tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712257430820145542024-03-14T11:20:11.814-05:00Endzone Dog Sports AudiblesNancy Gagliardi Littlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664855799801885954noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-54980825233313217262012-08-06T09:06:00.001-05:002012-08-06T09:07:07.259-05:00Schema - Pause and Go - Highlights from 2012Here are some fun video clips from some of Schema's agility runs from January through August 2012. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed running her.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyY7Fj8JpDE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-11196753435495860722012-06-22T08:49:00.001-05:002012-06-22T08:49:12.126-05:00You Are The Reason - Happy Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three years has passed by and so much has happened since I made the video below to celebrate Reason's 10th birthday. But I love the video as it highlights so many of the wonderful activities we shared together. While Reason might be grayer in the face, he is physically in great shape. Considering all that he's been through in the last year, it is truly heartwarming to me.<div>
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Happy 13th Birthday Reason. You are one of the most amazing dogs I have ever had the privilege to know and love. My words in this video still say it all. I love you Reas!<div>
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</div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-78489866273975470522012-03-14T12:33:00.002-05:002012-03-14T12:33:57.753-05:00My New Favorite QuoteI posted this on Facebook, but I love this more than anything else I've ever read, so here it is:<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"There is a big mix out there, and there's lots of different things going on, and there is not one way that was intended to be the right way. Just like there's not one color or one flower or one vegetable or one fingerprint. There is not one that is to be the right one over all others. The variety is what fosters the creativity. And so you say, "Okay, I accept that there's lots of variety, but I d</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">on't like to eat cucumbers." Don't eat cucumbers. But don't ask them to be eliminated and don't condemn those who eat them. Don't stand on corners waving signs trying to outlaw the things that you don't like. Don't ruin your life by pushing against. Instead, say, "I choose this instead." "<br />--- Abraham and Jerry & Esther Hicks</span> </span>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-91503685869964428122012-03-07T11:31:00.000-06:002012-03-07T11:31:31.641-06:00If I Knew Then What I Know Now - The Stress In Training DogsThe topic of "If I Knew What I Know Now..." is one that many bloggers are writing about today as a topic for agility bloggers as part of a <a href="http://dog-agility-blog-events.posterous.com/pages/2012-march-if-i-knew-then-what-i-know-now">Dog Agility Action Day</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://agilitynerd.com/blog">Steve Schwartz</a> for organizing this great group of bloggers and this topic.<div>
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There are so many others that have more experience than I have in training agility dogs. I have only been in this particular sport for a little more than 10 years, so I have not seen the trends and changes in the sport over the years. However, I have been training dogs since the early 1980's and I have lots of experience training dogs in other performance areas - especially in obedience where I was an obedience judge for over 20 years (judging many national tournaments) and put OTCH titles on the first 4 dogs that I trained for competition.</div>
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Coming from an obedience background, it took me some time to learn the handling involved in agility, but what took longer was to make the gradual change in how I actually taught my dogs the different behaviors that are needed for agility or obedience from the traditional/correctional training to reward based training. For a long time, I actually resisted the change myself - getting caught up in the "you can't train a reliable xxxx without corrections". What I have learned is that you can not say "never" or "can't" or "won't" when it comes to accomplishing something. There is always a better way to do things as it proven continuously in our world as athletes become better trained, products become more creative, technology becomes more amazing, so why wouldn't training dogs be the same way?</div>
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My first dogs were all taught by luring with food to get behaviors and then gradually trained to know the behaviors in both obedience and agility (Reason was the only dog trained this way in agility). What happened to all those dogs is that the "proofing" or "distraction" phase cased the most stress for them and the most mistakes. The learning came easy as there was always that helpful lure to keep them working properly without mistakes. But struggles started happening when they were required to understand what they were supposed to do when that went away. Don't get me wrong, my obedience dogs were amazing working dogs. I motivated them and rewarded them for good choices and they looked wonderful in the ring when they trialed. I was a very good trainer and understood what I wanted in terms of performance, so I got it. However, there are definite phases of training - with corrections - that I never enjoyed. I can admit this now, but I absolutely never enjoyed correcting my dogs for their mistakes. Even though I was never unfair (although I might disagree now) with them, they always responded in a way that caused me to be able to reward them. The more I trained dogs in agility and the more I did my private obedience lessons and saw the meltdowns and stresses that were being caused by corrections from my students, the more I was inspired to do things differently to help make it more fun to train and for the dogs to learn how to actually think through mistakes, rather than being helped or corrected by the trainers.</div>
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Reason was an amazing obedience dog and he was my first agility dog. By the time I trained him in obedience, I was very experienced and knew exactly what I wanted in the obedience ring. I think I got pretty much what I wanted as he is the epitome of a cute heeling dog, with great drive and amazing speed into fronts and finishes. He qualified for the 2009 AKC Obedience Invitational when I was rarely doing obedience trials because I was trialing so much in agility and in herding with him. I had a weekend off and trialed him in a 3 day local obedience trial, which without my knowledge was an AKC Obedience Invitational Regional Qualifier. He was the top dog out of the 3 days which allowed him an invitation to that prestigious event. I was never really inspired to campaign him for an OTCh, since I was just more drawn to herding and agility being those activities were juicing me up because they are ALWAYS different and required me to learn knew things.</div>
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Before Reason retired, he did accumulate a bunch of OTCh points and also 9 UDX legs. I loved trialing him when I had a few weekends off, but as I started to train Score differently than my start with Reason, I started to recognize some of the stresses that Reason actually had while trialing in both agility and in obedience. When he would get stressed (because of a mistake) he would freeze up or when he was moving in agility, he would go around obstacles because he lost focus on his job. He would also do that in herding, when he made a mistake - he would start looking at me and he would lose his sheep. I was able to solve this issue in herding because the reinforcement is so much greater, but I was never able to fix it in agility and obedience. Probably no one, but me saw this side of him. He didn't act stressed because he was still speedy and still seemed like he wanted to work. But now I know better and he would have probably finished his MACH (he was retired with 19 QQ's) if he would have been able to handle the stresses of making mistakes and recovering. The stress issues caused me to get frustrated as well, which also contributed to more stress and focus on me in the ring.</div>
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Score was trained mostly with reward based, but I was still in a phase of trying to figure this all out. My obedience training with him was very minimal because I was doing so much herding and agility. Most of my learning and skills using reward based training was done with my students as I started making changes and seeing some really amazing results. Both in the dogs and also that people were actually having so much more fun training their dogs.</div>
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Enter Schema. Schema changed my world dramatically as I was committed to training both agility and obedience totally with reward based training. I have learned so much with her with the foundation Crate Games, circle work, and other games which taught her foundation concepts where she could learn how to struggle and make mistakes while dealing with stress issues away from the bigger picture of training. We learned a better communication system that probably seems very complex, but is actually very simple because it is built on very simple foundation games that she knows and understands. As more and more complex tasks are learned by her, if something breaks I know how to get her to understand what I want. She has learned to focus under extreme distractions and she is probably the most distracted dog I have ever worked with, since she has so much prey drive and she is so reinforced by motion. Her obedience training has been done completely by reward based, including her retrieve which was done totally by shaping and rewarding. She will eventually have BETTER heeling than Reason and her retrieve will be just as nice. But what she will have that Reason did not have, is the confidence to make mistakes and reconnect and refocus, which is very different than most dogs that trial in obedience (including my own).</div>
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The one thing that I know now, is that I had to go through this entire process of trusting my instincts and desire to train differently. Many people have quit training dogs - especially in obedience - because they don't enjoy it. And some people still do enjoy it, but get frustrated because of the issues they have in trials. I wasn't really enjoying the entire training process either, but that has changed. I enjoy EVERY aspect of training my dogs now and I love working with my students that trust me in creating a different approach for training. I think they enjoy training more now than ever. </div>
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What I also know is that while I feel strongly about this, others will feel just as strongly opposed to it. I know that I was at that point in my history as a trainer and I have great respect for trainers that feel comfortable in how they train. It is a journey that we are all on and everyone is in a different place. </div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-2470760088996591882012-03-04T13:43:00.000-06:002012-03-04T14:04:10.336-06:00I'm Still Here<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been remiss in updating my blog. Mainly because I've not really been on my laptop at home very much with agility trials on the weekends and teaching or going to classes in the evenings. Both Schema and Score have a little over a month off from trialing and Score is going to have some time off so he can work different muscles and rest those repetitive jumping muscles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last time I posted an entry here was back in September. So many things have happened since there - in and away from trialing and training. Schema has been trialing (AKC) and training with jumps up to 24" since the end of August. In USDAA, she is jumping her height at 22". I never practiced her at 20" and I was not happy with how she was starting to tick the 22" USDAA tire (which is smaller) as well as a few other issues because of the differences between AKC & USDAA. Since moving her to 24" in AKC, I'm really happy with the way she is handling herself over the jumps as she is so athletic. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Hiq2Xs2FQm8Ud635m3cbtnjT4UkgETXI1CybCw9GmV0SFd7s6uu1cSsduQucRjU8zhz7MFdnbVfzCjWsKvYJ6ZmXYi9u32qK2o0hxGbQXVjCsz9Qag7GCjPFY4vVJJ6QWBvC9eU61T0/s1600/Schema-Triple-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Hiq2Xs2FQm8Ud635m3cbtnjT4UkgETXI1CybCw9GmV0SFd7s6uu1cSsduQucRjU8zhz7MFdnbVfzCjWsKvYJ6ZmXYi9u32qK2o0hxGbQXVjCsz9Qag7GCjPFY4vVJJ6QWBvC9eU61T0/s200/Schema-Triple-6.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyERdjO87GO3EUz2EQ5qis4Co7WEYruwFgG8sCSXMc5kYf23Ug-BwrX1zWv7dV7-f3tdIF4HA8pHP5ZgW5dHFu2Bf_GxsyKzEb9bynIJjro94t9gWfl5uFzH4Fw3Olkk_IXpfxNZpnkmg/s1600/Schema-Triple-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyERdjO87GO3EUz2EQ5qis4Co7WEYruwFgG8sCSXMc5kYf23Ug-BwrX1zWv7dV7-f3tdIF4HA8pHP5ZgW5dHFu2Bf_GxsyKzEb9bynIJjro94t9gWfl5uFzH4Fw3Olkk_IXpfxNZpnkmg/s200/Schema-Triple-10.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Hiq2Xs2FQm8Ud635m3cbtnjT4UkgETXI1CybCw9GmV0SFd7s6uu1cSsduQucRjU8zhz7MFdnbVfzCjWsKvYJ6ZmXYi9u32qK2o0hxGbQXVjCsz9Qag7GCjPFY4vVJJ6QWBvC9eU61T0/s1600/Schema-Triple-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxfp_JbOPsxZVh2xmygRNXOPbphNIujhNxQBfwODOFrZIE5r9QaxntRiy7FK-yizUmGhSCMWR4nqk7uNscQM56k8DG1XhtUVpVMX87JxiHmlA3WHkw7bnck7yojf87mWzj7qS8hBODWc/s1600/Schema-Triple-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxfp_JbOPsxZVh2xmygRNXOPbphNIujhNxQBfwODOFrZIE5r9QaxntRiy7FK-yizUmGhSCMWR4nqk7uNscQM56k8DG1XhtUVpVMX87JxiHmlA3WHkw7bnck7yojf87mWzj7qS8hBODWc/s200/Schema-Triple-20.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tire height in AKC is set to 20", which is just a 2" difference instead of a 6" differenc. Also, putting her in the 24" AKC height class, puts the table height the same in both USDAA and AKC. I plan on eventually jumping her at 26" in both organizations when I feel comfortable with how she is handling herself. I might also wait until she has all her QQ's for AKC Nationals before I move her up to 26". She is a very powerful and long striding jumper and I have done some training at 26" and it seems to be an easy transition for her. I'm going to see how this all plays out and just adjust it as we go. I realize I will have to make a choice for AKC Nationals jumping her either 20" or 26" eventually. I am pretty sure we will do 26" instead of going down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, I also want to get Schema in the obedience ring and get her CD. I love her heeling style and she knows her job of holding onto position, once she is at my side. I've actually taught her to heel nicely on both sides (right and left) and I will continue to work her on both sides since It keeps her balanced and it's easy enough for me to do, since I don't pattern train heeling anymore. She knows that once she is in position, no matter what I do, she must remain there until I release her. The only thing that needs to be taught is a more precise front. Actually she needs lots of training and reinforcement for front position as this is something I just have not worked on and she has had much more value for being at my side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, more herding for Schema as she is very talented and keen on stock and I've just now figured out how to incorporate what she knows from agility (in terms of working with me and handling pressure) into herding. It has made a huge difference in our relationship and work on stock and now we need to keep moving towards more advanced work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My goals with Score this year is to get him healthy enough and strong enough to finish his MACH2 and his ADCH as well as his HC (herding championship). We have had very little work the last 2 years in herding because of health issues (Lyme disease and Cryptosporidiosis) which has held him back physically with various endurance <span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">skeletal/muscular issues. I feel good about his current state as he is getting stronger and more balanced each day and my primary goal with him is to continue that trend as spring approaches.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go Score....Go!!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Reason is healthy and happy and enjoying his retirement. I periodically bring him to the trials that are close by so he can visit and do a few practice jumps. He is an amazingly resilient dog and I am just so thankful that he's still as vibrant and full of life now as he was one year ago when he was still trialing in agility at full height. Things changed quickly and I am forever thankful to have him still here. He rocks my world and always will.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxGKCBgJ46OhW-HmnX6nV3x_Mz6CLHxtYydLiwxaJrOXQKnCKtoTDJ54iqqtwOWmJpoUqo1MNBOUEOItNe2nOhxswQNwUznxjzyrQuhPgJ0-4KZYKJXeSfh-AQDm5qK0dEeYTescn2u4/s1600/Reason-3-3-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxGKCBgJ46OhW-HmnX6nV3x_Mz6CLHxtYydLiwxaJrOXQKnCKtoTDJ54iqqtwOWmJpoUqo1MNBOUEOItNe2nOhxswQNwUznxjzyrQuhPgJ0-4KZYKJXeSfh-AQDm5qK0dEeYTescn2u4/s320/Reason-3-3-2012.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reason - sitting in the kitchen watching me</td></tr>
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<span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">For some of you, it might be a surprise to hear that I am training and will be eventually running a Papillon in agility. Brink is owned by one of my long time obedience students, Dorie Madsen, who had some physical challenges in Brink's early life that prevented her from training him in obedience. So, I started working him with the foundation training (which is the same for both obedience and agility early on) and gave Dorie homework to do. Brink had been trained and completley understands Crate Games and It's Yer Choice games and so it was easy to give Dorie some homework to do as Brink could be left or sent to his kennel easily so Dorie could move to various places. I continued to work Brink over the past few years and now Dorie has taken over the obedience part and I am doing the agility training. He is such a sweet boy and I'm having lots of fun learning how to handle a small dog with different issues than I am used to in handling and training my Border Collies.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPzxj0kOA26QfY5wqI6IuVytFlyBdPWPA2LQgFwAJbhNLUsgciE7rywVrDJBjtKbyo-ju5Oot9c9RFKiMmpsDxpPOxo5YLTsHyG1uuAqTxl5j4SXGvnN8LDvy8vG4QtAtp4tC2i9qKj4/s1600/Brink-teeter1-21-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPzxj0kOA26QfY5wqI6IuVytFlyBdPWPA2LQgFwAJbhNLUsgciE7rywVrDJBjtKbyo-ju5Oot9c9RFKiMmpsDxpPOxo5YLTsHyG1uuAqTxl5j4SXGvnN8LDvy8vG4QtAtp4tC2i9qKj4/s320/Brink-teeter1-21-12.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviZyRfjDSX9Wxsa4SWXqS1yy0Eyv3QFCmmdBOEva4yDoZQHh_1GnXoj_2DHU5jIProiT1BjqiK7YBZi826Z8w7y2BXfB-FZgEoayBDrcWu0-y_-9dnE98ACpE-Lt8RswnXxsX6FnA9pg/s1600/Brink-with-me-1-21-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviZyRfjDSX9Wxsa4SWXqS1yy0Eyv3QFCmmdBOEva4yDoZQHh_1GnXoj_2DHU5jIProiT1BjqiK7YBZi826Z8w7y2BXfB-FZgEoayBDrcWu0-y_-9dnE98ACpE-Lt8RswnXxsX6FnA9pg/s320/Brink-with-me-1-21-12.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">For me, I am doing many more private lessons and really enjoying working with people and dogs that want to use more reward based training. It removes the frustration from the handler and hence the stress from the dog and makes training just so much more fun. I'm also teaching more classes in both obedience and agility and really enjoying that as well. The most fun I have had as an instructor is doing a recent class, called Advanced Impulse Control, which were about 6 very experienced trainers/instructors with young dogs that took my popular Impulse Control class. It was a blast to see these young dogs start to learn how their choices would lead them to reinforcement if they would respond appropriately and if not, they were not rewarded and/or removed in a way that made sense to the dogs. Very fun to see the lights go on and to see how working impulse control in various places could actually be fun for the trainers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">For me, training dogs has been an evolving growing experience of learning how to find foundation training issues and pick them out and work on them separately from the big picture. I truly love working on details and setting up games to help the trainer (which might be me) address a particular issue with the dog and also to help the dog understand their role in a simplified game. Then the fun is added to try and see if we can get the dog to make mistakes to further clarify their understanding. It is WAY more fun training this way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">That's it for now! I'll update more regularly now.</span></span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-76143576322060194302011-09-01T17:26:00.000-05:002011-09-01T17:26:48.271-05:00Patterns, Rewards, and Embracing Mistakes in Training<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I8gpU6jC2HpRmH3ZjT18X-idvJCHQI7FnscynGZL36lqtFbA67eXZSRJ6ZQQ130FSo2EHeBSm_MPoQf6yGvbwDn_Pg2NOKdQrJFalhC97svyoTtBsHU0HbUL9q3aDY1sbtkilJVRWac/s1600/Schema-right+side-cropped.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I8gpU6jC2HpRmH3ZjT18X-idvJCHQI7FnscynGZL36lqtFbA67eXZSRJ6ZQQ130FSo2EHeBSm_MPoQf6yGvbwDn_Pg2NOKdQrJFalhC97svyoTtBsHU0HbUL9q3aDY1sbtkilJVRWac/s200/Schema-right+side-cropped.bmp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema heeling just as nice on my right side </td></tr>
</tbody></table>One of the things that is important when teaching something new to your dog is to be constantly moving and changing things towards the perfecting of the desired behavior or criteria. Of course, it's important to understand and know what you want that end result to look like, too. Many dog trainers - when teaching a new behavior, exercise, or obstacle - will continue to remain in a "safe" and successful place because the dog is not making mistakes. Or they just plain avoid the steps and the mistakes and jump to the end result while helping or aiding the dog too much. The dog never figures out how to perform without help or sort through any issues by doing them in smaller increments.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYAZBYN8GPYefRKb87jce3wcAqCyBQ0WEi9hhKk4AE4-hkuAJW-NaJaAj71m4cSe-XuTFqGMgUQtCM7flTQfxbDG9khn2u-T37HlwnBZMgUj3y54i0GCUAUUVL3V2QYM-LS5wcMxvY_s/s1600/Schema-stay-cropped.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYAZBYN8GPYefRKb87jce3wcAqCyBQ0WEi9hhKk4AE4-hkuAJW-NaJaAj71m4cSe-XuTFqGMgUQtCM7flTQfxbDG9khn2u-T37HlwnBZMgUj3y54i0GCUAUUVL3V2QYM-LS5wcMxvY_s/s200/Schema-stay-cropped.bmp" width="167" /></a>Most trainers are afraid of mistakes because they are concerned that the dog will not figure it out without help and lose animation or focus. So, when a mistake is made, they impatiently - and too quickly - jump in to help the dog or correct the dog. So, to avoid mistakes, they continue to allow their dog to practice something that should only be temporary on the way to putting all the pieces together for the final result. Or an even more common issue is that trainers don't complete the process of training so that the dog fully understands their responsibility for what has been taught because they feel that it is good enough to qualify and they can handle through it. The behavior/exercise/obstacle is minimally trained or too formally trained and yet the expectations for trials is to just trial and get experience and continue to train at home to develop the needed skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu9Fs4hl4MsCtr4dvIA45TilpEfvoKS4NF8T_BgiFEc2QWb0blO033mgXKtTRJlN2G9N3Pn1JNEpg_OlAIRIBkDph2Om5-8CYDpf4G9ujzzmjyZCu7AQLCmxYtpWet4prB_l83fQf4K0/s1600/Schema-contact-board-cropped.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu9Fs4hl4MsCtr4dvIA45TilpEfvoKS4NF8T_BgiFEc2QWb0blO033mgXKtTRJlN2G9N3Pn1JNEpg_OlAIRIBkDph2Om5-8CYDpf4G9ujzzmjyZCu7AQLCmxYtpWet4prB_l83fQf4K0/s200/Schema-contact-board-cropped.bmp" width="200" /></a>Unfortunately, trialing before foundation skills have been fully taught, is limiting and can lead to unwanted behaviors at the trials. "Practice makes perfect" so it's important to be MORE than ready when entering the dogs in a performance event. I do not want my own dogs to be practicing unwanted behaviors in the trial setting as those issues can become more difficult to solve when the dog learns to view criteria and reinforcement differently than I do in a trial setting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdtByR8TvM9XtNFZ7owRAyXT3rXmgrZzfUc8JT964v0gpnaFsgmljRAR3XlkS1YdGMiKRADSuaZkSj-DcxWDR9ijxYoIIVseQ859W-8LCT-Y86oIELrYbUxULClEyRbNj0wHVzwF28fY/s1600/Schema-contact+2-cropped.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdtByR8TvM9XtNFZ7owRAyXT3rXmgrZzfUc8JT964v0gpnaFsgmljRAR3XlkS1YdGMiKRADSuaZkSj-DcxWDR9ijxYoIIVseQ859W-8LCT-Y86oIELrYbUxULClEyRbNj0wHVzwF28fY/s200/Schema-contact+2-cropped.bmp" width="200" /></a>There will always be issues that arise at the trials that are different than in training - those are to be expected and those are the issues that give us knowledge and perspective as to what more is needed in training. I certainly had plenty of issues when I started trialing Schema in agility that did not occur while I was training her. However, she had great skills and impulse control and a wonderful relationship with me. Knowing what pushed her past her ability to focus on task at the trials was important information for me in order to continue to develop her ability to bring her skills to the trials.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrn65D_VCg-pf9kFr1HrcFOQSgQfBvrDooj_fPSCSYNe9XhmMj1VSKJuJE2Oc5FyB_CNLTn2K4FlqcGkyhlpTPQ1gB_XzFAHeaYoYn8DRIWSvKGVbcXFEkDgbZ6DMjImfUUntWscuWHk/s1600/Schema-right+side+2-cropped.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrn65D_VCg-pf9kFr1HrcFOQSgQfBvrDooj_fPSCSYNe9XhmMj1VSKJuJE2Oc5FyB_CNLTn2K4FlqcGkyhlpTPQ1gB_XzFAHeaYoYn8DRIWSvKGVbcXFEkDgbZ6DMjImfUUntWscuWHk/s200/Schema-right+side+2-cropped.bmp" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgS7754gQF-3ubShJORnS9e0W6vbrzBdRd0fJIINLwGft8Jy24VQJUnuN8Xf7rPUY77ladyrHFk-Kr62G8882g3wRhg3lcKd0gvP86EGLWK9H__xnHetV3Qc5K0mTbSaWBwodHaR8jTk/s1600/Schema-heeling-cropped2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgS7754gQF-3ubShJORnS9e0W6vbrzBdRd0fJIINLwGft8Jy24VQJUnuN8Xf7rPUY77ladyrHFk-Kr62G8882g3wRhg3lcKd0gvP86EGLWK9H__xnHetV3Qc5K0mTbSaWBwodHaR8jTk/s200/Schema-heeling-cropped2.bmp" width="200" /></a>Mental maturity, impulse control, focus and a great relationship with your dog will ensure a better transition from training into the trial experience. When it comes to obedience trials, I believe it is even MORE important for the dog to have mental maturity, impulse control, and focus as there is so much more down time and precision in a very quiet setting. The quiet setting can be even more distracting to the dogs because any noise sounds louder and any movement seems more pronounced (dumbbells, retrieves, handlers running, or even just the judge in the ring). In herding or field work, the reinforcement is so high that the impulse control and relationship must be very well developed or bad "line manners" or issues walking to the post will develop and adversely contribute to poor focus and compromise in that run and future runs.<br />
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What is a reward? A reward can be any of the following and there are endless examples that are not listed. Some of the better known rewards would be:<br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CmvJgJynCvjNH8HrNTLQn7Ix7Fgdg5bj0g4iVsB6hNlQVRkMCmdwlJAPTHJNk14ndjOjeHPVJXofgYVHoRLdGjKY0kevNdjSFAxPvPi33q_J4FwlF91sz7tX7WcH47L-gXrE4toS4PU/s1600/Schema-contact-board-tugging-cropped.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CmvJgJynCvjNH8HrNTLQn7Ix7Fgdg5bj0g4iVsB6hNlQVRkMCmdwlJAPTHJNk14ndjOjeHPVJXofgYVHoRLdGjKY0kevNdjSFAxPvPi33q_J4FwlF91sz7tX7WcH47L-gXrE4toS4PU/s200/Schema-contact-board-tugging-cropped.bmp" width="200" /></a>
<li>food</li>
<li>toys</li>
<li>running and chasing something</li>
<li>sending a dog to a bird, dumbbell, or any other highly valued retrieve</li>
<li>sending a dog to sheep or allowing them to work sheep</li>
</ul>Some of the following rewards are not recognized and dealt with as rewards or reinforcements for the dog and that is why the unwanted behavior continue to happen. There are many more than are listed below.<br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSRjknKRzr87NQIcVJ8VcekLtR-IGsSnIN1cyLrwX_P6CiS-YQKI8vw9Mw55cHfssN4d_Hoc_Rkr1k25vaM5Szdws3xcjp_L8zfG2AKPMHBoYLNSeutD_KmGpy04UViPH4juKs0VsS7Y/s1600/Schema-slapstick-retreives+2-cropped.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSRjknKRzr87NQIcVJ8VcekLtR-IGsSnIN1cyLrwX_P6CiS-YQKI8vw9Mw55cHfssN4d_Hoc_Rkr1k25vaM5Szdws3xcjp_L8zfG2AKPMHBoYLNSeutD_KmGpy04UViPH4juKs0VsS7Y/s200/Schema-slapstick-retreives+2-cropped.bmp" width="200" /></a>
<li>Pulling on the leash is reinforcing when you continue to move forward</li>
<li>Breaking a start line stay, contact, or table before you release them is rewarding them for doing that if you allow them to continue</li>
<li>In obedience, chewing, mouthing, or playing with retrieve objects are rewards for dogs that are stressed about fronts, stressed about corrections, or are not understanding requirements.</li>
</ul>When dogs continue to practice unwanted behaviors in any setting and are continually rewarded for them (whether recognized by the handler or not), they develop a pattern and expectation for that particular behavior. It's more difficult to break that pattern, once it has developed and has become a habit. The other issue that occurs is that the dog has been prevented from making mistakes while they are learning and then they can not problem solve or cope with mistakes in training (without help and intervention from the handler) and the ring/trial performance then becomes something very different to them. This is what creates the so called "ring wise" dog (which is a really poorly labeled term). Basically the "ring wise" dog is created by a handler that has allowed patterns to develop as well as providing too much help and not enough independence in understanding the requirements. And because dogs are such brilliant observers, they notice the difference between training and the real thing and they respond differently as well.<br />
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So, in conclusion, what can be done to break this cycle of making the ring or trial a more comfortable place for both you and your dog? Ensure that your dog is well prepared and can train each exercise in obedience or each sequence in agility at a much advanced level than what is expected in the ring. Break teaching of the exercises down into small parts and challenge the dog's understanding by embracing mistakes. Be patient while the dog learns to solve problems and use rewards for correct behavior rather than corrections for incorrect behavior. Make sure that you are not rewarding something that you want to eliminate. Teach the first steps of any complex exercise or obstacle simple and as distraction free as possible and simplify the task when there are lots of distractions. Keep a good attitude and stay focused on your dog while you are working them.<br />
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We all make mistakes in training, but the most important thing is to find someone - a mentor or instructor - that is willing to help guide you to breaking those old patterns that are holding you and your dog's performance from becoming better.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-5148113069255887002011-08-11T10:07:00.000-05:002011-08-11T10:07:54.913-05:00Not Your Every Day Off Course ObstacleWhile trialing Schema in Standard, it has become very clear the table has become our biggest off course challenge. It's not something that I naturally look for when I am walking a course - in fact, many times I have not even noticed the table when I am looking at the dog's path while walking a course. Only to find out later, while running her, that she locked onto that obstacle and either got an off course or a very wide turn because of it. I have to actually remember before walking the course to look for the table and see where it might come into play for her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGQn-WoyyC-HnPzj3Zr-KPMy36eqev38Xi3jwiuNvRpzjWAOsI8Kbj1Y4o6iFoQndqslSYDzDaQPOZlNrKZbGty8tY9uWyW2j17774d7zLR6aHQBOQHeNgs9UZK3YDboGbTNjB1YeQug/s1600/CD_12601_110560_schemaLittle_m0126747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGQn-WoyyC-HnPzj3Zr-KPMy36eqev38Xi3jwiuNvRpzjWAOsI8Kbj1Y4o6iFoQndqslSYDzDaQPOZlNrKZbGty8tY9uWyW2j17774d7zLR6aHQBOQHeNgs9UZK3YDboGbTNjB1YeQug/s320/CD_12601_110560_schemaLittle_m0126747.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema driving to the table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I did not specifically intend to make the table a highly valued obstacle, but because of transferring my Crate Games training that I've done on her to the table, it has now become one of her favorite obstacles. When I started training Schema, she had very little impulse control. By lacking impulse control, I mean that she was very easily distracted by movement by other dogs. She is still distracted by other dogs, but she works hard to focus on what I want, now. That's because I've developed a communication system with her so she knows she is accountable for her actions (this is an entirely different subject that I could write a long blog on). It is her choice and she rarely now makes the wrong one now because she knows that she won't get to play otherwise.<br />
<br />
While transferring her Crate Games to the table, I realized as I increased the distractions that it could be a great way to get more training done with my dogs. By, having them all out on the table when I am training, I can individually release each of them off to work. Score and Reason were both reinforced and trained to wait on the table until they were released and they both learned to be able to stay there and watch me work the other dogs - a HUGE time saver, as I was able to train 3 dogs at the same time during a training session.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfPqQnUZV2UvVuoVzaIB6NwVJYgd-bCgwQHbEv-NYlWJw_TxfrcADOZ-4fGqt7yekdqnOeXBR3IHWuGGLfXWuKlHEPNWYPIgDr_aRsUr-C_0lRZhSXo3IiotMBZp5I9M7j8nekbBQDMU/s1600/Schema-Presto-table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfPqQnUZV2UvVuoVzaIB6NwVJYgd-bCgwQHbEv-NYlWJw_TxfrcADOZ-4fGqt7yekdqnOeXBR3IHWuGGLfXWuKlHEPNWYPIgDr_aRsUr-C_0lRZhSXo3IiotMBZp5I9M7j8nekbBQDMU/s320/Schema-Presto-table.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema and Presto hanging out on the table, waiting to be released</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So, now the table has become such a highly reinforced obstacle as it leads to playing more agility. It's not your every day off course challenge, but I think I can handle it just fine.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-8428219684560638792011-08-05T09:49:00.001-05:002011-08-05T17:52:40.682-05:00Expecting More Than You GiveOne of the things that I think people could benefit the most from during training sessions is understanding how important it is to establish and maintain a connection with your dog. This isn't something that you only need during competition or during training. Maintaining or establishing a connection prior to training or competing is so critical for success. Yet, this is probably one of the most overlooked or misunderstood training issues in dog sports.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEBDgOlKQaaUGQilypJ7dS8geWeTZaa1K9rmog5Cwz64QvQXEZvA6WKSeqaOeZSzMZSxa5kajS8EnBjcpl3uricw6mJAuOVF4zuUf3YLE5_0p8-6lWVjqoFJDuYktYyc-y-Pb9e71e_4/s1600/MP900386158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEBDgOlKQaaUGQilypJ7dS8geWeTZaa1K9rmog5Cwz64QvQXEZvA6WKSeqaOeZSzMZSxa5kajS8EnBjcpl3uricw6mJAuOVF4zuUf3YLE5_0p8-6lWVjqoFJDuYktYyc-y-Pb9e71e_4/s320/MP900386158.JPG" width="213" /></a>I see examples of this lack of preparation and connection all the time. Dog is at the end of the leash and handler is distracted - either talking or completely immersed watching something. The dog knows the person is distracted and unfocused because this happens frequently when they are together. When this happens, the dogs seeks out things that are more reinforcing for them (like sniffing the floor, investigating table tops and training bags within reach, going to other dogs, or just learning to be complacent and inactive). Basically, the dog and handler are not at all connected or focused.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZZRbti3sZYBngLddWpfrgXEVXgaL1FGvcRz27Qm9wXYbDuPRI6LQB34fJovZk7SnL9KWRonqBD9Sbue4SUfxPRaaqQm9dl7V6tmJ1c4JmV49Z7ypklncgG3j-dorQaSTFltma9jgLcA/s1600/MC900139567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZZRbti3sZYBngLddWpfrgXEVXgaL1FGvcRz27Qm9wXYbDuPRI6LQB34fJovZk7SnL9KWRonqBD9Sbue4SUfxPRaaqQm9dl7V6tmJ1c4JmV49Z7ypklncgG3j-dorQaSTFltma9jgLcA/s1600/MC900139567.jpg" /></a>People are consistent in how they remove themselves mentally from their dog and the dog figures out the pattern and applies himself to many other situations. This is well practiced during training sessions and classes - whether obedience or agility. The dogs perfect their performance of understanding how and when to disconnect from their trainers under certain telltale conditions. But what I find so interesting is how these people then suddenly snap into "working mode" and start focusing on what they are planning next. They have switched from being focused on social things into immediately wanting focus from their unsuspecting dogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr75qS0sznE_5cDLVIdOjhZjJEoMy7OIY0m6q3q3yAWpSBWqQAXAi-5zSLwjgvPbr5lfg3f_cb4MU61mY5Zzg35ZE8FH7Q-VlU3aEEanmNKK5j0JldH_72aRSNl6T_zV7LoUr26muvzg/s1600/MC900091049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr75qS0sznE_5cDLVIdOjhZjJEoMy7OIY0m6q3q3yAWpSBWqQAXAi-5zSLwjgvPbr5lfg3f_cb4MU61mY5Zzg35ZE8FH7Q-VlU3aEEanmNKK5j0JldH_72aRSNl6T_zV7LoUr26muvzg/s320/MC900091049.jpg" width="320" /></a>The innocent dog (who is now in a completely different world - totally immersed into smells, doggy interaction, sights, or tastes) is expected to recognize immediately that they are now in working mode and transition into that perfectly focused partner. There is usually no time spent trying to get the dog focused because the person is hurrying into whatever is coming next (as they probably pushed the socializing up until the last minute). They expect the dog to have some sort of mind meld and to be so connected to the trainers thoughts that it immediate knows that it's time to focus. And when the dogs don't immediately know that the handler has gone from unfocused to focused, they are corrected or overly handled or controlled. This gives a very poor start to the training or competition and causes some perceived attention issues in the ring.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqOHUNrVhpoN1T3sNmN28fL3fCmgm09aXq3VEKl3Pj9jTl3oIFpimP0UvrJT14ZE-pgixPPe09LipopkIowTTGyvIuhcwhxr4VWnKLGLj3wEtpxXhAyoxxf-T_FZfNJqX2mN4p2k-ets/s1600/MC900331714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqOHUNrVhpoN1T3sNmN28fL3fCmgm09aXq3VEKl3Pj9jTl3oIFpimP0UvrJT14ZE-pgixPPe09LipopkIowTTGyvIuhcwhxr4VWnKLGLj3wEtpxXhAyoxxf-T_FZfNJqX2mN4p2k-ets/s1600/MC900331714.jpg" /></a>What people don't understand is the attention issue is not the dog's problem. Rather, the attention issue is the trainer's problem. When you have decided to socialize or get unfocused while you are hanging around (or waiting for your turn) with your dog, put them into working mode by doing a sit stay or down stay or Crate Games - so they can focus on a task. Then it is up to you to be able to multitask (train AND socialize) at the same time. Continue to reward or address stay progress with the dog, while you socialize, talk to someone, or watch something in the ring. If you can not multitask training with these things, then you have two options.<br />
<br />
1) put the dog away (in a kennel, tie out, x pen, car, etc) during the time you need to be unfocused on the dog. <br />
or<br />
2) remain focused on the dog and keep that connection with them and ignore what is going on around you<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwOn8jgSbuKLt0nKGgQc_SFLOYzxnn7sgxLLP4_E7MdnS6c41E1Takg-e_q0qs64w8QLdS7E8k62auiG25lL7lp6Cg8HGZoNXxo6VpC3wQKWSM88g7_OWD2eKvfkJdBwkF_-XdAgjlko/s1600/MC900091035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwOn8jgSbuKLt0nKGgQc_SFLOYzxnn7sgxLLP4_E7MdnS6c41E1Takg-e_q0qs64w8QLdS7E8k62auiG25lL7lp6Cg8HGZoNXxo6VpC3wQKWSM88g7_OWD2eKvfkJdBwkF_-XdAgjlko/s320/MC900091035.jpg" width="320" /></a>When both you and the dog have been disconnected from one another, in order to both be successful in training and competition, you need a short period of time to reconnect. It is unfair to expect any dog to immediately go into working mode when they have been "somewhere else" mentally, just because you can go from unfocused mode into working mode immediately. Take time to warm them up mentally with a game of tug or heeling or anything else that helps reestablish that very important connection.<br />
<br />
Here is a great article by Bob Bailey on this subject: <a href="http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002b/attention.htm">click here to read it</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's hoping that some of the things I've mentioned can help you become more productive and ultimately more successful with your training. Many times it's not the training itself that causes the issues, it's the fact that there is consistent lack of connection between dog and trainer which causes other training issues to arise.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-86021505077219912362011-07-22T08:29:00.000-05:002011-07-22T08:29:23.593-05:00Wayne Dyer QuotesI saw these Wayne Dyer quotes on my friend Gail Smith's Facebook status and simply had to share them - they are all too great not to share.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Conflict cannot survive without your participation"</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself."</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Loving people live in a loving world. hostile people live in a hostile world. same world."</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside."</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"You don't need to be better than any one else you just need to be better than you used to be"</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> 'How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. '</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-44221475416739293542011-07-21T09:42:00.000-05:002011-07-21T09:42:24.040-05:00Consistency In Life and In Training<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I “grow up”, I find myself no longer wanting to fight, correct, defend, promote, or be apart of any type of life drama. The only "drama" I enjoy is the drama between me and my dogs as I run a course with them (Thanks to Tracy Sklenar for coining that term and helping me with that "drama" on course).</span><br />
<br />
I've<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> made many changes in my life over the years and have been able to gradually eliminate or add things into my life to support my wanted lifestyle. Some of the many things on this list of changes includes: </span><br />
<br />
<ul><li>no longer turning on the television</li>
<li>no longer reading the newspaper</li>
<li>never watching a video (or reading something) that looks to be sad, gruesome, or scary (I would never click on a video that is described as "disgusting or horrible").</li>
<li>no longer "fight" for any "cause"</li>
<li>listening only to music on the radio (no talk or commercials)</li>
<li>never respond to negative talk</li>
<li>allow others to have opinions</li>
<li>not feeling the need to defend anything that I am doing (this one is the hardest for me and I am constantly working on it) </li>
<li>acknowledging and appreciating things or events that are fun and pleasing</li>
<li>having the ability to look or walk away from unwanted things (accidents on the road, gossipy conversation next to me)</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
This is a work in progress and I am not perfect, but I am definitely improving. I feel it's important to be consistent in both life and in training and the more I go this direction, the more I am finding I love it and want to continue to live this way. Living life like this and training like this is just more fun and more fulfilling for me. I am sure that some people might feel that I have lost my mind. But I think I have actually found it.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-24020265677407478992011-07-09T17:53:00.000-05:002011-07-09T17:53:12.130-05:00Keeping Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Summer time in Minnesota sure makes it difficult for me to sit down at my computer and keep up on Facebook and my own blog. Lots of reading, relaxing, training, teaching lessons, and taking lessons. It's so much fun taking lessons with Terry Smorch as he always has practice courses built for FCI Worlds practice with Presto. Way too much fun and so good for both Schema and me.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Score has been critter hunting and batting around the handle-less horse Jolly ball in the back yard (handles removed because Schema is dangerous to herself and everyone around her when she has hold of the handle and is beating the ground and herself with it). Between finding chipmunks, moles, frogs, large toads as well as very teeny/tiny almost impossible to see toads, and now he is obsessed with dragonflies - he is easily entertained. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFZTUWagjjy8eOX0nAjg97q9aWOL7PkG0HXD8vIbHxbbRMBJ77wik7c6eKAH1NdAXEn67W0he-6rqTayIwdyqwF674aRjbN4u91pTfVyGzQD-nsH0KhFty1h3AtvsU1RGHv1guyYTz-Y/s1600/Score-dragonfly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFZTUWagjjy8eOX0nAjg97q9aWOL7PkG0HXD8vIbHxbbRMBJ77wik7c6eKAH1NdAXEn67W0he-6rqTayIwdyqwF674aRjbN4u91pTfVyGzQD-nsH0KhFty1h3AtvsU1RGHv1guyYTz-Y/s320/Score-dragonfly.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new obsession - dragonflies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What is so funny about the dogs is the simple pleasures they find to entertain themselves. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxTK60fSH4I1WONgFSHGBdTgsy7awGCJuKzC9st71qgRA2aagj590z9EEvGsIzOKH_K_ns4gqDECc4BkVj4VKBVleL3G-Y-pn_lgrCpY5-clZHVrxpCOaha1-qopfFgBfJou8p4cS4k4/s1600/Schema-Jolly-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxTK60fSH4I1WONgFSHGBdTgsy7awGCJuKzC9st71qgRA2aagj590z9EEvGsIzOKH_K_ns4gqDECc4BkVj4VKBVleL3G-Y-pn_lgrCpY5-clZHVrxpCOaha1-qopfFgBfJou8p4cS4k4/s320/Schema-Jolly-1.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jolly Ball TIME!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoP0ANqYK6F2Pf9g6rgzhQOuqLJPynHVwzHJ7ipMw_qaDdNFUWP_tSJ-TqFZPH98dhJ55zou_Fm25XhHx1hBcOHy-vbG3mTIpChEc6b_9WV8LNF7m44jjzkPSjs07nXsl1SdKq7Yjd74/s1600/Schema-Jolly-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoP0ANqYK6F2Pf9g6rgzhQOuqLJPynHVwzHJ7ipMw_qaDdNFUWP_tSJ-TqFZPH98dhJ55zou_Fm25XhHx1hBcOHy-vbG3mTIpChEc6b_9WV8LNF7m44jjzkPSjs07nXsl1SdKq7Yjd74/s320/Schema-Jolly-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema taking that handle-less Jolly ball down</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwrtO6efCnESg5M5OHR8CJpZpoc1Z34VTTuUvyk7XYQAMaBiQ3JyFO7PRQ9SDysqJ5PhnfsVFrjw6Zyzee0mgvr82K5evQggzb6WrPN-UZ9X9fCdXuojIHbMVEtKIuNzN9r0XtpdaHLc/s1600/Schema-Jolly-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwrtO6efCnESg5M5OHR8CJpZpoc1Z34VTTuUvyk7XYQAMaBiQ3JyFO7PRQ9SDysqJ5PhnfsVFrjw6Zyzee0mgvr82K5evQggzb6WrPN-UZ9X9fCdXuojIHbMVEtKIuNzN9r0XtpdaHLc/s320/Schema-Jolly-3.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Total ecstasy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT83p2yIpiqnM4R0ibp8UrzO_wxCzbjSV_q2Z-NBoIgmullyqJdN-jSa1QJjyF5D05aQj1RI2wWjbiqO27qIu4kgr0TbSlU_szMvJJ-cFCNVd5i5OfekBXaKMsqNRXacO1VyOZSI_A0Q/s1600/Schema-Jolly-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT83p2yIpiqnM4R0ibp8UrzO_wxCzbjSV_q2Z-NBoIgmullyqJdN-jSa1QJjyF5D05aQj1RI2wWjbiqO27qIu4kgr0TbSlU_szMvJJ-cFCNVd5i5OfekBXaKMsqNRXacO1VyOZSI_A0Q/s320/Schema-Jolly-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ya can''t get away from me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh216v9u4AfOkDyepu0jr97xPiEnkJsLRwwevwolsLeUfjN_qQUYDar55rUdA0pABhoohNmno84hW49HqxeTLGljVavwRs54EIwC4e9D5EluMCQ9csurxgMtQG0YXPGZgF3OM6yRk8ZLw/s1600/Schema-Jolly-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh216v9u4AfOkDyepu0jr97xPiEnkJsLRwwevwolsLeUfjN_qQUYDar55rUdA0pABhoohNmno84hW49HqxeTLGljVavwRs54EIwC4e9D5EluMCQ9csurxgMtQG0YXPGZgF3OM6yRk8ZLw/s320/Schema-Jolly-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holes where the handle used to be. No one gets hurt, now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYWLRnQKBCz7Fq-LxMctBH0OcHezaog0YJeV9svtyh6MtAFtmksF10ybAYJjUU4qTbb3dfgVyix2flDWbLXVzX_3_ZBsWs95XpG3EEAhh2W7jZboCJ5b6tNzFq4RoZZWfj7bpINbxGxQ/s1600/Score-Jolly-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYWLRnQKBCz7Fq-LxMctBH0OcHezaog0YJeV9svtyh6MtAFtmksF10ybAYJjUU4qTbb3dfgVyix2flDWbLXVzX_3_ZBsWs95XpG3EEAhh2W7jZboCJ5b6tNzFq4RoZZWfj7bpINbxGxQ/s320/Score-Jolly-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course, Score has the ball that Schema doesn't want today (until it looks like he's having too much fun)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8oWddot0cypTdB7L-6ff2S0SX2qoraFrNr9kwPZEGPFaL_ZZuLSN0UjgTsDmxBSv3SdkZyr3gQK9dIHxgCn5RaXl6x3Jvlf-Z21hB5S7eSwX4tuNmkhJgIzuPK7qHK_ZfMWCcnPVGEg/s1600/Score-Jolly-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8oWddot0cypTdB7L-6ff2S0SX2qoraFrNr9kwPZEGPFaL_ZZuLSN0UjgTsDmxBSv3SdkZyr3gQK9dIHxgCn5RaXl6x3Jvlf-Z21hB5S7eSwX4tuNmkhJgIzuPK7qHK_ZfMWCcnPVGEg/s320/Score-Jolly-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score always plays with his Jolly ball by pushing it up against me</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then when they've gotten enough exercise, they look so happy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-nd0roEXbmvUsYf_quPTvjex8lysSPMmAO5qp0aT88X8uFL0fcmen5GFsSG4GdBSUeUG0vxNzhKOWkQvsx3y-LG0hbVyHvuxVnUUr1vd9OKN6JHgLkvfJuMtrlwDHN_ItCuOsHCXzLU/s1600/Schema-Score-deck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-nd0roEXbmvUsYf_quPTvjex8lysSPMmAO5qp0aT88X8uFL0fcmen5GFsSG4GdBSUeUG0vxNzhKOWkQvsx3y-LG0hbVyHvuxVnUUr1vd9OKN6JHgLkvfJuMtrlwDHN_ItCuOsHCXzLU/s320/Schema-Score-deck.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the deck, satisfied after play</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Except that Schema is never done or satisfied...let's zoom in and see what she is doing....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HrlbMZeiQVvambGCIu8_BWhruX45yowXsYmBYyS9WjZ8hAOBPwAUDfbhVI-7AlXGvBuWVJWLbNXWQWKDqxQluBYHTBEtHHyhlX1sXI7sGeJY5cMT6f1jHjFZTiZpJXObuhr5A1kG2Ws/s1600/Schema-Score-deck-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HrlbMZeiQVvambGCIu8_BWhruX45yowXsYmBYyS9WjZ8hAOBPwAUDfbhVI-7AlXGvBuWVJWLbNXWQWKDqxQluBYHTBEtHHyhlX1sXI7sGeJY5cMT6f1jHjFZTiZpJXObuhr5A1kG2Ws/s320/Schema-Score-deck-cropped.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep...that's the way she looks when she wants someone to come out the door</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>If it stays this hot, I think tomorrow we will go swimming, otherwise if it's cool we'll do some training or maybe just another day in the back yard reading and letting the dogs play with their Jolly balls. So many decisions.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-43799404908582715892011-06-22T07:02:00.000-05:002011-06-22T07:02:58.333-05:00Happy Birthday ReasonIt's Reason's 12th birthday today. I am so blessed to have him in my life. All the clips in this video were taken in the last week. Happy Birthday to an amazing little boy. The video says it all.<br />
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<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DkQnfleZOfc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-75910151075279156362011-05-20T08:28:00.004-05:002011-05-22T07:23:32.319-05:00Coming Out Of The ClosetFor people that know me well, when my dogs have health issues, I prefer to be alone and I not to talk about it. I am most comfortable just being with my dogs and my family while I work through "things". That's just the way I cope with it all.<br />
<br />
Because people cared so much and were asking, I was able to pull myself out of my comfort zone and post a note on Facebook to describe what happened on May 2nd after returning home from a herding trial in the Milwaukee area. Reason had 4 grand mal seizures (midnight, 2pm, 8pm, and 10pm). The 10pm seizure was the very last one he had and has not had one since then. Except for a few people, I never spoke about what was diagnosed from the MRI that was done on May 4th.<br />
<br />
This blog entry is to explain what happened and to thank all the wonderful friends I have here in Minnesota and all around the country for caring so much about me and about Reason. I got so many messages of support and positive energy from people, I couldn't possibly respond to everyone. The dog community can overwhelm me with emotion as to how much they really care about other people and dogs - it's like a strong family that supports and respects each other and I am so proud to be a part of it all.<br />
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During the MRI, the neurologists at the University of Minnesota found a small mass in the left frontal lobe, which was now causing him to have problems with his right side and lots of ataxia. There was a small amount of edema surrounding the mass. Options were given to me - do nothing and he would have 1-2 months. Surgery and he would have 1 - 1 1/2 years. Side affects from surgery might involve a slight head tilt to the left and inflammation to the left eye. With a radiation treatment, he would have 1 - 1 1/2 years, with the exception that there are only 2/3 of masses that respond to radiation. 1/3 of them will not respond. Also, radiation would involve 3 or 4 weeks of treatments (radiation apparently has very little affects on dog being treated for a tumor in the head). The neurologist felt that the mass was meningioma, which is a benign/slow growing tumor.<br />
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I was fortunate enough to have some time in order to make a decision. Reason was stable and functional - just having difficulties with balance and ataxia, but was happy and vibrant. Dogs are amazing in how they adapt to what is presented to them physically - they never complain, they just move on. I constantly assessed his attitude and his will to continue and by the end of two weeks, there was no doubt in my mind that Reason wanted to continue to share this life with me in the physical world. Dr. Audrey DeClue, who has been responsible for keeping Reason and my other dogs physically able to continue to run in agility was an amazing support resource and friend as I talked to her almost daily on the phone over these last weeks (and this with her busy equine schedule travelling around the country). She also saw him the weekend after the MRI to evaluate him. She did some research for me and helped me make my decision. I was also able to discuss this with one of my obedience students, who is a retired neurologist and he also helped me understand the process and verified my decision to do the surgery. In people, this is totally curable.<br />
<br />
So, on Tuesday, May 17th, I dropped Reason off for the surgery, which was completed around 12:30. The surgeon was very happy with how it went and was able to get it all - along with some normal tissue as part of the mass went a bit deep. The mass was not part of the brain. Now it was just waiting to see how he would respond neurologically coming out of surgery. Reason always has issues coming out of anesthesia in that he comes out fast, but he remains anxious, whiny, impatient, and does not like to be confined so he vocalizes. He won't rest and won't lay down until his body just makes him collapse from being overtired. This usually goes on until 2 days after anesthesia. The neurologist was impressed and amazed at how quickly he recovered from the surgery. He was responsive, alert, and everything was working from a neurological standpoint, except some normal weakness from the surgery.<br />
<br />
I went to visit him on Wednesday evening and I wasn't prepared to see so much of his face having been shaved. But I was thinking the incision would look much worse than it did - it looked wonderful and it was already healing. I was able to see the MRI (really cool techy stuff) and it made me so grateful to have such an amazing resource that we have here in Minnesota with the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical School.<br />
<br />
On Thursday, after talking to the neurologist in the morning, I was told that Reason could come home that afternoon. When I went to pick him up, he looked SO GOOD and really wanted to go home. There was no head tilt, no inflammation to the left eye, and the ataxia appears to be gone and his right side is working better. Now we start the healing process that is the most difficult one for all people with high drive dogs - keeping him quiet so that the incision and the surgery site can heal properly. Score and Schema have been so good about leaving him alone and still treating him with respect. Reason remains his bright and happy self as he adapts to the after effects of the surgery.<br />
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When I came home, I was so touched by my good friend and Reason's breeder, Janice DeMello as she made this video tribute to Reason. She used the song that I posted in yesterday's blog and put together some great memories of us from over the years. While the video made me cry (again), it also made me smile as I can see how blessed I am to have been able to share my life with this amazing little being that has touched my soul f<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">orever.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jan describes this video, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">This video is in honor of Nancy Little's brave boy Hob Nob Meant To Be aka Reason after he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor on May 17, 2011." If the video doesn't work below, here is a direct link: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxPBhCricPs">Click here to go directly to video on YouTube.</a></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bxPBhCricPs" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
And because the video shows some photos of his incision just after surgery, I wanted to show Jan how well he was doing after he came home, so I include that video here for you to see as well. This is classic Reason, except with a facial hair cut. This is about 54 hours after his surgery.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzNBbz2Gq0Ee1HmdyU_KD-vjSJ1crQQbNY39TTklmHuX2rNemZqQpxRdqo1lPFv3p0ErtTPwt8TEgzernUrHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
So, while I went into a lot of detail through this experience of mine with Reason, I know you will understand that I will now want to move on from what is now "ancient history" to me. I am no longer focusing on what happened, I have now moved into looking at all the good times we are going to have ahead of us. Reason is my inspiration as he is strong, vibrant, full of life, and always having a good time. We should all live life like that.<br />
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Love you ALWAYS Reas!!Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-20178675148726267302011-05-18T21:00:00.000-05:002011-05-18T21:00:29.988-05:00I Won't Let GoThank you Tanya for sending me this song. It made me cry...crying is good for the soul because it cleanses the spirit and can put things into perspective. I am back to smiling again with a new found determination - just like Reason.<br />
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</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Af8mB9ABuJA" width="525"></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GzTTFg77WxORKBlbN2fUVY0InhNhQyHwy_Mlk8A4mdfPHM6vBp67zR9pXIcZBzHex0S6bWZm4-jeokqY5oRXvdAcTLR4aB1qpXWciGJaQ5CxS2_9hvr6vfRivL8lFTX4ZQtS6nivFaY/s1600/P1000167-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GzTTFg77WxORKBlbN2fUVY0InhNhQyHwy_Mlk8A4mdfPHM6vBp67zR9pXIcZBzHex0S6bWZm4-jeokqY5oRXvdAcTLR4aB1qpXWciGJaQ5CxS2_9hvr6vfRivL8lFTX4ZQtS6nivFaY/s320/P1000167-cropped.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-54027391636334827972011-05-10T21:20:00.001-05:002011-05-10T21:23:59.724-05:00Made Me Smile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don't want."</span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">--- Abraham and Esther Hicks<br />
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It was finally summer in Minnesota today. What a glorious day. As I took Reason out to potty this morning, he caught a whiff of something near the tree he was about to pee on and when I looked, I saw a healthy little tree frog just sitting there taking in the warmth of the day. That put a smile on my face.</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaaQo9e2VJ1-aHlw7amFEku1wMN9f23jU_70d7SX7BcGE8x72hP2txjIyIVJOX0Bdyw3d038ifEivWa1BpWTw_QhU7bMs3cgfBFhyT-X7QkhvHWv1e920PsJPhXvveWE9sTl6wAoLDDA/s1600/Tree+toad-5-10-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaaQo9e2VJ1-aHlw7amFEku1wMN9f23jU_70d7SX7BcGE8x72hP2txjIyIVJOX0Bdyw3d038ifEivWa1BpWTw_QhU7bMs3cgfBFhyT-X7QkhvHWv1e920PsJPhXvveWE9sTl6wAoLDDA/s400/Tree+toad-5-10-11.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree frog in the front yard<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Later on in the day, I set up two Susan Salo grids from one of her "Repeaters seminars" to run Score and Schema on. It was a grid that both of them had issues with in the past because of the spacing - Schema has had an issue compressing from extension and Score has had an issue extending from compression. I ran that grid hard with Score and he was fluid and strong. That put a smile on my face.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Schema did the sequence beautifully - even the parts she usually has difficulty with. So, I changed the height of two of the jumps from 22 (which is what she always jumps in practice) to 24". Schema had some initial issues in the section that she has had in the past with that height change. </span>She got herself too close to the jump after the double and then tried to lift her head to get her body over the next jump. She is so athletic that this can sometimes save her jumps, but I don't want her doing that because that just means she is not reading her jumps correctly and jumping with poor form. That is wear and tear on her body. I want fluid, proper jumping from her. I added a foot in the compression section after the double and placed a diagonal bar in front of the jump that she had issues with. When I added that foot and the diagonal on the next jump, she jumped that sequence beautifully. I took away the diagonal bar and she did it nicely again. Then I put the jumps back to the initial spacing without that extra twelve inches and it was still good. These kinds of sessions where I can get her to figure it out on her own really make me smile.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then, I got Reason out while I put away all the jumps. He is such an amazing dog. With all he's been through, he is still having the time of his life. He was doing his floating trot and smiling through that gray face of him. Demanding that I kick the toy. Living life to the fullest. THAT <b>REALLY </b>MADE ME SMILE!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrDHO-l1WyizV92imjz6-LTlF2C6LXtUCklGd9SpWSLkE8hyTQAPrswTQr382RUy8NefrGm2dNxT23T5_Ibap2g9EWsXtUyTSyAJD8fV2b94Pl-HOlA7ZZOak1pdn_HTU391DF1AhH8Y/s1600/Reason-above-down-5-10-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrDHO-l1WyizV92imjz6-LTlF2C6LXtUCklGd9SpWSLkE8hyTQAPrswTQr382RUy8NefrGm2dNxT23T5_Ibap2g9EWsXtUyTSyAJD8fV2b94Pl-HOlA7ZZOak1pdn_HTU391DF1AhH8Y/s320/Reason-above-down-5-10-11.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kick that toy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV38BRKYX8wGy5wn7W2wJNLJGPitM_Z2uqX36eTTYIYC_tJqEjbsowC5e2lTW_ymZIFRC_PhUE92bCQWopeDGSBH5cdQ6cFb25CKy7MOP3pakxjaGeUA0ilfKuXOpRMUZMxC-YyTib7E/s1600/Reason-down-face-5-10-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV38BRKYX8wGy5wn7W2wJNLJGPitM_Z2uqX36eTTYIYC_tJqEjbsowC5e2lTW_ymZIFRC_PhUE92bCQWopeDGSBH5cdQ6cFb25CKy7MOP3pakxjaGeUA0ilfKuXOpRMUZMxC-YyTib7E/s320/Reason-down-face-5-10-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing in the hot weather</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3CkTfailrvsamaKcUgXxiWMypZ6bJK8NKGQmjrYh01Ec_hXVzASfHBfxzyqwQfVSDhAqvmwSTlZ5Zu6MBgQ380CU7zzTc6r66CyFWkBsxuKEmPAdLL9HpYBc-Nt2Vye3kaO5JZEiChI/s1600/Reason-profile-down-5-10-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3CkTfailrvsamaKcUgXxiWMypZ6bJK8NKGQmjrYh01Ec_hXVzASfHBfxzyqwQfVSDhAqvmwSTlZ5Zu6MBgQ380CU7zzTc6r66CyFWkBsxuKEmPAdLL9HpYBc-Nt2Vye3kaO5JZEiChI/s320/Reason-profile-down-5-10-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want that toy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN7B1zYEvA7d7-9kb0PH1FHQlpAD7qImGgaHmD8r7hN4qIxM9vTmgPIsmogHysC6EJwP8ISI2CqyjRjLdNjjxGPG2hXxT3c58ipjGamni0GchPUSSidXqyhWf2AN8hLvUqSv7cxMNhA8/s1600/Reason-standing-face-5-10-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN7B1zYEvA7d7-9kb0PH1FHQlpAD7qImGgaHmD8r7hN4qIxM9vTmgPIsmogHysC6EJwP8ISI2CqyjRjLdNjjxGPG2hXxT3c58ipjGamni0GchPUSSidXqyhWf2AN8hLvUqSv7cxMNhA8/s320/Reason-standing-face-5-10-11.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love you Reas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-43142704932696326322011-05-06T10:36:00.002-05:002011-05-06T13:46:53.337-05:00Perfect Thought For The Day"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">We practice the Art of Allowing. Which means reaching for the thought that feels best, not the thought that is the real thought, not the thought that is telling it like it is. Telling it like it is only holds you where it is: "Damn it, I'm going to tell it like it is. I'm going to tell it like it is, because everybody wants me to tell it like it is." Tell it like it is if you like it like it is. But if you don't like it like it is, then don't tell it like it is—tell it like you want it to be. If you tell it like you want it to be long enough, you will begin to feel it like you want it to be. And when you feel it like you want it to be, it be's like you want it to be."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">~Abraham and Esther Hicks</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye3UJ2HsBBlETPwQcSn8-0c3uV90dGPKVGuJCylezm-6hyphenhyphenCH_3KJwe3fpOh2nJd5Gqdeogzwk0Qk6OIe5yfQQnlEPbhVFzl02W868qE0gqSj2XpzdySpKoH2o0JUJJbJybTRuVQATPp4/s1600/MP900227746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye3UJ2HsBBlETPwQcSn8-0c3uV90dGPKVGuJCylezm-6hyphenhyphenCH_3KJwe3fpOh2nJd5Gqdeogzwk0Qk6OIe5yfQQnlEPbhVFzl02W868qE0gqSj2XpzdySpKoH2o0JUJJbJybTRuVQATPp4/s1600/MP900227746.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
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<o:p></o:p></span>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-40787343356177520712011-05-04T20:35:00.000-05:002011-05-04T20:35:17.223-05:00The WorldTo the world you are a dog. But to me you <b>are </b>the WORLD.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58z9jh9I8EG7DaPyS5MsOHpzG99sZNviwgyNiLNXwXZ2KsxuoCEzS6FFRgoQnHsKP0FJQtMcudaDrhyphenhypheno6YgM9sOk2dEh8IIeQE0xr33foqDJk8YReS-EhiwUQiUfS1hqTT7aoUNdg5l8/s1600/CD_7682_70092_j0193202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58z9jh9I8EG7DaPyS5MsOHpzG99sZNviwgyNiLNXwXZ2KsxuoCEzS6FFRgoQnHsKP0FJQtMcudaDrhyphenhypheno6YgM9sOk2dEh8IIeQE0xr33foqDJk8YReS-EhiwUQiUfS1hqTT7aoUNdg5l8/s640/CD_7682_70092_j0193202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-5132819429136566542011-04-29T21:21:00.001-05:002011-04-29T21:22:12.415-05:00More Photos From IowaI got these wonderful photos from Tammy Etscheidt, who was also taking photos at the Tracy Sklenar seminar. How lucky we were to have two talented photographers that weekend.<br />
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I love the expression in Schema's face as she is going over this jump.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdphPHgCqB_zdNO_-25ygDVYF9ttsplwIkMyz4GsN24yDcMIokbFWmp8FXQboypHXuD_0hzbt1HfrkFQkBYJWz6er4D7sN8G3panIcnqo8zbhFEOKX_7i6cJCQB0AOwEHsIRsLhfG0Ks/s1600/20110422_Schema_Jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdphPHgCqB_zdNO_-25ygDVYF9ttsplwIkMyz4GsN24yDcMIokbFWmp8FXQboypHXuD_0hzbt1HfrkFQkBYJWz6er4D7sN8G3panIcnqo8zbhFEOKX_7i6cJCQB0AOwEHsIRsLhfG0Ks/s400/20110422_Schema_Jump.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Tammy Etscheidt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Then there are these cool photos that Tammy took when I was working Score on the yearlings in one of the large pastures on Saturday. It was so much fun being out there in the sunshine with green grass all around us.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>This one was quite obviously when I sent him for an outrun - oh, the joy in his face!! </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesQDoE96DgyRuZBqexQLi8BxqtO5X0zqpu5mn3V7GvSWbFkR-JUUVhQCnlr5lMAeQYfBKUH9RVXIxYJp2Val9UzE0q_RyzKsMfhxNyfvAWvSvcuwd0JKJFhnhwUXf4EdwMmDHOn_y8sk/s1600/20110423_Score_Joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesQDoE96DgyRuZBqexQLi8BxqtO5X0zqpu5mn3V7GvSWbFkR-JUUVhQCnlr5lMAeQYfBKUH9RVXIxYJp2Val9UzE0q_RyzKsMfhxNyfvAWvSvcuwd0JKJFhnhwUXf4EdwMmDHOn_y8sk/s400/20110423_Score_Joy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score - sending on an outrun<br />
Photo by Tammy Etscheidt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><div>Then this awesome photo of him fetching the sheep after picking them up at the top.</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gl9Ai-61z0vCVFRYmT1ILb9Bd46hT11R_85RY6_gEDGaPseusc2chM4HgzTNVKFv8hr59WoN1SWfI2SCqfagZSqGoevwOYxVO1JEJm8PRnQLyXyF40ZJnTQQOJl5lqAxvEsD8Qd0wYw/s1600/20110423_Score_S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gl9Ai-61z0vCVFRYmT1ILb9Bd46hT11R_85RY6_gEDGaPseusc2chM4HgzTNVKFv8hr59WoN1SWfI2SCqfagZSqGoevwOYxVO1JEJm8PRnQLyXyF40ZJnTQQOJl5lqAxvEsD8Qd0wYw/s400/20110423_Score_S.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score - fetching the yearlings<br />
Photo by Tammy Etscheidt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><div>And this one of Score getting them to me. These sheep had not been worked by dogs and this was about as close as they were going to get to me. Score did a great job working them. So proud of him.</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9r-pbF8OJR4jr2yogssanqUYKIhDWkokDufMOM1VCnnwkEc5aXpS5NpDeAYDXaMMgbdqyeON2Bd5_kZ-VLiYOOEnIRemGsj3QhHUeL68xCoA5Hxjke7DDy3CwyEm5vNTphJF4bYIrX0/s1600/20110423_Score_S_N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9r-pbF8OJR4jr2yogssanqUYKIhDWkokDufMOM1VCnnwkEc5aXpS5NpDeAYDXaMMgbdqyeON2Bd5_kZ-VLiYOOEnIRemGsj3QhHUeL68xCoA5Hxjke7DDy3CwyEm5vNTphJF4bYIrX0/s400/20110423_Score_S_N.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score<br />
Photo by Tammy Etscheidt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>Thanks Tammy for the awesome photos!<br />
<br />
</div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-52836241695741850272011-04-28T22:37:00.000-05:002011-04-28T22:37:54.525-05:00Tracy Sklenar seminar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MxYfrX7D1JICOMda42LNgF8tW06hIzvxpTMVRdERfNMMaaZbW8cm4oMu1qbqtHFojn-FkDHQJiX6FVYhTSMgTsU5FsGM3wLnOoTLa6T5YbtQmPnB6VjuudY-Zfa3kLC-Lf96owPmL-w/s1600/dsc01680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MxYfrX7D1JICOMda42LNgF8tW06hIzvxpTMVRdERfNMMaaZbW8cm4oMu1qbqtHFojn-FkDHQJiX6FVYhTSMgTsU5FsGM3wLnOoTLa6T5YbtQmPnB6VjuudY-Zfa3kLC-Lf96owPmL-w/s400/dsc01680.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I can't remember enjoying an agility seminar as much as I did this past Easter weekend with Tracy Sklenar, hosted by Christy Thomas at her 50 acre farm about 10 miles north of Council Bluffs, IA. Christy was an amazing hostess as she was also lambing at the same time (along with a few challenges that go along with this) she kept smiling all weekend.<br />
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Tracy is so patient, yet so inspiring with all the working teams. I could hear her repeating the same things over and over in order to convey concepts that were important for each team. Yet, she kept demonstrating and communicating with the same passion and perkiness and humor. She is by far my favorite agility seminar presenter because of this - if something bothers her, it goes completely unnoticed. She makes people feel important and worth the extra attention to detail and she puts people at ease by remembering their names as well as their dog's names.<br />
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Friday morning we were indoors for the Masters seminar because of the wind and the cool weather. But the afternoon session had us outdoors in the bright sunshine on plush green grass with lovely temps in the 60's - perfect weather for working the dogs.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_m7L8saeE05T0Jhydhk7kLk3CCrLdChslbRZCCEBY2-lf0b1FpjgR8KoLbZpujivYhsEqTYgWGnheq4aefoEN9fKYJBdZ1ANa5bPASmCahenpOK_7eIH0J-ulrfjlRtW4g-P6DLWQlA/s1600/dsc01356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_m7L8saeE05T0Jhydhk7kLk3CCrLdChslbRZCCEBY2-lf0b1FpjgR8KoLbZpujivYhsEqTYgWGnheq4aefoEN9fKYJBdZ1ANa5bPASmCahenpOK_7eIH0J-ulrfjlRtW4g-P6DLWQlA/s400/dsc01356.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema jumping indoors in the barn<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Saturday, I had the day off as it was the ABC's of handling, which was specifically for learning the handling system and more for Novice dogs. Anyone that had a working spot throughout the four days, could audit free on any of the other days, which was a wonderful additional benefit of attending this seminar. Auditing and reviewing some of the basic handling was wonderful for me as I was able to pick up some of the finer points of the handling as was demonstrated by Tracy.<br />
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On Saturday, Christy was nice enough to sort out 6 of her yearling Cheviots into one of her large pastures. These sheep had not been worked much by dogs, so I was able to work Score twice on Saturday gathering them. It was a wonderful experience because it was a new field, with different draws and sheep that were very light, so he had to figure it all out. He made some mistakes at first, but he was doing some great outruns and gathers after he figured it out.<br />
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Monday was European Day with courses that had lots of back sides of jumps and very tight wraps and turns through tight boxes of jumps. Schema did a great job and showed that she has lots of great skills as a young dog. Most of the homework I took home to work on were handling weaknesses or new/better skills that I need to work on (love this stuff!):<br />
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1) Be more aggressive with my threadles and serpentines<br />
2) Do the change of arm in the serpentines and threadles WHEN they are needed instead of trying to get to perfect serp and threadle position.<br />
3) Continue to move when I'm doing a serpentine and keep my feet pointed in that direction<br />
4) Take big steps when doing muliple serps or threadles, rather than the smaller steps I was taking<br />
4) Change my footwork for the threadle, so I can move up the course faster<br />
5) Use more acceleration (even if it's briefly) so I can show deceleration.<br />
6) "Punch" those tight wraps with the same arm when in position at the jump<br />
7) Use lots of motion forward with the same arm and leg near the dog to get a good threadle push through<br />
8) Use spacial awareness information Tracy provided when walking a course to ensure I know where to drive out of my front crosses.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nOFPg_e9BiKed7pYrQnJVRTAPOue0LVHlbvc0cbe1JggSg6lN3m06pZpbrpF6wA9Li_oxxzSlhglAR5GU9w1khN9HVa3ezUEpgm42ysPf0fQ4rsJECIcwzpr6heoYgWNLM4tFaXg5kM/s1600/dsc02606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nOFPg_e9BiKed7pYrQnJVRTAPOue0LVHlbvc0cbe1JggSg6lN3m06pZpbrpF6wA9Li_oxxzSlhglAR5GU9w1khN9HVa3ezUEpgm42ysPf0fQ4rsJECIcwzpr6heoYgWNLM4tFaXg5kM/s400/dsc02606.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serpentine<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Some of the skills I need to work with Schema are:<br />
1) More rewards at my front crosses to put more value into driving to me (she is driving her line and sometimes forgetting about that)<br />
2) More independent 270's or back side of the jump<br />
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I'm looking forward to going back to Christy's in September for another weekend of Masters/European Day with Tracy.<br />
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Thanks to Ami Shefield for taking photos all weekend of the dogs working. She got some great ones of Schema...and what's up with this one? I guess I'm thinking about all the handling skills I need to work on when I get home.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi439o1_mZ6S6d20waLt35D5kvUVncTuzqwjnyqmOxTI1UpOCJ-7FdLUM63otdr_sqlCo5iQR6Sf_i1M63FMM38UJknXmvg_SWOB590ivh-spb7mBgRK3t1c59T0KW8pwJ067fT5bqaO0g/s1600/dsc02564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi439o1_mZ6S6d20waLt35D5kvUVncTuzqwjnyqmOxTI1UpOCJ-7FdLUM63otdr_sqlCo5iQR6Sf_i1M63FMM38UJknXmvg_SWOB590ivh-spb7mBgRK3t1c59T0KW8pwJ067fT5bqaO0g/s400/dsc02564.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGDBK-Ee36VfFDIV_V3MM2Wjo3q1RjbypYkugZJOWOi7wzUEi6GYqiLYsim2Bh6zrKcC3WWd5CTDldzSfIkhl7_nxAWhmmztOk-5YLK9F2DJaZwfJc2ofpOUtK0y5kQrimCj04aZ5Nys/s1600/dsc02456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGDBK-Ee36VfFDIV_V3MM2Wjo3q1RjbypYkugZJOWOi7wzUEi6GYqiLYsim2Bh6zrKcC3WWd5CTDldzSfIkhl7_nxAWhmmztOk-5YLK9F2DJaZwfJc2ofpOUtK0y5kQrimCj04aZ5Nys/s400/dsc02456.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhu4zFTNiMXfywiTQy4PGjio3_8DS_Vsk2xa70-WhzxolmTIOLxRAfuOOcv1GxvhaMOPzBNu1y5cRywQkU3uZ0nv_ArO2e0844BgmDusBbTCPWegkMNZRbRZlK_m4SRzE-6xLdJgJOM2E/s1600/dsc02607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhu4zFTNiMXfywiTQy4PGjio3_8DS_Vsk2xa70-WhzxolmTIOLxRAfuOOcv1GxvhaMOPzBNu1y5cRywQkU3uZ0nv_ArO2e0844BgmDusBbTCPWegkMNZRbRZlK_m4SRzE-6xLdJgJOM2E/s400/dsc02607.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKodDGRFYuqt_n80-w6ESR6VpaaGQZRXJp10miwVZMfHWUE2fH62Hv2CM8Xd02FG2E0nuM8XgkMMSlhP2MOjRSBN9nZYv_vZ-4tL_S2M-SIItiUyXHkU6MzQv2dTl4OofAxlcCqPozmFc/s1600/dsc02611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKodDGRFYuqt_n80-w6ESR6VpaaGQZRXJp10miwVZMfHWUE2fH62Hv2CM8Xd02FG2E0nuM8XgkMMSlhP2MOjRSBN9nZYv_vZ-4tL_S2M-SIItiUyXHkU6MzQv2dTl4OofAxlcCqPozmFc/s400/dsc02611.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rewarding Schema with a good tugging session<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS8jgixXdsKCRL95KqUOuuyveTak_uUeneVkK1Gic2bzJZwO5t4wWsO36L_zGyDs6D_X-v01GaTuWxfvY1cr_Gl-WzLf2O6S_w8DPZE9Tikj8L4d_mfE2cilg5LOuM3mCD6IELIg3MS8/s1600/dsc02612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS8jgixXdsKCRL95KqUOuuyveTak_uUeneVkK1Gic2bzJZwO5t4wWsO36L_zGyDs6D_X-v01GaTuWxfvY1cr_Gl-WzLf2O6S_w8DPZE9Tikj8L4d_mfE2cilg5LOuM3mCD6IELIg3MS8/s400/dsc02612.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving off the start line<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUi358OcunbNG0yHUdJL4lFOiM1XPiZj2C-ssIcltkgmflmhgV5jtH7QW_dVnTVG0qyeqnOCGf_ZmwqzmPxyy_pAtHmtC_uFaDFhPPw0uYIt7M65UdSNfhKzZJcPvz8GWJH1P_4pbLXo/s1600/dsc02737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUi358OcunbNG0yHUdJL4lFOiM1XPiZj2C-ssIcltkgmflmhgV5jtH7QW_dVnTVG0qyeqnOCGf_ZmwqzmPxyy_pAtHmtC_uFaDFhPPw0uYIt7M65UdSNfhKzZJcPvz8GWJH1P_4pbLXo/s400/dsc02737.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema sliding teeter<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7K5cxtVLaobSZqFq_R-iiYJfsAtkERtZyLJYpyjpn9LZ7vUAZIqz2r0roPabtyXUEGmA9KR7zfqfZb3AL6TFoW7OmcadAA-CK56EauUOI42e5mSh-U4ZRPwiOrUwpJrJ2MrrECRciBY/s1600/dsc01529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7K5cxtVLaobSZqFq_R-iiYJfsAtkERtZyLJYpyjpn9LZ7vUAZIqz2r0roPabtyXUEGmA9KR7zfqfZb3AL6TFoW7OmcadAA-CK56EauUOI42e5mSh-U4ZRPwiOrUwpJrJ2MrrECRciBY/s400/dsc01529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome slide teeter<br />
Photo by Ami Shefield</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrdlInsP58r3lBK-HUo0bgkJ5obaJL57C7xjGz_o9fTdyZLIm_thOXGdA6Uk9-NOf7acwhvfdyhs4Uo_04ujLOi334Mg04RhQlvrP0EFqoxSKslZnEXtBNiUG1O7aRSzKyl8KWDM2yg8/s1600/dsc01530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrdlInsP58r3lBK-HUo0bgkJ5obaJL57C7xjGz_o9fTdyZLIm_thOXGdA6Uk9-NOf7acwhvfdyhs4Uo_04ujLOi334Mg04RhQlvrP0EFqoxSKslZnEXtBNiUG1O7aRSzKyl8KWDM2yg8/s400/dsc01530.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Ami Shefield<br />
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</tbody></table>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-33092814528626566442011-02-26T12:42:00.003-06:002011-02-26T20:39:40.326-06:00Appreciation and Allowing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsitnTZYOfMh-wFURvG0huK1CwhCzH5ClAYCkkPHOU62QXuI8aXAOjpfh9ni08ANnAHVK7gz-6SN5tzLBJj9xwMPKM1Wg8mjot37UyyL8Y6_x5F6Js0fUmbrH3Lp0hO_mWwIxccZITnY/s1600/CD_11832_98039_m0066421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsitnTZYOfMh-wFURvG0huK1CwhCzH5ClAYCkkPHOU62QXuI8aXAOjpfh9ni08ANnAHVK7gz-6SN5tzLBJj9xwMPKM1Wg8mjot37UyyL8Y6_x5F6Js0fUmbrH3Lp0hO_mWwIxccZITnY/s400/CD_11832_98039_m0066421.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score - I appreciate and love his effort<br />
"Image by GreatDanePhotos Copyright 2010 <br />
(www.greatdanephotos.com) used with permission"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've been thinking about this topic for a while, but Stacy Peardot-Goudy's recent blog entry on just saying "Thank you" really prompted me to finish my thoughts in writing. If you get a chance, read her blog as a background by clicking <a href="http://cspotteach.blogspot.com/2011/02/just-say-thank-you.html">here</a>. <br />
<br />
It's true that plenty of people have difficulty accepting compliments. It's human nature to put ourselves down for various reasons - especially when someone we respect tells us that we just did something wonderful (could it be true?). Many times coming out of the ring, we tend to reflect only on the disappointment of not getting the almighty qualifying score, when there are just so many other small successes (even HUGE successes) that need to be recognized out on the course or in the run. Because it tends to be human nature to reflect on the negativity and failures, many times it can be difficult to really see those small successes. This is precisely why I highly recommend getting all of your runs (obedience, herding, agility) on video tape. Yes, it is an inconvenience at times, but if you are diligent about looking at all aspects of your run - not just the fact that something happened that you did not like - you will continue to grow as a handler as well as a person. It can take some effort and some training to try and find something good in a run that feels like a failure to you, but it's all about progress. And part of the progress is trying to find the successes as well as the "homework" in each and every run. <br />
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Everyone - even the best trainers/handlers like Terry Smorch and Stacy Goudy go home with more homework. Even in the qualifying performances, they will find personal successes as well as homework and ways to improve performance. They are <b>inspired </b>by homework - not deflated or feeling like failures because of it. You see rare times when they have a major failure, but when it happens they push past it and realize the lesson or another opportunity to improve. Failure or mistakes should inspire you, not make you crazy or upset.<br />
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But this isn't the reason why I am writing this - Stacy covered this topic, quite well. I just want to take the subject of accepting a compliment a little further and coming from the opposite side. Giving compliments and/or appreciation of others.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_bC9q3JNopqihnB7CpQZgk8tHDGhJrylRXXrMR7rhEcaeqIGMMjpjrpkmKgd__NilEeQhjKdR8PJ0cJuf6UFVLpLHCG1gFlSSq0iAryoRwdwwoUTXkkiyS7qZSsGht564uC7JdDAdAQ/s1600/CD_11664_95459_m0046514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_bC9q3JNopqihnB7CpQZgk8tHDGhJrylRXXrMR7rhEcaeqIGMMjpjrpkmKgd__NilEeQhjKdR8PJ0cJuf6UFVLpLHCG1gFlSSq0iAryoRwdwwoUTXkkiyS7qZSsGht564uC7JdDAdAQ/s400/CD_11664_95459_m0046514.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reason - I appreciating being able to run him at 11 years of age<br />
"Image by GreatDanePhotos Copyright 2010 <br />
(www.greatdanephotos.com) used with permission"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There are plenty of people that I highly respect as trainers and handlers - like Stacy and Terry. They set an example as high caliber trainers and exhibitors in more ways than others - not just because they are on top of their game, but also because of the way they treat other people. When either of them sees a performance or even something within a run that is spectacular, they will both make an effort to tell that individual (stranger or friend/peer) that they loved what they saw. To me, appreciation and giving compliments is just as important (if not more important) than accepting compliments. That is because it comes from within...and when you appreciate or love something, it makes you feel better and you become a better person for it. There are a few high caliber trainers that only give compliments to their students (or people attending their seminars) or to their peers. I'm not sure why that is, but whatever the reason, it is a self limiting behavior and only holds them back. I think one of the most liberating behaviors is getting into the mode of appreciating and "allowing" others to do things differently.<br />
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Whether or not the person accepts the compliment is actually their own personal issue that they have to work through (been there myself at one time). Finding fault or taking something personal because an individual chooses differently than what you would is inhibiting. Sometimes people need to make a few mistakes in order to get to a place in their life where they can actually see the benefit of what someone else might be telling them. Or who's to say that maybe that person is just comfortable doing things their way and it just feels right to them. It's more important for people to feel good about what they are doing, than to be convinced to change. And it's up to us as individuals to find a way to feel good - rather than relying on compliments or support from others.<br />
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It is far better to have different training and handling styles and methods so as to enjoy diversity and motivate change. Observing handlers and trainers doing things differently can be inspiring and can allow new ideas to be recognized and realized. At one time no one trained or wanted to train running contacts and there were many good reasons stated by some of the best trainers in this country. That didn't stop a few people who were inspired and motivated within and decided to do things differently by taking a different journey. They were willing to make mistakes along the way and adapted and set forth changes because of those failures. Now, seeing a gorgeous running dog walk is a thing of beauty, when it is trained and handled properly. All because someone appreciated and loved something and was focused on doing what felt right to them - even amongst any and all criticisms from the standpoint of consistency in handling and training it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEhnl60P1vV63orDbUSoVTBaLT7kLbwX2nOs1nhXiD_3yIR7IbUkiitid9NnDqf98-5dajr8bDEgzPHSKrDZoq7q3wtrWt3-j82XxGkRmzs8Hcbaom5vSjp6GC-Ot62kJ8x65UtrsZhA/s1600/TIMUSDAA-Schema-dogwalk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEhnl60P1vV63orDbUSoVTBaLT7kLbwX2nOs1nhXiD_3yIR7IbUkiitid9NnDqf98-5dajr8bDEgzPHSKrDZoq7q3wtrWt3-j82XxGkRmzs8Hcbaom5vSjp6GC-Ot62kJ8x65UtrsZhA/s400/TIMUSDAA-Schema-dogwalk.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema - I love and appreciating her amazing contacts<br />
(photo by Kim Schaefer)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Whenever I start to feel upset about something, I will try find some kind of way to appreciate - anything. Even by looking or focusing on something completely different than what was causing me to become upset. Focusing on appreciating my dogs, my friends, my peers, the sunshine - whatever makes me happy or changes the way I am currently feeling. There is always a different way of looking at things and when I try to focus on some small change to make me feel happy, the negative feelings go away and my world changes with it.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-78075656939227618002010-12-31T19:38:00.000-06:002010-12-31T19:38:02.340-06:00Focus ForwardOne of the first things I teach my agility dogs is to focus forward when I leave them at the start line. That way, I can lead out - ahead and laterally - and they will look ahead at the line of obstacles in front of them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtKhxC910lWPe1oGxvj6d-KOExyCFBiyfo5SHzvdFcmhgHCL6U1_ajsqBebijWCupYjBkdXKi7gK-FfdOKHNKNMMnVOUd9UwbmocMGGxjodf8KTAnuZmD0OKA6Re40uadhiOyYt4ZL40/s1600/CD_11754_96849_m0057545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtKhxC910lWPe1oGxvj6d-KOExyCFBiyfo5SHzvdFcmhgHCL6U1_ajsqBebijWCupYjBkdXKi7gK-FfdOKHNKNMMnVOUd9UwbmocMGGxjodf8KTAnuZmD0OKA6Re40uadhiOyYt4ZL40/s400/CD_11754_96849_m0057545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema, Focusing Forward<br />
Image by GreatDanePhotos Copyright 2010 (www.greatdanephotos.com) used with permission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As I sit here tonight with the new year just hours away, I feel like I'm sitting at the start line with my life out ahead of me. I'm focused forward, looking out ahead at all the possibilities the future beholds. It's always fun to feel like starting over with a clean slate. A brand new "run" is starting and expectations are high. I can feel the excitement of what the new year will bring and I know that there will be potential "off courses" as I navigate my way through my 2011 course. These off courses provide me with extra incentive to put my attention back on the things that are wanted in my life.When I cross that finish line at the end of 2011, will it be a perfect run with no refusals, wrong courses, or failures? I doubt it. But, just like my dogs, I plan on still finding joy in my performance rather than dwelling on any of the imperfections of my 2011 "run".<br />
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My goals for 2011 are simple. Feel good.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdXLVGi0A8Eaeqc8Jea7MYfGD0Z4nl-69bnuqjXurbqnbKwdZ6KZyEs_3vNDncTdxdLufyJx5fves3PT2AiNrRi5sJsyQPlKzFPUD7R-IE0eL8JdFAW9nZqJCgKlpvAm5gwd6LEODvZc/s1600/MC900222914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdXLVGi0A8Eaeqc8Jea7MYfGD0Z4nl-69bnuqjXurbqnbKwdZ6KZyEs_3vNDncTdxdLufyJx5fves3PT2AiNrRi5sJsyQPlKzFPUD7R-IE0eL8JdFAW9nZqJCgKlpvAm5gwd6LEODvZc/s1600/MC900222914.jpg" /></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-35125934193184584312010-12-26T10:47:00.000-06:002010-12-26T10:47:21.775-06:00Nothing Better Than Nothing on BirthdaysDay after Christmas - as most people know it, it is craziness at the stories as after Christmas sales start and the masses go out to get a good deal or to return or gifts. This day for me is so much different as it's a day of peace and tranquility. I was born the day after Christmas and I really disliked having a birthday that day when I was growing up. Now, I can't imagine having a better one as an adult. I was no different than most kids in that the things that were the most important to me at that time were the presents and the attention I got from everyone. Because most of my presents from my friends were combined (Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas) and I saw no one but my family on my birthday, I felt that I had "less" of a birthday than most others.<div><br />
</div><div>Looking back, now, those were only the years from when I was in elementary school and high school. When I was in college, I started to feel differently about my birthday as I started to appreciate different things in my life - my family, my dogs (yes, I had dogs and horses throughout my life).</div><div><br />
</div><div>What I love about my birthday now is that nothing is expected (Tom and I don't exchange gifts for Christmas or birthdays anymore) and the day is open to do anything on the spur of the moment. I woke up this morning after spending Christmas Day with my parents and my sister and youngest brother's families. Such wonderful kids - all so different, and so talented in different ways. They all play competitive sports and all excel in school and I just love them all and enjoy seeing them maturing in their own way. What a great day we had eating good food (love my Mom's spaghetti - NO ONE makes it like she does) as well as many other side dishes made by everyone.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Going from a day of so much busyness into a day like today with so much peace and quiet is the ultimate of balancing for me. I love my time alone with my dogs and Tom and not having to be anywhere. I woke up today to a day with sunny skies and warm temps (relative to December in Minnesota - maybe not to other parts of the country) and the smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen. Then after feeding the dogs breakfast, and checking in on Facebook, I see so many people taking the time to post to my wall, wishing me a Happy Birthday. Facebook is such a great community with support, well wishes, and those birthday wishes are really special to everyone that has experienced them.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now, what to do for the day? I love not having a plan. Some of my fondest childhood memories are spent with my family and making decisions on the fly. As a family, we enjoyed doing things on the spur of the moment - like the time our family was driving back from Colorado visiting my grandparents and we came to a split in the road - home or Yellowstone? We all decided Yellowstone and my Dad just immediately veered off to the west. Other memories are when our family would take drives out into the country after Mass on Sundays. Dad would go driving further out in the country with the intent of getting completely lost on the back roads and then trying to find our way home (no GPS devices at that time). We always enjoyed the beautiful countrysides and as time went along, it was harder and harder to get ourselves lost.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, a day of nothing-ness or a day filled with just doing whatever I want to on the spur of the moment. That is just the ultimate for me. I won't know what this day brings until it's over. Just the way I like it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I hope you enjoy your day after Christmas as much as I plan on enjoying it.</div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-47535819157938182482010-12-21T12:18:00.000-06:002010-12-21T12:18:44.856-06:00Change The Channel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_hKtOCtFbyGMqEKsxyKs49lD0hRcl2VZBDxD_mLn68x_anY1Rp0mAm8CoJnaAJG4t-bO__Me9KUZYvSqt16fZHe5SiGmPw6mNhiPWVdUyAtF8r59tReBQh76Ysneu2VmwSr8CnhdxE8/s1600/RemoteControl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_hKtOCtFbyGMqEKsxyKs49lD0hRcl2VZBDxD_mLn68x_anY1Rp0mAm8CoJnaAJG4t-bO__Me9KUZYvSqt16fZHe5SiGmPw6mNhiPWVdUyAtF8r59tReBQh76Ysneu2VmwSr8CnhdxE8/s320/RemoteControl.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Have you ever seen someone alone in front of the television set intently watching something that they were not enjoying at all? Usually what happens is if the person isn't enjoying what is currently being broadcast on that channel, they are quick to change the channel in the hopes of finding another program that is more interesting. In fact, many times there can be lots of channel changing in the hopes of finding something more entertaining.<br />
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It's interesting to me that most people will not "change the channel" when they going about their daily lives and notice something that bothers them. Instead of just thinking about something else or trying to see it differently or even just settling on allowing a difference of opinion, the subject is pointed out, dissected, obsessed over, talked about in multiple conversations, and further dramatized. This actually does nothing, except make everyone that is involved feel badly.<br />
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I used to do the same thing and what I found was that talking about it and obsessing about all the wrongs and horrific actions only made me feel worse. I only felt better when I eventually forgot about the subject and nothing that I ever did while focusing on it, solved the perceived "problem". What I challenge myself to do now, is to not look at the things I know are going to bother me. Some people are going to think I'm just putting my head into the sand and I'm okay with that because I actually feel much better doing things this way. If there is a "horrific" video posted on Facebook, I won't watch it. If there are articles posted about animal abuse or child abuse or any other emotional triggers, I won't read them. If someone is in trouble or needs support, I will focus on the positives in order to be there for them. I know that there is far more good and positive things out there in the real world, than negative and I try to remain focused on that. And when something negative comes into my life, it will eventually lead to something positive anyway...it always does. <br />
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I stopped watching television many years ago because most of what is broadcast is primarily with the intent of creating drama. Drama tends to draw the "nosy" side of people with emotions about that story. That causes more talk, more finger pointing, more videos, more blogs, and more follow-up stories and discussions, rarely making anyone feel better.<br />
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Oh, I still find myself occasionally falling into my own trap of obsessing on something negative, but I am getting better at quickly figuring out a way to "change the channel". Dogs are very good at changing channels as they will focus on something good (good sniffs, running away/doing zoomies, etc) when they find that something is stressing them or bothering them. They are masters at finding positives or reinforcers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB37tA_V8uvxnBpa9U7vD-gikeTGdLzlYturGXTdVDUbapZiC2CTraTPe_KC-IAvvOxvdFeyH2d0gpoK0-fiNZKSdFrcnZH-MyTqRkE4otTap4Nq2wyj-UwwzzOV9N_v48Q5qqHr5FNA/s1600/MM900041058.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB37tA_V8uvxnBpa9U7vD-gikeTGdLzlYturGXTdVDUbapZiC2CTraTPe_KC-IAvvOxvdFeyH2d0gpoK0-fiNZKSdFrcnZH-MyTqRkE4otTap4Nq2wyj-UwwzzOV9N_v48Q5qqHr5FNA/s1600/MM900041058.GIF" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jv5ko-2k806m3S00qlzIcRDlUED8DrwvKY_mnwx5r15Teyn6FL3DCq7imySP0qX6bfd6sIFlVQWrXqRBrrFFVmrz5AhZMwW0CmaNDPa7kFUxv4q0FZAsWDVW0Y6mZpQw2I4_VggHEm8/s1600/MM900041056.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jv5ko-2k806m3S00qlzIcRDlUED8DrwvKY_mnwx5r15Teyn6FL3DCq7imySP0qX6bfd6sIFlVQWrXqRBrrFFVmrz5AhZMwW0CmaNDPa7kFUxv4q0FZAsWDVW0Y6mZpQw2I4_VggHEm8/s1600/MM900041056.GIF" /></a>To take this a step further, sometimes drama is personally created by trying to blame or point the finger at someone else for something that has happened that bothers or irritates us. "S/he made me so mad" is a very common statement that precedes a story that has seemingly put us at a disadvantage or in a position of having someone else causing us some kind of negative situation. If you are very honest about it, when you are mad at someone else it is never caused by that person. It's something that you have allowed to bother you and it's just more convenient to put the blame on someone else for that wrong. "He cut me off in traffic, that made me so mad", well why are you mad? He's now in front of you instead of tailgating behind you....or maybe there was an emergency...or even being more honest, have you ever unintentionally done that to someone else when you were in a hurry and then regretted it? Or are you just upset that someone else is just going faster than you are able to go? These are the incidents that can really test your commitment to be empowered to control the way you look at things. People simply can not make you upset, if you just don't allow them to - that is totally under your own control and when you realize that, it is very enlightening.<br />
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No one is perfect and we all make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and apply what we've learned to improve our lives. That's what it's all about - it's not our jobs to try and change other people - that is useless wasted negative energy and an impossible task. <br />
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What are my goals for 2011? My goals are to continue to allow people the right to have a difference of opinion, continue to find opportunities to "change the channel" when drama appears to be present, and just continue to try and find ways to feel gratitude and enjoyment in 2011. These are goals I know I can achieve and they will bring about endless good things in the year to come.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-61581484913934455512010-11-13T23:36:00.000-06:002010-11-13T23:36:03.493-06:00Puppy Play, Socialization, and ConfinementLots people are getting puppies lately. One of the questions people will ask me is where they can find a good puppy socialization class where there is puppy play time. While I am sure there are wonderful classes with puppy play time and instructors that are careful to ensure that the size and age are equal as well as the personalities (no bullies), I would never personally put any of my young dogs in a class or place where puppies are allowed to play as part of the class. I'm not trying to say that these classes are bad or wrong. I just don't like them for my own dogs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgS0JcUUOu26QNvNFDpBC1bqbTsJm7J4t5YkklXYWMdwV07qLX2d_6tpmmX_gM-kz8-V-DKpKJGP2PwtbJlML_jKBsANcK75xuuqTLlFhnjGdJXuZ5-MM4DT_pya66P1_eDa6po3uZkiI/s1600/Bringing-Gimmick-home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgS0JcUUOu26QNvNFDpBC1bqbTsJm7J4t5YkklXYWMdwV07qLX2d_6tpmmX_gM-kz8-V-DKpKJGP2PwtbJlML_jKBsANcK75xuuqTLlFhnjGdJXuZ5-MM4DT_pya66P1_eDa6po3uZkiI/s320/Bringing-Gimmick-home.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bringing Gimmick home from Advance, NC<br />
and Denise Wall's farm<br />
(photo take by Denise Wall)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When I get a new puppy, I want them to bond with me. Before they come home with me and they are in the litter, they find reinforcement from playing with the other puppies and if you have a wonderful breeder, like I do, they get lots of interaction from her (or him) as well. However, that being said, when a new puppy comes into my life, I want them to learn that all the fun and reinforcements are coming from me - not from other dogs. Since my dogs are not only my pets, they are future performance dogs, I want to ensure that I am not allowing them to further associate other dogs as a source of reinforcement or pleasure. Some dogs, like my young dog Schema, have so much prey drive and are highly stimulated by motion that if I would have given her more access to running and chasing other dogs as a young dog, her focus would have been almost unmanageable now. I understand that many people use these puppy play time sessions to exercise and tire the puppies. But again, I feel that its in my puppy's better interest to have me exercise them - mentally and physically. It might be more of an inconvenience by some (I actually enjoy training and playing with puppies), but the pay off down the road is priceless. With me exercising my young dogs, I can continue to train and reward and build a great relationship. And they grow to look to me as the source of excitement and adventure in their lives.<br />
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In terms of socialization, I believe that I am the best person to properly provide those experiences for my puppies (not other dogs or puppies) and give them the best exposure to life. I can monitor and control their behavior by rewarding them for things I want repeated and distracting them or removing them when there are unwanted behaviors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJejC_bAFV8glK0QTxw3cirk6BhyEaGiDtuHLdj4POtMeeFJRLGneAANqM6GBQZ3UStzv-xyBbPWK7Hg_bMtxzWB8LXXBk_Vs8YYQpenN4pFGBldOX2Fp84Sr33aNAi1wS-_tjohelZ4I/s1600/Reason_2_Oct99.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJejC_bAFV8glK0QTxw3cirk6BhyEaGiDtuHLdj4POtMeeFJRLGneAANqM6GBQZ3UStzv-xyBbPWK7Hg_bMtxzWB8LXXBk_Vs8YYQpenN4pFGBldOX2Fp84Sr33aNAi1wS-_tjohelZ4I/s320/Reason_2_Oct99.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reason at 9 weeks of age</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Some people have had or currently have dogs that have been dog aggressive or are just highly stimulated by the presences of dogs and they don't want to have the same situation happen with their new puppy. But by putting your puppy into a puppy play socialization class, doesn't guarantee that they will learn to deal better with dogs. They can still have a bad experience and still end up with fear issues. Most dog aggression is fear based and I believe that I can minimize and prevent fear issues with my own training and proper exposure to people, dogs, places, and various environments. Also I believe fear issues or behavior issues can be aggravated by the owner's reaction to how the puppy reacts to something and so I feel it is more important for me - as the puppy's leader - to build trust by controlling those situations as much as possible. Puppy play sessions are not controlled enough - at least for my own liking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDN1vjtz0qY5glXTWoLYJXnOQVLcEtUpzCvQwfQKQuFfE5sF-Xhkhh4frqX_yJR_H8IoJDzAwZexn2fwq4xm69cef96WetA3kVcW0eDxTJuuC4W5MPqRYo72lkInEOYY1DOrLttlT29o/s1600/Score-6wks2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDN1vjtz0qY5glXTWoLYJXnOQVLcEtUpzCvQwfQKQuFfE5sF-Xhkhh4frqX_yJR_H8IoJDzAwZexn2fwq4xm69cef96WetA3kVcW0eDxTJuuC4W5MPqRYo72lkInEOYY1DOrLttlT29o/s320/Score-6wks2.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I am also very careful to not let my puppies run with my older dogs (for the sake of them getting hurt, as their bodies and bones are not yet done growing). Even my adult dogs that are good with puppies are not allowed much time together with the puppy and when they are I am there supervising. Depending on the puppy and how much they are interested in the other dogs, I might start allowing them some time together outside to play, while I am watching. But by then, I know they have a reliable recall. If it appears that my young dogs are ignoring my commands to recall away from the activities or they are being too "doggie", they will lose their privileges. I do not want them to be practicing bad habits of ignoring me or my commands.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpURuT1fZwbYtWMkBbytbSJFqhmXUTvKx0aRDUvLyJbnBg1u4ukvmKFRc_SvafCe-EPS5l3bOse3Ixb1MDT-WMho-1vHSC_gCPeoLMVgPKtiNAO8azNZP_ymbpNwu4xKFG3cSGkUP-5bI/s1600/ReasAndTackOnBed-TeaserFrustrated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpURuT1fZwbYtWMkBbytbSJFqhmXUTvKx0aRDUvLyJbnBg1u4ukvmKFRc_SvafCe-EPS5l3bOse3Ixb1MDT-WMho-1vHSC_gCPeoLMVgPKtiNAO8azNZP_ymbpNwu4xKFG3cSGkUP-5bI/s320/ReasAndTackOnBed-TeaserFrustrated.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tack and Reason on the bed<br />
Teaser on the floor next to the xpen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I like to use an exercise pen (xpen) in the house and motels to keep my young dogs separate from my older dogs. This helps the adjustment between the young and old, helps me to be able to do things in the house and not have to worry about my pup getting into something they shouldn't, and also prevents the pup and the dogs from too much interaction at the start.<br />
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In the house or in the motels, I never let my dogs rough house or wrestle or run through the rooms. Many accidents happen indoors and usually when the dogs are tired and just running amok. My young dogs seem to get very active and tend to run wild the most around bedtime - usually 9:30. When they start running like that, they are removed and put back into their xpen. Almost immediately after being confined, they fall fast asleep. This running amok is very similar to what happens with the Border Collies when they are adolescents and are being worked on stock. If they are mentally exhausted (due to the difficult demands and tense pressure situations that stock training involves), they will start doing the same thing - running hard, but with very little thought. That is the time to quit as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM43CScAl_IZVF9i_pxb_dfJQE_YSnbfetutuvh-LMWdO5uaPY6toNidKLVwtm-3gshQ468NCLj806UKbHb9Xio9DlPaLXlOmgXEjZEv5W0A3Mb_XZ1y3oA3i1E3gfqDF62ptqC5Vhng/s1600/IMG_3768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM43CScAl_IZVF9i_pxb_dfJQE_YSnbfetutuvh-LMWdO5uaPY6toNidKLVwtm-3gshQ468NCLj806UKbHb9Xio9DlPaLXlOmgXEjZEv5W0A3Mb_XZ1y3oA3i1E3gfqDF62ptqC5Vhng/s320/IMG_3768.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schema</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As my puppy grows up, they are allowed more and more privileges and will be allowed gradual increased freedom. I am also quick to take away privileges and freedom I start to see behavior issues or changes. But my dogs spend most of their puppy hood and adolescent time in an xpen when I am not around or I am busy and unable to watch them. Lots of very good dog trainers struggle with young dogs getting into trouble chewing unwanted items, getting into unwanted areas, eating things they shouldn't eat, grabbing food off of counters and many other bad behaviors because the dog is not constantly supervised. I'm always surprised that performance people are resistant to using more confinement and structured separation with their dogs to minimize these unwanted situations. Because my puppies and adolescents are raised by being confined in an xpen when they are not being supervised, they learn to relax and when they are out they learn to interact with me or just hang out with me. They do not go off looking for trouble (if they do, they lose their privilege of freedom).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b7aQ9EYHqedqLGJDAdO2GtPRJYCYVelHGeJQuOrRvx8htmbqswx5qA4Czl3HJiPBVEhmOZSTg3PK_EiGsD-oIOEL-qYQyjQMYwfenZ_IsjQp7sCZFCoqzk-C-aaCKNzExkFD4qP68IM/s1600/MVC-001F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b7aQ9EYHqedqLGJDAdO2GtPRJYCYVelHGeJQuOrRvx8htmbqswx5qA4Czl3HJiPBVEhmOZSTg3PK_EiGsD-oIOEL-qYQyjQMYwfenZ_IsjQp7sCZFCoqzk-C-aaCKNzExkFD4qP68IM/s320/MVC-001F.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score at 14 weeks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I love puppies and I thoroughly enjoy training, playing, and interacting with puppies. They are as bundles of pure energy and enthusiasm. They are empty pages of a future novel that we will write together as we share a very special journey.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-671225743082014554.post-20901577725890748872010-10-27T15:17:00.000-05:002010-10-27T15:17:13.296-05:00If You've Never Failed, You've Never Lived<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RmTxr7OsPj0?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RmTxr7OsPj0?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15198575841113168249noreply@blogger.com1