Happy Halloween!

Just had to share some Halloween pictures! No trick or treating for my dogs or kids...I'm still nursing an illness. I think it's just a cold, but trying to be careful in case it isn't. Anyhow the first is one of my Thursday night students whom I sadly missed last night while home nursing this illness. The second, none other than Fire showing his true demon colors!

Control Class Week 1

Our Control class is off to a great start! I have decided to experiment with posting a review of each weeks lesson along with helpful tips here on the blog rather than emailing everyone. (Class: Sorry for the last minute change in plans.)

In our first week we covered helping our dogs to relax. Remember to aim for a meditative type relaxation in this situation. Breathing deeply, long strokes rather than rubbing/patting, and maintaining a relaxed body position. It's important to have your dog in the right frame of mind before training/work/competitions and this is one of the three ways we discussed on how to achieve that. It's all about connecting with your dog and in this step you are doing so in a manner that relaxes rather than excites. (Does anyone remember the other two?)

We also began the first of many exercises to help teach the dogs impulse control. Step 1 is the Zen exercise. Important parts of Zen are letting the dog make the choice (No reminders/cues/commands), and making sure to reward only when the dogs muzzle moves away from the food. If the dog reaches for the food when you attempt to reward, do not give it. The dog must not reach for the food! I'm anxious to see who has progressed to level two this week! (My dog and I have NOT!)

This class covers alot of information in a very short amount of time. On week two I'd like you to come to class and practice relaxing your dog outside of the ring before the start of class. Do not enter the ring until your dog is in the right (relaxed) frame of mind! I don't care if it takes you 10 seconds or 10 minutes! :-) Feel free to arrive to class a few minutes early. The building will be open. Don't forget to bring a mat, blanket, towel, or dog bed. It doesn't need to be elaborate! A square of carpet will work quite well. This week we will cover four basic concepts and exercises: Behavior Shaping with a marker, A Spot Command, and the next step towards Impulse Control!

See you Thursday!

Setting Goals - Show Cluster to consider

I've been encouraging students to set goals, long term and short term! With this in mind, I searched the show calendar for winter shows. I personally enjoy local shows and shows where there is a chance to achieve a title in one weekend. Therefore the best weekend I see that is local, and contains multiple trials is the Celtic Cluster in March, held at the York Fairgrounds. Beginning March 18th, this cluster boosts Rally, Obedience, and Conformation. This cluster begins Thursday March 18th and ends Sunday March 21st (conformation only).

There will be three chances to get a rally leg. Thursdays (Lancaster Kennel Club) Rally judges are: RN A, RN B, RADV A and RAXA Mrs Louise Botko. Rally AdvB and XB is Ed Whitney. Fridays' (York Kennel Club) judging panel has not been revealed. Saturdays (Deleware County Kennel Club) Rally judge is Miss Bonnie Lee.

The Lancaster Kennel Club is also offering Non regular classes including Graduate Novice and Versatility! Bonnie Lee is judging those classes on Thursday, along with also judging the above listed Rally classes and Open A and B. Ed Whitney is judging Utility. Novice A and B judge is Robt. Squires.

Judges for Obedience on Friday and Saturday have not yet been announced.

Assuming Obedience and Rally are held in the same building this year as last year, it is a pleasant, reasonably quiet (obedience only) room. There is room for chairs although it does get a little crowded around the Rally and Novice rings. Food is served in this building and parking is close to the building.

You have 5 mos. to train, 5 mos. to acrue sick days or plan vacation days from work, 4 mos. to save money for entries and travel...see you there!!!!!

Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd.P O Box 6898Readinig PA 19610 PHONE: (610) 376-1880 FAX:(610) 376-4939http://www.raudogshows.com

Thursday Evening 7:30 Class

Just a reminder to all Thursday night Competitive Obedience Students, class this week (Oct. 21st) will not be held due to the absence of most students in this class. Good luck at the Rottweiler Nationals Holly, Bob, Deb, and Pat!!!

The Controlled Canines class will be held @ 6:45! There is still room in this class if anyone would like to join in. In addition to being a great class for high energy/hyperactive dogs, and dogs with impulse control issues, this is also a suitable class for anyone who wants to improve their dogs attention/focus and ability to ignore distractions!

Finally, in case you missed it...please note in the comment section from the last post (Inspirational Videos). We have a link in the comments to a new video that is sure to inspire! Congratulations LuAnn and Edison on their first Rally Novice leg with a first place win in Rally Novice B and second place High in Trial! W

Standard of Perfection - Inspirational Videos

I recently was participating in a discussion regarding obedience training. Without getting into the actual discussion here, I made a comment that "it all depends on ones standard of perfection". What picture do you have in your head of the Ideal you are striving to achieve. You may watch a 200 score performance and think "my dog could never do that", or you could be thinking "someday I'd like to achieve that". Others may watch a 175 score performance and be quite content seeing that level of performance as their goal. Although I always say it's as easy to train for 200's as it is for 175's please note that Training used in this manner means teaching the behavior. Not the hours of training and levels of proofing to assure a 200. And despite being able to train for a 200 not all of us want to wait till our dog and we are ready for that 200.

Just the same, I think if I asked many of my competitive students what compelled them to get into competive performance sports many would tell me it was from watching a certain dog and handler at an event. A few may say it was the thrill of seeing their dog glide through the moves with energy and enjoyment. Either way, they saw a "standard of perfection" that they wanted to see again. However nowadays some savvy dog owners are coming to performance training because they have an intelligent (and possibly energetic) dog who needs a "job" . Or they have heard that training and canine performance activities are good activities for both person and dog in the terms of physical activity, stress reduction, and enjoyment. It is for those owners, and others who have long since forgotten their original Standard of Perfection that I am listing these videos for you to watch! I hope you find them to be Inspiring!

Here's an ESS. Note: this is at a match show, so corrections may be seen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81VgtDEg3xk

A Brussels Griffon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3vgjEYVafw

Schutzhund Style Heeling but well done video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s145-TjOffA&feature=related

Fun! A Great Dane Drill Team!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50UFAkq_Gho

Here you go...not a 200 but I love this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk7PzQlfowc

Mixed Breeds Welcome!

Calling all owners of Mixed breeds who enjoy training and other activities with their dogs: Did you know that your dog is now eligible for AKC Performance events? Visit http://www.akc.org/mixedbreeds/ for more information.

Although I feel strongly about the promotion of purebred dogs and think there is nothing better than a carefully bred/raised purebred puppy; I also know from experience that there are some intelligent, eager mixed breeds who'd love to strut their stuff in the performance rings! Although mixed breeds have been welcome in other performance venues for a number of years (Ambor, ASCA, and I believe UKC) the AKC performance rings are still among the most prevelant/accessible. With the AKC creating a program that allows mixed breeds it means that most mixed breed owners in our area now have lots of opportunities to participate with their dogs in Obedience, Rally Obedience, and Agility (as well as tracking and other activities). My first two obedience trained dogs were mixed breeds. (the second I trained at the age of 11 with Kaye ...anyone who knows my age now knows that this was many years ago! LOL) I remember watching the purebred dogs owned by the training instructors and hearing a little about the activities they did. I wanted to get involved but didn't know how. I'm sure since my dog was a mixed breed and this was just a basic obedience class...no one thought to discuss it with me. I was a determined child, but not outgoing (believe it or not) so pursuing the idea was something that wouldn't happen till I was an adult. Needless to say I am Excited to see what opening doors to mixed breeds might do for people and their dogs in terms of having fun in performance events! The next top handler might just be a young 11 y/o who thinks she can't go to dog shows because she has a mixed breed dog. And now she can!

Has your dog tried a Kibble Nibble yet?

Do you have a high energy, working minded, or highly intelligent dog who drives you crazy if he doesn't get enough work on a regular basis? Or how about a couch potato who needs a bit more movement in his life? The Kibble Nibble is a relatively new product on the market that works well for both types of dogs. I have been recommended food toys to owners of active, high energy, intelligent dogs for a long time now as a way to give their dog an additional challenge (IE: "work") in the course of every day life.
Similar to Buster Cubes and stuffed Kongs, the Kibble Nibble is a food based toy. It rolls well, has rubber "bumpers" to protect furniture, and a delivery system that is simple and yet effective for most levels of dogs, and unlike it's predecessor's it's very easy to clean.
I recommend using the Kibble Nibble as an alternate way of feeding your dog it's breakfast or dinner. Using it as a feeding method helps to slow down your dogs eating, and occupy your dogs mind by making it "work" for it's food. I have used the Kibble Nibble puppies ages 3 mos. and up, as well as adults. My Siberian, Doberman, and Border Collies have all used it. Fire used to eat his meals regularly from a Kibble Nibble rather than a bowl. I have found that it can hold nearly three cups of the dog food I feed, and takes 15 min - 45 min. for my dogs to work every piece out of it. And work every piece out they do! Unlike some of the other food delivery toys, I have not found a piece of food left behind.
So if your dog could use a little more exercise or mental challenges, try switching from the bowl to the Kibble Nibble!



*Kibble Nibbles are a part of the Busy Buddy line of dog toys distributed by Premier Pet Products. Woof 'N Tails Pet Supplies, located beside Kaye Ames School for Dogs carries them if you are looking to purchase one.

It's a Doggy Weekend-Places to go!

If you are looking for a place to socialize your dog or get out and practice in a distracting environment...there are several opportunities this weekend!

This Saturday, 11-3 is the Mutt Mixer dog event and flea market at Stumpf Field in Lancaster. This event benefits the Furry Friends Network. I have never attended this event before, so I don't know what to expect. But it looks like there are contests/events for fun, and certainly to be lots of dogs!

Also on Satuday in Bel Air, MD is a UKC conformation/obedience/rallyO Trial. In order to enter, your dog needs to be UKC registered, or have a Temporary Listing Number which can be acquired online today.

Sunday in Lancaster is the Humane Leagues Tail Waggers Trot. Again, my apologies but this is not an event I normally attend and I can't give further insight except that again there are sure to be distractions and other dogs! LOL It starts at Clipper Stadium and ends at Buchannon Park.

Also on Sunday in Bel Air, MD is another UKC conformation/obedience/rallyO trial. The link to the UKC website can be found at Beyond Basics on the links page.