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.