Training Others' Dogs for the AKC Ring

I have been spreading my wings as a trainer in more than just size differences and temperament differences in dogs trained for the AKC ring, but I have taken on clients and friends dogs to get my experience in the ring.   Some trainers have a large family of dogs, in case things happen where their dogs can no longer accompany them into the ring.   I like for MY dogs to have all my attention when clients dogs are here, and I feel I have only enough energy to keep 2-3 dogs of my own perfectly happy and content.   Some trainers have even been known to train a foster dog to this task, but the problem comes in when you don't want to hold up a perfect home for the dog (or now you can't part with your foster LOL).  Taking on clients dogs is a unique opportunity.  

From the owners, I need access to the dogs during weekdays.   My client brings his dog to daycare due to this, and my friends are at work...so Bri is available to me during the weekdays.   Other factors can influence me on what is best to train on that day.   Today for instance, we have a moment of cold and windy (but sunny weather) that may bring more hardy Mainers out to some outdoor places.   So today might be a great day to bring a dog into distracting areas to do long downs or sit on the dogs.   Last few days were rainy, so we did a lot of group indoor stays with whoever was here and able to do that with Magoo and Bri.  You can make an indoor environment more distracting by bouncing balls, using an untrained puppy named Boris to run around and play through the participants, opening doors, timing it to when vehicles to pick up daycare are coming ET.   While it might not be worth it to go out and find distractions (as they won't be plentiful or probably on rainy days), you can still practice indoors.

I am really trying to make these practices count, and not try to overwork the dogs plus have them be practice sessions that will turn out to bite me in the butt in the ring (not ever literally of course ).   When out walking at a heel and for auto sits, being really sure that my body and foot movements will represent what I do in the ring is very important right now.   This is more about retraining me, BUT I have to make sure I now train the dogs to interpret the difference in the body movements now.   Why don't I just walk as I did in practice before?   Most likely this will cause points off.   There are very specific rules on what the human party in the transaction can and can not do.   I have had quite a few points taken off for having my hand in the wrong place during a command before.   If I have put the work into the dog, I prefer not to point myself out.  Yikes!!   It's a lot to think about, and it's best I think about it now BEFORE going into the ring.

Other things can effect what I work on during the day.   Who is here is sometimes a consideration.   Magoo gets along with everybody, and so far everybody likes him (human and canine LOL).   But Bri and Roxy are not so fond of each other.   It's not clearly evident unless they invade the other's space, but I prefer not to have them interact too often.  So since Roxy is coming here today to board, it's a good day to work with Bri off the property in distracting and public areas.   Thankfully, the weather is also cooperating with this plan today.

I have realized by getting my legs in the past, even if something goes a little wrong, I can usually save both of us from pointing out by keeping my body language the same, when I am in the ring.   So the dog can go "oh look at this piece of straw in the ring",   "oops wait where did my handler go, I better catch up."   If I instead look back, as if I am going back to the dog, I have clouded my signals up for my partner.  I am no longer in a leader position, as I have instead indicated that I may go back for them.  This can make an oopsy worse than it needed to be.

In training dogs that are not mine, I have found it quite different than training my own.   At home, I only have to worry about the humans who live here being inconsistent.   I can't control that when Bri and Magoo's owners interact with them.   I can give them clues and tips, but I know they both use the term "come" differently than I do in the ring.   It might have been smart of me to develop a different word for the recall in the ring, but we are a bit too far along to mess with things right at this moment.   I often don't have the opportunity to work them around their owners either, which provides a much different type of distraction in the ring.   As you could see in the video, Bri wasn't looking towards her owner, so she has become used to her owner being with me when in the ring from last year.  Many times, training may not be used in the home of the dog at all!!  So the only time they get practice is with you.  Should I ever wish to become a professional handler for others (a long time from now), it will be imperitive that I have these things sorted out and planned for.   First, I need to get better at my handling skills.   Luckily, I enjoy the art of dog training, and the bonds it creates between me and my canine friends.

Do I want to do this ring style body langauge when just going for a casual walk with my dogs normally?   Of course not...   The better you can prepare your dog for a scenario that may not be usual, in general, the better you can prepare your dog for real life situations.   By training my dogs and others for public as well as private performances, I can provide more opportunities of enjoyment and freedom for mine and others' dogs.

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Er, Bailey, What Were You Just Up To?

I was scooping poop towards the backyard, but "someone" was interested in another project. Though I did not witness it myself, I do believe the culprit can be seen in the picture. Bailey!!

I think the last picture speaks pretty clearly for itself.

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Boris the Horrid!!

The desk ones, he is contemplating what is best to steal off my desk (just on the other side of the couch that he is looking over LOL.  He's got the face of an innocent, but the mind of an imp and the ideas of a gremlin.

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Biking and Tether Ball with Board and Daycare Clients

Tether ball anyone?



How about a bike ride instead?





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NOT A Good First 2010 Trial Performance(s) for ME

The Casco Obedience Club Trial did end up being the perfect one for Magoo's first showing ever, my first trial of 2010 since (June 2009 legs earned on both Bri and Jack), and Bri's first trial since the same June 2009 trial. It had very large classes, but was a pretty tame show area. Still, I was far more nervous of this first 2010 event that I wanted to be. After working the dogs that morning, my best bet was that Bri may stand a chance at her last leg, and that Magoo would not stand a chance. Boy was I wrong LOL.

First of all, Bri has done very well before; it was totally my mistake in only acclimating her for a week before the trial. After viewing our tape, I am also quite certain that during the auto sits; I am probably not walking the same when practicing with her as when I was in the ring. My body language seemed to be confusing her, so it's going to be very important that I really pay attention to body position and footwork between now and May 20ths trial. You will note she did every auto sit...somewhere in the ring, it just was not beside me sometimes it was behind me (and I remember wondering where the heck is Bri Bri? I didn't want to mess her up further by looking for her at that point). Sometimes it was behind me; sometimes she walked away a little before doing it. She was paying attention to me well during the leashed heel, but was still farther ahead than I would like, so I need to reposition her for heel AND I also want to move her into a bit more of a six inch distance from me. I also underestimated how excited she would be to be back in the ring. During both the leashed and off leashed fast heeling, you can see her excitement charge ahead. She loves being the center of attention, and that has worked for me in the past. This time though, I was too cocky that we would get sleepy calm Bri in the ring. In fact, she did not light up that day until we stepped into the ring. So Bri and me had no chance in getting our leg during this trial, and that was totally my fault. So here we come Vacationland, and we have a month so this should be very much improved.  In the meantime, enjoy how cute Bri was, while I performed horribly.



Magoo despite his puppy antics earlier in the morning was more focused. There is one instant during the off leash heel where he walks over to the fence, but he returns when I am told to halt. So we would not have pointed out for that. However, at the last part of the tape, you will see that I seem confused during the recall. I thought the judge asked me to move my dog. I said "stay, and what move my dog?" She said no leave your dog, and I said "stay" again. At which point she said, you can't say stay again, you must leave your dog. I effectively disqualified us. The judge did allow us to do the recall, which was good as practice for Magoo. His heel was good, but most of his sits were crooked or in front of me. He did a really great figure eight, but missed one of the sits. And during the recall he sat crooked for front, and almost did a front for finish.

My entire fault, totally. Magoo is my first client dog in the ring, though I am doing all the training for free as practice. He is also the youngest dog (1 and a half) that I have brought into the ring. Not happy with my performance, but happy with both of the dogs, Bri and Magoo. As a team we will all show much better in May. Just dusting off the cobwebs now. One thing that was good is both tapes didn't look as bad as the performance actually felt. I am the worst at this, but the worst thing one can do is let their nerves get to them if it does not start out stellar. As much as I know this, I always know that I need to practice in that setting as well as the dogs, in order for me to get accustomed to it again.



Am I going to stop showing because I had a bad performance? Heck no, it's all about improving skills and seeing what your errors are when training. Then you can move that advice on to your clients (as best as possible) in their training. You can never expect your clients to do as well as you do, BUT if you are not more advanced and haven't investigated what is needed in order to succeed at those advanced levels, then you will be passing on even more mediocre training suggestions to your clients. Then they do not know how to improve their partnership with their dog, or even that it can be done.

That performance shows not such a great partnership between those dogs and me. They did have fun, and they enjoyed being out there with us. Now the smart thing one might think for a trainer to do is bury this, and only mention the accomplishments by simply pretending this day never happened. However, I like to show the journey it takes to do this. So many people are intimidated to do obedience, they worry about what others will think, the mistakes they will make, or can my dog do it. Obedience is really not that intimidating, and if things go wrong you fix them for next time. For a trainer, it is important to branch out form just doing your dogs to doing many types and breeds of dogs. This is what I am doing for free right now with dogs that I do have access to. I will take the lumps when I do bad, and move on by experimenting with the ways that I do things. Not many people have three perfect trials in a row from beginning to end. While that would be wonderful, know that about four other people that followed me had things happen like the dog going for the gate (on the other side of the ring) during a recall after a pretty solid performance otherwise. So you try to practice in situations later that give you time to fix the problem. It can also be a one time only problem, one never knows. Finally, the human part of the equation cannot get better without being committed to taking their lumps when mistakes happen for the better good of creating a strong partnership between dog and owner. If I just threw up my hands and said "wow that was so embarrassing, obedience is so stupid and not natural", then I would not be growing the way that I think I should. The reason I like the obedience as it always was is it really creates a strong bond with your dog that allows you to move onto the more exciting aspects of training (retrieve, selection, tracking).

So if a client can do this 60%, then they can at least have an increased partnership with their dog even if they choose not to compete. However, if you don't polish up your skills in these areas, you are not experiencing exactly how this works, and therefore a client cannot experience exactly how this works.

I do not have the kind of grace that other dog owners have out there on the ring. My body position has improved leaps and bounds though (as sad as that is LOL). I was never a good dancer, and I got easily confused during aerobics. So experiencing how body position works so much better with my improvements (that are not stellar) really hits home as to how these details make it clearer to the dog, and therefore they can follow your lead much better. I still have a lot of work to do, and I am putting my nose to the grindstone so that I can hopefully accomplish Magoo's three legs in May, and Bri's last leg that is left towards her Companion Dog title.

If I can be okay with embarrassing myself publically, anyone can be okay with it.   I hope that the May tapes of the progress can inspire people how much fun this is.   And I hope my willingless to show warts as well as accomplishments can show that the world does not end if you have a bad day.  I have always had stage fright, but have managed to muddle my way through corporate presentations and now dog trials.  I have only gotten five legs (three with Jackie CD and two with Bri) in my career as a professional dog trainer.  I also know that in order to advance to Open, I have to start getting scores in the high one nineties in Novice, and I am not there yet.   I can qualify right now, but have not ironed out the kinks in my body work and in the training program to get to the optimum performance that I want.   How will I get there?   Try and try again AND practice practice practice!!

So the go forward training plan is largely this:

· Magoo Plan 1: Find as many distracting packed with dogs’ events (craft shows, charity walks, matches,) to continue to accustom Mr. Magoo to the fact that checking out other dogs is not allowed. This just means making it ho hum for him. We usually use Petco and the beach, but he is pretty acclimated to those areas, so he just needs more strange and distracting areas.

· Magoo Plan 2: Doing attention training to keep his focus if another dog is at the fence line again.

· Magoo Plan 3: Straighten out the auto sits which includes being very focused on my body language while training, and how that is going to manifest itself in the ring. I have a feeling that when I am practicing, I am probably turning my shoulder instead of staying straight. I may also be cueing them (which I can't do in the ring, to sit where I want).

· Magoo Plan 4: Work on front and finish. We worked on this quite a bit, but again I think in the distracting setting is the key. It's hard to find off leash places where one is allowed to do some off leash training (under distractions) like this. First though, I need to make sure the position stands up in the non-distracting setting of my home, and I am not throwing out cues by mistake. I really need to be sure I am moving exactly as I will in the ring, while I am practicing.

· Magoo Plan 5: Devote every other day to practicing whole routine, and videoing it for progress. Want to see this done in different areas.

· Bri Plan 1: Basically work with her consistently between now and May 20th, especially in distracting situations.

· Bri Plan 2: Be more exacting on Bri's heel position.

· Bri Plan 3: Practice more running heels with Bri in situations that would make her very excited.

· Bri Plan 4: Still need to work on her closeness during the figure eight outside circle. She was a bit wide at least once.

· Bri Plan 5: Similar to Magoo, auto sits need to be straightened out, with most of the emphasis on what my body is doing during practice.

· Bri Plan 6: Every other day practice total routine, video it, and change up location.

· Me Plan 1: Pay attention to body position for practice to become body position for ring!!!

· Me Plan 2: Particular attention to be paid to what my body is doing during auto sits.

· Me Plan 3: Get cue cards so assistants can order me around as if I was at a trial.

· Me Plan 4: Come up with alternative distracting areas for the dogs rather than the same old ones.

.Me Plan 5:  Get ahold of an arm band holder, so I don't find myself in the uncomfortable position of needing to fiddle with the rubber band during the trial.   Man!!


Looking forward to sharing the improvements during the May trials. I may find time to download some practices, but I have older technology so downloading, importing, and then transferring take a large amount of time.



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Trialling Two Dogs

On this Sunday, the big day for trialling Magoo and Bri comes around.   Their pictures will tell you these are two different breeds of dog.   There are more differents than that obvious one, and even the difference in their size, which affects a number of things as well.

Bri likes to sleep late into the morning.   Yup, just like me as a lazy tween and teen.   She is not a morning person.   So exercising her before the trial is not such a great idea.   She has also gotten a bit out of shape, so doing too much with her so that she gets tired will backfire big time.   Bri almost always has to go to the bathroom (number 2) about 11am when we have gone to trials before.   So I really need to make sure that she potties before we go into the ring if it's anywhere around that time.  In general, it's a really good idea to make sure you dog has done everything they need to do, as this could make them uncomfortable in the ring...and they may just NEED to go right then.  Bri has always managed to get the higher scores that I have made when we trialed before.   I personally think her pink cuteness blinds the judges to her flaws, but they see so many dogs that I know this must not be true.

Magoo on the other hand, is still a young Great Dane puppy of 165 pounds.   The size factor has meant being sure to get him used to not using his size and strength in public, and hopefully this holds over to the very exciting atmosphere of this trial.   This trial is in a middle school, and there are likely to be baked goods and children running around with baked goods asking to pet your dog.   Not to mentioned in a crowded gym area with three rings set up, and spectators.   It's not the most chaotic scenario that I have had for a trial, but it is close.   Magoo will be exercised before we go.  

Both dogs will be warmed up for about 10 minutes or so before the trial (starting outside and going to inside).   Luckily I have some help coming with me (Bri's owner).   I hope to get some good video of both in their individual exercises.   Bri's owner will be helping handle Bri during the long stays.  

Bri only needs to get one leg to accomplish her companion dog.   This is Magoo's first trial and so he needs all three legs.   In the past, Bri has tended to lie down during the sit stay for one minute.   This has been the reason in the past for some lost opportunities for a leg.   After a year, this has been the only week that I have worked with Bri reminding her of what she knows.   Surprisingly, she is showing the most trouble on the stand.   Occaisionally she also lagged a bit on the off leash heeling, but that has not cost us a leg.

For Magoo, last time he was really taken with the crowd looking at him (at a match).   I have been working a lot with him in Portsmouth and on the beach with interested on lookers (sometimes a bit too interested and insistent on saying hi to the dogs while in the middle of a session).   Magoo has been doing really well there, so hopefully that will transfer to the ring as well.

When trialling two dogs, it is important to realize a couple of things.   One if they like each other, they can be a major distraction to each other.   When I used to bring Bri and Jack together, at the beginning you could hear one crying in the crate, and it was obvious that the other dog heard it too.   So you need to try and prepare for that.   I am not bringing a crate for Magoo, but you do want to prepare a dog if they will be crated at the trial.  Also if both dogs are in the same class, you need a handler for the second dog during the long  stays.

Once you get used to it, trialing is a really fun activity to do with your dogs.   Both Magoo and Bri love the attention that they get:)  

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Differences in Standards in Dog Training

Very cute puppy in Petco video graduating, however it is clear the puppy is still in training at this point. She is training in her graduation video. A trained dog will repeat behaviors and understanding due to the repetition done before graduation, not during.



This must not be an AKC trial, as the leash did not come off during the stand. Also, for some reason, in AKC trials they insist on your non leash holding arm swinging "naturally" (is not natural for me) as you walk. Though it's not perfect, I hope you can see that this heel is more fully trained than the one above which is in it's beginning stages.



It's always interesting to see the different "interpretations" of heeling. However, heeling is meant to be a specific position and not just a loose leash or come towards me command, as "Let's Go" is. Standards in dog training are so important for the behaviorally challenged dogs, as it challenges them, stimulates them, and refocuses them on a task. It also creates a team work atmosphere.

If you are a dog owner looking for a trainer, make sure that they know how to train to a standard for your own good and the good and safety of your dog:)

Peaceful Power Walk at Parish Cemetery

Parish Cemetery is a beautiful and peaceful place in York Maine. People visit with their relatives, joggers enjoy the peace, and a quick quiet dog walk is always welcome.

The grave stones are very interesting, and you wonder about the stories behind some of the pictures. There is an older part in the right hand corner of the cemetary, but most of these headstones are recent.

Some of the headstones seem to be works of art. It makes you imagine the person that may be resting there.

Ollie was just enjoying the day out for his walk.

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News and Updates for Mannerly Mutts Dog Training

April 18th is the first spring trial for Magoo (Client's and Friend's Dog). This will be Magoo's first trial every, and Bri (friend's dog) just needs to finish up her last leg. We got our official notice that we are in on March 31st, and now just waiting for the judging program to determine the earliest that our class can start. Times can be held up, but they can't start until the posted time. The Casco Bay Dog Show will be at Bath Middle School 6 Old Brunswick Road Bath, Maine. This is actually going to be a new venue for us, and it sounds like it may be inside. My wife has a horror of inside shows, as she has always gotten the legs in outside shows. Oh well, should be a good time, anyway. Magoo's owner will be there, which will be a bit distracting as well. NOTE: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE OFFERED TO GET OUR INSTRUCTIONS BY E-MAIL. WE NORMALLY DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE ARE IN UP UNTIL THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE SHOW SOMETIMES!!! Novice B Judge is Robbin Shea.

April 24th Portsmouth Petco CGC Testing-Yup our big boy Leon is going in. We have never attended a CGC test, and might as well get our boy, Leon, a title. He deserves it and is such a good boy. Should be a great outing. From 9am to 5 pm at 1465 WOODBURY AVE
PORTSMOUTH, NH.

May 20th thru the 23rd is Vacationland's and York County Kennel Club's dog show in Wassamki Springs-56 Saco St Scarborough, ME 04074. Should Bri not have made her last leg, she will be here at this thankfully (outdoor show). Magoo will either be attempting to get two or three legs at this showing, depending on what happened on April 18th. Robin will be trying not to get many handler error points off (hand position in the recall, well timed auto sit, correct hand positioning during heel, not doing both a signal and verbal command et and so forth. Handler error negative points alone can point one out during the trial). Important when going to a trial where other dogs have gotten legs, you need to check that the judges are different. Your dog must earn three legs under three different judges!!! Bri ILP159964 has had Judges Mr H E Whitney & Mrs Diesem previously and both legs were at 185. Bri's biggest problem in the ring is going from a sit into a down, which automatically makes sure that you will not get the leg:( Novice B Judge on 5/20 is Robert L Harris. Novice B on 5/21 will be Janet Lewis. Novice B Judge on 5/22 will be Norma Hamilton. Novice B on 5/23 will be Ms Alison Jaskiewicz. NOTE A WELL RUN AND PRETTY SHOW, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT YOU COULD GET ALL THREE LEGS FOR YOUR DOGS (PLUS ONE LOL AT A SHOW LIKE THIS.)

Summer Hoping to bring Boris through, and possibly revist the possibility of bringing Devon through the Novice trials (perhaps even Leon). It's hard in the summer with the increase in business, so we will see how it goes. Boris has to be trained one way or the other by then, so that may not take up anymore time, except traveling to the trials:) Devon is totally healthy, and quite smart. He does have a temperament typical to a Thai Ridgeback while looking like a cute puppy of a breed that no one can quite place. So he would take much work to make sure no temperament issues crop up unexpectedly, and that means lots of road trips for training in various scenarios. Boris and Leon and two very not behaviorally challenged dogs. Leon has not trialed due to his knees. His knees seem to be feeling very well right now, and I think if I don't rep him out on sits, he will be able to do it. Little known fact is that you can have no auto sits happen, but if everything else goes well with as little error as possible, you CAN qualify for a leg:) Leon has been trained to do an auto stand rather than a sit, and we will just keep it that way and go through the trial, thus giving his knees a break until the long sit. Boris is just beginning his training, but we fully expect him to be a star. I have been asking if anyone else has had experience bringing a three legged (gremlin LOL) thru obedience trials.

June 26th - June 27th Penobscott's at Cumberland State Fairgrounds174 Bruce Hill Rd.Cumberland, ME Boris and/or Leon and/or Devon may be going with us. Bri and Magoo may train later on for Open. The judge of Novice B is Phyllis Broden Broderick on June 26th. Evelyn VanUden is the judge on the 27th. I like this show too, but one year they had an elderly judged booked for both conformation and obedience. Between that and the torrential thunder storm, my wife showed eight hours later than scheduled.

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