Let's go surfin now.... everybodies learnin' how....

Come on a safari with me!!!!


Pamela Johnson and I : the SD Canine Freestylers were helping out at a 4 H event teaching children how to teach their dogs in a humane respectful and safe way, as well as how to teach them some cool tricks!
At the next event booth over, they were teaching the kids how to teach their dogs to stand on a surf board. Splash and Pam's dog Izzie gave it a try!!!

A fun day was had by all!

(it was a very muddy day- we had some unusual San Diego weather the night before)

Caden's Sit out of Motion Training

An honest dog!

We've been working hard on sit out of motion for SchH. Caden is always thinking and really likes to please. I just looked over to the porch and saw him SITTING beside a bag of duck breast treats. He could have helped himself but was just staring at me, hoping I'd see his good sit. River ran in when I grabbed the camera, hoping for a treat!

In the sit out of motion, you say Sit! to your dog as you heel. You keep walking and he sits and stays until you return. Recalls in SchH are NEVER done from a sit position. So you always reward backwards - so they never even anticipate that they will move forward from a sit. Caden has the sit stay downpat - I just need to have him sit faster when I am heeling, and we will have it!

Watch The World Through The Eyes of a Dog - Dog Training Tips

Here's what I think a successful dog trainer should posses.

Watch the world through the eyes of a dog. Yes... unless you can do this, fact remains you are an incomplete trainer. Dog training is an art and science both! Lets call it an artistic science or a scientific art (whatever way you look at it) that involves a lot to study on dog psychology. If you have chosen this profession, because you need to make good money, but if you do not have an urge to study dogs, you are in a wrong track. You will never be able to shine as a dog trainer. All you need to be a good dog trainer is to have a capability to watch the world through the eyes of a dog. Do you know what your dog thinks of you? Do you know why at all your dog would like to be taught new tricks? Once you are capable of detaching yourself from the way we think, you can help yourself to come more close to your dog.

Well, for instance, Nick - your friend knows see you as a good dog trainer. People around you may know you as a dog training guy. But Rover - your dog considers you as a member of his pack. Most dog trainers, I have come across till date, seems to have very limited know-how on building strategic drives to train dogs. All dogs are not same... all breeds are not same... all bloodlines are not same. Naturally a good trainer should tailor his or her dog training strategies according to the need to suit well to the type of your subject. Most so-called trainers - especially the novice ones - end up with launching war on their dogs, without sparing a bit of thought on what do they think and how do they think actually. As a matter of fact, the idea that dogs cannot think and they can react to only external stimuli as per the genetics drives, is wrong. Rest assured, they can think. Like you and me, our dogs have mental imagery, and these are positive images. Your puppy would always want to see you as his most loved company - pack mate.


To a successful trainer identifying their dogs' way of thinking is of prime importance.Language doesn't really matter to them... they cannot think in Japanese or Chinese or Russian or English. They are smart enough to learn sounds more quickly and have the capability to associate sounds in their mind with an event. Dogs are clear in their mind and usually hate to be dominated. they love you to the fullest and would always want to make you happy. Use this instinct to train them new tricks.

It is really shocking to see owners saying that the pup was behaving good the entire day after he was punished hard. Can you equate this with your child being punished badly at the school, after which he never forgets to take his notepad? This is a wrong approach that simple breeds traumatic experiences in their mind, and I cannot call this to be a professional dog training style.

Now THIS is a dog who enjoys a snow day!

I support reputable breeders AND rescue!

As promised I have some thoughts to share on breeders and rescue groups. But first a couple musings on the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. (Photo: Corded poodles intrigue me.)

First let me say to whoever decided to move the show to another channel halfway through on the first night, you suck. I missed the toy and non-sporting groups. I know I can find it online but seriously, who's idea was that?? How does (clearly coreographed) wrestling rate higher than a dog show? Paleeze! Here is the link to the Westminster Kennel Club website. I like that you can watch the breed judging for all the dogs.
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Like most years I taped the show so I could watch it without commercials. This way I can also fast forward the parts I'm not interested in. I thought the akita "Echo" was stunning. But then again of course I would right? I also loved the Malamute. I have a thing for most of the working group truth be told. But I also have to many other favorite breeds to list. I'm glad there is at least one televised dog show that shows ALL the breeds. I think it's important for people out there to see all the choices they have. Maybe this way they won't feel the need to "create" new breeds. (Seriously, you can't find one dog that fits what you are looking for among all of those??)

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Anyhow back to my thoughts on rescue groups and breeders. As I read in a piece in Pug Talk magazine recently, there seems to be a movement to promote adopting from shelters over buying dogs lately. Now who can argue with that right? Only the problem is that not all puppy sellers should be painted with the same brush. I am also adamantly against buying dogs from a pet store or from online sellers. You are buying a puppy, not a pair of shoes. I don't think any pet should be bought sight unseen off a website. And forget about pet stores. No matter what they tell you, NO reputable breeder lets their puppies be sold by a third party. NEVER. If you're lucky enough to end up with a healthy dog, good luck with the dogs temperment. Being taken away from the siblings and mother to young (a common puppymill practice to ensure the puppies stay little and cute for the pet store window) is a perfect recipe for behavior problems later in life including biting.

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Consider what would happen to a breed if there are no reputable breeders out there. A reputable breeder is health testing their dogs before breeding to make sure they are only using healthy dogs. This keeps the breed strong. Passing on the best geneticly is important to a breeds long term survival. If those breeders are gone, where will good purebred dogs come from? What do you think the chances are of those dogs being healthy? Do we really think if all breeding was banned the urge to have certain types of dogs would just go away? Not gonna happen. Only now you are forcing the law abiding healthy breeders out of the game. Good luck with what you end up with after that happens.

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I don't think supporting reputable breeders and rescues need to be mutually exclusive. I have always supported both. There are people who say you should always go to rescue first because there are plenty of dogs needing homes there. That is true. However there are reasons for wanting to go to a breeder instead too. For instance I like getting dogs from good breeders because I think it saves me money in the long run on avoided vet bills. A healthy pet is also more likely to have a better quality of life as well. For instance dogs with hip dysplasia might have to live in pain as dogs with other health issues can suffer from those daily too. Especially if there is no cure or the owner can't afford the treatment for it. Or maybe the dog has a shortened life span because of a health problem that could have been avoided with contiencious breeding. Who doesn't want their pet to love a long life free of pain? This is not to say you cannot get a healthy dog from a rescue group. Knowing your dogs genetic background can just stack the odds in your favor if money is a consideration for you.

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The other thing a reputable breeder provides is support. Because they care about the dogs they produce they can answer your questions whenever you have them. And if you cannot keep your dog during it's lifetime, they usually have a clause in the contract requiring you to contact them first so they can take the dog back or help in the rehoming. Is a pet store ever going to provide that kind of service? Yeah go ahead and call. See what they say to that! A reputable rescue group will usually also provide this support.

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When I couldn't find (what I considered) a reputable breeder when I was looking for a pug I turned to rescue. It just happened that my local shelter doesn't get pugs in much (tho I put the word out there too) so I contacted pug rescue. I believe that if I can't find a reputable breeder then I refuse to support a non-reputable one. It's that whole, "If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem" mindset for me. As mentioned there are certainly plenty of dogs in shelters and rescue groups that need homes. If the health issue is going to come down to a crapshoot then I will take my chances on the side of supporting rescue. Not by putting money in a back yard breeders pocket which is just reinforcement for them to keep churning untested puppies out.

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The article also bemoaned the fact that people were going to pet stores because they can't find the reputable breeders. I definately agree that is a problem. It seems many good breeders rely on word of mouth to sell their puppies. I guess that makes it easier for them personally. However the more the general public sees well written for sale ads "Sire and Dam Hips OFA cleared excellent, eyes CERF, Thyroid tested, 1st shots given, ready at 10 weeks, etc" then the more questions the general public might think to ask. Education is the key here. It isn't that hard to build a website with general info on your breeding program. Pages with most frequently asked questions can also save you time on the phone with potential buyers. Heck just listing where you are can save time for some people. (just a state and area works if you have security concerns) If you want to help educate the public then you need to be found by those people. It seems like the internet is the easiest route in most cases for that to happen.

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I tell people looking for reputable breeders to contact the rescue group for that breed. Most rescue groups have members that are also breeders and THOSE are the breeders in it for the right reasons. They love their breed and make sure to help it in every way they can. That includes being involved in saving and rehoming them whenever possible. Even though they aren't producing the dogs coming in to rescue!

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Looking up the national breed club can sometimes be helpful. If their website is good they will tell you what health probems are common in the breed. It is then up to the buyer to ask the right questions of the breeders they list. I have found that just because a breeder is listed on a breed club site however doesn't always mean they are a good breeder. At least by my standards. To me health testing is number 1. (along with stable temperment)

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A sad thing I need to mention is that unfortunatly not all rescues are reputable these days either. I had a friend that found a specific breed of dog at a rescue (not a purebred group) that wanted over $600 as an adoption fee. She was upset that she couldn't afford it because it was a breed she had always wanted and it sounded like a good match from the description. I'm sorry but that is a price tag, not an adoption fee. So be careful of the "rescue groups" out there as well. If they sound like they are selling dogs then maybe they are. Some people like to prey on the uneducated people out there. It's sad but true.

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I see no problem supporting adopting from shelters and rescue groups. But I think supporting reputable breeders is important too. I don't think I am in the minority. The slogan "Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die.", while idealistic misses the mark slightly. Shelter pets don't end up there simply because they were created. They are there because someone turned them in for behavior issues, medical issues, or they came in as a stray. Or maybe someone just got tired of taking care of the dog. Or they got taken away from their owners for neglect. I won't say they are all there because of irresponsible owners but many of them are. How is that a reputable breeders fault? If a reputable breeders dog ends up at a shelter, and they know about it, chances are they will make sure to pull that dog before it gets euthanized.

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So that is my soapbox on the subject. What say you dear reader? How do we reach the masses when it comes to educating the puppy buying public? Or is it a lost cause for some? Who do you support and why?

The force free heel

I joined a new facebook group called "Force Free Trainers". I love that term, Force Free. What a great term for positive training! So I borrowed it as my post title. Today I thought I'd share how I teach the heeling position. I will do my best to make the directions clear. It is much easier to show people what to do than to write it!

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There are many ways to teach dogs how to do things, this is just the way I have found that works best for me and my students. I typically teach heeling in stages to make it easier for everyone involved.

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The first thing you need to know is that true heeling is a position and not a movement. It means that your dog walks calmly by your left leg with no pulling on the leash. Their front shoulder should be in line with your leg. When you stop the dog also stops and sits. Because of this I make sure the dog already knows the sit action and cue. (word and hand signal for sit)

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When I teach sit I initially use the lure method. I do this because it also teaches the hand signal for the action because it is a modified version of that signal. To lure a sit you have a treat in your hand and start with it directly in front of the dogs nose. Slightly raise it up and back over the dogs head until they sit. Mark the sit with a verbal "Yes" or click and give the treat. Once the dog is responding to this with no hesitation, attach the word sit as they are going into the sit position. I like to attach the word in progress so they make the correct association.

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Aside from practicing the sit with the dog in front of you, for heeling we also need to practice the sit with them in the proper position by your left leg. You may need to lure the dog into the proper position by your left side before you give the sit cue. Simply use the treat and circle the dog around to that position before you give the hand signal or lure for the sit. Keep your feet straight and have the dog move to you, do not move into them to get both of you straight and looking forward. Practice this separately from the walk initially.

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Another thing that can help you later with heeling, depending on the dog you are working with, is the "touch" cue. Some call this targeting. For this I teach the dog to touch my flat palm with their nose. I teach both hands so I can use either one. This one is easy. Simply offer your hand and when they go to sniff it mark it "Yes" or click and give them a treat. Once they are consistent, say the cue "touch" as you offer your hand and they go to touch it. Move your hand around so they have to think about it and work for it. Keep it fun! This is an easy exercise you can use for many other things later as well.

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I used to teach heeling with luring where I would have them follow a treat in my left hand. I found that some dogs never made the connection however as they were to busy thinking only about getting the treat. I still might sometimes use this to get a dog to move around in a specific direction however the touch cue can be used instead. (tho you may need to bend over with a short dog or use a target stick) Simply dangle your left hand down and ask them to touch it to keep them in position. Touch is also a great exercise to refocus a dog whose attention might be drifting.

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I also recommend teaching a "watch me" command to get a dogs attention. If you have already taught your dog to look at you when you say their name you can use that instead. Be sure to always reward that eye contact. This is the beginning to a great recall as well. If you want to make it a separate exercise say "watch me" and mark and treat the moment they look you in the eyes. You can make it a challenge by holding both hands out horizontally with treats in them as a distraction. The dog will look at your hands. Wait the dog out. The moment he looks you in the eye mark and give the treat.

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The walk: I teach this in parts to make it easier. I simply take the dog for a walk and mark and reward what I want the dog to do. Remember training is really just about reinforcement. To set them up for heeling later I keep them on my left side as much as possible for all walking. As I walk the dog if they pull on the leash I use my no-reward mark word "auh-auh" and turn and walk in the other direction. I will say "let's go" when I change direction so they know I have changed direction. I do NOT yank on the leash to get their attention, I call them instead. Initially I am working just on getting the dog to walk without pulling. I do not concentrate on the heel position until they understand this rule first. I will also change direction frequently so they have the opportunity to earn their paycheck. When they walk with a loose leash or follow me at all I mark and treat or verbally praise them.

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To go to the next level I simply change what they get paid for. The moment they are in the heel position I mark and reward them as they are walking. I also mark and reward eye contact. I usually start the walk working on loose leash work and do the heeling practice near the end of the walk. This way the dog is usually calmer and more apt to pay attention to you. Set your dog up for success! Don't make it harder for them than it is or training will just be frustrating for you both. I use a very high rate of pay for heeling. I might give a treat every 3rd step if they are still in position. Remember to mark it every time you pay them so they understand what the paycheck is for. Only mark and treat the perfect heeling position as well. This will help the dog figure it out quicker.

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Once the dog is consistently in the proper heeling position throw in halts and sits. You halt, they sit. (this might not be until after the first few walks, always work at the rate your dog can understand) I slow down before I stop walking so I can telegraph to the dog that something is about to change. AS I stop walking I use my hand signal for sit to bring them into the sit position by my legs. This take practice! You may want to even practice the movement of stopping and doing the hand signal without your dog at first to get the feel of it. (I make my students do this. Muscle memory can really help you in training.)

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Slow down your walk, plant your left foot, as your right foot is coming up beside your left foot your right hand is coming over in front of your dogs nose and up to give the sit hand signal as you say the cue verbally as well. When I go to step off I make sure I step off with my left foot as I say "Heel". Left foot means heel, right foot is for a stay cue. If you ever plan on competing in obedience be sure to teach and practice this way. It will help your dog understand exactly what you want. So the only cues I use are Heel and Sit. Eventually with enough practice you won't need to use either verbal cue because your body cues the dog. (I admit that I still use my cues out of habit.)

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During my walks when I want to switch back to just loose leash walking I will give the dog a release command. I use "free dog". This means they do not have to stay in the heel position. I like to break up the walks so I don't bore the dog and to give me a break as well.

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Tips: If your dog has a crooked sit you can practice your halts close to a wall. This will give your dog no other option but to sit straight. With multiple repetitions you can move further away from the wall. Make sure you are getting your hand far enough over during your cue to sit as that can cause the sit to be crooked.

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So I hope someone finds this post useful. I never would have considered showing in obedience if I didn't have confidence in Jenny's heeling work. But even if you never plan on showing, heeling can make walking your dog so much easier. Especially in crowded areas. Good luck and if I've missed anything fee free to ask questions!

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Happy training!

Marie Finnegan

K-9 Solutions Dog Training Inc.

A skin update

I'll start with the better news first. Jenny's tail hair is growing back very well. I don't think you'll be able to see the injured area at all by the time all the fur grows back.

Here is her armpit and chest area looking much better.

And her belly. The majority of the rash is gone. However the bad news is that she is still pretty itchy.

For those interested she is currently on: Welactin omega 3 oil, Pentoxifylline 200mg twice daily, ciprofloxacin 1/2 of 250mg once daily, (for the skin infection) Allerplex 3 capsules daily, (2 am 1 pm) Dermatrophin 1 tablet twice daily, (both by Standard Process) and Benadryl 25mg 3 to 4 times daily for the itching. BTW Benadryl now comes in bottles of 100 capsules which makes life a little easier.

I've also taken her off all peanut butter just to rule that out as a cause. It wasn't included in the food testing I'm told. I've been stuffing her kongs with canned wellness chicken with her treats to freeze instead. She is also getting regular baths with a medicated shampoo. She is not impressed with that part of the regimen. She likes getting the pills though because it means a canned food treat. And of course Jack gets a spoonful too so he likes her pill routine as well.

The other good news is that I think the Pentoxifylline is starting to kick in. I swear I can see more hair growth on her than she had before which can be one of the effects. But maybe it's wishful thinking. I dunno. I can't find any really good "before this got bad" photos of those areas I see it in.

So my next step is to switch her food to see if that helps. I'm thinking of trying the new Honest Kitchen Zeal dehydrated food. It is for dogs with sensitivities. My next step after that might also have to be heading to a canine dermatologist. My bank account shudders at the thought since it sounds costly with again no guarantees.

We'll see how it goes.

Dog Jumping - How to Stop

Stop Dog Jumping

Teach your dog not to jump - both you and your dog will be the happiest friends ever!

Here’s how to make your dog understand that you do not prefer jumping! If you have already tried out many times to stop “Rex” from jumping, by shouting at him, pushing him and running away from him, and still have not succeeded, I have another tips for you!

Yes… this post is all about how to stop Rex from jumping when you get back home from your work place. Don’t worry I will never write on abusive ways of treating your dog – your most beloved family member. I am really dead against the abusive training procedures. My tips on training dogs not to jump do not involve anything punitive, nor do you need yell at your loved one.

But before I step on to talk about how to stop your dog jump on you, I would like to talk a bit about why actually dogs jump

So why do dogs jump?

Dogs jump up on you in the rage of excitement to show their high enthusiasm. and express their joy. Usually your dog jumps when you get back home after being at work all the day long. This is an instance that I have come across quite frequently. But there are other reasons too that are not seen so frequently, which I think are more serious reasons. One of those seldom found reasons is that when your dog is jumping to show his or her their dominance over you and your family member. If this is a case for you then you are at risk... never ever try to push him away.

If your dog has a tendency to show his dominance, he or she will probably jump on you on wide range of circumstances - and not just when s/he is excited or happy. I would suggest you to bring in a subtle twist in the relationship with your dog. No... I am not asking you to love him/her less. All you need is to prove your dominion over your dog. Try to be an “alpha member” of the pack. Learn how can you be an alfa member of your pack. This is my GSD blog!

Just follow a few simple steps to stop your dog from jumping…

I won’t suggest you to move backwards. Moving backwards means your dog will also move towards you, instead of stopping to jump. Hence, I would choose to see it as encouraging the dog to jump continuously. I would move forward – close to the chest of the dog, so that he/she doesn’t really need to jump further. Hold his hands and put him down instantly saying “NO” firmly and seriously. When your dog is on all four on the ground, cool him down and he should get a very brief and gentle praise (not too much) for his good behavior. No extra reward should be extended towards him now. Just the brief praise is good enough to make him feel that you are quite serious and absolutely disliking his jumping behavior.

My next step is to ignore him. Ignore him completely. Well, now let me give this a name. Let’s call it “Zero-Communication Rule”. Yes… you guessed it right. No communication at all... no more touch, no talk, no looking at him, no treat, nothing for a few minutes. Keep yourself a bit serious and spare absolutely no further attention to him. Let him cool down. Remember your dog is very intelligent, doesn’t really matter what breed he/she is. Even mixed breeds have quite a great deal of intelligence to instantly understand whether you like or dislike something.

Third step that I would suggest you is to choose a word, for instance “NO”. Use it firmly every time you get into his room. Let every one use this word and in this manner, every time anyone in your family get into Rex’s place. This step should be accompanied with what I call “Zero-Communication Rule”, and should be continued until Rex doesn’t jump any longer.

Consistency is the key to your success story! Your patience will yield you sweet fruits!

If you are a German Shepherd Dog lover... you can visit this ultimate GSD information source.

Great Dogs, Great Handlers, Great Runners! And Me.



Caden, River, Ted and Jet





As a writer, I tend to surf along gathering bits and pieces from everywhere, with hopes that I'll be able to put it together - much like a bird making a nest. Today it came together, and I am sharing it here.

This morning I've been thinking about how fortunate I am - or maybe how smart I am - to be surrounded by people who strive for excellence and who share this passion with me so freely. I've also been thinking about how I've been blessed with some great dogs. This is in part by design because it's no accident that I try to get the right dog for me and in doing so, have dogs from very good lines with years of selective breeding behind them. It puts me in this precarious position of wanting to do the best I can to live up to those dogs! This is something I've been thinking about since my dinner party a week ago where we discussed the focus you need to be successful in your chosen pursuit.

I just spent an hour composing a long note to the Sheepdog chat list in response to a timely discussion that forced me to think. Since I spent that time on it, figured I would re-purpose it here as a blog post! The question raised on the list is whether the combination of successful handler and good dog is really the best combo, or whether anyone could take a highly trained dog and do well. It's resulted in some very interesting discussion about handling, training and dogs. Someone posted a note today quoting Malcolm Gladwell, one of my favourite authors, and I simply had to respond!

If you  know me, you will know I can't stay quiet for long. In my post (below), I didn't get into Conformation or Schutzhund but I easily could have, so you can read this and think about any dog sport and handling. I am new to SchH so I feel the same about seeing a great handler and dog on the field as I do about Border Collies and sheep - - - well, in honesty my heart goes with the sheep first and foremost as it is my greatest love, but you know what I mean.

The bottom line is that we can learn so much from the great and successful handlers and trainers in any sport. I am very fortunate that I have role models, friends and mentors like Scott Glen, Nancy Anstruther and Dan Waters (no website, Dan! - one of the top SchH competitors in Canada) in my life. I watch how they are so single-mindedly pursuing their dreams and goals and it is an ongoing lesson to me.

I am also very, very lucky that I have been blessed in my life with some amazingly good dogs - Rough Collies, Border Collies and German Shepherds. My goal is to be the best that I can be and do the best I can for my dogs. If I apply myself with focus and determination I can end each day knowing I am growing in my chosen pursuit. It's me - against me! And no one else. This even ties into my diet and weight loss goals, come to think of it.

If you read on, you will see how this all ties in...





Here is my post - -


I really like what you said Laura. I was thinking of raising Malcolm Gladwell too, because I love this books. Malcolm Gladwell also wrote in 'Blink' that most of us have the ability to make decisions in the blink of an eye, and if you pair the ability to do this, up with his book the Tipping Point and the 10,000 hour eqation, you get our ultimate handler! ** (see my sidenote below about Chariots of Fire!)

As to Jerry's question, regardless of what dog I am blessed with - I don't know that I could ever hope to have the 'second sight', intuition, timing or instinct of someone who is fortunate enough to have grown up in it, and who has the time and facilities to train daily. Beyond training, people who simply work their dogs in a real life situations have such an edge over most of us. It's a powerful combination of circumstance, ability and environment that makes the best handlers. But I can always hope to learn from them and beyond that, I love to watch them.

At one of the first clinics I ever attended with Scott Glen, [my note - who I got Jet and Ted from]... he was talking to a bunch of 'green' people like me, and I always remember his words as being so encouraging. He said that our goal should be to take any dog and make it the best dog that IT can be. Not every dog is equal but if we have made it the best dog it is capable of being, we have succeeded and along the way, we will learn about dogs, sheep and about ourselves. He also said (I am paraphrasing, forgive me Scott) that some of the best teams are often the ones who have had to work harder and longer and who have stuck with it.

(This is me now...) In many dog pursuits, I've seen people with a prodigy dog, who *believed* that they were great handlers. Obviously they niched with that dog and that is of course, a wonderful thing. I think that when this happens, the ideal would be that we get the 'feeling' of how things should be, and are able to use that in our future training and know more clearly what we are after with dogs to follow. The sad thing I've seen in some cases is that some people hate every dog afterwards, finding fault in it and comparing it to the gift they had in that one special dog - rather than understanding that as handlers, they are part of the equation - or rather than finding joy in each individual dog that comes along.

In every dog sport there are people who have natural talent and people who have to work at it. Every dog is different too. I personally love the process of developing myself when I train. Aside from stockdogs, my dogs all track, and this is also a natural ability that we encourage in our dogs. I teach tracking and give clinics - and I will often see a dog with such raw ability that I *know* I could take it and without much effort, shape it into a phenomenal tracking dog with little effort. But my job is to help the handler.

It's not always easy - some of what I know comes from time, miles and perhaps some talent and instinct for it, as I have been doing it for thirty years now very successfully. I have realized that, and in my teaching I try hard to pass on what I know I can - and hope to inspire people to work hard enough that one day they will have more flow and better timing and observation skills. There are some things that one just can't pass on though. But I have seen over my years as a tracking instructor where someone suddenly 'gets it' and a few of my students have surpassed me. This is a joy for me because it is my passion, and I learn from them!

Some people just have "IT" and when they are in the zone there is nothing more breathtaking to watch than one of these handlers. It is what inspires me to keep going and sustains my love of working with Border Collies and sheep.

***as a sidenote, I watched the movie Chariots of Fire on an old movie channel the other night. It is a fabulous movie to watch and to think about the themes of natural, raw talent, training, passion, sportsmanship and friendship. The two runners are very different but equally talented. One, the Scottish gold medalist Eric Liddell is one of those I would say who 'simply has IT.' He ran with no form, throwing his head back and in the zone. The other runner, Harold Abrahams, worked at form and technique but also got a gold medal. I compare everything to my dog pursuits - and when I watched this movie I saw the same things we talk about here - the naturals and the ones who work at it - and both can be successful!

A day late but worth the wait

Hope you all had a great Valentines Day!!

(Photo credit to Jess Cota)

Jet watches Westminster

I just caught this photo of Jet sitting on the couch watching the Westminster Dog Show.
She doesn't get it. Where are the sheep? What are they doing?
And I am realizing, she could use a brush. It's a bit embarrassing, LOL. Look at her messy ears!

I love watching Westminster. It is a great competition and a spectacular event. But I am very glad the Border Collie is preserved as a working dog. I see a great split in the German Shepherd Breed these days. It is very sad to see the athletic, working GSDs (like my Caden) on one hand, and the very angled show dogs at the other end.

However, I have owned some of those show line GSDs, and I won't join in with people who rip them apart. I know that they love their owners and have a lot of heart. They've been wonderful dogs for me, and given me a lot in tracking too. Many of these dogs are the victims of selective breeding for looks, and I also know that some of these breeders believe they are doing a great job of preserving the breed - they are not malicious people. I don't know what the answer is. But I love my Caden and his type so much, I am very happy I made the move to a working lines dog. NOT taking away one iota of the love I have felt for every other GSD I've ever owned... be clear on that!

A working lines GSD and a working stockdog are a very nice match in the home, and keep me plenty busy and happy.

Contour Helmet Cam used to film AKC TD - Pass! In New Mexico

By clicking on this link you can watch this dog, a German Shepherd named Reni, as he navigates his TD test in very dry conditions in New Mexico a few weeks ago to a pass. The handler, Richard Arimoto, wore a helmet cam throughout the test. It is very neat to watch. It's also interesting to see the conditions in other areas where people train.

http://contour.com/stories/reni-td-test

I may have to look into this helmet cam! It comes with built in GPS.

This link was shared on the AKC Tracking_Dog @ yahoogroups .com  list and is public. His dog is definitely on the job and does a great track with very minimal handling, just nice following, and no looking back - by the handler. At the end once his dog is at the article, he looks back and you can see the judges and tracklayer.

Enjoy!

Friends

Friends came for dinner on Saturday. What a great evening! We usually see each other while out training. What a treat to spend a few hours talking (about dogs, of course!)

My friends came for dinner on Saturday. This is my 'Alberta family!' Michelle in red (see Sufat Sheleg in the handy links to the left), and going clockwise, Nancy Anstruther and Bob Findlay (Tallywood Collies), Dan Waters my SchH guru (Susan was not able to come), and Pam and Jerry Prescott who also have a young working GSD and a mini Schnauzer. I've known Nancy for 20 years, but everyone else I've met since moving here, through the dogs. I've had two Rough Collies from Nancy, Kate and Shaman, both described in the sidebar menu to the left. Nancy's current showdog Dax is doing amazingly well - check him out here! He is beautiful.

Caden just loved Bob! Poor Nancy, a diehard Collie person caught on camera with a Shepherd on her lap. Good sport, Nancy! Caden also spent a lot of time under the table getting pats from Dan, his favourite person in the world, next to me... and sometimes I am second best to Dan, haha.

Here is a living room full of people. Nancy is giving the royal wave. It was so nice to have everyone here! I made an Italian dinner, from Jamie Oliver's cookbook Jamie at Home.

Jet is not sure if she is going to get in trouble, and you can see that Dan is not impressed, LOL. Since I am doing SchH with Jet (BH and tracking), I guess I need to treat her like a dog and not so much like a little person, mind you Jet may object to that. I was taking pictures while some very serious dog talk was going on. That's why the serious faces. Something about how dedicated you have to be to be successful and other such stuff, hours to put in, a need for focus.

Seriously, having Nancy and Dan at the table was interesting as they are both people at the top of their respective specialties - conformation, SchH. I liked hearing their point of view and advice.

Ted schmoozing with Dan. Ted is the ultimate schmoozer...

Ted moves his schmoozing game over to Jerry...

Just a shot of my table pre-company. Pretty! That's Jet's UTD rosette hanging on the cabinet. I always leave the most recent one out, until it is replaced by the next title in tracking. Sort of motivation, I guess.

You may wonder, where is River? She likes to hang out on the bed and supervise. She loves this open concept house because she can watch everything from her special place.

I was taking the picture of River, and here is Ted, pulling out all the stops, hoping that just prior to guests arriving, perhaps he can tempt me with a ball game. He is so hilarious. It's like living with a muppet, to have him putting on this stage show from my couch all the time.

My logo saga part 2 and a logo help request

So awhile ago I wrote about changing my logo. I had come across a celtic pawprint design by Aon Celtic that I loved so much I incorporated it into a tattoo. Then I thought about using it as my training business logo. After finally getting in touch with the owner of the design (FYI always double check your e-mail spam folders) I got all the details of using it with permission. I was good to go.

Then I got thinking about taking my old logo off my car and it bothered me. I made the original logo of an akita because my first dog was the catalyst for my becoming a trainer in the first place. I didn't want to lose that link. Not to mention I drew it myself so I knew I wouldn't need any one's permission to use it and no one else could possibly have the same logo. Unlike what could happen if I bought the other one. So I decided I am going to tweak the one I have and use that instead. I even think I have figured out how I'm going to change it. Stay tuned for photos.

The other logo I have been working on in my head is one for the K-9 Corrections program. The one on our facebook page is actually just clipart. I would love to come up with something to use on t-shirts for us to sell as a fund raiser. This way anyone who wants to support the program can buy one and really show off that support. I'm sure families of the handlers would also love to have that link to their family members. Not to mention the former handlers when they leave the facility.

I welcome any submissions from readers for this logo. Either ideas or artwork can be sent to me at CanineHelp@aol.com . I will not pay for artwork or submissions but credit will be given to anyone who's work we use. If we use the artwork and make the shirts, a free t-shirt with the design will also be given to the artist.

Tracking Tests, Seminars, SchH Trials, Stockdog Clinics - spring is coming

April - Armstrong BC - UTD / TD / TDX (Sil Sanders judge)
May - Edmonton, Alberta - TD and TDX (Greg Martin judge)

These are the close ones for me. With all of this snow, I am not sure how ready Jet can be for TDX and she is my priority. I would love to try Caden and Ted in TD, but have the same problem with the weather. As I type this, it is -25 C and there is way too much ice to work even in parking lots. This is the grimmest winter I've experienced in Alberta and there's no end in sight - I can only hope for another Chinook for a weekend.

Check Canuck Dogs for premiums for these and other tests - they are starting to appear... or the CKC website for info on other tests. I see the test in Thunder Bay is in June but I just can't get their this year, with the Sch Regionals happening the same month. I also see that the Winnipeg GSD Club is having an Urban Seminar with my friend Marge Schultz! It's all on Canuck Dogs! Check it out!

I wish there were more trials, especially urban tests, in the Alberta area. This may be River's last year at it, though as long as she wants to try, I will enter her. Jet needs a TDX and UTDX, and River (as you know) only needs to pass UTDX. In my heart, she is already a UTDX dog having done so well last year - with the heartbreak end to a beautiful and challenging track. Either way, I am very happy to keep training, because I love being out tracking. But testing would be nice!

PLUS we have some SchH trials coming up this spring, including the Western Canada Regionals in Calgary on June 18 and a trial in Edmonton in May - check the GSSCC website for details. I am hoping for a BH for both Caden and Jet, and later in the year, maybe a SchH 1 for Caden as well, plus a tracking title in SchH for Jet too.

AND for anyone out there in conformation with their GSDs - there will also be a Sieger Show - you can come show at our Regionals. Contact me for info if you would like to know more. It is a very neat opportunity.

I am aiming for the Lee Lumb Stockdog Clinic and Coldstream trial in June, and another big slate of clinic / trials in August - starting with a clinic with Faansie Basson from South Africa, then a trial in Shaunnavon Saskatchewan, then the Western Canadians in Maple Creek, and then, the Canadian Nationals Cranbrook - all over two weekends! Check out the Alberta Stockdog Association website for this info and more. As with tracking - if I can get practice in (and I am very determined) I hope to trial Jet and Ted this summer too!

Or maybe even find some land... and get sheep! Things are looking good this year - I am excited!

Another SchH training day - long downs - check!

As usual, we met on Sunday afternoon for a few hours of training...

Jet has figured out 'position' in one week - she is such an amazing worker, even Dan was enthusiastic to see her so sure of herself in her 'fuss' work. Dan actually loves Jet - he can see she is born to work and he admires that about her. In this picture she is doing a long down while another dog is working. This will actually be good for her stockdog work (if I ever find sheep to work...) because her self control and obedience is really becoming solid - and it should carry over.

Caden did his longest down stay ever yesterday! I like using this little platform because it makes it clear that they are in a 'spot.' What a handsome devil he is!

Here he is from a distance (above and below) holding his down while Dan works Ali around the room. This was exciting for me - to see Caden stay even while Dan worked as Caden usually wants to jump up and respond to Dan's commands!

I did go stand beside him when he did a go back and a here with Ali, but he held his down. Awesome! As always it is so good to watch Dan and Ali work - she is one of the top SchH dogs in Canada and has been for a couple of years and Dan is a great handler, so it is a lesson in itself to watch them go through things. Dan is a great help to Caden and me, and to Jet too!

Below... Good boy!

His reward is usually food while we work, and a tug here and there - because it provides him with an outlet for the stress we build up as we work to tug something and get it all out. He adores this tug. Jet tugs too!

Secretariat

From the newspaper The Examiner



Tonight I decided to watch Secretariat. I nearly went to see it at the theatre, but if the truth be told, I was afraid to go see it, because I knew I would be an emotional mess, and sure enough, I have been crying through the entire movie.

When I was in grade school, I was horse crazy like any young girl. We had a public speaking competition and my topic was the Triple Crown. I used little recipe cards to hold in my hand for that speech, which was three minutes long. I still have them in my old jewelry box. I owned every Black Stallion and Misty novel, plus books about race horses - some of which I just gave to my niece Rachel for Christmas, as she has inherited the 'horse crazy' gene.

My dream was to have a horse, but sadly, I am allergic to horses! I have never been able to ride them or be near one without plugging right up. Tonight I am congested from crying. I love any good animal story - but this story seems to be a bit about my life.



Winning the Belmont, Champion Gallery .com





I remember going to Florida with my parents and sister, and as part of a side trip, we actually drove to the farm where Secretariat lived - he was still alive at that time in the 70s. My parents were so good to us - taking us on trips like this. On that same trip, we went to Graceland, home of Elvis in Memphis. So tonight - I've been crying with memories of those days when I thought trips like that, and days spent with my family would go on forever. It's a hazard of youth, to have such optimism - thank heavens - or we may not carry on into our adult years!

I remember watching each race Secretariat ran, cheering as he won each one. I memorized his pedigee as if I would some day be breeding thoroughbreds. In later years, I even considered naming some of my dogs after the names on his pedigree. I didn't have the litters, and never became a breeder - and tonight I cried about that too, remembering my pretty Kate and wishing she had at least one litter.

All my life I have loved watching the Triple Crown. I still cheer on each horse and cry at the end. And tonight I am cheering even though I know how this story ends. And I guess I am crying because it is not the kind of movie to watch alone. It's a movie to share, and very hard to think about how my life has gone so that I am sitting here typing on a blog instead of talking with someone about what a wonderful show it is - what a great horse he was, and how thankful I am to have lived through the experience.

What a strange thing, to have a movie move me in so many unexpected ways. Thank you Secretariat for many good memories. You were an awesome horse. I hope that I can live up to your spirit by doing the best for the awesome dogs I own, in a small way, in my small life.

This movie is a great reminder to stay the course and have faith. Inside tonight I feel like that young girl, so hopeful about life, reading my little speech, and I am reaching inside to find that optimism again.



Alonso Studio portrait





Secretariat - he lacks fear. A GREAT horse.

PS I won my speaking contest in grade 7 and it is one of my fondest memories!

Yes I'm a control freak

So it is day 5 of the Idita-walk 2011 event. I managed to have enough free daylight time today to take Jack for a real walk. (I treadmill it on the days I don't.) My sister is recovering from a back strain so came with me on the walk sans her own dogs.

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It was a pretty good walk right up until the very end. We had taken a few minutes to sit on a bench near the water to cool off and someone drove into the adjoining lot with a dog they let out of the car. We kept a watchful eye on the dog and eventually they put him on leash. Thankfully it was before he spied us.

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I always worry about off leash dogs. Chalk that up to previous bad experiences with past dogs. This is why I most often walk on main streets where people have to have their dogs on leash. So many people think they have them under voice control but once they see another dog they almost always go up to them to say hello. (if you're lucky)

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I really dislike that people with dog friendly dogs think this is ok to do. Yes your dog may be good with other dogs but that doesn't mean the one I have with me is. Or maybe my dog hates being on leash when another dog rushes him. This can result in a nice dog fight. And guess what? The on leash dog will get blamed because, "Why are you walking an aggressive dog?" says the off leash dogs owner. Um because there is a leash law which should mean my dog is safe from this sort of problem. Even the friendliest dog can become a shark if they feel trapped as well.

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I have this rule. My dogs don't play with other dogs or even greet them unless I know them well and can control the situation to some degree. This keeps my dogs safe for their own protection. The last thing I want for Jack especially is to have negative experiences meeting other dogs. So I stick to my rule pretty strictly. Once the dogs owner got him leashed we stood up and circled around them to head to our car. They saw us and headed our way. "Oh this ones friendly and likes to play with other dogs. Is he ok?" the owner says. "It depends on the other dog." I say and keep walking clearly NOT in his direction. My sister was in between us while I kept Jack moving. Because he does like most other dogs he got bouncy and happy at the possibility of another doggy playtime. (He had just had one with Chuck. See video below.) I don't say anything else and keep on walking. "Oh well akitas are aggressive." the man says as we pass by.

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My head threatened to explode. It's funny about situations like that. I always think of the best things to say after the person is out of range. But my sister pointed out that it might not be a bad thing for him to think if it keeps his dog from approaching others in the future.

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Here's a tip people, ask before heading in our direction or assuming my dog wants to play just because yours does. And don't take it personally of we say no. And please don't make remarks about our dog being bad because we said no. You have no idea why we might be saying no. How do you know my dog doesn't have something contagious? (This is the number one reason people shouldn't let their dogs socialize in a vet's office waiting room. That and because many dogs get stressed there as well. Being stressed and confined on leash in a small area is always a recipe for disaster.)

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I do admit though that I felt a little bad. Jack could have had a great time playing with him and I ruined it by being a control freak. But then again if ruining a potential playtime now and then means keeping him safe then I'll keep doing it. I will always err on the side of caution for my dogs' sake.

Here is Jack and Chuck playing at the Loyal Biscuit Co. The video was taken from my phone so I apologize for the poor quality. Yup them akitas are aggressive alright!

My personal trainer comes to work! My obsession with fitness continues...



I am so obsessed with fitness and nutrition these days. I've been seeing a personal trainer for nearly 2 months and can't believe the difference it makes to work out with someone so motivating and knowledgable. At work we have a 'healthier u' challenge going on.

I mentioned it to Wayne and he offered to come and talk to people about fitness and nutrition! I felt so proud to have him come share with everyone.

He gave everyone some great information about nutrition, fitness and motivation with my co-workers. He did it on his own time because it is his passion, and as a favour to me - because I told him people were interested. It was a great presentation! We gave him some gifts, including - of course - dog stuff, because I happen to know he just got a puppy.

Sorry about the size of the photos - my iphone for some reason took them very small.

Oh my, it was dress down day, and I am definitely dressed down - usually at work I'm a bit more dressed up and so are my co-workers! *I feel the need to say that...



So here he is with some staff (who are anonymous) including my friend Shannon (not anonymous, LOL).

Bulldogs!

Not dog training related, but just finished painting my friends bulldogs!

http://www.berrywood.de/

Where's Ted?

So if you look closely, you will spot Ted, and realize why it's hard to get any serious writing done around here at times... My TV isn't even on! But often, Ted is more entertaining!

Don't you love how his green ball is colour coordinated with the green button of my external drive? Ted is so meticulous.

Observations - Working Jet, my Border Collie in SchH Obedience

As you know I am working Jet, my Border Collie towards a beginners obedience title in SchH because she really needs a job and I have no land or sheep right now. I think she was just excited to work - she is turning out to be quite good and it's a good experience to teach another dog.

Jet is the first Border Collie to earn an Urban Tracking Dog title. This was taken near Lake Superior with her tracking rosette. She is 'showing it' to me - with her article indication.

I am also going to try for her SchH tracking title this year. She's such an amazing little dog. It's sad to not have livestock, but nice to funnel her drive into something that uses her mind.


I may be discovering a breed difference in style of work for SchH. Her attention is a bit unnerving with those Border Collie eyes! She tugs like a SchH dog for a reward and does platz, sit, stand (steh) all very well now, and last night did a long down on a line while other dogs were working.


Last night I also heeled along a wall working on position, and everytime I backed up with her, she growled and muttered but did it very well. I said 'no' and she glared up at me but in beautiful position. I believe it was her excitement to work making her do this, as she was figuring out what I wanted. In part too, I suspect she is a bit surprised to be giving up control to me, as she is a very dominant little dog (I call her the "biggest dog in the house.")


The German Shepherds in the room were a little distracted by this little dog lying there, but she just stared at me during her long down and ignores them all - she has a lot of go and good presence!

Wordless Wednesday

I was looking through my computer and I finally found a "happy face" photo of Jenny. Although I gotta say, she looks a little crazy to me. I think it's the eyes. Cute though!

We can't relax! Jet and I had a busy night...

Tonight has been such a whirlwind! I went to the gym after work - I seem to be living there lately! I've even befriended my trainer, who just got a pup, and lent him a crate today (since I have so many - is there such a thing as too many crates?). So after six weeks of working out with him, tonight I started to attend a Fit Camp he runs with a group of 8 people. For one hour, we did cardio, core and strength exercises. I did "real" push-ups tonight! Military style. And some great yoga. I felt fantastic and a bit wired when I got home. 

Since being home, I've been working on the computer and talking to friends online. My FAVOURITE TV show, Flashpoint, came on so I settled down to watch it. While watching it, it occurred to me - Jet was unusually quiet tonight. So I peered over my writing table and she was very busy guarding every bone in the house - gathered and tucked into her place on the couch. She is like a little wolverine, and everyone gives her a big circle when she is in this mode. It seems like she can't relax either! She is happiest when she has a job to do - even if it is an invented one filled with great importance in her mind.  

I think she was annoyed with me because when I grabbed the camera, I alerted Caden to the fact that she had all of these bones!

But look at that face. Would you try to take one?

That's my girl.

Cool Article on the Origin of Small Dogs

Origin of Small Dogs Pinned Down

This article from LiveScience states that origins of small dogs points to middle east several thousand years ago, as well as the fact that little dogs have a gene that larger breeds of dogs don't possess: IGF1 gene.

An amazing story of a second chance at life - Jess, the oldest dog to earn a TD, died this week

Our heartfelt condolences go to Susie Coutts, a CKC tracker in Northern Ontario, who lost her sheltie Jess, aged 16, this week, to old age. We hate to think we'll ever lose a dog and as they keep celebrating one birthday after another it feels like you might beat the odds and have them forever!  

Jess is the oldest dog to earn a TD that we know of, and has a remarkable story of rehabilitation after being rescued from a puppy mill at age 9, when she was 'too old to keep having puppies.' Susie gave her an amazing second chance at a fulfilling life. We can all be inspired first by this story of rescue, and secondly by Susie's decision that Jess might enjoy tracking in her old age - going on to earn a TD at age 15!

You can read Jess's amazing story here, on the Dogs in Canada Magazine blog, and on Susie's Birch-Bark Hill tracking blog - both in the sidebar of this blog (to the left and scroll down).

Kudos to you Susie and Goodbye, Jess. You will continue to inspire us all!

Skin show

So Jenny is in the middle of another skin flare up. I swear there have been more flare ups than normal in the past few months. Maybe it just feels like that though. I hate seeing her miserable. To keep her mind off the itching I've been doing a lot of training sessions with her. We've worked on article indications for tracking and we are getting in LOTS of Rally practice. I've taken her to the prison twice to be the demo dog for signs. The good thing is that she will work for anyone so my handlers have gotten to practice with her too. Since their dogs are still learning it is good for them to get the feel of a course with a trained dog. Jenny doesn't mind. She always loves the opportunity to earn more rewards. Plus it helps wear her out while keeping her mind off the itching. Here are a few photos from her vet visit yesterday. They are a bit washed out color wise from the real thing but you can get the idea. (photos are from my phone camera)

Armpit area.

Belly and inner thighs.

And to top it off here is how her tail has healed so far from her previous incident. Hopefully the hair grows back eventually. We took some blood to send out for thyroid testing and started her on a different antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) for the skin infection. Multiple skin scrapings showed no results. (both from yesterday and past visits) She is also still on the pentoxifylline as well as benadryl when needed which is frequently at the moment. I am also bathing her in a medicated shampoo.

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The other thing I have found that seems to be helping in keeping her from itching has been chewing on stuff. I bought a new knuckle bone today and a bully stick. I don't usually do the bully sticks because of the smell but thought I'd give it a try. She loved it of course but I was worried she would eat the whole thing so after awhile I took it and traded for the knuckle bone. So far it's working. She's happily chewing away on that instead of scratching herself raw.

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A friend mentioned some homeopathic supplements for us to also try. (which will be my next internet shopping stop this evening) I'll keep you posted on our progress. If I find something that works I'll be sure to share it.