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.

Running without my dog ? Are you crazy?

Last Sunday Laura and I spent several hours running, stretching and doing a variety of weird and wonderful things in the name of becoming a (slightly) better runner . . . .thanks to Jason + Kim Cavill and Ryedale Canicross.

And I was strongly reminded of the amazing weekend I spent in the Forest of Dean two years ago learning techniques from Anthony le Moigne – one of the top European cani-crossers.

What both sessions had in common was the idea that to improve as a cani-crosser we also have to run dog less *weeps*

At least some of the time!

Why?

Because canicross is about more than being dragged along by your dog, it should be a team effort.

That means you need to work hard, run efficiently and be a good partner.

But let's be honest.

Most canicrossers start running because they have dogs.

Some of you might have been keen (or indifferent) runners before your dog arrived, but for many of us the reason we run IS our dogs.

The idea of going for a run AND then still having to walk the dogs doesn’t really appeal – I mean who has that much free time on their hands ?

So what are your options ?

1. If your dogs can safely go off lead, remove harnesses and free run the dogs when you need to focus on your own skills e.g. my dogs don’t need to do hill repeats but l definitely do…. 
2. If you can’t unleash your hounds because they might never come back or just because of livestock, why not run with a buddy and take turns to run dogless? 

 Not even the keenest dog wants to be dragging an awkward lump behind them – so we owe it to our amazing dogs to up our running game.

That means running efficiently rather than braking the dog’s forward momentum every time you take a stride. It means increasing your cadence and driving from the gluteal muscles (your bum).

Are you willing to take the dogless training challenge?

Get posting in the FB group or hit reply to this email!

 Morag, Freya and Laird 

#beautyandthebeast # Laird the Enabler #ultra_collie

P. S. Don’t forget to SAVE THE DATES for our September adventure at Fryup Dale in the North York Moors [14th/15th September 2019]

P.P.S  Not sure when too hot really is too hot to run your dog? Check out this interview with Dr Anne Carter and Emily Hall MRCVS who are leading research into how dogs cope with the heat.

https://k9trailtime.wordpress.com/2018/06/27/k9-trail-time-interview-with-an-expert-or-two-dr-anne-carter-emily-hall-mrcvs-experts-on-heatstroke-in-dogs/

Up Your Running Game (three week skills intensives)

Canicross Intensives: This way, that way (15 July 2019)

Sick of shouting directions that fall on deaf furry ears? Want to stop running into trees because your dog lost track of the path?

"This way, that way" introduces directions including turns, moving over and building to a verbal command.

• Maximum two dogs per session.
• Handlers need to have completed a canicross intro session (workshop or 121)
• Minimum dog age: 12 month

Book This Way Not That Way

Canicross Intensives: Get on by (5 Aug 2019)

Fed up with your dog getting distracted by every shiny, squeaky, smelly or scrumptious? Want to move through crowds or past dogs without getting tied in a knot?

"Get on by" builds up consistent forward focus, whatever the distraction.

• Maximum two dogs per session
• Handlers need to have completed a canicross intro session (workshop or 121)
• Minimum dog age: 12 months

Book Get On By

Canicross Intensives: Descending without death! (9 Sept 2019)

Constantly scared of being pulled face first down that hill?

"Descending without death" works on core descending strategies from the safety of flat ground, looking at speedy and controlled options to find the best approach for you.

• Maximum two dogs per session
• Handlers need to have completed a canicross intro session (workshop or 121)
• Minimum dog age: 12 months

Book Descending Without Death

Morag, Freya and Laird

#beauty_and_the_beast # Laird_the_Enabler #ultra_collie

Always think about both ends of the leash

Thank you for sending me so many replies to the first “What colour are you right now?” blog (click here if you missed it or the accompanying video).

The idea isn’t a new one, but creating a habit of verbalising the colour state for you or your dog seems to have struck a chord.

Gina is one of our amazing DogsBody Team (volunteer helpers) and has also been shadowing some of our behaviour consults as part of her degree course. Gina is also the guardian of Max, a sensitive and sometimes shouty Schnauzer. We’ve been working together over the past year, and he’s able to take part in outside classes now!

Here’s how Gina has been incorporating the colour question into her daily routine, and how it’s helped her partner too…

“I loved the Whats my colour idea for the dogs and am sure it will be a really easy thing for me to use for Max. 

I also think it would be a great thing to use with people working with reactive dogs as I know personally how it makes the human feel.

 Since doing the [canine] relaxation bodywork course I became more aware of my emotional state during training and walks and saw how that impacts on Max as a result.

My lightbulb moment/take away point from the course was during ground work and felt how I changed when walking slowly around the objects and talking in the good boy, really nice voice. I now use it for my benefit to relax without even taking into account what Max needs and then am able to be the support Max needs afterwards.

I will now add in the what's my colour for myself as well as thinking what colour is Max. Because even if Max is green, if I am red I would not be in a position to help him if something happened.

When we last did rehab and you said you were going to fetch a dog out from behind your van and I realised how I changed in anticipation even though Max was oblivious at that point so I knew I needed to work on that.

Having the colour check system would have made it easy for me to shout to you that I had gone to amber.

I have been trying it out on David this weekend and it worked really well to get him to think about what colour Max is and himself.

We had a scenario where Max was busy sniffing (very green) and David was clearly hyper vigilant scanning the area for dogs and I shouted what colour are you?

He replied red, we both laughed and did a “let’s go” [emergency escape tactic] and that was the potential problem avoided."

Thanks to Gina for her thoughts and experiences, we’ll have more blogs from our awesome DogsBody team members in the next few weeks too. 

If you’re feeling inspired to do more with your dog this summer, check out our summer programme and grab your spaces before they vanish.

All classes run on a Monday evening at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming. 

Nearly full or sold out 

Mind Your Manners (Level I) 15 July FULL
Good Companion Award progressions class 19 August ONE SPACE LEFT

Book on

• Baby Come Back (Level I) starts 5 August
• Baby Come Back FASTER (Level II)  starts 15 July
• Stay by my Side (Level I)   starts 9 September
• Stay by my Side LONGER (Level II)  starts 5 August
• Mind Your Manners EVERYWHERE (Level II)   starts 9 September

• Handling and Co-operative Care (5 wks)  starts 15 July needs two more students to run

• Advanced Bodywork (3 wks)  starts 15 July  needs two more students to run
• Sniffing School – Lets Get Tracking (3 wks)  starts 5 August
• Introduction to Bodywork (3wks)  starts 9 September

**NEW** Canicross 3 week intensives

This way, that way (15 July 2019)

Sick of shouting directions that fall on deaf furry ears? Want to stop running into trees because your dog lost track of the path?

"This way, that way" introduces directions including turns, moving over and building to a verbal command.

Get on by (5 Aug 2019)

Fed up with your dog getting distracted by every shiny, squeaky, smelly or scrumptious? Want to move through crowds or past dogs without getting tied in a knot?

"Get on by" builds up consistent forward focus, whatever the distraction.

Descending without death! (9 Sept 2019)

Constantly scared of being pulled face first down that hill?

"Descending without death" works on core descending strategies from the safety of flat ground, looking at speedy and controlled options to find the best approach for you.

When is it too hot to run? Skills training for the warm weather Summer 2019

Summer has arrived at last which means watching the temperature before risking a run with your dog.

Not sure when too hot really is too hot? Check out this interview with Dr Anne Carter and Emily Hall MRCVS who are leading research into how dogs cope with the heat.

https://k9trailtime.wordpress.com/2018/06/27/k9-trail-time-interview-with-an-expert-or-two-dr-anne-carter-emily-hall-mrcvs-experts-on-heatstroke-in-dogs/

But we can make the most of the “off” season by sharpening up the essential cani cross skills of passing other teams descending without death and going the correct side of the tree!

Meet the new three week intensive courses dedicated to canicross skills.

Each class has a maximum of two teams with one instructor.

Each week you concentrate on a Key skill then practice JUST that for the week.

Building skills in layers is more effective for humans and dogs alike!


**all classes take place at Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton**



Canicross Intensives: This way, that way (15 July 2019)

Sick of shouting directions that fall on deaf furry ears? Want to stop running into trees because your dog lost track of the path?

"This way, that way" introduces directions including turns, moving over and building to a verbal command.

• Maximum two dogs per session.
• Handlers need to have completed a canicross intro session (workshop or 121)
• Minimum dog age: 12 month

Book This Way Not That Way
 
Canicross Intensives: Get on by (5 Aug 2019)

Fed up with your dog getting distracted by every shiny, squeaky, smelly or scrumptious? Want to move through crowds or past dogs without getting tied in a knot?

"Get on by" builds up consistent forward focus, whatever the distraction.

• Maximum two dogs per session
• Handlers need to have completed a canicross intro session (workshop or 121)
• Minimum dog age: 12 months

Book Get On By
 
Canicross Intensives: Descending without death! (9 Sept 2019)

Constantly scared of being pulled face first down that hill?

"Descending without death" works on core descending strategies from the safety of flat ground, looking at speedy and controlled options to find the best approach for you.

• Maximum two dogs per session
• Handlers need to have completed a canicross intro session (workshop or 121)
• Minimum dog age: 12 months

Book Descending Without Death


Morag, Freya and Laird

#beauty_and_the_beast # Laird_the_Enabler #ultra_collie

P. S. Don’t forget to SAVE THE DATES for our September adventure at Fryup Dale in the North York Moors [14th/15th September 2019]

 

Thursday Morning Focus

“Why don’t we use the time for a training session for our own dogs?”

Last week’s disgusting weather forecasts had led to a client’s planned training session being postponed and we were throwing ideas around about what to do with the booked venue (because when you’ve got a session booked at the Paw Park already, it seems a real shame to waste it!).

What started as a throwaway suggestion turned out to be the best idea I (Laura) had all week.

 As trainers’ dogs, our canine families spend a lot of time waiting while we help other people train with their dogs. At home while we teach classes, in vehicles while we run training sessions or settled on mats waiting to be demo dogs for a particular skill or technique.

Their own training time tends to get slotted into the gaps in our days – two minutes while the kettle is on, five minutes during a walk – but location and convenience limit what we can work on and, on particularly busy days, it might get neglected entirely.

Setting aside that dedicated time – just us and our dogs in a field, with no other distractions – gave us the space to work on the things we really wanted to work on.

There were no other dogs to make friends with (Seamus), no deer to chase (Laird), no floor snacks to steal (Brian) and no squirrels to stare at (Freya).

We could work multiple dogs at once, set up the session in the ways that work best for us and, most importantly, we could just have fun spending quality time with our dogs.

Honestly, it went so well we’ve made it a weekly thing.

Whether it’s a structured class, a trainer-led individual session, or time that you put aside to spend with your dog, these longer training sessions are a great opportunity to introduce new skills, or remind yourselves of long since forgotten skills (think of something you learnt at school that you haven’t practised since – I bet you can’t remember how to do it!

Our dogs aren’t really any different so it’s always worth going back to some of those old habits to make sure we’ve still got them).

If we take that time to lay the groundwork, we can reinforce those new skills during those two minute tea-break sessions.

This week, I challenge you to think of something you’d really like your dog to be able to do that they can’t already.

This might be one of those essential life skills (like walking nicely on the lead) or one of those cool tricks (like playing dead).

Then (and this is the harder bit), find yourself a timeslot in the week to start working on it.

Try it for three weeks and let us know how you get on with learning your new skills!

Happy training time!

Laura, Brian and Seamus (#teamsmallbutmighty) 

PS If you think you need something more concrete to help focus your training time, why not book a practical coaching session or take a look at our summer class schedule?

We know holidays can make for disrupted summers, so we’ve reworked things to offer shorter classes which will hopefully fit with your summer breaks! All classes run on a Monday (except the special Reactive Dogs Life Skills sessions)

Just click on the class you're interested in for more information!

Monday classes	18:30 - 19:15 (with Clare)	19:00 - 19:45 (with Morag)	20:00 (with Morag)	20:30 (with Morag)	20:30 (with Laura)
15 July	Husbandry & Cooperative Care STARTS	Advanced Bodywork STARTS	Mind Your Manners Level I STARTS	Baby Come Back FASTER Level II STARTS	Canicross 3 week Intensive: This way, that way
22 July	Husbandry & Cooperative Care	Advanced Bodywork	Mind Your Manners	Baby Come Back II	Canicross 3 week Intensive: This way, that way
29 July	Husbandry & Cooperative Care	Advanced Bodywork	Mind Your Manners	Baby Come Back II	Canicross 3 week Intensive: This way, that way
5 August	Husbandry & Cooperative Care	Sniffing School Level II: Get Tracking STARTS	Baby Come Back Level I STARTS	Stay by my Side LONGER Level II STARTS	Canicross 3 week Intensive: Get on by
12 August	Husbandry & Cooperative Care	Sniffing School Level II: Get Tracking	Baby Come Back	Stay by my Side II	Canicross 3 week Intensive: Get on by
19 August	APDT Good Companion Award STARTS	Sniffing School Level II: Get Tracking	Baby Come Back	Stay by my Side II	Canicross 3 week Intensive: Get on by
26 August	Bank Holiday	Bank Holiday	Bank Holiday	Bank Holiday	Bank Holiday
2 September	APDT Good Companion Award	--	--	--	--
9 September	APDT Good Companion Award	Bodywork Introduction STARTS	Stay by my Side Level I STARTS	Mind Your Manners EVERYWHERE  Level II STARTS	Canicross 3 week Intensive: Descending without death
16 September	APDT Good Companion Award	Bodywork Introduction	Stay by my Side	Mind Your Manners II	Canicross 3 week Intensive: Descending without death
23 September	APDT Good Companion Award	Bodywork Introduction	Stay by my Side	Mind Your Manners II	Canicross 3 week Intensive: Descending without death