Joey and Blossom are starting to have so much fun together! Joey is smaller and definitely the boss. Size doesn't matter with these two.

Today I had an "ah ha" moment.
Last week a client asked me a question that I have answered many times over the past years. The question was, "How come my dog doesn't listen to me as much now as he used to when he was under 5 months old?" My answer is, for many reasons: the pup has had more life experience (age) and has gained confidence, not enough positive feedback,inconsistency in teaching, something missing in the relationship,frustrated, confused, testing boundaries......
So my "ah ha" moment happened while walking my own dog Blossom (which brings me much serenity and joy because she is a wonderful dog and listens well).
I remembered that when I first was becoming a dog trainer, I was like a sponge and learned so much so fast. I was fascinated with dogs and their behaviour. While going to dog training school, I went routinely and was on time for every class, I enjoyed seeing positive results in the dogs that I worked with. More importantly I was being rewarded by owners who worked hard to be, fair, consistent and who listened to their dogs and were continuing to teach. All of the things I have to do to be a good instructor! except I needed to listen to the owners as well.
Last year while at a conference I saw a very well know dog behaviourist, who I was excited to listen to. While she went on with her presentation I stopped listening, why? Because she was saying things that were inconsistent with many of the top behaviourists as well as her earlier works. I had been following her protocols for years now and found that I had wonderful results so now I was confused. I was ready to be a sponge and learn more but she left me frustrated to a point that I actually left the room. So at that point I stopped learning, even though I didn't agree with her I could still have stayed and learned why she felt this way. So I went back in to the room and finished listening to her speak, I saw that I wasn't the only one that had left as there were many chairs empty that were filled before.
We were confused, frustrated and my own confidence in teaching was in question.
Even as a dog trainer, I need to be confident in what I tell people because it is such a huge responsibility for their dogs life.
I never want to be a know it all but sometimes we stop listening because we are unsure and need to have clarification on issues. The same with our dogs, when we are not clear or consistent they shut down and stop listening. As a dog owner, it is our responsibility to make sure that we give positive feed back for good behaviours and take the time each day to work with the dog. We need to listen to them and work even harder to figure out why the dog is confused or frustrated. Make a plan and have set goals to work towards and go for it. Having fun and teaching through play is very effective and helps to create a bond of trust and leadership.
Woofs for now!
D

dogs at the Fraser River

Another gorgeous day in Vancouver. Today we went to the Fraser River and the dogs swam and dug holes in the sand, thank god they don't do that in the yard!!

off to the beach again on another warm Vancouver day

I just finished a set of basic obedience classes and everyone that started the classes also finished!!! Big accomplishment, usually someone is missing.
Everyone was doing really well but I could see that another set of classes to review it all wouldn't have been a bad thing. I may consider that going forward.
12 years as a dog trainer and I still love it! That says alot about this business.
I taught a puppy class previous to the basic one and as always........loved it. The people are such sponges and the dogs so darned cute! Hard not to love this class but again I wish that I could teach for a longer time because I never seem to get everything in that I want. My reward is to see these same dogs years later and see how happy the owner is and how bonded they are together........now that really makes my heart warm.

here is a picture of her.

found puppy

today I found this puppy hiding in some bushes in Point Grey. She ran from me when I stopped my van. I got out and brought Blossom, collar,leash and some treats. She was rail thin and very scared. I used my sweet voice and she would wag her tail and look like she wanted to come closer but was afraid. Even though Blossom did go say hi to the pup and got much closer then I did she wasn't much help bringing the pup closer so I put Blossom back into the van. I grabbed some water and put it on the ground and put some food down and walked away. The pup went and drank and ate, she was very hungry.
If I approached she went away so I let her eat then sat on the grass about 20 feet from her. I turned sideways and used my sweet voice and some calming signals, she did a couple of puppy bows and some whining vocalization and layed down 10 feet from me. I inched over until I could touch her. I had her sleeping by me within minutes and keep cooing to her and slipped the collar on her with the leash. I called animal control and they came and got her. While I waited with her I checked her teeth which were young adult and also saw that she was spayed. This pup is so cute, looks like a large puggle face but I guess may be a boxer shepherd cross. Best guess anyway.
When the animal control came for her she wouldn't get up for them so one of the men carried her and she didn't struggle but her tail was tightly tucked. I will visit this little girl tomorrow. Not really so little, extremely underweight and still about 30 pounds. Sleep tight little one.

Woke up feeling like I have a cold, but is it?

Yesterday I woke up thinking that I had a cold coming on. What the heck, I had one in October and January already this year and another one??? Normally I am healthy and get only one cold every few years but this year seems to have been a tough one for many. I don't think what I am suffering from right now is a cold though but perhaps Allergies.
I even remember my old girl Kailey suffered from them at this time of year. She would get quite stiff and I would always need to find something to help her get through it.
Once April was over she would have increased mobility and I am hoping the same happens to me!!

Sunshine, dogs and the park

I went for a walk in Pacific Spirit Park today and it was paradise on earth! How can it get any better then this, dogs, sun and gorgeous PSP. I had Blossom my black lab and Tofino an older chocolate lab as well as Riley a very big and beautiful golden retriever(not pictured, it is Angus with Blossom and Tofino). I started walking with an acquaintance who also had a black lab then we ran into another person with 3 black labs and then a client with her black lab!!! Wow, it was great! So many gorgeous dogs all in one spot enjoying each others company.
Does it get any better then that?

teaching through play

One of the things that I love to do with the dogs is teach through play. I will play tug to work on: fetch, drop it, take it, leave it and of course no teeth on skin.
This is one of my all time favorites because the dog is aroused and has to learn to have a shut off switch in order to get the toy back. No follow through on the dogs part means the game ends and I walk away or if there are any teeth on skin I will yipe and withhold all play for several seconds and try again. This means no jumping on me in between or the game ends. When I reintroduce the tug toy to play again I will continue to play as long as no teeth touch me, if they do the game ends for good this time. Playing with your dog and teaching at the same time are very bonding and can be lots of fun for both of you.

When bad things happen to big chocolate pups get hurt.

This poor girl hurt herself at the beach today. She did a header into the hard packed sand and it looked like she crushed her neck. She managed to limp along the beach and would lay down after every few feet. The dilemma was if she was really hurt internally how was I going to get her off the beach and to a vet quickly?
I didn't have to and she did manage to work it out, but what if it were more serious? Now I am thinking of creating some sort of contraption that can be used an emergency stretcher.

By teaching Blossom the "paw"cue I can direct her to go and put both paws up on any object from a distance and then stay. It comes in handy for more then just a trick, I can keep her out of the way of cyclists by getting her to do this or keep her mind working while we walk.
I find it a fun thing to see how many objects that I can get her up onto which makes the walk more fun for both of us.