So Scarborough Trials and Team Leon

Leon and I went to four days of Scarborough trials, and I was fairly confident that we would come home with one leg.   I was not even planning to go to all four days, as there were two judges on each of the two days.  Since you need a different judge to pass you each time, the max amount of legs that we could get would be two.   I assumed it would go like this 1)  Scratch Day 1 (first outdoor trial for Leon in five years, and never been to this venue) 2) Figured Day 2 we would get a leg (hahahaha) 3) Figured Day 3 we would probably get a leg, and 4) Figured Day 4 I might go just to keep the practice going.

Um, this is not how it went.   I was in good company, because on each of the four days only 1 team got their leg (and only one team was going to get the leg before the stays commenced).  Leon and I had improved our team skills, but still quite a ways from getting the leg as evidenced by the results.

(Day 1) 5/17/2012 (and I realize how the rest of the days are probably going to go)

• Do not hold chain collar by live ring (first time I was informed by a judge of this, and I have been trialling since 2008.   I have always led him gently by the collar as the rules state, but this was my reason for changing collars as I could not trust my motion memory to not hold the ring)  Good to know, wonder how many points I have lost in the past for that.
• Leon moved in Stand but I lost my train of though and waited too long before realizing judge had said leave when ready.
• Leon on off leash heel, went to put head through gate to see other dog, I forgot my emergency heel command that I could have given. He was with me during the rest.
• Was standing in his stay when I left on recall, barked, and then made for the gate. I should have realized he was going to and been ready with a second come command immediately.

(Day 2) 5/18/2012

• Changed to flat collar so I would not hold by live ring
• Off leash heel, went to same spot so he was not checking out other dog but smell. I did use my emergency heel, but he only came after halt and forward and then was with me the rest of the way.
• Stayed on stay, ran to me, but then thought about it as he came front and started for gate, I grabbed collar.
• We got to the stay portion, he barked three times and then did a stand stay instead of sit stay. Got excused before down.

(Day 3) 5/19/2012

• he thought about going to fence line but did not go to it (on off leash).
• Good figure eight (position wise)
• Missed two auto sits 1st halt on off leash and last sit in figure eight.
• Did a great stand, zero points off.
• Again tried to go for gate on recall.
• Stood in sit stay, barked and then ran to me.

(Day 4) 5/20/2012

• Leon was first off all pretty clearly done with the trials. (However, he was not getting off the hook that easy)
• Very crooked sits and auto sits. Only made a couple.
• Very good stand.
• On off lead heel, either saw or smelled Boris & Robert and walked over to fence and would not come back.
• We were disqualified, but judge asked if we wanted to do recall, and I figured sure why not. Leon hear Boris cry and jumped the fence, and then jumped back in. Well, that was new.

And here is the video to forever burn into my memory my dog jumping over the fence!

Part of the problem being that Robert and Boris were there on the fourth day.   I knew Leon would be distracted and probably not do his off lead heel well.  I also expected that he would try and blow off his recall yet again.   I DID NOT expect that Leon would use his quick thinking brain to figure another alternate route to get out and make it to Robert.  Leon is good like that though (creative thought process to figure out how to do exactly what he wants).

Another thing that Mr Leon figured out during these days was, that instead of barking in the stays to be let up, he could stand and be quiet (that was day 2).  By the way, when we are not in a ring setting, Leon does not bark in stays.   Admittedly, this was worked on for a long time, and has only been the situation for a month before this.  THEN Mr Leon figured, if I am standing in my sit stay, why then I can just walk over to her (that was day 3).

Now at the point I figured out (Day 1) that he was most likely going to blow the recall off everyday, some would figure that I just would not go and not let Leon practice this.  However, I am also practicing my handling skills while in a ring.   So even if we were not going to get a leg (and there was still a possibility we were, Day 2 before the stays was the closest), I knew what I was doing wrong each day, and working on concentrating (when I get nervous) of handling better.   After all, I had already paid for the trials.  

So I know where the holes are now in Leon's training.   On recalls, Leon is usually super happy to come to me.   I think at the trials, he gets nervous.  He is used to being around a lot of people and dogs, that does not make him nervous.  I think it's the difference when you are in a big empty space, and everyone is looking in at you.    He knows, if he goes outside of the ring he will soon find me with him outside of the ring.   He also knows outside the ring are nice people with treats.   We had worked up to a point with as many distractions as we could up to the trial (meaning I fit as much as time would allow before the trial).   However, there were still some on the list.   Some things that might seem like they will never be at a trial (and perhaps they won't) still seem to bite you in the butt if you do not get to them.

Leon and I have been working since March 2012 at this (so it was two months and a third of work).   Other dogs, I have worked with for at least six months to a year before just doing the matches.   Jackie CD, my dog aggressive Doberman, took two years before I even considered that he might be a good candidate for the sport.

Leon is a very even mannered dog.  He can be a brat at times, but he has no behavioral difficulties and is fairly confident.   He likes to have fun, and he likes working with me.    I used to be very sad when I would go to trials without him after his ACL tear, and that is why for five years I was not training him to be a competition dog.   As it is, we will only be able to complete Companion Dog due to his knees (the jump repetitions would be too much).   So I figured he would easily do it, and all this stuff are things we do everyday, just not with the competition rules (only one command et).  It turns out that during those five years, I allowed Leon to learn some very bad habits that are screaming out in the trial ring now!

This is why as a dog trainer, it is so important to work different breeds, temperaments, sizes, ages, physically conditioned, et dogs.   So many trainers if they trial at all, will only do their dog for many years.   I think this is important too, as you can climb up the skill level with a dog you can focus your abilities on.  I have not yet had a dog (that is mine) that has been physically healthy enough to do this (except maybe Boris, but he has three legs and I have not determined this yet).   What can happen though, is a trainer thinks every dog is going to learn as well and by the same training style as the one dog they have been working for seven or more years.   I had assumed that I could get a friendly dog, like my Leon, there much faster due to his open and social personality (and while he creatively tries to get out of things, he really is a dog that likes to please me).   Oops!  Guess we got quite a bit more work to do.

The only way you learn what is and is not true and possible, is to work as many different dogs as you can, and then have an impartial third party judge how that is going for you IMHO.   BTW it does not necessarily have to be obedience, but that is my sport (and also what I train my clients in).

Additional distractions to be added to Leon's training schedule (some of this has been done to an extent, but is still in process or the time couldn't be gotten in to perfect it):

• We will be heeling him around food on the ground.
• Recalling him away from food bowls and treats.
• Not that I am sure Boris and Robert will be at the next trial, but we will be filling in that hole by having Leon recalling a lot away from them (Robert usually let's Leon get away with anything, so Leon loves to run for cover to him).
• Stays being more like open stays (out of sight from Leon for period of time)
• Stays while biking out of sight.
• Stays while Robert is playing with daycare and ball.

Like I said, a lot of this is not going to be found at trial.   However, doing these things increases your dog's ability to not be tempted by lessor distractions.   Also, Leon has a very free lifestyle generally and for the last five years.  We do not have him ignore dogs so we get all his attention all the time.   We do not convince him that we dispense treats at the drop of a button or are their to entertain him with play all the time (though I am not saying that we don't use these things in training).  We do not correct him at every mistep.   I try and balance everything out, and come up with a plan that allows my dog to enjoy as much as life has to offer, but also work well with me as a partner.  It is not always easy to have your cake and eat it too .   It is so worth it though to be able to strike a balance that makes one happy with themselves as a trainer, and also happy with the life their dog is able to lead.

Leon is crate trained, but he is not crated a lot in his life.   He is so attached to us, maybe a bit more so than is optimal, because we enjoy being with him and interacting with him (and all our past and present dogs) all the time.   When you make these decisions on how you want to live and interact with your dogs, there are always pluses and minuses.   The best thing you can do is recognize that, and put in the work to make it be the best for yourself and your teammate.

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Diesel has just been on a string of adventures this year

I love following my client, Tania's, Facebook page.   She has pictures of her adventures with Diesel, her dog, on their constantly.   I asked if I could share this one with people who view my business pages.

This is exactly what I wish for my clients and thier dogs!   Diesel is not waiting at a kennel for his owners to come back after doing fun things.  Diesel is part of the fun things.   Also, his owners don't need to worry that he will become lost when they are out adventuring.

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Questions from a potential future dog trainer

Question received: I am thinking of entering a second career as a dog trainer. I would like to ask you some questions about the career field, so I have some information to make an educated decision before I start spending a lot of money on education and equipment. I want to make sure this career field would be a good fit for me. I grew up in a rural setting and had dogs as pets through most of my life, from Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Labs, to Basset hounds and Dachshunds. I love dogs and have done some research into their psychology and history. I think that trainers not only train dogs, but also their owners in ways that help build the relationship between the two species. This is something that interests me, to help build a stronger relationship between owner and pet.

If you could give me some insight to the profession, such as what characteristics and skills one needs to be a successful dog trainer; what kinds of challenges you face as a dog trainer; what’s the most favorite part and least favorite part of the profession for you; and what a typical day is like. If you want, could you also tell me how you got started in the profession, or what motivated you to become a dog trainer?

I appreciate your time and thank you in advance for any information you wish to share.


My Responses (I should note that at different points in time my answers may have been different):
 

• What characteristics and skills one needs to be a successful dog trainer?  I do think this varies from person to person, and varies from exactly what you will focus on in the dog training field. Generally, however, desire to learn and immerse ones self in learning and researching, accepting that practice is going to be necessary and the key, and that the ability to format accessible goals for yourself, the owner, and the dog are extremely important. I believe the ability to be open minded and learn from others who can demonstrate their knowledge (and the ability to read whether a trainer has that knowledge or not) is a very important place to begin. There is more to say here, but it would take a book LOL.

• What kinds of challenges you face as a dog trainer?  Keeping yourself feeling healthy and ready to train is always a challenge. Managing time and life so you can do this best, is a challenge.

• What is the most favorite part of the profession for you? Providing the service that creates the communication and relationship between the dog and owner to be the best and most enjoyable that it can be for those individuals.  It's great if you can do that so it never enters an owner's head to re-home their dog in the first place.  That depends on owners contacting right in the beginning for training.   When that does not happen, it's great when you can improve the situation to the extent that the owner is no longer thinking about this at all!
• What is the least favorite part of the profession for you?  We are very accessible to our clients, meaning I don't often have days off during the year (and especially not when I would like them).  I also don't like when I meet up with people who really do not want to work with their dogs.   Sometimes people are just looking for permission to give up.  It is stressful to know a dog is in a situation like that and/or that the dog is dangerous in a situation like that.   I also hate all the computer work and marketing that comes along with driving this business forward LOL, but it is worth it.
• What is a typical day like?  A typical day begins for me getting my dogs and boarding dogs fed, pooped, peed, and played or attention before the business day begins.   Then at about seven am, daycare and day training dogs begin to come in.  So one of us (husband or me) is typically taking the dogs in and chatting with the clients about the day or any problems they are having, while the other is on the other side training our dogs on commands under this distraction or making sure any "behaviorally challenged" client dogs are being appropriate during this distracting time.   Daycare usually plays and gets run with after the drop off times.   Then I am updating training blogs and doing marketing things online.  Then I begin training the dogs either around daycare as distractions OR if I need to start a green dog in non distracting situations then my husband watches daycare as we go off and do our thing.   Then their is another round of free time, as I go through the dogs here for daytrain.   And most of my lessons are typically in the evening at this time of year.   So at about 5 pm or so, I start with the private lessons.  My day goes through about 6 am to 6 pm easily, and many times later than that. 
• Could you also tell me how you got started in the profession, or what motivated you to become a dog trainer?
  Let me first say, the only reason that I never just started off doing this as it was never presented to me as a real profession (you know by guidance counselors and certainly not my parents). I have always had an interest in animals and their well being. I thought the only way to do that when I was young was to be a veterinarian. I had never been exposed to the various dog training professions and that they are truly professions (and I am horrible at science so vet was out). When I got my first house at about 29, we got our first dog as well (Jazz a female Doberman). We acquired her at age 3 from a breeder who did not want to breed her anymore, so she came with manners and training. I did need to get involved a little bit with training and her for her prey drive (and we had cats, we did not want her to eat them). Then came our second dog, Neptune (he was a male Doberman 100#s and aged two). He was dog aggressive, and so I was determined not to fail him and provide him with many experiences so I went to a trainer with him. I remember thinking it was too bad that more people did not know they could make this kind of difference with their dog. My profession at the time was changing, and I did not want to be involved with unethical practices and the stress that came with it. I was volunteering at shelters as this was coming to a head, training dogs there to destress myself LOL. Then I thought, why am I not doing this for a living when I enjoy it so much, and I feel like I am accomplishing something. That is where the idea began. Truthfully, if I had not been exposed to a dog aggressive dog, I might be where more people are today thinking most dogs just need manners training. But Neptune was my education into the idea that training can be work, rewarding, and make your relationship with your dog deeper and more meaningful.

Previously, I also addressed information to impart to those thinking of going into this profession on this blog post http://mannerlymutts.blogspot.com/2008/10/questions-from-future-dog-trainers.html and also this blog post http://mannerlymutts.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-learn-about-dog-training-and.html.

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Bogey Comes Out of Her Shell

Bogey was just fascinated by Magoo (Great Dane gallumping around here).   She plays every now and again, but she was totally taken by Magoo.   Later she just stared at him in amazement for the rest of the day (and she has seen Great Danes here before LOL)



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Boris and Bella

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I Am Not a Mother, but This Was My Mother's Day

Leon and I in Portsmouth NH.  

Boris, Leon and I posing for Robert in Portsmouth NH.

Leon and I practicing our sit stays in Portsmouth NH.

Alyssa (Husky), Boris (Our Black Dobie), and Tommy (Brown Pit/Lab X) hanging in the front yard.

Boris and Alyssa hanging out in the front yard.

Boris, Alyssa, and Tommy hanging out in the front yard.

Boris keeping me warm as I read "The Face" by Dean Koontz.

Boris and Leon Playing tug on Long Sands Beach.

More tug of war with Boris and Leon on Long Sands Beach.

Trying to balance the kong on Tommy's head (his head was too round to balance on LOL).

Leon is very excited for me to throw him the acqua kong on the beach.

A mother and her daughters out with their dogs!

Close up on the Boxers in this family affair.

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Latest Group Photos

In this Order Boris (back), Leon (front), Alyssa (back), Harley, Tommy and Gigi in all of these.   When I am doing some weeding or a car is coming in, this is what we practice doing, as there are no fences here. Good dogs!

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Some April Daycare Clips

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Hoobie Doobie Stay in 2009

Found some great video and photos on a portable drive that my client gave me in 2009.   Her dog Hoobie Doobie was here for board & train, and his owners also came to learn how to continue the training and handling of Hoobie in the future.

They also took great pictures of other client's dogs and our dogs during this time period.   Enjoy:)

Hoobie and Jean plus Jackie and me walk to the wiggly bridge.

Hoobie hanging with the Lucey girl.

Hoobie wonders "can I get away with biting her now?"

Carole with Hoobie and Me with Jackie (then not a Companion Dog and he was having issues with strange dogs coming up to us) on Long Sands beach with Roxy, Harley, Cindy and Hack.

Carole and Hoobie talking to some people at the York Maine fleamarket.

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Bella and Spartacus's Playdates

Spartacus has the ball, and now is looking for others to chase him.

Bella and Spartacus have a stand off.

Bella says "I got something in my teeth."

Boris wonders if Bella is done with the ball yet.

Bella has a treasure.

Boris bounces away from the action between Bella and Spartacus.

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Typical Daycare and Boarding Day

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Why Spencer does not need small dog toys

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Spencer training on beach (distraction) March 30th 2012

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Long Down Practice March 12th

Practicing in a different location outside.   This is a baseball field on our walk.


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Leon and My Progress On Long Downs in Ring Settings

This is Leon and my progression on sits/downs in a ring setting. Although I can't walk beyond six feet with him in this setting, you can see he is getting used to it and increasingly calmer. Thank goodness for all the unexpected and additional matches this year so I can work him on this. http://www.mannerlymutts.com http://mannerlymutts.blogspot.com

Bella, Lucey and Magoo Weekend

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Beach Day With The Boys (Tommy, Leon, and Boris)

Boris, Me, Tommy, and Leon.

Tommy, Me, Boris & Leon

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Show N Go Work March 10th 2012

First pass (heel on lead, figure eight, stand, heel off leash, and recall):



Sit stay and down stay (Leon becomes "The Big Red Brat" ) First pass (you can see Leon having a hard tie with the Boston Terrier being clicked and treated next to him, Dog forbid Leon is not included in the food handouts!):



Pass 2 for heeling on lead, figure eight, stand, heel off leash and recall (where I pull out the toy to lure since he is having a problem with the gate.   And we get good advice on dad placement during the trial):



Sits and downs pass 2, and the big red brat reappears LOL. Now he has a Golden puppy with cheese slices next to him .   Poor woes me boy:



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Doggie Daycare Inside Snippets

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Doggie Friends

Beauty and The Beast

Crosby, Tommy, Bogey and Leon

Crosby's tail, Tommy, Radley, and Ollie's eye.

Leon walking, Boris, Bogey and Tommy

Leon and Almonzo

Shaman, Virgule and Boy

Spencer and Boris

Boris and his daddy, Robert

Leon and SweetPea

Spartacus and SweetPea (they live together now)

Devon jumping and Bri being the jump

Bristol the puggle running ahead and Boris

Bristol the GSD, Roxy the Great Dane (rip 2011) and Tommy running towards them

Alyssa the husky, Harley the Harlequin Great Dane,

Scruffy at the very front (Yorkie X), Brujo Giant Schnauzer, Alyssa Husky, Harley Great Dane and Others

Shaman, Scruffy, and Leon.

Teddy, Scruffy and Ollie

Brujo at front, Boris, Baily the German Short Haired Pointer, Leon, Shaman other Giant Schnauzer, and next to Tommy.

Our own Leon and Boris on Long Sands

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