Today is a good day, and a slightly sad day

Happy News

Gina has been one of our dedicated dogs bodies and helpers, but you might not realise she is also in the third year of a BSc in Canine Behaviour & Training. Since beginning to help out in classes, and getting involved through her work experience placement, we've seen Gina blossom into a great trainer.


I'm delighted to announce that Gina has now officially joined our team as a Trainer (based in Bridlington) and is delivering our Puppy Curriculum and Three Week Intensive Programmes.

It's not compulsory to have a "challenging dog" if you want to become a trainer or behaviourist, but it can give you a real insight. You can read about some of Gina's experiences with Max (Schnauzer) on the blog here: https://wellconnectedcanine.blogspot.com/2019/06/always-think-about-both-ends-of-leash.html

And here's Max starting to make friends with Laird - it's a bromance all about beards!

(thanks to Andrea for the photo - yet another one of our amazing dogsbodies)

Slightly sadder news

Our regular Wednesday evening classes (venue: Yorkshire Museum of Farming) are on hiatus for the three months from 19 March to 10 June 2020.

The WCC team is small and enthusiastic as you know, but with more teaching commitments for myself and Clare, plus Laura will be data collecting for her PhD, we're running out of hours in the day!

What WILL still be running:

• Behaviour support sessions
• Social Skills classes
• Half day activity workshops like Gundog Games, Parkour and Scentwork
• Taster sessions
• Regular Hoopers classes at the PawPark

And for Summer 2020 we have a programme of drop-in activities planned instead of having to commit to a weekly class.

Happy Wednesday!

Morag and the beasties

Social Skills (for dogs that sometimes struggle)

Safe spaces for your dog to practice their conversational skills with other dogs or people. These sessions are ideal if your dog is ready to get closer, learn how to make friends or build tolerance levels.  Maximum of two spaces per session.

• When: weekdays and Saturdays - there will be evening sessions from the spring 
• Where: PawPark, Sand Hutton
• Check the schedule and book here

If you go down in the woods today.....

 If you go down in the woods today

You're sure of a big surprise!

 Teddy Bear's Picnic, lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy / John W. Bratton

*and yes, that is Laird temporarily back on a long line in very exciting places. All part of my plan to give him more freedom later in the year*

In case you need to drive out the earworm, listen to the whole song here! 


I hope you've been able to find something better than muddy floodwater in the woods this week?

All fingers crossed here for better weather in March, not least because we have all sorts of workshops and events planned.

Social Skills (for dogs that sometimes struggle)

Safe spaces for your dog to practice their conversational skills with other dogs or people. These sessions are ideal if your dog is ready to get closer, learn how to make friends or build tolerance levels.  Maximum of two spaces per session

• When: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays - there will be evening sessions from the spring 
• Where: PawPark, Sand Hutton
• Check the schedule and book here

Hoopers Taster Session (with Clare)

If you missed out on booking in to try Hoopers, we have one more workshop running before regular classes start. You MUST have attended a taster session or a 121 intro with Clare to be eligible for the classes!

• When: 21 March 2020
• Where: PawPark, Sand Hutton
• Book your space here

That's not a sheep! Herding Dog Games (with Morag)

Does your dog crouch, stare, fixate or chase stuff?
Ever feel like you've just been herded round a walk?
Are other dogs puzzled by your herding dog's behaviour?

During this half day workshop we'll be learning about the special quirks of the herding dog brain and incorporating games designed for  them into your training to help build focus, steadiness, recall and the start of control at distance...plus more!  Open to all breeds of dog, not just collies! 

• When: 22 March 2020
• Where: PawPark, Sand Hutton
• Book your space here

Parkour Variety Pack Challenge

Just for a wee bit of fun, this week I’m inviting you to post your pictures of multi-dog Parkour poses.

You can see Laird demonstrating a 2-up, Freya sitting on the same object, and Bronte sitting on a different manhole cover to the side.

I was trying to get Freya to stand rather than sit for a real variety pic, but it took all my time to keep Bronte from wimbling off!

While Parkour is great for building self-control, proprioception and more, it’s also perfect for those of us struggling to get more than one dog in the same photo.

Don’t worry if you only have one canine in your family, why not take the challenge with a friend or meet up with another Well Connected Canine and their person (feel free to use our FB group to make contact).

The best picture will become the group cover pic for February, so get snapping and submit your entries to the FB group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WellConnectedCanine/

A joyful update on the GWP who loves to hold onto things

Laird’s love of holding, chewing and sometimes eating things has been a wee bit of a challenge not least because of the sheer size of his jaws. Clare has been very patient with Laird (and me) in the Gundog Games workshops, and we’ve both had to think in new and interesting ways.

Key challenges

• Laird can and will eat things rather than give them up, and will often eat things just for fun so even ignoring him isn’t always a safe option 
• Laird loves food and toys about equally, and he loves them both A LOT, which makes for lots of conflicted feelings if we try to use one to swop for the other 
• Laird has previous experience of being made to give things up, and is definitely too big for that to work now, and he knows it 
• Laird has previous experience of being bribed or distracted to give something up, so is extra suspicious of being offered something when he has an item in his mouth 
• Laird’s mouth is so big (really!) that if we play games where we reward him for dropping the toy, or throw food near the toy, he often just ends up loosing the cheese or sausage in his jowls. 
• And then when he drops his head to pick up the toy, the food falls out onto it – cue panicked eating and holding of toy at the same time…

It’s fair to say we’ve worked through most of the normal solutions, without really feeling like we were making consistent progress.  Until Clare had a moment of genius. She will tell you it’s nothing of the sort, but I’m convinced! 

Dog training is all about figuring out what our dog really wants, deciding if we can safely give them access to it, and using it as a reward.

There’s no point offering me Xmas cake as a reward for anything, because I don’t like fruitcake and despise marzipan…..

Laird *loves* to play tug games.

But for all the reasons listed earlier, using food rewards as part of tug games hasn’t worked that well for us.

What we have worked on is Laird realising I will let go if he tugs too hard (ouch!), and that he needs to push the toy into my hands to restart the game (no grabbing by me).

So Clare’s brilliant idea was

• Play tuggy as normal, and then pause the game. 
• I stopped interacting and tugging. 
• As soon as Laird responded by easing off his pressure, I said his marker word and then played. 
• Repeat ad infinitum. 

We’re looking for moments where Laird chooses to loosen his grip on the toy, marking it, and rewarding with another round of tug – because that’s usually what Laird wants more than anything.

The proof is in the pudding as they say, and we had no idea if it would work.

Pretty quickly it was obvious that we were getting longer pauses, and then Laird started to release the toy (no cues are being given!).

I’ve played around with the ideas, but truthfully not as much as I planned to.

And then this afternoon Laird snuck into the kitchen and stole one of Bronte’s old training toys.

Sheepskin on a bungee with a tennis ball – that really is the holy grail.

My current meditation practice is all about turning difficult situations into opportunities to practice, so I took some deep breaths and in a cheery voice asked Laird if he wanted to play….

Ten minutes later the toy was still intact.

Laird had played beautifully, and chose to give the toy up several times.

When we finished and put it away, there was no jumping or snatching or grumpiness.

I am so proud of my big lad, and so grateful for Clare’s suggestions.

What have I learned today?

• Go back to basics, and listen to the dog in front of you 
• An outside perspective can and will help you make progress 
• Be grateful for the training opportunities as they arise, no matter how annoying the timing! 

Don’t forget to send in your Parkour Variety Pack pictures before the end of January,

All good wishes

Morag

What’s going on in WCC Land? 


Weekly classes next start date is 19 Feb 2020
 

• APDT Good Companion class at 18:30 FULLY BOOKED

• **extra** APDT Good Companion class at 19:30 Book here (max 4 places)

Workshops & Activities

Gundog Games workshops with Clare run monthly AND you can buy three workshops at a discounted rate, so long as you use them within 6 months

First session for 2020 is Sat 25th Jan at 13:30
 

• Games for Gundogs Book Here
• Games for Gundogs Multibuy Gift Certificate: Buy multi session certificate here

Social Skills for Dogs That Struggle are running in smaller groups, more often! See all your options to the end of Feb, there's at least four sessions per month now: Book Here

Parkour really is the activity for all occasions and we have an introductory session in January plus a brand new Parkour Challenge in the Wild workshop in February
 

• Parkour Fundamentals: FULLY BOOKED
• Parkour Skills: Outdoor Adventure: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13187434&appointmentType=12264316

New Year: New Actions?

Yep, it's that time of year again when the world seems full of good ideas and shiny resolutions. Not to mention the fields are full of dogs suddenly being walked more than usual.

I'm (Morag) a big fan of setting goals, tracking actions and reviewing progress.

But I'm NOT a big fan of the whole new year/new you shenanigans.



The trick is to figure out your goal, and then break that down into the daily or weekly actions that will get you closer.

Rather than tracking your success each week, just make sure to record what you actually did. You can control what you take action on even if the results are variable!

For example

I can make a point of practicing attention games with Laird at least twice on every walk in dense woodland.

Does that guarantee that he will have been paying attention?

Heck no!

But it massively increases the chance that he will be paying more attention as the days and weeks go past...

We can give you the games, techniques and tools - you just need to put in the consistent effort.



We're officially back in the office from Monday 6th January, and bookings are already open for our January classes (start 15 Jan) if you want some support in taking those regular tiny actions!

Morag, Clare & Laura
Well Connected Canine


What’s going on in WCC Land? 


Weekly classes are moving to Wednesday evenings from 15th January 2020
 

• APDT Good Companion classes at 18:30 Book Here

• Relaxation & Bodywork classes at 19:30 Book Here

Workshops & Activities

Gundog Games workshops with Clare will run monthly AND you can buy three workshops at a discounted rate, so long as you use them within 6 months
 

• Games for Gundogs Book Here
• Games for Gundogs Multibuy Gift Certificate: Book Here

Social Skills for Dogs That Struggle are running in smaller groups, more often! See all your options for January, there's at least four sessions per month now: Book Here

Parkour really is the activity for all occasions and we have an introductory session in January plus a brand new Parkour Challenge in the Wild workshop in February
 

• Parkour Fundamentals: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13187434&appointmentType=12264254
• Parkour Skills: Outdoor Adventure: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13187434&appointmentType=12264316

Multi-dog harmony was a popular request last year so we’re offering a webinar in January to introduce the core skills, AND a practical workshop in February to put it into practice. BOOKINGS OPENING SOON!

There are fewer places on most workshops so you can get more focused, individualised help!

How many pounds per square inch can GWP jaws exert? Part two of the progress reports

This is a blog about progress updates, but I figure it's important to be honest about the ups as well as the downs.

Update for Laird

The much loved giant GWP and his ongoing struggles with giving stuff up and love of eating plastic (and anything else that fits in his mouth) have often featured in my writing.

Last week I discovered first hand just how powerful his jaws are.

I have to be honest, it's not a question I’d ever considered before… but it turns out a large adult dog can exert quite a lot of pressure through their teeth.

Laird was behaving out of sorts one evening* - grumbling about a chew, and grumping at his sister Bronte too.  Later on there was a tricky situation involving Laird, my kitchen bin and a large amount of plastic wrapping from some smoked haddock.

It was dark, and while I knew Laird had managed to pull some of the packaging out, I underestimated how much was already in his mouth.

In too much of a hurry to turn on the light, I approached and asked Laird to target my hand with the plastic in his mouth. Usually if he can do this, he'll also be able to give it up.

That night I mis-read the situation.

As my fingers made contact with the plastic, Laird suddenly pulled away.

I tried to hold on, hoping to prevent him from swallowing it.

Laird re-gripped the plastic to make sure he had a firmer hold (letting go and re-grabbing)

My hand was caught in Laird's mouth, and as he started to squeeze his jaws the pain became incredibly intense.

The next 5 minutes felt like the longest in my life.

He didn't understand why I wasn't letting go of the plastic.

And I physically couldn't get my hand out of his mouth!

At one stage I had both hands trapped.

But eventually, my hands escaped, and yes I abandoned the plastic!

In the two days after the incident, Laird returned to finding and eating rubbish on walks with a vengeance. I couldn't ask him to give anything up in the house.

But four days later we were able to attend a Gun Dog Games workshop all about retrieves, and it went really well.  Both Laird and I have a long way to go, but the setback was much less than I feared.


*later on I discovered Laird had split a claw right down to the quick on his front left paw, so was probably in quite a lot of pain, poor lad

Training, changing or improving our dog's behaviour is a life long challenge.

But even when things go horribly wrong, you WILL land on a cushion from all your previous training, relationship building and more.

And that means it takes less time to recover from each set back, I promise!

Which is where the value of regular, incremental training comes in. Every positive experience you have with your dog is a deposit in your joint trust account.



And there's always something left to build back up from.

Next week I'll tell you about Brian coping with the scaffolders, and Quest facing an unexpected bang!

Happy weekend!

Morag, the Big Yin and the Collie Girls

 

Want to do more training with your dog?

New courses start on Monday 7th October at Yorkshire Museum of Farming

APDT Good Companion Award (weekly class)

Essential real life exercises you and your dog can enjoy learning together in a group setting.

You will both learn: response to name, manners (not jumping up), walking nicely on lead, coming back when called, stay, self-control around food and doorways (including the car) and play manners.

• 5 week courses
• Suitable for new starters AND progression students.
• PLUS you can choose to be assessed for the APDT Good Companion Award at Foundation or Progress levels.

Book APDT Good Companion Class

 

Sniffing School: Bomb Detectors (weekly class)

The dog moves steadily down the line of people, suddenly the tail is going extra fast and the bum slams onto the ground. Those brown eyes are staring hard at your left pocket… that’s a passive indication!

This is where the find stops being the reward - vital for a bomb detection dog, but an extra challenge for your dog to take on!

• Three week module
• Pre-req: Dogs can settle quietly in class; can search for at least one target scent; can offer one consistent behaviour (e.g. sit)

Book Sniffing School (Bomb Detection)

Deer proofing your recall + loose lead walking skills!

Laird is recovering well from his “jousting “ injury - the only reasonable explanation for the huge hole in his shoulder!

But while we can do a bit more exercise, it all needs to be calm and controlled.

Calm is not a word often used for 2yr old German Wire Haired Pointers . . . . .

So walking nicely even around distractions has shot up the priority list – being dragged by your dog is never fun, especially when its 36 kg of muscle doing the pulling.

Off lead Zoomies are also on the forbidden list which means more long lines. Extra tricky with frustrated-enthusiastic powerful dog. I’ve been experimenting with lines that pass through the front harness ring but connect to the top ring for safety.

As a wee treat after waiting patiently during a workshop, l wanted to take them somewhere interesting for a walk, but with minimal chance of deer - they are far too exciting for Laird.

Ermmm

Lets just say that 4 pm on a Sunday afternoon is prime time for deer on the water meadows by Fulford….

We saw a total of 5 deer at varying distances!

I was so glad Laird was on a line and we were able to walk away in some semblance of control.

There’s no magic secret or technique , just careful foundations built up over time.

How would YOUR dog have coped?

If the idea fills you with dread, consider signing up for a 3 week intensive course with me! We have two starting Monday 5th August, and more in September

• Stay By My Side II (walking nicely on lead around distractions) 5th Aug
• Baby Come Back I (coming back when called) 5th Aug

Find your intensive course here

• Stay By My Side I (learning how to walk by your side consistently) 9th Sept
• Mind Your Manners II (resisting temptation everywhere) 9th Sept

What’s on in WCC Land?

Open Day Sat 7th Sept

We’re celebrating TEN years of building better relationships with dogs . Come to our Open Day on Sat 7th Sept, Yorkshire Museum of Farming. Stalls to browse and FREE activities to try with your dog!

Classes in August

There’s NO workshops in August but we do have short courses on core skills  like recall or not pulling on lead, plus Get Tracking (starts Aug 5th) and Introduction to Bodywork (9th Sept)

CaniCross Survival Skills on Sunday September 15th

Morning - learn how to warm up and cool down effectively
Afternoon - start loving those hills with and without your dog to help

*Book both workshops and SAVE £10*

Location: Yorkshire Cycle Hub, Fryup Gill Farm, Great Fryup, YO21 2AP

Gundog + Herding Dog Workshops 

They start back from September  21st and we've dates booked in till 2020 so grab those spaces fast!
See the calendar here.

“The training worked!” When a plan comes together...

“How did you get your dogs to do that?” someone shouted over at me in the park yesterday.

I looked over, wondering what he meant.

Freya as usual, was insisting on training and doing tricks at me while Brontë wimbled happily by my side. Laird was thundering back towards us.

The chap wanted to know how I managed to get my dogs to come back when I called them. He had a little Lhasa apso who was very definitely staying on lead.

“With cheese and balls” was my mostly serious answer!

We had an interesting conversation about making sure we give our dogs a good reason to come back to us and how we might start training it.

And then, I came home to open my email and found a message from Jane and John (not their real names) who have been working hard to stop their big retriever crossbreed from charging off to greet other dogs and ignoring any suggestion from the owners that she might want to come back.

Your training works!

It was busy with dogs today so it was a good test for her. She did very well and we were really chuffed. We then met some friends who have 3 dogs. They kept remarking about how calm she was compared with when they’d last seen her 2 or 3 months ago. She was almost laid back with the other dogs!

Recall, or coming back when asked to, is one of those essential life skills.

It can turn walking your dog from a tiresome task into a pleasant enjoyable experience.

And when we talk about recall, I need your dog coming back promptly when you call or whistle them. Not just coming back at the end of a play session or after chasing the rabbit!

It’s a deceptively simple process, but you have to be consistent in your training and only take tiny little steps forward when your dog is really ready.

The not-so-secret Secret Recipe for Recall

• start playing games that encourage and reward your dog when they pay attention to you (parkour, scentwork, tracking, hand targets, and anything else) 
• stop letting your dog run off and ignore you (long lines are your friend) 
• start teaching a brand-new recall cue (a word or whistle pattern) and link it with the best ever reward for your dog (find their crack cocaine) 
• practice the new recall in very low distraction places to begin with (inside the house, in your garden, in a secure field and so on) 
• gradually build up the level of distraction and always be willing to drop back a stage if your dog is struggling

If you're reading this email or blog, and have an nagging sensation that your dog's recall is not as good as it could be, why not commit to recall being your summer training project?

• It’s never too late to sharpen up or introduce a reliable recall. 
• It really can save your dogs life. 
• And it will improve their quality of life and yours! 

I would love you to come and post in our small friendly private Facebook group if you’re taking on the summer recall challenge. https://www.facebook.com/groups/WellConnectedCanine/

What steps are you taking so that your dog isn’t practising the wrong thing?

And do you know what your dogs crack cocaine really is?

Of course, if you’d like a little bit of extra help and expert coaching, there is always our three-week intensive training programs.

Find a 3 week intensive

We offer level I and level II Baby Come Back courses to sharpen your skills, and you can ask us for a private course too!


Happy recalling

Morag, the big Yin (it’s nearly his one-year gotcha Day) and the collie girls 

P. S. Our recall is a bit of a work in progress. Freya is pretty reliable except if she gets too far away and finds a real bunny, but Project Squirrel has been a great success. Laird is pretty amazing unless he is actively on the hunt for something, and deer are our personal nemesis right now. But I promise we are working on it, and I’m using exactly the same techniques that we teach you in our courses!

P.P.S. yes, it has been a while since I emailed and blogged to you all, sorry about that! I've been a bit poorly lately and am still recovering so don't be surprised if it takes me a little longer to reply to emails or messages


What else is going on in WCC Land?

Sat 25th May Gundog Games

Sun 26th May Herding Dog Games 

How long did it take you to fall in love (with your dog)?

The overwhelming feeling of warm fuzzies that melts your heart while you watch them sleep, or the oxytocin burst if you prefer!

Either way, you know what it feels like when you have that rush of sheer love for your dog.

Even if they have just eaten something indescribable...

Apparently it’s #NationalLoveYourPetDay today, which is weird because this topic has been in my head since Saturday!

So how long did it take you to fall in love with your dog?

I mean really fall for them, not just think they were cute?

During our Monday team meeting I asked Laura and Clare what their experiences had been.

Laura adopted Seamus last year as a young adolescent. He’s a Beagle x Cavalier, and it’s fair to say Seamus and his shouting has been a challenge! In those first few weeks Laura phoned me more than once in tears because he just would not stop barking…. But after a few months, there was that solid warm feeling of love.

Scout came to Clare as a wee pup, and apparently his goofy happy face won her over in a couple of weeks!

As for me, it always seems to take me about 6 months or more to really fall for a new dog.

It’s not that I don’t like them or appreciate them to begin with, but it doesn’t feel like I really know who they are. That sense of knowing them deep inside, how their individual personality feels when I think of them. The quiet companionship that has a different flavour depending which dog I’m concentrating on.

Learning about their personality and special quirks is an integral part of falling in love with my dogs.  I will always think of my dogs as individuals first, but breed characteristics can be important too.

Adding in Laird the HPR (hunt point retrieve) to my collie girls has been a whole new challenge, plus he’s an adolescent boy. I think we’re making good progress despite the teenage months...

Breed specific behaviour is a tricky topic – and it’s important not to lose sight of your dog as a unique individual. But we ignore those pre-wired behaviours at our cost….

You can listen to Clare and I chatting about breed specific behaviours in gundogs, doodle/ocker crosses and herding breeds in this wee video – we’d love to know what you think too!

I hope you’re enjoying living with your companion animals (pets!) as much as we are, and don’t forget if you need any help to tweak that relationship we’re always at the end of an email.

Morag, the big beast and the collie girls 

#NationalLoveYourPetDay

PS Want to spend more time working with your dog’s natural instincts rather than fighting against them?

Why not try a half-day workshop with us:

Shut up and train!

This blog has been brought to you by the power of a sopping wet GWP beard…because I’ve finally made a concerted effort to implement the Level 2 Mind Your Manners exercises in my own home!

Laird is lovely.

I mean, for a now two year old, still mostly adolescent, enormous beast of a boy, he’s delightful.

But he does have a beard.

And moustaches.

And when he drinks, there’s a lot of soggy beard around.

Laird’s head is just the right height for resting on dining tables.

He doesn’t understand why I feel that’s a problem!

So for the last few months when I have eaten at my table (not as often as I should for sure), I’ve either popped him in his crate or just fended him off with one arm.

Not a smart move really, because as my clever readers will be shouting at me, that’s NOT teaching him what I want him TO DO at mealtimes.

So, today I made an effort and took the jar of mini-kibbles (an experimental purchase from Pets Pantry) along with my lunch and sat at the table.

Here’s the result after five minutes….

And yes, I have done a little work to help Laird love being in his crate.

But it’s a lot less than I meant to.

And I’ve never asked him to sit or lie down in it while I’m eating and the door is open.

What now?

Now I need to be consistent for the next few meals and stick to the plan.

If you want some help with the basic stuff that makes living with your dog more pleasant, why not sign up for a three week intensive boost on manners, coming when called or walking nicely on lead!



Happy lunchtimes, and may your soup always be beard free….

Morag and collie girls (who know this stuff), and the Big Yin (who is learning)


PS     Fancy something a bit different?

We’re running our popular Introduction to Canicross workshops on Sunday 17th Feb and 10th March at 9.30am, near York.

You’ll learn how to choose the right kit for you and your dog, line handling and basic commands.

Practice it all on a group run and then come back to debrief over sausage rolls, coffee and cake!

What else is going on?

Find out here

"Hi Clare, I need to go into hospital today, can you look after Laird for a couple of days?"

"Hi Clare, I need to go into hospital today, can you look after Laird for a couple of days?"

Those words initially filled me with dread, not because I don't love the giant GWP goofball that is Laird, but because I didn't know how Spencer, my reactive German Shepherd, would cope with a strange dog in the house. 

"Yes, of course, that's fine, no problem" 

was my response, though inside I was slightly panicking!!

I knew my other  dogs would be fine, Poppy and Summer would just ignore him and Scout would just want to follow him around, imagining he was herding him. 

Spencer was my big concern, he's fine meeting tiny puppies but introductions to new adult dogs are done over several session usually taking a few months. 

I'm pleased to say that all my panicking had been for nothing and Spencer coped amazingly well with his new giant cousin, even having a few sneaky sniffs here and there! 

And here's the proof by day 2!

Spencer made me feel very proud of how far he has come and that all our hard work has paid off!

One of the things that really helped our training was being able to practice our skills in  real life situations, having set-ups that allowed us to progress and build Spenders confidence in a safe environment.

Clare and the slightly less scaredy GSD Spencer

Rehab Sessions

Our Rehab sessions give you the chance to practice your skills around other dogs in a safe environment, with additional coaching and support. 

Choose from Tuesday afternoon or Sunday morning sessions, in York (with Morag) or South Cave (with Clare)

*NEW* Scentwork for Reactive Dogs    Sat 2nd February 2019

Does your dog struggle to be calm around people or other dogs? 

This half day workshop introduces scentwork and how it can benefit your dog, including practical coaching, individual coaching and looks at how you can incorporate searches into your training and walks. 

Held at the Paw Park, Sand Hutton, York.  Please note, dogs will need to be able to settle in cars when not working.


Book Sniffing School for Reactive Dogs

Behaviour is communication, but are you listening?

Standing in the hall and trying to wriggle out of boots heavy with mud, it was frustrating to have a huge dog head shoving against my hip.

I carried on getting my boots off, then got distracted by an incoming phone call.

Two minutes later, still standing in my hall, I realised Laird was still rubbing one side of his face against me.

Rub, stop, look up.

Rub, stop look up.

Finally it sank in that this really wasn’t normal for Laird.



I mean, sometimes he likes to share his beard but that’s more of a scrubbing both sides of his face against anything he can reach!

Stepping away to get a better look at Laird’s face – and I found a dratted burdock seed head thoroughly matted into his beard.



Bless his little heart for standing patiently while I worked it out, and for being so persistent about telling me he needed my help!

So, next time your dog does something that annoys you or even just seems out of the ordinary – pay attention.

Maybe your dog is barking because they’re frustrated, or excited, or worried – the barking is the communication attempt. Our job is to figure out the message, and help our dog feel more relaxed, calmer or safer – not just stop the barking.

Happy frosty walks and hope you avoid the evil burdock seeds this week!

Morag and the beasts
 

What’s going on in WCC Land?

Half day workshops to learn new games to play with your dog before the winter really sets in,  all are morning sessions at the Paw Park near Sand Hutton

• Saturday 1st December: Gun Dog Games with Clare ONE SPACE)
• Saturday 8th December: "That's not a sheep!" Herding Breed Games with Morag FULL
• Saturday 15th December: Terrier-tastic Training Games for your little hunter! with Morag  FOUR SPACES

*just click the links to see more information or book your space 

Xmas Snifftacular

Wed 19^th December 7.15pm at Yorkshire Museum of Farming
Get your special invite here – limited numbers and only 8 spaces left….£15 per family
Take me to the Snifftacular!
 

Social Cani-Run (approx. 5k)

Sunday 2^nd Dec 8.30am, meet at carpark outside coach entrance for Beningbrough Hall
To download directions click here
 

Last Sunday Social & Sports Club of 2018!

Our last Sunday Social of 2018 (16 December) is fast approaching and we thought we'd do something a bit different for this session, a group social walk

We'll be setting off from the usual place for a 3.5 mile(ish) route at approx 2.15pm. There is a bit of a hill to walk up (and back down at the end!) and probably a fair amount of mud so come dressed appropriately! 

After the walk there will be hot drinks and mince pies. Dogs can be showered off with an outdoor heated shower before you pop them back in your car too. 

Dogs will need to be happy walking with other dogs and all dogs will be kept on leads. 

As usual, let us know if you can make it, we don't want to set off without anyone!

I'm coming for the Xmas Social walk

A Tale of Two Corpses

Actually that’s a lie.

It’s a tale with three bodies in it!

*content warning, this blog mentions death, body parts, and a dog killing a rabbit* 

Many years ago I was walking in the hills behind Keltneyburn, in Scotland.

Finn, my first collie and dear soulmate was with me.

We were both enjoying the fresh air and a chance to decompress.

I loved watching Finn roam the hills when there was no sheep around.

And then Finn came trotting past me with something in his mouth…

A hoof gently swinging from a long leg bone. *sigh*

Deer poachers are a problem up there and you can find plenty of severed legs lying around in the heather.

You might not know, but Finn and I worked through a whole raft of behaviour challenges together.

One of those was about giving things up. As a dog who spent a lot of time on the streets of Glasgow, Finn wasn’t convinced that sharing was a good strategy for life!

But on that crisp autumn morning Finn was able to drop the leg when I asked him to. Having checked it for safety, I reluctantly agreed he could carry it on our walk together. After all, what could be a better reward for giving up a treasure than getting it back!

That was back in 2006.

Now I share my home with Freya and Bronte who will happily give things up to me if asked, and Laird…who often doesn’t!

Canicross folks will remember the number of dead rabbits that Laird managed to find and devour on his first ever workshop with me, while I am still trying to forget.

Rabbit corpses have continued to be something of a theme for us, from the slimy dead one Laird insisted on carrying home on one Friday morning (both Laird and the rabbit ended up in the garden for a couple of hours), to the rattling skeleton that made a fantastic toy when thrown in the air last weekend when we were away in the Dales.

My general approach is not about asking Laird to give them up. He’s not ready for that yet. Thanks to the work we’re doing with Clare in the Helpful Hounds classes and GunDog Games, Laird has been learning to hand target even with a thing in his mouth – which naturally leads to a retrieve to hand.

Yuck!!!

So, the question that matters is, what if you HAVE to take the thing out of your dog’s mouth?

What if it’s not safe to let them eat it or carry it?

Or the thing is too rotting and disgusting to allow into your house… Well, on Saturday afternoon I had that opportunity.

It was the end of a lovely long walk, and we were hoping to beat the storm clouds back to the holiday cottage.

Laird was on lead, sniffing and pouncing in the nettle beds along the fence line which were full of rabbit sniffs. Sniff, sniff, pounce! (yes really, just like a huge cat)

Sniff, sniff, pounce!

Sniff, sniff, pounce! 

Sniff, sniff, pounce, squeal, crunch

And now Laird was delightedly carrying a fresh corpse in his mouth, when we were less than 5 mins walk from our holiday cottage…

Emergency tennis ball to the rescue!

Of course that has problems too (because there’s no chance Laird would give up the tennis ball, and Brian feels similarly), but they were easier to solve (Laird will happily go sit in the van with his ball).

The whole strategy was about making sure I didn’t end up in an argument that I could lose. Instead I used my bigger brain and opposable thumbs to manipulate the situation!

So, it turns out that emergency tennis ball on a rope in my walking rucksack had a purpose after all.

Anyway, the moral of this week’s blog is to always be prepared. Don’t end up in an argument that you can’t win, and work hard at the other training so it becomes less of a problem!

Happy planning

Morag, the collie girls and the Big Yin

What’s going on in WCC Land? 

Half day workshops to learn new games to play with your dog before the winter really sets in

• Saturday 24th November: Train Your Dog Like A Dolphin (beginner clicker training)

• Saturday 24th November: The Art & Science of Clicker Training (polish your skills)

•  Saturday 1st December: Gun Dog Games with Clare (just three spaces left)

• Saturday 8th December: "That's not a sheep!" Herding Breed Games with Morag (four spaces)

just click the blue links to see more information or book your space

Three week intensive classes - daytime and evening!

Wed 21st November at Murton  Stay By My Side (walking nicely on your lead) starts 6.40pm

Mon 19th November  Mind Your Manners (be polite around food, toys, other dogs and people!) starts 3pm  at the PawPark nr Sand Hutton

just click the blue links to see more information or book your space

Shhhhhh Xmas really is coming! 

We’re planning a Festive Snifftacular on Wednesday 19th December with party games, challenges and scentwork fun.

Even if your dog might not enjoy the party, you are very welcome to come along to join in the fun – there’s plenty for humans to do!


Tell us if you want to come here, and we’ll send you a special invite very soon!
https://doodle.com/poll/4h7ar7iktz72h8yu

Get focused, get help! (even professional dog trainers need this)

Even when you’re a dog trainer, it helps to have a plan and a second pair of eyes to check it over. 

This Sunday Clare and I swapped some brain time to help each other out, and used the 12 Week Year model to design training plans for our own dogs.

In case I haven’t already raved at you about this model, in brief here’s how it works: 

Principles of the 12 Week Year as adapted for Behaviour Modification/Training

Look at the big picture, what’s your vision for the future? Why does it matter, anchor that vision in a positive emotion. This might be a long term aspirational vision

Now get specific – what will this look like in three years?

And break it down further – what would be a stretch but doable goal within 12 weeks?

• Specific, measurable
• Positive statement
• Realistic but still requires effort
• Set accountability and measure your actions

What are the “tactics” that will get you to achieve this goal? These will become the actions we put into a plan. Some will be one-off activities, others will be repeating. For behaviour change we’re often looking at frequent repeated sessions.

Build these into the 12 week plan – what needs to happen every week, how often, when, where etc. Deadlines and due dates. This isn’t about measuring success so much as tracking implementation!

Discuss what actions are likely to be most challenging, where might the blocks appear and what strategies can we use to overcome them.

(and yes, Clare does tend to call these “Morag years”)

What we're working on:

 

Clare is working with Scout so he can accept and enjoy more handling and husbandry with other people.

I’m working on Laird choosing to give stuff up, and coming away from disgusting things BEFORE he eats them. I know, you’re really surprised to read that right?!

So we’ve set our big focus – the thing we really want to be different, and talked about why it’s important for both us and our dogs.

Then we broke it down into the component parts. What are the small pieces that make up the big picture? How often do we need to practice each thing? How will we know when to move forwards?

Here’s an example of how I use the model for myself and my dogs – this record sheet was from earlier in the year when Freya was learning to love the van again. I had targets each day to meet.

The joy of the 12 Week Year model is that it pushes you into setting concrete tasks, and regularly implementing them. 

We’re not judging our progress based on results (we can’t control those). Instead we’re focused on regularly doing the important tasks, and making those targets.

There’s planned review time each week (are we on track, what’s been difficult this week, what do we need to change for next week), and at the end of the “12 Week Year”. Take a break, celebrate, and then do it all again!

Let me know if you decide to try it for yourself, and there’s some great resources in the book itself too.

Have a good week!

Morag and the beasts

What’s going on in WCC Land from October?

Baby Come Back and Stay By My Side!

Our 3 week intensive classes working on JUST recall OR loose lead walking) have been super popular!  We’ve now added dates for the rest of the year with new blocks starting October 8th, then Oct 29th and Nov 26th (only TWO places available per course)

Not sure if it's the course for you - message me :-)

Book here

Get Fit With Your Dog!

Dark nights don’t have to mean boring walks or leaving your dog at home while you head to the gym. Why not try Canicross – running with your dog – to work on your fitness and teamwork. 

 

You DON’T need to be a runner, or particularly fit to start with! In fact it’s often better to start before you get super fit.

Tuesday evening classes from 16^th October (7pm), we can fit and lend you the kit. Small groups with two qualified running coaches and fitness appropriate sessions around York.

Book a couple of sessions now to try it out (newbies MUST book week 1 or discuss with us) 

OR book the whole block using coupon COMMITEDCANI-X to get one session free!

Choose your class here