducive to intense outdoor training sessions or big group socials. But that's okay! We can do work inside instead. 😉
After individual sessions today, it was time for a coffee break and getting some work done on the computer. What a great opportunity for the dogs to work on being calm around others, even when they haven't had tons of exercise!
Hanging out and relaxing can be a trained behavior instead of one you get a rare glimpse of when you've physically exhausted your pup. (And training it is especially useful on days when draining your buddy's endless energy isn't feasible due weather.)
Sebastian, Mandie (an adventurer camp graduate who's visiting for a couple days), Millie, Kane, Oakley, and #biggreenyard ambassador Clover all did a great job chilling out in the cool basement while I typed away on the laptop.
Good job pups!
Sebastian is a tiny rockstar!! This 40 second video covers a total elapsed time of 20 minutes!
Check him out practicing place while I get dinner cooking! He even stayed while Mike came in with groceries and we put them away.
Miss Millie Millie and I took the opportunity to use Mike and his super speedy mower as part of our training session.
She has a few speed bumps but figures it out in the end. Good girlie!
Kane arrived having already gone through quite a bit of training so he should know his stuff! He just needs to learn how to use it all in the face of big distractions (like squirrels!)
We took some time to work through his known commands to be sure he would do them for me. Then we gave him just a little bit of a distraction with Mike coming out to get ready to mow! He worked so nicely, there was even a chance to do a greeting.
Way to go kiddo! We'll be on to the big leagues in no time.
Millie is a smart girl! She picked up the meaning of the remote quickly and learned where to be when walking as well as how to return when she is called.
Next up will be tightening the requirements of heel and adding some distractions for her!
During yesterday's rain storms, we had a laundry folding extravaganza! (by we I mean me... the human 🤣)
The dogs practiced duration on place and being calm, even during the occasional boom of thunder.
When I decided to make myself some late afternoon coffee, everyone stayed where they were and remained quiet eveh though I was in and out of the room many times while
1) the water boiled
2) the coffee brewed
3) the milk steamed
This clip is my final trip out to pour my delicious afternoon treat and returning to everyone right where they were supposed to be. (Even the Chilicat took part!)
Noli has been working hard too!
She's learned about where heel is the most rewarding and that sometimes it is worth it to ignore potential new friends (even if those friends are eating McDonald's on the ground right in front of you!)
Last night while we kicked off a rainy Harry Potter weekend (what else is there to do when the weather is so abysmal)...
...Noli, Raine and Clover all joined us and napped quietly on place.
A relaxing evening for us all!
"LaKota COME!"
We headed to the woods last night to practice recalls. Kota isn't quite sure what to think of this whole "freedom" situation (and definitely wasn't a giant fan of several inches of wet ground 😂).
Regardless, she did great! Even passing a family splashing in rhe creek and sitting calmly while they walked out on the path in front of us.
Breakfast is cooking! But where are the dogs?
If you're clumsy like me, being in the kitchen has enough danger as it is without dogs milling around under my feet.
Not to mention dogs who snatch up every morsel that hits the ground - regardless of whether it's piping hot out of a pan or maybe something that could be dangerous for them to eat.
That's why we teach place! Raine is safely relaxing just outside the kitchen (along with Taffy and Kiba). I can see her and be sure she's not getting into trouble while also being sure she won't cause trouble under my feet.
Good girl Rainey!!
Time to start asking LaKota harder questions like: can you heel nicely for someone else and, can you work nicely with horses in the background?
Since she nailed both of those, LaKota accompanied me to our weekly frisbee league this week - check her out relaxing and heeling nicely while discs and dogs fly around behind her!
LaKota rocking out her work on heel!
You might be wondering about her sweet Hannibal fashion accessory...
...since LaKota has been struggling with her social interactions with other dogs, we are teaching her to be comfortable in a muzzle so that we can more safely help her learn proper social etiquette. The muzzle keeps everyone safe while allowing Kota to have positive experiences with other creatures.
However, before we can use it in that capacity, we have to be sure she is comfortable wearing it! So I have been having her wear it during walks to create a positive association: muzzle = neighborhood exploring time! I also use a higher value reward for her during these sessions.
Raine came in struggling with the concept of "waiting". After all, with so much fun to be had in life, who has time to be patient??! She also didn't feel my opinion on when the party had to end was very valid.
This is one of the very first concepts dogs learn when they arrive and begin their board and train. Having a dog who rushes to get out the door can be annoying, not to mention dangerous. And having one who refuses to come inside can also be incredibly frustrating (especially if you're on a time crunch).
Check out Raine's progress in both arenas after day 2 of her camp!
LaKota is doing an GREAT job working hard on her leash reactivity.
She's already had to walk past a few neighborhood dogs but yesterday we put her to the test with dogs occupying the same yard!
Check her out being a superstar 🤩 If you watch carefully, you can even see an unplanned dog distractor or two in the waay background.
(and a special thanks to our friends from Paws and GO, LLC for providing excellent distractions!)
