Jackie CD Open Jumps Practice

Want to have this much fun with your dog? Call Mannerly Mutts, Maine's Dog Training Resource, at 207-361-4395. Or you can e-mail Maine's Dog trainer, Robin Rubin, at mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com. Also New Hampshire Dog Training, Massachusetts Dog Training, and other geographical area services. Don't forget that we have a residency and board and train program.

Blah! Rain

There go my plans for today. I was going to spend some part (of what I imagined to be a lovely sunny day) video taping Jack and my work for Open (this spring or summer). Instead, I wake up to this gloomy and drizzly day, which significantly changes my plans. Video never comes out well in these gloomy settings, and I may need to buy myself some sort of lights for indoor video taping.

I should check the weather you say? Well, yeah, that would have been a good idea. It looks like Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will conform to my plans weather wise. I have three dogs that I need to walk on the beach today, so I will eventually be training outside with him, but not video taping so as not to ruin my video equipment!!

Also, I think we will do some indoor at home training for the video commercial that I am planning for the net. So it looks like a bit more practice before I am able to video again.

Things that Put Me in A Good Mood

Reason number one, Gigi and Paddington went to Paddinton's home and spent the night together. Okay, get your head out of the gutter, they are both spayed and neutered, so it's purely a platonic friendship. I had high hopes that the results would be the same once they both got to their respective homes, and Gigi true to her form here has accepted Paddington as her family friend. Very good news that will help her in the future, and will help her owners as well.

Jack does a roll on a hard surface. We have been training on soft surfaces, and this is his first attempt on a hard wood floor. Then on to sand, snow, and road!!




Reason number two has to do with my own behaviorally challenged dog, Jackie. Day three of increased freedom and no attempts on Leon's person, even with some things he has been obsessing around, I am not saying there haven't been one or two looks, I am saying we ended week 4 without the attempts to be bad that happened previously. This does not mean I can prop my feet up and breath a sigh of relief, and let Jack up to his own devices. This does tell me the improvement is ongoing, and I most likely won't need to live with two seperated dogs. Jack makes me work for it though, he does.

End of yesterday, day four, Jack was allowed a stuffy on his dog bed in the bedroom. When Leon returned, Jack started the growling with the I am about to lunge pose. This was stopped much eaiser than it had been in the past, with Jack dropping into his down on command immediately, even though the "anger sequence" had gone into "launch mode". More importantly, Jack settled right after that and did not continue with the looks or guarding. At this point, he is still dragging a six foot lead, and at any point where there is potential, I am at the other end of that loose six foot lead. Additionally, playing and wandering times are strictly supervised. That means I am actively watching them and involved, when Jack is allowed any freedom to roam or go up to Leon.

Also today, a terrier was loose in the neighborhood and running towards us, and Jack did not challenge my leadership by trying to take care of matters himself. I am not saying he was not thinking about it, but for the third time in the last two weeks when a potential problem situation occurred, he did recognize that I was taking care of it. It's so much easier to do that, when you don't have to worry about what your own dog is attempting to do!!! There really needs to be a partnership developed to do this with certain dogs like Jackie. Jack looked a bit tense, but he didn't bark and remained in his heel position. I did my job, and kept the offending beasty away from us. Leon and Manny were with us, and so this remained a time where Jack's protective instincts would kick in.

I am happy with the potential that is being demonstrated in Jack's behavioral modification. It could not be done without the use of obedience and the additional advanced retrieving and fetching skills that both boys have learned. It has been equally important that Leon listen to commands and directions as well in order to have planted situations that I can train Jack around.

One incident happened on January 18th, where I did not catch the fact that Jack was guarding the couch from Leon. Unfortunately Jack did connect with his teeth briefly. The leash should have been in my hand so I could have diffused the situation immediately. So we took a training step backwards that day. Being that this is at least a three month training process, that happened less than a third way through our training plan, so I wasn't surprised that Jack tried something. He had made me a bit complacent by being a good boy up until that point. Much of the plan is to test or proof Jack's responses when it "seems" like he has the freedom to make the choice, but in fact he does not.

Here is the summary of his training plan:

• First, the rules. (scroll to the middle of the post to see what the rules were on week 1) Some have been updated. Jack does not need to sleep in a crate outside the bedroom anymore, but is allowed on his dog bed in the bedroom. He is exhibitting enough self control to not be muzzled for two weeks now.




• Relaxation and molding exercises. Teaching Jack to release the tension in his muscles when I touch him. Also using this exercise for posing as well, so I can manipulate his limbs et, and have him begin to instantly relax as I do this. Massage and petting are helping this along as well. This has to do with yielding (ie owner says something or needs to physically manipulate the dog, dog allows this willingly and is used to it).




• Relation to relaxation and molding, really firming up left turns for attention and movement.




• I have been teaching the commands of roll over and over even in distracting areas where other dogs are or on different surfaces.




• Open exercises of fetching and jump around dogs and "wanted items" that Jack normally obsesses over.




• Leon doing his play retrieve taking items that are placed around Jackie. Jackie does not have a muzzle on, but he is mostly tethered or back tied during this exercise. He has never attempted to get up, but this is a safety measure during the early part of the training.




• Leon and Jack have at least a half hour a day where they are trained on obedience, freestyle, tricks, or retrieve together. They are actually a great team when they are working.




• Leon and Jack have at least one walk where they are coupled together during the day and must heel with me.




• Jack has one heel or loose leash walk alone with me a day. Preferrable to areas where there are dogs out. He is expected not to reacte if another dog comes running up to us.




• Jack and Leon are allowed to play with their toys in close proximity as long as Jack does not reacte to Leon. If only Leon has a toy, and Jack is not interested in his, Jack is not allowed to obsess or try and guard that toy, and certaintly not reacte to Leon.




• Jack is doing fetch and retrieve with and around things that he becomes obsessed about.




• Jack trained not to follow Leon's every move or think he can dictate what Leon does. Obedience combined with commands such as look, leave it, and out have been combined to achieve this.

Every week a little more freedom and a little more free time is given to Jack. He is praised and rewarded in times where he would have reacted before, but now chooses not to. Times where he is relaxed and is not obsessive are times where he gets some special atttention or alone time later. At any time there is a set back, those freedoms are reduced again or taken away for a time.

Here are some before and after shots of body language (note Jack is muzzled in the before):

Gradually over time, it is my hope, that as the freedoms increase the control that Jack has been exhibiting over his "over reactions" will take hold and become part of his personal behavior under his own steam.

So far so good. Some really nice progress and self control has become apparent. Many times with a dog like this, the misunderstanding that their previous reactions "weren't that bad" or "didn't get to the point of drawing blood" can cause some of us to not take the action that we should have (or were unable to) sooner. I take heart in the fact the list with Jack was so long two years ago, that I thought walking this dog on lead would be a huge feat (even though I am quite used to doing this with many and plentiful dogs). I never dreamed that we would be able to accomplish a Companion Dog title, as we did last year. This required Jack to heel off leash while many people and other dogs looked on. Now the list has become smaller 1) finally fully address the resource guarding AND 2) make it crystal clear that Leon is not an appropriate scapegoat or punching bag for Jack.

As for doing the open exercises, Jack is bright and smart enough to get that easily. Put all of that together, and Jack will be a dog will A LOT of work into him but truly exceptional. This is so much easier with a dog that is not "behaviorally challenged". On the other hand, the work that Jack and I have done together have not only strengthened an already strong bond, BUT will benefit "behaviorally challenged" students so much in the future.

Magical Days

In working with dogs, there are so many magical days. I normally forget to document most of them. Then there are times where I didn't bother to get the camera, just wanting to stay in the moment. Yesterday was just such a day:)

It started with our boarder and behaviorally challenged, Gigi, waking up. Gigi is so much fun, the very first thing she wants to do each morning is play. Play with doggie companions who are game for such play:) So she tippy tappies around on her toes identifying each playmate and making "inquiries". Gigi is also a student of play, as she had never done it before with a dog. I notice she studies hard what the other dogs are doing, and then tries it herself. I noticed her doing this, when she figured every likes to chase each other. Then she didn't know what came next after she got to them though LOL. Then she started figuring out about boxing, wrestling, and mock mouth fighting.

So yesterday, Leon was fetching my slippers, and it finally clicked to Gigi. You chase the thing, you get the thing, and then you run and get chased. Her and Leon had such a wonderful time doing this. Gigi even brought the slipper back a few times as Leon was trained to do. You have to watch her though, as she is likely to rip and shred, and these were my good slippers:)

Gigi and Jack also got to playing for a little bit. Jack's been teaching her that mock mouth fighting does not mean giving pressure to sharp teeth by whining at her when she is too rough. So Gigi had a heavenly morning right up her alley and gave my dogs a bit of entertainment as well.

Yesterday was a horrid weather day. It started with snow, and by the time Roxy and Harley, two Great Dane clients, needed walking, it was sleeting out. So I put on my boots with the screws in the bottom (works great by the way) and leashed up Leon with his pack on. We walked there with Leon being reintroduced to the concept of heeling to a client's house, as his knees have been doing really well lately. Leon and I got the Great Danes and went down to the beach, which was at low tide.

The dogs really had fun despite the adverse conditions. Well everyone except Roxy who has a horror of all that is damp. She does not do wet, and so she just stuck close by me as Harley and Leon tore up the beach. The good thing about bad weather days, is that the beach is totally empty even at low tide!! My hands were numb by the time we went back, because I had to take the gloves off to get all the dogs leashed up again.

When I went home it was time for training. I did fetch exercises with Jack around the worst distraction I could think of, bread that he couldn't eat while training. I had him also doing fronts through two English muffins lying on the floor, and needed to concentrate on fetch and give while auto sitting and staying next to two muffins. A whole lot of training has been going around things he tends to be an aggressor to Leon over in order to increase his tolerance threshold and obedience threshold around those things. In the meantime, and until a semblance of that goal is reached, he is limited as to his total freedom that he used to have in the house.

Leon was next, and we did his practice retrieve. He understands getting and retrieving keys, gloves, scarves, remote controls, and his toys. Now I am starting working him on a bowl. We also did his freestyle dance moves, which he loves. I think I will start this with Jack as well.

And thus ended a very productive and fun day. All the dogs slept very well that night:)

Got Homework? Part 2

Got homework, do I ever!! This period between now and February is notoriously slow. I actually seem to acquire my most problem and behaviorally challenged cases at this time of year. There is a Springer in Canada whose owners are deciding whether to bring him to Mannerly Mutts camp for some weeks. One Doberman puppy that is scheduled to start on the first week of December. He is not a behavioral case, just a normal puppy of my favorite breed ever.


In the meantime, I schedule marketing projects, my own dogs training, and any special items during this period of time. There is a nice young couple that is helping me with my video project for my online and written dog manual in the works, and to be launched next year. I am also keeping a diary of the work to prepare Jack and Bri for Open trials next year. It's really unfortunate to have short haired dogs in training during the coldest months of the year. It just happens that trials heat up again in the ME and NH area in the Spring though. There really is no getting around it. Summer is too busy to train (my dogs), although we did catch some trials during that period last year. The point is, the brunt of the training was already done previously with only maintenance work to be done. I wasn't really in it last year to compete point wise either. I just wanted everyone to qualify. This year, I want to be up there in points. That's not more stress on the dogs but more stress on me, as it is I that teach them LOL. If they are doing it wrong it's because I taught it wrong. Then there are the handler errors, which the dogs have zero control over.



In order to catch my errors, I have been video taping my exercises periodically. I also am hoping some of these come out well enough....eventually....to be part of my online training manual. This won't be a subscription service, but a convenient area where clients can pull up the lesson plan for that week as they continue to work. They will also be reminded of what the exercise should look like, and be able to keep notes on their own progress. I will most likely keep a video diary of my client's progress on a go forward basis as well.

There were a bunch of things that I fixed from Week 1 retrieve start. We are now on week two, but I refilmed the working of week 1's exercise. Before starting, your dog should be confined (crated) for two hours. After retrieving your dog, you warm him up on Novice heeling exercises until he is doing those reliably. After he is, the steps are to put your dog in a stay, open his mouth with your left hand (palm should be on top of his nose), present the article, say fetch just as the article is presented before his nose, then pop open his mouth and place the article behind his canines, say good boy and scratch under the chin (just a couple of seconds), then say give, and heel him away. You then restart the exercise. You do this for five repetitions twice a day. So 10 repetitions in all. After working, you quietly hang out for twenty minutes, and then allow your dog to relax in peace for an hour without anyone bothering. This is what lends a well trained dog a quiet, calm, and confident demeanor. This is my video diary of how week 1 was going:



On week 1, I would like for his auto sits to be much crisper and quicker. He was distracted by two dogs on property that he hadn't met, the people helping with the camera, and his brother Leon wandering around. Still, these are the distractions that we want him to be not distracted around. The wind blowing everything around was not helping him focus too much either.

On week 2 video, unfortunately Bri and Leon had both just gone up to Jack before we started. So he was very distracted with wanting to go off and play instead of work the five reps LOL. Hence, he was a bit resistant to opening his mouth.

On a couple of reps, I saw that I popped it in crooked. Also, the old I am moving before I say "heel" crept in there. I believe I had also forgotten to walk as if I was heeling in a trial at the beginning. Noting these things as we go along help me formulate my lesson plans, and help me build my skills to a higher level as well. Jack is also helped by me learning how to more simply and consistently show him the right way. Sloppiness or mixing up the steps or inconsistency will result in a dog that has been trained to do it wrong, because that is what he/she thinks you want.

GOT HOMEWORK?

Do you and your dog have homework to do today? Well, I do everyday. I mean how can I possibly convince my clients they need to work every day (or six days in my case), if I and my dogs are not an example of this? I do take time off for if I get sick, vacation, or for my recent sprained ankle. When I do not have time (outside of being sick et) I see my training totally suffer,because I have become lax and lazy. Unlike a regular old dog owner though, this is my business. My dogs and I are ambassadors for what can be done in dog training, or we try to be anyway . There are those days.

I also have to be sure the training plan fits into the schedule of a "normal person" and not someone as Abby Normal as I am. That works because you don't want your dog to have to punch in on a time clock overly long either. It's all about balance. You don't want to do too little, you don't want to do too much and burn either human or dog out. You want it to be enjoyable, yet you also want to get real work done during your session, or I do anyway. A dog trainer is always honing their skills, and always aware that there is more improvement to be made, especially since you are leading future and current dog owners and trainers.

All of this homework and educational experience is self prescribed, being that top training people in the industry have become "out of style" in their quest for excellence. Don't get me wrong, they aren't exactly hurting for business either. Dog owners with common sense and a quest to really provide the best life for their dogs, recognize quality and rare education. These people haven't been asked to follow the circuit group that is supporting another business model of training. One that I believe is dangerous, as it degrades quality time and teaching the language for your dog into something "not fun" because it does not go fast enough to the next "trick". Instead of recognizing the real life skills that can open up a whole new world to dog owner and dog, if they wish that. I have needed to research, dig up, dust off, and re-discover some of the better trainers in the country thru due diligence. Sadly, due to the success of convincing people that traditional training is evil, what has happened as these people stick close to home and have less costly travel to places that have made up stories about them anyway. Talk about a thankless job!! On the other hand, what has happened is the training experience in this area has become very one sided, and no longer the proud profession that dog training certainly can be. It's become a glorified feel good festival, with like minded trainers stroking each other and murmuring encouragingly as our rights as dog owners are torn right from us. Not to mention the illegal search and seizure of dogs that has been happening in certain parts of the United States due to legislation that is promoted by the Animal Rights groups. In Albuquerque NM it's very close to illegal to leave your house and go anywhere without your dog on a leash. Many times that means even in your own yard!! Rights of owners are flying out the window, and it's our fault as our standards are low for training. There are so many excuses and mantras out there for why not to train your dog (and I will go over these in another blog).

Writing this very article is homework in itself that I need to accomplish every day. Additionally, I have dogs to train that aren't being paid for by other people. I train them for my own personal knowledge. I am also practicing my presentation skills in a visible way not only for a future video, but to see me as I might appear to clients. Jack and I have finished most of our training for the day. We did 10 repetitions of Week 1 and Day 1 of the retrieve exercises from the Open Obedience book by William Koehler. We had been on Week 2, when I discovered that I had missed two steps. My bad!! In the interest of teaching others, and spending efficient and effective time with my dog, I need to be as detailed as possible, and push for that same excellence in my students. I am also not in any rush, the next trial isn't until February 2009. We have plenty of time to perfect this as much as possible, and hopefully not only get the title but hammer home some better scores. Bri and I will be going over basically the same exercises as Jack today. I have revisited the foundation with both of them in the Koehler Method of Dog Training by William Koehler, realizing that my poor scores are probably reflective of not expecting really excellent work on my part. I see so many things that I can do better now, and are really not any big deal to do. My dogs only do exactly what I taught them to do LOL. I take full responsibility for our errors in trial. I am so proud of my dogs when in there. I cried the very first time Jack and I qualified for a leg. To me that was such an achievement for the both of us. It goes right up there with my wedding day and graduation from college.

Devon, a Thai Ridgeback, is being trained for his Novice trial in February 2009 as well. My daycare looks to me for entertainment during the day that can take the form of trick training, play fetching, ET. Knowing about their behavior and pack mentality, and continuing my education on this allows such an unleashed and free atmosphere to continue.

I love my job, and I love my work even when it's homework. What work have you done with your dog today?

Want to train your dog? Call Robin Rubin at Mannerly Mutts Dog Training at 207-361-4395. Or e-mail at mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

Match Tomorrow/Training Schedule Today

Jack, Brie, and I are getting ready for a match tomorrow. This whole week has been basically firming up these basic skill sets. Devon is on vaca until we go to Trial basically (Feb 29th).

****Note to self, do a lot of food training (that is to refuse food, not to treat) with Jack tonight. Treating at these things is obnoxious, even though you can't bring them into the ring, and it will take an unprepared dog and make them a total spaz.

****Should also remember to see if husband can fix portable crate for Jack somehow.

Jack first half (a bit tired so I am going to do some more later on tonight or early am tomorrow):

Finish, did about 50 reps with e-collar instead of treats or chain collar. Didn't do bad, was sometimes crooked because he was staring at Brie and wanting to go play.

Worked a lot on myself walking with Jack and not walking into him when stopping for an autosit. Jack did pretty good sits at the end, now that he is beginning to believe that he doesn't have to worry about me flying into him. Also practiced off leash with hand on belly (left) and right hand swinging by my sid. He did really excellent as I practiced my T step for about turns. Left, he sometimes still crowds me a bit.

Brie's Schedule:

Still teaching finish, hopes she starts doing it today right from heel, so I don't need to make any movements (that would NQ me in the Trial).

Practice sit and down stay.

Practice heel on and off leash. See if it can feasible be done without any corrections or much coercion. No treats for practice today.

Jackie Run Thru 2/4/2008

Grrrrr, had to find a new video hosting website, as gosh darned video egg is now only for corporate companies that want to pay per click for advertising.

Thursday Thirteen (13) Monday Run Thru Notes

Using this Thursday Thirteen to document some run thru notes:

1. Jackie boy, need to stop turning into him.   



2. Jackie got swayed by the smell of treats, during certain exercises, on Evelyn's hands.   Need to stop him from breaking from obvious food.



3. Jackie broke when unexpected military man came in the room.   However, Jackie did stay in place in sit (broke in down) when between two very cute female dogs (one Italian grey hound, and one Chihuaua named Sassy).



4. Jackie, we need to work on our finish now without luring.



5. Jackie, need to stop him from trying to covertly sniff the ground for fallen treats.



6. Jackie, attention could be better when in the stays.  He does it well, until something unexpected comes along (military man, or he's between two cute girls).



7. Jackie, stopped sticking his stand due to cookie smell on Evelyn.   Need to make sure he sticks this, and stays even if judges have been touching cookies:)



8. Devon, work on Stand AND Finish.



9. Devon concerned about judge following or others working with their dogs.  Some of this will be worked out in run thrus, but need to get him out more in public "dealing".



10. Brie, work on circles to get her turned in and closer, as Evelyn showed.



11. Brie, did her first off leash heel that went okay.   We had done one before, when I thought she wasn't ready but instructor insisted.  Hadn't gone that bad, but two instances where Brie was pretty sure it was play time.



12. Brie, her front is perfect.   Need to not screw it up.



13. Brie, need to work on finish, and stand walking behind and examine.

****Me 1)  No stepping into dogs 2)  work on about turns still---better with Jackie and horrible with other two 3)  move out with Jackie during fast heel, so judge can tell pace has changed even though Jack just lengthens his stride .......

Thoughtful Thursday

(Above:  Jackie performs a roll over for the camera)

Many of my clients come here for the dog pictures, or videos (I know <G>).   I am sure some wonder about this other content that I write about, regarding the actual dog industry.   Some trainers don't write about this on their blogs, as the end result does not bring in more revenue AND they discount the value of educating their clients.

I want my clients to have at least heard about Breed Specific Legislation, so when they are out on the road they MAY not be surprised and have their dog taken from them.   No, I can't force my clients to know about these issues, but I CAN be sure that information is out there for them.   Does this bring me the $$$$$$s, not in any kind of direct way for sure.   On the other hand, a trainer that is knowledge about many aspects of the dog and dog world is very valuable.  Client's like when you are concerned for them and their well being (whether they are or not at the time).

So while issues like Organizations to Beware of, Breed Specific Legislation, nutrition, spay/neuter legislation, tethering legislation, HEART legislation, may all be a huge snooze to most, if the information isn't out there then NO ONE knows what is going on.

You should be able to have your dog professional be aware of the issues, and willing to educate about the issues.   I am not saying anyone needs to agree with me, but try to know what why and when of what is out there.   Especially be aware of laws that could be infringing on your areas!!!   Please comment or e-mail me (mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com) with any areas of interest and concern.   

Need training for your pooch?   Mannerly Mutts Dog Training provides efficient and effective training to enhance the relationship of an owner and their dog.   You can call at (207) 361-4395 or e-mail Robin at mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

Jackie Doing Figure Eight

Doing a figure eight with Jackie at SOC run thrus.

Run Thru Jackie Heels On Leash, Arm Dropped

This is a run thru at the SOC obedience club.

Run Thru Jackie Heels On Leash, Arm Dropped

This is a run thru at the SOC obedience club.

Jackie's Recalls

Here is Jackie doing recalls at the SOC.   WE have been working on this and not the finish until he gets it straight without prompts.

Jackie Heel Off Lead

Jack heeling off leash at obedience club:

Jackie Heel On Lead, Arm Bent

Evelyn wanted me to bend my arm to look better.   Here is the video of that.

Jackie Performing Stand

Jackie performing stand at the SOC run thru:

Training Schedule and Notes

Handler (Me) Notes:

Common errors that I make include:

1)  Walking sideways towards dog when halting (sitting)

2)  Hard time walking in straight line, need guides for this.

3)  Need to say heel when stepping off not after already going

4)  Turns need to be more fluid and along track, so as not to confuse poor doggie

5) During figure eights, need to remember to hurry dog up along outside turns to train them how to stay in step.

6)  Nice brisk step off after halts or turns.

7)  Holding leash hand steady at stomache.  (as if a stomache ache, and not as if there are treats there)

8) I shouldn't screech to a halt too quickly.

Brie Notes:

Did Brie and Devon together on the beach.

Did long downs and sits.   Brie is the one that is just learning not to break.  She did pretty good, and she was kind of cold on the cold sand (note next time dress her in some fleece).

Also did figure eights with Devon being one of the posts, she did well herself, but when she was the "post" she tended to want to break, so need to work on the stays even though that wasn't specifically what she was doing.

Both dogs were very distracted trying to do stands on the beach, so we need to practice more in distracting situations.   Neither is initiating on their own yet the position, though both can stay in it during undistracting situations.

Brie did a little "off leash" heeling but on e-collar.   We are getting to the point where she will be off equipment soon with mild distractions.  (am still using treats to keep attention)

Devon:

Did long sits and downs with Devon and Brie.   Devon did the best at these.

His heeling had deteriorated since he was in BT, but it was coming back.   He did it well on leash and chain collar, and through the figure eight, he was very attentive towards me (I was using treats though).  Devon's attention was very very good.

Stand, both dogs distracted need more practice with stand in distracting situations.

Training Logs

have added Devon dog to the training line up for this spring. Brie, Jack, and Devon are all being trained for Companion Dog competition. Jack and Brie's first competition will be February 29th (God help me).

Devon will be a little later. Here are training notes for today:

Brie Training Schedule:

Did about ten reps of stand stays (walking out in front of her).

Did 15 minutes of heeling and auto sits in parking lot.

***This week working on getting her to the point of decent OFF LEASH heeling (we are still on leash), attention during distractions or time she thinks she wants to play, stand stays, and finish (don't know if we will get to this this week). Also, figure eights should be a priority. Stand stay portion is good, but Brie needs to start getting up on her own on command.

Devon Training Schedule:

Did 10 reps of stand stays.

15 minutes of heeling in the parking lot.

Devon's heeling has deteriorated a bit, but he looks very confident and happy in distracting situations. Got a little prey drive over leaves blowing around the parking lot. Need to work on those type of distractions. Auto sits need to be worked on. Both front and finish need to be worked on, but probably not until next week. Devon is doing pretty good on staying in stand, but also needs work on performing stand when command is given and without physical prompting.

Jacky Traiing:

30 Minutes of heeling on lead on the beach. The reason for the on lead heeling being that Jacky has taken to trying to go after lone dogs. If the beach is busy with dogs, he is more in tune with being a good boy, but he gets a bit protective if it's the occaisional dog on the beach that approaches. He has made great strides in coming to understand at home, that he MUST tolerate any dog in the house, and that I will be sure that he is not bothered but he is not to take matters into his own hands. Now I have these kind of situations to get JAck to adapt to. In the ring, he has not had a problem being obedient around other strange dogs (knock on wood). I want to be sure that I touch every area on this. A big golden did run up to us, and Jack did not reacte until the other dog jumped towards him. And he was on leash, so he didn't get to dart after like he would like to. Attention and auto sits are getting better and better. Still room for improvement.

On my end, I need to be sure I am walking and turning without leaving my "line" or walking towards Jack when I stop. Overall, a very good session today.