Category Archives: TRAINING

up north in Alaska!

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It’s workshop season! And what a great start. A trip up north to Anchorage and Wasilla for a variety of topics, freestyle, cross training, team success and treibball. Ask anyone who wants to book me, it takes a lot to get me to leave home. But in this process of prying me away from my comfort, I seem to almost always love every minute, and meet some of the nicest people, from literally all over the world.

I love giving workshops, I love teaching, and sharing, and learning from those I am teaching. It is truly a full circle experience. The bonus to working with such a group of talented folks is that the level at which you can teach is that much higher, and the conversations that much better. Working with talent is always a gift in my opinion.

The groups I worked with in Alaska were so deeply involved in the dog world in one way or another, or another, or another! Mushing, dock diving, obedience, tracking, agility, SAR, hunting. Talented and committed.

The Alyeska Canine Trainers club in Anchorage have an amazing facility. Karen gave me the early morning tour, lucky me! And we tried to use it all, but it is huge. I would be lying if I didn’t say I had facility envy on some level. Folks came from all over Alaska, even Juno. When I asked Martha how she got to Anchorage, she looked at me quizzically and said, “you either fly or swim really hard” and then she had a great laugh!

I was fortunate to get some time watching the Alaska Dogs Gone Wild Fly Ball Team, and to visit the Alaska K9 Aquatics center.

Dinners, driving up the Cooke Inlet to the Alyeska ski resort, which by the way was the only 1 hour of sun I saw while I was there, and then off to Wasilla for a Monday Treibball workshop!

The photos can do the rest of the talking. Awesome all the way around! Just click on the photo to enlarge and follow the arrows.

Thank you Karen and Claudia for arranging everything and taking such good care of me! Nancy

can’t trick a trickster!

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Being open, observant, and creative when training is so important. So important. But even so, every once in a while, a puppy will come along and teach me a new way of looking at something, and I get to see life through new eyes. I don’t think there is anything more refreshing than being ‘schooled’ by a puppy! It keeps me very honest.

So, we were teaching ‘touch’ in my tricks workshop. Blue ‘X’ on hand, ball, wall, door, floor, etc. Generalizing touch, and using it for various applications. All of the dogs were having fun finding the blue X’s, touch + YES = reward… Woop! fun, fun, fun.

Little Riffle, a six month old Portuguese Water Dog, who has been through a variety of our classes and is really fun to work, touched a few times, and then lay down to watch the other dogs. If I could have set a bucket of popcorn and soda next to her, it would have truly been like she was at the movies, 3D glasses would have made it complete! She enjoyed watching the other dogs more than working, or perhaps that was her work?! She wasn’t casually glancing, she was taking note, and watching carefully.

When we were ready to take a break, she went around and started ripping/peeling everyone’s X’s off the wall, off the ball, and off the doors. Systematically. Peel it off, drop it, move on to the next. She had taken note of where each one was. I watched.

This little trickster had seen something totally different in this ‘trick’ than what we were seeing and practicing. My definition/criteria for this trick was, nose on X with a bit of pressure. That was not hers. I still wonder if she didn’t just take pity on the other dogs for getting this ‘touch trick’ wrong, and went around to show then the ‘right way’, duh?!

We saw this, an X on a door with blue painters tape -

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Little Riffle saw this -

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I was inspired to see where we could take this trick, morph it, and put it on cue. Her owner was at first a bit frustrated that she wasn’t ‘touching’, but quickly said, “yes, let’s try something new with this tape trick”.

So we went into my office and lined the wall with strips of painters tape, and tipped or rather peeled back a bit of the edge -

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This is her first go with this new trick, PEEL. Keep in mind, her first go at it! She ended up doing five full rows in about a 10 minute period. And each repetition became more and more accurate.

This young puppy had such amazing persistence and perseverance for this game, or rather, new trick.

But I think what we all learned was, sometimes what we see and ask, is not what the puppy see’s and hears, at all. If there is no openness to change things up on the teaching end, then conflict and frustration can set in. There needs to be a mutual starting point. Sometimes we have to come at it together, start from a new angle, morph things a bit so learning can happen. And in turn, the relationship grows, because it’s being done together!

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Will this trick ever be applicable? Who knows, maybe opening presents and Christmas boxes for a commercial or movie, it would make a great trick. But maybe it is a trick for tricks sake. Building vocabulary, building a behavior, becoming a better teacher, creating a learner.

So here is to creative thinking, always learning, and trickster puppies!

Nancy

 

tricks, this is where the fun begins!

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Teaching and working on new behaviors with my dogs, ‘tricks’, is a huge part of my foundation in training. After all, everything is really a trick, isn’t it?

ocean22

I teach sit, down, stay and come, the same way I would teach spin, twirl, bow, high five, and weave. I think the difference is how we perceive their usefulness. I’ll be quite honest, I use ‘in’, meaning go between my legs to the other side of my body, more often than any other behavior. Yes, and even more than sit or down. After all, our dogs do that all on their own, just fine without us ;-)

dance

Ocean was 6 months old when she won a 1st place ribbon in a tricks contest, and there were 32 entries. I wasn’t training for ‘tricks’ at the time, it was simply our play, the way we engaged, how I trained for our relationship. And it was fun for both of us.

Story’s tricks landed him on The Martha Stewart Show, and I would have to say it was the least ‘useful’ behaviors that got the most attention!

Martha Stewart

All of my dogs give trick demonstrations at our local schools. It’s a great ice breaker for the bigger topics like responsibility, bite prevention, compassion, etc. And many of the ‘tricks’ are ones that have been dog driven, meaning my dogs have taught me the trick, and shaped the way I interact during certain routines. This is the part of the process I LOVE! We’re always working on something new, always! This keeps our home creative, which inspires me each and every day.

And we all know how important MATH is, so it is also one of our tricks! Happy trick training, happy time with your dog! Nancy

walking the Grande Dames

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How do you know when your teaching, training, and/or work has paid off with your dogs? How do you know when there is an understanding of a concept, or a behavior, important to the success of your team? How do you know when you and your dog have a mutual understanding, a relationship, a healthy functioning relationship?

This afternoon, when all seemed fairly quiet in the neighborhood, I decided to take the two Grande Dames for a walk. All three of us needed some fresh air, our legs stretched, and a bit of time together. Harnesses on, leashes clipped, poop bags in pocket, little baggy of left over turkey, coat, glasses, gloves, and ready to go!

I use to walk them together when they were much younger, but in recent years, I usually take one at a time, or one out with one of our male dogs. You see Franny and Ocean aren’t a good combination anymore, not in the past eight years anyway. They have had enough bad experiences while out on walks to last a life time. So they formed an alliance in a way, an alliance in the sense of, ‘take no crap!’ It’s like walking Dyna & Mite. Individually great, but together they can be fairly explosive, especially in an unstable environment, like in a neighborhood with off leash dogs. They really don’t want to engage with other dogs when out on a walk with me, and truly they just want to enjoy their time.

So off we went, it’s so special to walk with my girls, and I feel that every time I leave the house with them now. Franny has slowed way down, Ocean still has a great deal of pep in her walk. But they both enjoy sniffing and marking, and that we did!

Our walk was uneventful and relaxing the mile out from our house. Cool air, a bit of snow and ice on the ground, lots to smell. However, on the mile back things were a bit dodgy. I try to always take the path of least resistance. The girls, especially at their ages, don’t need any explosions, or the stress that comes with them. So we try to avoid conflicts. I will detour, wait, and sometimes even throw food at an on coming dog to keep them away from my girls.

So my original questions about “how do you know…?” Well, on our way home, the girls and I spotted two dogs behind a wood slat fence starting to fence run on our approach, and set up on us. Both girls stopped and looked right up at me! You could not wipe the smile off of my face. “Thank you” was the first thing that came out of my mouth, and then a piece of turkey for both girls. We crossed the street and kept walking, without conflict. When we crossed the street, a young black lab came roaring down it’s back deck stairs, into a yard, and right up to the fence we were just passing, and started to off load verbally on us. It caught us all off guard. Franny jumped sideways and went piloerect (and that was it which shocked me), Ocean gave that young dog a hard stare and low growl (and that was it which surprised me), then they both looked at me, “You two are freaking awesome today, thank you!”, a small piece of turkey and off we went, crossed back to the other side of the street once more.

I was so proud of my girls, and grateful for an almost conflict free walk. They had a lot of choices with the situations they were put in today. And it could have gone a totally different way. They have, enough times, made other dogs regret their choices for surprising them, again, when they are together it can be explosive.

We came home relaxed, happy, and filled with fresh air. These Grande Dames mean the world to me! May our walks continue …

Nancy

Sunday Morning Walk & Train

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Along with our new training Dog Gym, we are introducing new programs. One of the programs I am really excited about is our Sunday Morning Walk & Train. Exercise for both the handler and dog!

An hour long walk on the lovely trails just out our front door at the Gym, and then an hour in the Gym working on the skills of your choice. This is a guided, very casual program to improve the relationship, skills, and health of both handler and dog. Questions and conversations are always a fun part of morning programs, but there is no formal instruction.

I am also seriously contemplating buying a coffee maker, with Sunday Mornings in mind ;-)

Leaving the Gym for the ‘Story Spur Trail Loop’, 2.5 miles of brisk trail and dirt road walking – It crosses the Rocky Creek where there is a great swimming hole.

Gathering gear for work in the gym. Gates, ladders and more.

Not sure what you want to work on? I have made cards to help inspire! Choose which ever one sounds interesting and have fun!

Warming up for tricks!

My beautiful Story was the inspiration behind our new Walk & Train program. This is how he starts most of his days, and it just adds such great balance to the rest of our day!

Nancy

is desexing the answer, or the question?

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Sometimes we can be so influenced by what we see, hear, or experience on a regular basis, that we forget there are other options. Or at the very least, possibilities.

I recently had a very cool conversation with my friend Lisa from Australia, in regards to the desexing of competition dogs. We both own intact males so we talk sex sometimes ;-) If you desex a male dog would you have a more focused dog, or does it boil down to more training, more exposure to new and different, and a strong handler/dog relationship? If you have a problem during competition is it because of the testosterone driving the male, or is it training? Is desexing even necessary if there is no health issue? If you do a great job with your intact male dog in regards to socializing, exposure, training, and the relationship, how can you be sure others have done the same, and your male will be safe?

Then I received a reply to my post Sex and the Male Dog from one of my blogging friends in Norway, Bente Haarstad. She mentioned that it is illegal to spay/neuter a dog in Norway. W-w-w-w-haaaat?!

In a nation such as America, that is cramming stray and unwanted dogs into every available rescue/shelter, and then euthanizing millions more each year, Norway’s law might make you gasp, or even throw a tantrum! But only at first glance. Their laws make sense, and would make any dog person from America to Australia envious. Respect and relationship seem to be the foundation.

In America it really isn’t IF you are going to spay/neuter, but rather when. While rescues would like to see every dog desexed yesterday because of over population, we are known worldwide as a heavy desexing country, believe it or not. Whether you want the testosterone in your dog longer for healthier growth plates and joints, or buy into the new movement Fix at Four, there are always conversations on desexing, always.

Are we desexing because of our dog over population problem, or to make things easier for the owner? Let’s be super honest about that one!

Norway does not have an over population problem when it comes to dogs. There are rarely strays, if ever. People use leashes and restraints when required. The culture in Norway is such that when you get a dog, you are expected to spend time training and building a relationship with your dog (that is so refreshing!). Spay/Neuter is a case by case basis, based on health, utility, or behavioral concerns.

Is Norway a perfect Utopia for dogs and their owners? I don’t know I don’t live there, but it sounds pretty awesome! In an article by Science Nordic some veterinarians have mentioned that they treat dog to dog bites more often than what they have seen in the United States. Growling, barking, or difficult to walk in public are other problems mentioned. In reality, all Utopian thoughts set aside, I would imagine there are people who don’t follow through with training, don’t understand dogs, or have been abusive,  just like any place else in the world. And for sure, dogs that don’t have great temperaments to begin with? Norway we would love to hear from you!

So here is some really cool information that I think we can all agree is pretty crazy awesome!

The Norwegian Animal Welfare Act (NFSA) makes it clear that surgical procedures are not to be used to adapt animals to the needs of humans, unless strictly necessary. Woop! This means you come at the relationship together and work at it together.This, in and of itself, makes me smile.

They also state that neutering is not a substitute for training. Now if you are reading this and are from America, or a desexing heavy country, be honest and raise your hand if you have neutered because of an unwanted behavior. Here is my hand being raised, I have done that in the past. And it isn’t uncommon.

The NFSA, a government agency, did relax some of it’s spay/neuter laws from what I have recently read. Starting in this year, 2012, they will permit neutering if it helps give a dog a justifiable quality of life, including social contact with other dogs.

As for me, I like what Norway has to say, so does Story! From how I am understanding things, it isn’t just about desexing, it’s about quality of life, and responsibility to another living being, woop! I like that there are no stray animals, and that the culture expects dog owners to be responsible. This expectation being socially acceptable is worth gold in my world. I love that dogs are dogs are dogs, unless there is a problem that needs medical assistance.

I for one have learned something new, which is always a good thing.

Perhaps we can start shifting to higher expectations of dog owners and their responsibility? Perhaps we can truly out law puppy mills, mass breeders, and kennels with twenty breeding pairs to help curb over population? Perhaps we can look at dogs as perfect from the day they are born and not medically alter them? Perhaps we can all find more value in relationship, teaching, and the journey together?

Nancy, who appreciates and loves her neutered and intact male dogs!

Thursday night demo – handling the reactive rover, building a positive conditoned emotional response

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For three years I partnered with our local library and offered free Thursday Night Community Lectures, about once a month. It was an awesome way to share information beyond my classes, meet new people, and talk about varying topics that were really interesting to me.

The topics varied from food, to behavior, to traveling with a dog, and sometimes I had guest speakers with me. The size of the crowd was totally unpredictable, from 2-65, it was a bit like gambling!

Now that we have the Dog Gym, I am reviving this program a bit, but letting it come full circle with Live Demo’s. I know for me, I learn best if I can see something in action.

Last night we had a demo on Handling the Reactive Rover. Franny was my demo dog, if you read her series, Living with a Dog Outside of Neutral, you know she was the perfect choice!

We had such an awesome group of folks last night. All responsible handlers, all involved in the dog world to some extent, and all with great questions! It was so inspiring that we accidentally went on for two hours!

Some of what we touched on -

  • What type of reactive do you have? happy, cranky, fearful, etc.
  • What are the triggers?
  • Was the reactivity event caused, on going environment, temperament, combination?
  • Management in the home with a reactive dog.
  • Management when out and about. Making choices for where, when and how.
  • Reading your dog’s body language better.
  • Why is taking a deep breath important and so under rated?
  • Crate training, and crate use. Voluntary safe place that elicits calm.
  • Basic exercises to encourage a more relaxed dog, relaxed handler. A two-way street.
  • Default behaviors of sit, come to me, between, relax when we stop. All should be voluntary.
  • Building trust so your dog feels safe with you.
  • Using your voice as the first leash, and webbing for insurance
  • Why harnesses?
  • Having a support system so you feel good about your dog, your choices, and your work. Feeling empowered by the good work you are doing instead of beaten down.
  • Small micro steps, not leaps and bounds.
  • Rocking your dogs world in the biggest kindest kind of way when they make a healthier decision when faced with choices. Meatballs growing out of the floor!
  • and on and on … again, a great night!

Nancy, here is to many more great Thursdays!

ps. my daughter took these photos as part of her summer project. She mentioned after reviewing them that I might not be able to talk if I had my hands tied behind my back… hahaha Very funny Piper!

what’s the difference between a handler and a dog owner?

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What is a handler? Most of my clients could tell you.That is how I refer to them when they have been training with me for some time, largely out of respect for their new role, and commitment with their dog.

A handler is a coach, trainer, manager, or supervisor. If you have a dog, and choose to learn more, do more, and see ownership as a relationship in motion, you raise the bar for yourself, and in fact fulfill all of these roles.

What sets a handler apart from a person who owns a dog? It is so varied. And this is where I would like to open up this discussion. I believe if dog owners knew more, they could do more. And it really isn’t about sit, down, stay or come. It’s moving to the next level of understanding.

One of the aspects of being involved in the canine working/sporting world, is getting to observe, listen, and discuss dogs, at great lengths, with other handlers. Learning about dogs in theory, and critical thinking is important, especially in my world as a trainer. But in all honesty, if you aren’t getting the field experience, and you’re not involved in the larger dog world, it isn’t going to help much.

So I am starting a list that describes a great handler. What would set them apart from a dog owner? I would like this to be kind, educational, and hopefully inspiring to a dog owner and beyond. Please post your responses on this blog (not FB or private e-mail please) that way someone can read it in it’s entirety.

Learn as much as possible, have fun, do more! The list beings…

  1. A handler buys videos and books on various dog topics. From disc dog training to behavioral concerns. Always curious, and always wanting to learn more.
  2. Working with their dog, not against their dog. Training is teaching and it takes both the handler and dog.
  3. Handlers involve themselves in the dog world to some degree.
  4. A great handler knows they have much to learn, and every dog will teach them something new.
  5. Handlers learn about behavior, they rarely take advice from the dog park. Attending conferences, reading books, watching videos, etc. With on line conferences it has become even easier!
  6. A handler understands their responsibility with their dog. At home, on a trail, in public, at an event, etc. They know they are their dogs advocate, their voice in the human world, and the go to person with anything concerning their dog.
  7. A handler understands that there is more to life than a dog park, and a dog park may simply not be the right place for their dog anyway.
  8. A handler understands rewards, how they vary, the value, and how to use them appropriately.
  9. A handler knows they have entered a partnership, a team, and relationship. Most handlers take the good with the bad, and work together to move forward.
  10. A handler understands space, when to give space, or when to take space. Space is critical in trust, appropriate social cues, advanced training, sports, and just plain good manners. The more skilled the handler the more accurate response to space without conflict or caution.
  11. A handler has amazing timing. Marking, capturing or shaping a behavior requires skilled timing.
  12. A handler does not distract easily. When a handler is working with their dog their attention is on the task at hand. They tend not to drift, think of other things, or watch the larger environment. They understand if they want their dogs attention, they must be willing to give the same. Their dog is the focus, everything else is scenery.
  13. A handler practices skills all of the time. Always learning, always challenging themselves as their dogs handler.

please continue!

prepare your dog

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Life has a way of changing on us, it is truly the only constant. Sometimes we initiate the change, which can be pretty cool. And then some times change happens whether we are ready or not. Some glide through change gracefully, for most it’s more of a bumpy ride until one adjusts.

For our dogs, change is only positive if we have prepared them. By prepared I mean introduce them and socialized them to a world far bigger than the one at home. Socialization at a young age or when you get your dog is far more than just important, it is preparing your dog for the future. In other words you are investing in your dog by introducing them kindly and considerately to people, places, things, events, and other well socialized dogs. Exposing them to experiences in a positive way and keeping their world broad and open.

One of the more common scenarios I have seen over the past ten years is a very well meaning person that comes to a point in their relationship with their dog where they want to do more, maybe a dog sport, maybe therapy, or maybe move into a different living situation with new people. The dog on the other hand has had limited exposure to life outside of the home, and if there were outings they were to dog parks. Some dogs literally jump at the chance to do more, most however have some level of stress as they were never prepared for change, let alone new and different. And some dogs just don’t have the coping skills to transition at all into the new change, change that is being made for them by their owner.

While this may seem like a lot, remember that nothing will stay exactly the same in your life over the next fifteen years. Prepare now so that the transition for you and your dog goes much more smoothly.

About three years ago Ocean went into renal failure due to the administration of drugs she was not supposed to have. After visiting a teaching veterinary hospital, I decided to do home care with her during her fluid therapy as she trusts me to do anything with her, we have worked hard for that relationship. I had to learn how to administer IV and subcutaneous fluids in a matter of five minutes.

Did I prepare her for fluid therapy when she was younger? No. But because I have taught Ocean many skills over the years, her and I work seamlessly as a team. I asked for a down on her pillow, asked for relax which is head down, asked for pa so she would extend her leg to me, and then ready which is the word for me starting something. Although this was change for us all, we were able to work together on new and different, I could take most of the stress out of the situation. I would massage her during each session, and then we would go for a light walk afterwards. On some level I hope I brought some understanding to her that this was going to be a good thing in the long run. I am happy to say that she is ten and healthy!

Tips -

  1. Take your dog to new and different places that allow dogs. Visit hardware stores, outdoor restaurants if your dog has a good settle, book stores, walking malls, etc.
  2. Train often and train creatively. Introduce new tricks and new behaviors all of the time. Keep training fresh and fun. Create a dog that trusts learning from you.
  3. Expose your dog to new people, new places, new things, new events, and other well socialized dogs on a regular basis, especially when young. Give them exposure!
  4. Give your dog skills. Whether a dog sport is in your future or not, trying a little of this and a little of that builds your dogs knowledge and skills. Try a core conditioning class, doggie yoga, foundation agility or body awareness, freestyle and tricks, treibball, etc.
  5. Prepare your dog to work in new locations with you, not just in your yard. Practice your skills on a sidewalk, in a park, on a trail, in a store.
  6. Crate train your dog. This may seem odd, but having a dog that has a safe place, and it’s constant, and they can count on it, helps with transitions. You can bring a crate into a facility for training and the constant is the crate, while introducing new skills and new experiences. Bringing a crate into a hotel room is for safety and also for being a polite guest, but it creates a constant place during travel, which is change. Crates are great management tools, and if conditioned properly, create a place of calm and of safety. And it is a constant in a world of changes brought ton by owners.
  7. Expose your dog to new sounds, new smells, new sights. These can be little outings.
  8. Have friends over to your home so your dog gets used to other people in the house in a positive way.
  9. The more you teach, the more you can ask from your dog.

Think of the future and prepare, your dog will appreciate your efforts! Nancy

our first workshop in our new Dog Gym!

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Well it has been one month and three days since we started renovating an old warehouse. We have had very few glitches, the flooring, or rather the damaged flooring has been the biggest, and truthfully the only one that has caused any kind of stress. It set our renovation/opening schedule back two weeks, but we had plenty of other things to do so our time was still accounted for.

We have had a limited number of classes in there during renovations, about thirty clients in the past month. Every week they have seen changes here and there, sound boards going up, more color, new equipment, bathroom finished, etc.

But yesterday was a big day for us, emotionally mostly. Spore installed the new rubber mat flooring, and we had our first two workshops in our new space! Woop!

I love giving workshops. For the past two years I have been traveling around the country  giving them for other clubs and organizations, it’s been an awesome experience. I love the concentrated time, the exchange of skills and ideas, and the relationships. This was the first time I scheduled workshops for my own clients, right here in Bozeman, and now in our own Dog Gym. It was awesome! Plenty more to come, check out our schedule. I will be offering monthly workshops, but I am also bringing in other clinicians that specialize in other areas of training, health and more.

Piper came to assist yesterday and did an awesome job with the camera, both still and video. She helped the various teams, and kept the snacks and water coming for us all!, thanks Pip! Enjoy… Nancy