Dog.Nerd.101

Saying Good Bye

2012-02-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

I have tried to sit down and write this post more times than I can even count. My heart has ached in many ways over the last three months. For awhile, I was not sure if I could even come back to this blog, as it was a constant reminder of all of the things that I seem to have lost since November 23, 2011. That day will forever be etched in my memory. I can still see, hear, smell and feel what I was feeling at around 8:00 pm on that horrific night. Time has dulled the intensity and veracity of those memories, but they are still there and will likely remain for ever.

Such is the way with trauma. When we experience a traumatic event, such that rips through our heart and soul and leaves us feeling as though we are lying in pieces on the floor, our lungs screaming for air, our minds screaming in denial and our voices literally echoing in anguish throughout the house, we never really forget. I will never forget. My family members who were with me that night will never forget. My sister who laid in bed with me that night crying until the sun rose the next day, will never forget. My friends who prayed for me, and called me, and sat with me on the couch on Christmas Eve crying over the wrong-ness of it all, will never forget. On that day, November 23, 2011, I got one of the worst phone calls of my entire life. Without reliving all of the details now, I can just say that on that night, I learned that Griff was gone. In a horrible, terrible accident, he quickly left this earthly plane and went to the rainbow bridge, where he has now watched over me from a place far away.

Even now, three months later, it is hard to write this without having my eyes well up with tears and getting a painful clenching feeling in my chest As time as passed, I have learned not to judge myself for feeling these feelings so acutely, and just notice them and let them be what they will be. I have, in part, avoided writing this post because I knew it would be so difficult to do so. I have started a tribute video of Griff, but that too, has remained unfinished for now. Again, I try to remind myself not to judge myself, and let it be. To remind myself that grieving is different for everyone, and when I'm ready to see videos of him again, I will. There is one video that I have watched of him, and its on of the very first ones I took of him, from when he was just a baby, baby Griff. His joyful enthusiasm still brings a smile to my face.

In the meantime, there are other things brought me comfort, mostly my amazing friends and family, the mudi community and the larger dog community that have been so supportive. Here's a great example... two weeks after I lost Griff, I was supposed to race with him in his first ever scooter race. We had been training for a few months but of course, we never had our chance to do that. A friend of mine, who was also running in the race with her dogs, let Griff "run his race" with her team. Check out this awesome video... notice the stuffed animal on her handle bars. Griff-ster got to run his race in spirit. This was one of the more difficult days, but trying to focus on the tribute we got to pay him helped me through it.

Griff was a once in a life time kind of dog. I think one of the biggest things that has helped me with this process, is to remember that even though Griff isn't with me physically anymore, the memories I have of him will be with me forever. He taught me way more than I ever even knew I needed to know. I will never forget when I first got him... and within hours (literally, just hours) I realized that I had a serious project on my hands. I was terrified thinking about how unprepared I felt to give him what he needed and help him overcome his challenges.

This blog started because I needed help. I had just moved from NYC where I had a great network of dog savvy friends, coaches and mentors, loved who I was training with, and then I was plopped in Central PA with almost zero connections to the dog world and no where to turn. I though that if I essentially "journaled" our journey together, I might be able to learn enough to help Griff have a happy, fulfilled life. In truth, he probably gave me way more than I ever gave him. I will save the "Life Lessons from Griff" post for another day (surely there is a word limit to these posts?) but suffice it to say, there isn't a day that go by that I don't feel his presence and experience meaning in all that he brought to my life. His time with me may have been short, but his impact will be felt for years and year to come.

I have experienced an unbelievable range of emotions over the last three months and four days. From anguish, anger, sorrow and despair to emptiness, defeat and sadness. At times, I have also felt joy and happiness. More recently, I have begun to feel hope. Hope that there is truth in the old adage that when one door closes, another opens; hope that the daily pain would subside, hope that the hole left in my heart and home from Griff's departure, might not be filled, but rather find a new spot in another corner. That the new hope will take residence in a corner of my heart and slowly expand and grow, and one day I will be able to look back and find peace in the fact that I have love and lost, but still I walk on.

As I write this post, and the tears inevitably well up and I feel shortness of breathe, one of those new signs of hope for the future, perks her head up from a deep, well exercised sleep, and presses her soft nose onto my keyboard, as if she somehow knows the significance of her coming. In just the last twenty four hours, Sophia and I have have welcomed a new addition into our lives and in some ways, her coming has helped me take this next step forward, and come home to DogNerd. She will have her own blog debut in a little while, but for now, I will take pleasure in getting to know her on my own.

Grief is a tricky thing... it is kind of like the wind. It comes and goes at its own will, and often when you least expect it. It can be a raging, hurricane gale force that is beating down on you relentlessly, or it can be a soft summer wind that wraps you in joyful memories. As I take this next step in my own life journey, I have hope for the future. Hope that there will be more days of that soft summer wind, but also know that when the storms do come, I can say with the knowledge of experience, that this too will pass.

It goes without saying, but will be said anyway, that I want to thank all of my friends and family who have walked with me on this journey. I could not have done it without you. You know who you are, thank you.

This poem really tells the story, and was sent to my by a fellow dog lover a few days after I lost Griff. It is taped on my refrigerator:

From time to time, people tell me,
"lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."
They don't understand the distance traveled,
the time spent, or the costs involved for
"just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come about with
"just a dog."
Many hours have passed and my only company was
"just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by
"just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness,
the gentle touch of "just a dog"
gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog,"
then you will probably understand phases
like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or
"just a promise."
"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence
of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and
patience that make me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" I will rise early,
take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog"
but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams
of the future, the fond memories of the past,
and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and
diverts my thoughts away from myself and the
worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that
it's not "just a dog"
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps
me from being "just a man."
So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog."
just smile, because they "just don't understand."

Sandra Dee Adopted Shepherd Mix, Born May 2004.

Herding Dog Turned Sled Dog... Check out Griff's new sport!

2011-11-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

Griff and I have been dabbling for awhile in an awesome new sport, and we are BOTH really digging it! Griff is on his way to becoming a full fledged, herding dog turned sled dog!

But before I go further, let me back up a bit and tell you how this adventure really began. Last year, in the dead of winter, I had a VERY active, VERY intense 9 month old puppy on my hands, who was not a fan of being cooped up during snow storm after snow storm. I had to get really creative with ways to exercise him. Out of pure desperation one evening (we're talking 11 pm here) I whipped out my crappy little razor scooter, tied a leash around the handlebars and hooked the other end to mudi man's harness... and off we went! In under 15 minutes, I was able to wear him out and get him good and tired. My razor scooter was a perfect for those times when I was coming home from work, was writing for 5-6 hours in an attempt to complete my dissertation, and simply wasn't getting him the exercise he needed.

This "genius" razor scooter plan worked for about a month...until one fateful evening, again after my mind was foggy and groggy from dissertation writing, when I hooked him up for a quick run around the block. Midway through our run, something pretty scary happened. In the dark of night, with no lights, I hit a stick and flipped the scooter. I splatted on the pavement, fell flat on my chest and totally had the wind knocked out of me. I remember laying in the middle of the street for what felt like 10 minutes (more like 40 seconds) wondering what the heck had happened. Griff quickly realized something was wrong and came trotting back to me, dragging the clinky, clanky scooter behind him. He sat right by my head, then faithfully laid down next to me, while I went through the process of checking to make sure there were no broken bones and slowly pulling myself upright. I was so scared I didn't even realize how bad it was until I got home. My ski pants were ripped, I had road rash on my hip, and according to my doctor, I probably chipped or fractured my elbow. Yikes! The bruising alone took a good four to six weeks to settle down. Needless to say, the razor scooter went away and I found other ways to keep Griff and I happy and active over the spring and summer.

Needless to say, after that "adventure" the sled dog idea went dormant for awhile, but I was still pretty intrigued with this idea of dryland mushing. I decided I needed to do some more research and homework before venturing back into this arena. I started reading blogs on sled dogs, competitive dryland mushing, canicross and all other sports that use a harness and have man (ahem, woman) and dog working together. I researched different scooters, and finally was able to make a big upgrade from the razor. My new scooter, the Diggler Dirt Dawg, rocks! I also researched harnesses and decided to go with a traditional x-back harness. We have been working with Amy at Mountain Ridge Kennel up in Maine. You can check out our harness fitting video below. Proper fit on the harness is critical, because if the harness doesn't fit, it can restrict movement and irritate or rub the skin. To start, Amy sent us the smallest stock harness she had, just to see if it might work. After taking measurements though and getting the harness, we realized it was just to small in some places and too big in others. She did note, "Boy he is pretty small." I think compared to most "sled dogs" Griff is much more compact in stature.

Our new scooter came in about a month ago, and we have been scooting around NON-STOP! According to my odometer, we already have 50 miles on the scooter. We are doing anywhere between 2-4 miles a day, three to four days a week. On the weekends, we do longer rides. This past weekend we hit our longest distance at 4.79 miles. Our time to complete was 34.17 minutes and our average mph was 8.3, with our max mph at 19.5! We have hit over 20 mph at times, and yesterday, on flat surface, his average mph was 10.0. I think I'll let the video speak for itself. It is just plain old FUN and you have to see it to believe it!

I will tell you that there is a whole world of competitive dry land mushing and Griff and I will be entering our first race, the Fair Hill Challenge in the mid-December! This is a 3.5 mile race on hard, dirt packed trails. We will continue with our conditioning and training regime until we get closer to race day. Right now, we are training on flat pavement, and have not yet made the switch in surfaces. Once we do that, I'll have a better sense of where he stands in terms of preparation. I am even trying to convince my friend Amy, from "Amiable Animals Blog" with her two BC's Arthur and Dally to come down to Maryland for the race! Amy is actually partnering with our buddies at Peace Pup Dog Sledding (this is where Amy got her gear and her lessons, and where I got the heads up on some of the gear resources) are hosting a "Scooter Workshop" on Sunday, November 20 from 9:30am - 12:30pm up at Sugarbush Farm in Stephentown, NY.

There is one other really, really important thing to mention in terms of training and conditioning. It is critically important that you consult with your vet with regards to your individual dogs health and suitability for this sport. Griff was evaluated at 10 months of age by Christine Zink, DVM who provided a full structural analysis and discussed future training plans, which included her recommendation for when we could begin weight bearing activity.With her blessing, Griff and I have taken to our new sport like fish to water! We love it!

First National Mudi Specialty.... Lots of Snow and an Escape Artist!

2011-11-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a historical one for the Mudi community! The Mudi Club of America hosted the very first National Mudi Specialty in the United States! Last year was my very time attending, but for the last nine years, Mudi lovers have been gathering at an annual Mudi Picnic somewhere along the Eastern sea board. For the past four or five years, the event has been hosted in Connecticut. The first Mudi meeting, nine years ago, had just a handful of people and four of five mudis. This year, we had over twenty people and, by my count, twenty-six mudi's! We had attendees travel as far as Oregon, Ohio and Canada! Boy, that must be doggy love. It was quite a sight to see! As one of our guests noted... dealing with the "Happy Border Man" (read sarcasm here...) from Canada to the US was worth the trip all on its own. Besides good food (we do a potluck every year, and every one brings their favorite regional dish) and great company, we have some awesome doggy activities.

This year (as in years past) there has been an agility fun match and the infamous "Fastest Mudi Race." In addition to both of these this year we also had a Fun Confirmation Match with AKC Judges. Griff and I (and Soph too!) had a blast and it was so much fun to spend the weekend with a great group of like minded people! We participated in the Mudi Races and Fun Agility Match. We just played around with agility and used it as a great practice opportunity, but in the Fastest Mudi Race, Griff was a real contender! He came in THIRD out of 20+ dogs! I was so proud of him! It's basically a sudden death dual match set up. Two dogs race each other and the loser is knocked out and the winner advances to the next round. He made it all the way to the semi-finals! The dog he lost to in the semi-finals is a nine year old female from Canada, who is the defending champion. The last time she (Trevi) was at the Mudi Picnic she won the Fastest Mudi Race! The dog that beat Trevi in the finals, was Matra (the Mudi that made me FALL IN LOVE with Mudi's) and he is the FOUR YEAR DEFENDING CHAMPION! Woo hoo, congratulations to Kris Seiter and her awesome Mudi man, Matra.

Now, after all of that, one might think that the fun of the mudi weekend ended there. But alas, no, the story is not over. If you watched the video... you might notice that in the span of a short 20 minutes the SNOW came barreling down. Shortly after the races, we moved indoors for agility. We also had our annual meeting. In the hour that it took for agility and our meeting, the light dusting outside had become a solid 6-8 inches! Shortly after that... the power in the facility went out! Yikes, at that point, we figured we better hurry up and get back to the hotel. The short 3 mile drive back to the hotel seemed like much longer, and it was actually pretty scary driving in those conditions. The snow was coming down in buckets, traffic lights were out, and tree limbs were falling left and right! Lucky us, when we got back to the hotel... we found that ALL the power in the hotel was out! No lights and pretty cold! Luckily, one of our new mudi friends (Welcome to the Mudi crew Alecia :) Can't wait to meet your new addition) was in a room that had a fire place and a whole bunch of us holed up in her room with a toasty fire, lots of good left over potluck food and some great wine. Ah, happy tired dogs, long day, good wine and food, and we were all ready for bed. So all was good and well...

...Until around 11pm a police officer knocked on our door. Imagine my surprise when he inquired, "Is there a Kirby Wycoff in here...?" "Um, yes, that's me, why?" He went on to inform me that my hotel room (which is really a motel where the doors open right up to the outside) is WIDE open and the dogs are all gone! Ah, I moved faster and jumped higher than I think I ever have before! WHAT?!?! He and his fellow officers went on to tell me that the "little white one" was standing right by the steps waiting for a rescue... but the "other thing" is out running around like a wild man, barking at us and won't come anywhere near. The male officer went on to say "I tried to catch him, but he is really, really fast!" (Um, yea no shit buddy, you do NOT run after a scared, FAST dog...or any dog for that matter.)

My mudi buddies strapped on their boots and followed me out into the blizzard to find Griff. I would be lying if I didn't say that I was very close to pure panic thinking of Griff-ster out there in the freezing cold, scared and all alone. I was kicking myself in the pants for having taken off his collar right before I left the hotel room... Crap, he is out there with NO identification! We all had flashlights, it was pitch black out... my heart was racing. After about 10 minutes of calling for him, I thought I spotted a mudi silhouette about a quarter mile away. He was clearly unsure if it was safe to come out, but he did recognize my voice. As as soon as he knew for certain it was me, he came barrelling towards me like a mac truck! He jumped on me, knocked me over and was licking my face, totally besides himself! I swear he was saying "stupid human, always getting lost on me!!!"

Whew, what a close call! We figured out that Griff had literally opened the hotel door and come to find me. I didn't have them in crates (I usually crate them in the car, but it was too cold) so I figured they were fine in the hotel room. Neither of my dogs have separation anxiety and if they are fed, happy and well exercised, they are usually just fine. Clearly Griff wasn't sure if I was fine, and decided to press the lever door and open it right up! I swear... sometimes (ehhh... often) these dogs are ENTIRELY too smart for their own good! Close call, chalk it up to a great learning experience. I don't think my heart stopped pounding until the next morning! All in all a fantastic and very memorable First National Mudi Specialty! It will be VERY hard for the next Mudi Picnic to top this one!

Sophia's New Title and A Serious Case of The Zoomies!

2011-10-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

Sophia and I had a fantastic weekend at the AKC Trial this past weekend! It was at an awesome site and it is literally right around the corner from where I live. We got to sleep in "late" and didn't have to deal with the driving or motels! Plus, the closer the trials are to home, the cheaper they are! Love it. We also got to hang out with some other mudi people and see the little spit fire Evie run. I think Griff has a new best buddy, but I'll save that for another post! The best part of this weekend though was that Sophia got her very first AKC Agility Title! She got her Novice Agility Title, because on Saturday we got her last leg of Novice Standard. We then got to play in Open Standard on Sunday, where she Q'ed again! Woo hoo, Sophia I were grooving on Saturday and having a blast. We were communicating well and just having our selves a good 'ole time! We even got an awesome compliment from someone who came up to me after our Novice FAST class on Saturday and said "That Bichon is just a lovely little worker! Wow! My friends and I were just talking and we were saying that there is no way that dog and handler are in Novice, they must be racking it up in another venue!" I said "Nope! We just haven't trialed in awhile, but thanks for that amazing compliment!" Of course, proud little owner that I was, I was beaming :) My mom and dad even came to the trial and got to see our last run of the day and Soph did me proud again.

We went home Saturday feeling just peachy and came out on Sunday raring to go. I was thinking if we can just get another FAST title, we will move into Open FAST too! Well, boy did I get ahead of myself! HA! Joke was on ME.... because my little turkey of a Bichon decided on that first run on Sunday, that agility could be played without the handler! In fact, she planned on just racking up points all on her own... without me at all. She totally blew me off and got a serious case of the zoomies. I truly do not think these were stress induced zoomies (trust me, we've had lots of those in our day) but this to me was just PURE FUN for her! Ugh, so naughty. But good lesson for me in eating some humble pie! My goal after that was just to get back on track and working as a team for the remainder of the day on Sunday. I modified my pre-run routine to keep her more focused and in tune. The run right after that was a slow and steady run in our Open Standard, and she did end up Q'ing and actually winning the class. It was slower than I know she can run, but it was more important to start and end as a team, than press for speed. We ended the day on a nice Jumpers run and getting another Q. Lot's of take away messages from this weekend. What a great learning opportunity for both of us!Enjoy the video, I'm sure you'll get a hoot out of the naughty Sophia stunt!

Sophia Rocks Her Come Back!

2011-10-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, Sophia and I made our agility trial "re-debut"! Because of my crazy work, dissertation, graduate school schedule, we had not trialed in over a year. We were both excited to get back into the swing of things, and had an awesome day at Keystone's USDAA Trial. Our first run was a Standard Run, and I think we were both equally nervous and excited! I totally missed the third jump of the course, but hey, no big deal! My biggest goal was to have fun and hit cruising altitudes and we did just that. The weave poles gave us some difficulty (we have to work on collecting for the poles and then staying in until the VERY end) but otherwise, Sophia did great. The next two classes were Snooker and Jumpers and we had a blast! We definitely were cruising along, and I am loving the new game plan, of talking less and running my lines more. I had a brain fart in the standard run, and did NOT stick with the game plan, but by the final two classes of the day, I was back on track. Not that surprisingly, my much improved handling in Snooker and Jumpers made a world of difference! She Q'ed and won both of those two classes! It was a gorgeous, sunny, fall weekend and a fantastic way to get back into the swing of things! Next we will be at the AKC trial out here at "In The Net" and I'm looking forward to another fun agility weekend!

Cynosport World Games 2011

2011-10-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

Cynosport World Games are in full swing out in Kentucky! I'll go ahead and throw out a lofty goal, but I hope that one day Soph and I can rock the 8inches out there.... and then Griff too some day! The Mudi is already making a name for itself out there as Kim Seiter and her mudi Nyalka rock and roll through the week. There is a great picture taken by Karen Moureaux, official Cynosport photographer. Kim and her sister Kris, and Kris's husband (also Chris) who competed in the team event, landed in the top 50 out of 174 teams with their amazing border collie team of Phoenix, Lochlan and War. Two years ago, Lochlan won a Life Time Achievement Award at Cynosport, and he was the very first Border Collie I got to run in agility. I would say the racing heart, adrenaline rush I got from working with Lochlan is what got me HOOKED on agility! The Seiter sisters are being followed by a new, furry, little 14-week old mudi named Minta, who Kim recently imported from Hungary! I hear she is a blast and already scheming about how SHE can make it into the ring at the Cynosport World Games! I have already bought the Live Feed (it's a steal at 15$) from CynoSport's Live Feed website and I love that the folks at USDAA make it so easy for all us to be a part of the action. For News check out the USDAA Facebook page, which just posted this: "Congratulations to our 2011 Performance Grand Prix 8" winners: 1st Letti and Shelley Permann, 2nd Eve and Janelle Julyan, 3rd Keegan and Cheryl Morris." and this: "Congratulations to our 2011 Performance Grand Prix 12" winners: 1st-Race & Laura Dolan 2nd Bruce & Laura Fearn 3rd Kaboo & Jennifer Crank. Up next, 16" class!" Will keep the updates coming! So much fun to watch the action live! Good Luck to all the great teams out there!** USDAA has a Twitter Feed running too with live updates: Their twitter name is CynoStaff.
October 14, 2011 - Cynosport World GamesSteve & Meeker advance to Steeplechase semi finals and Q in Team Standard with a use of a Ketscher.October 13, 2011 - Cynosport World GamesOctober 13, 2011 - Cynosport World GamesOctober 13, 2011 - Cynosport World Games

Mudi's at 2011 World Championships in Liévin, France

2011-10-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

Irhaberki Csmoto Kiki at 2011 World Championships in Liévin, France

There is some kick butt, stunning, amazing agility happening right now at the 2011 World Championships in Liévin, France. I always get the chills watching these handlers and dogs work together. Of course, I also have a special place in my heart for one of the most well-known Irhaberki Mudi's, Kiki! Irhaberki Csmoto Kiki and her handler, Martina Klimešová, from the Czech Republic, continue to do Boglar Toth and all of us Irhaberki Mudi people proud! Wow! Griff and Kiki share some common lineage (Irhaberki Gandalf Griffmadar) and whew, let me tell you, if he has a tenth of the talent Kiki does, I'll be thrilled! Last I heard, Kiki came in second in Medium Jumpers at World's! Pretty impressive. You can see two video's of her run (two different angles) above. I also included a clip of one of my most favorite international handlers, Silvia Trkman from Solvenia. Finally, I added a clip of another Mudi (Kormosvarii-Hajto Pletyka) at World's. Not one I know personally, but certainly a gorgeous performance that shows the unbelievable potential of these scrappy little dogs! Also, check out the clip of the USA Team in the Maxi division. Special thanks to Erika Kiss for tracking down the videos of the US Team and Kormosvarii-Hajto Pletyka in individual jumpers! *Also, how cool is this, one of the US Maxi handlers, Tori Self, is just NINETEEN YEARS OLD! Man oh man, she just graduated from High School! Wow! Thanks to fellow Mudi fancier Beth Bordchardt, who lives and trials down in Florida with Tori, for that tid bit of information!

*I also really enjoyed watching the weave pole performances of the mudi's versus the border collies. The mudi, standing in his natural stance, is much, much more upright structurally. I have been looking for a low, driving head set for weaving, but this is not really the mudi's natural movement. It IS a border collie's natural movement (to have a low head set in the weaves) but actually, in these videos, I see the mudi navigating the weaves in a more upright style. I guess I should just focus more on having Griff enter and stay in the poles, and let him figure out his style on his own. The upright, bouncing seems to work well for these Mudi!

Silvia Trkman at Agility Worlds - 2011

Kormosvarii-Hajto Pletyka (Mudi) in indiviidual jumpers

USA Team in Maxi Group at World's

4+2=6 Making the Jump from 4 to 6 Weave Poles

2011-10-05T05:43:00.000-07:00

4+2=6. A few weeks ago I got some great advice from you all about Griff's weave pole training. I had been working 4 poles for awhile, but the general consensus from all you guys was that I really should make the jump to 6 poles. Thanks to some encouraging from all of you, I bit the bullet and decided to go for it! Not sure why I was so nervous, I guess I just don't want to screw it up! I had so much difficulty teaching Sophia to weave (mostly because I had no clue what I was doing) and we tried at least four different methods, with little success. Again, I think all of the "changing methods" was our biggest problem. I ended up getting the most success with 2x2's for her, but Griff is really the first dog I am training, beginning to end, using the 2x2 method. On that note, just a comment on the 2x2 method itself. I have watched Susan's full 2x2 video... not gonna lie, it was a bit overwhelming. The general framework (successive approximation) made a lot of sense, but I think the specific strategies she uses to get there, were too complicated for me. What my Sophia journey taught me, is that if I don't know what the heck I am doing, I definitely won't be able to teach my dog what to do. So, my answer to this was to use Mary Ellen Barry's "twist" on the 2x2 method. So far, have to say, I am a HUGE fan! MEB wrote an article about her twist on the 2x2's in a Clean Run article awhile back, and I have used it as a road map on this journey. So far, so good. Here is the direct link for Mary Ellen's Twist on 2x2 Weave Pole Training which can be found at Clean Run for free.

These three videos show Griff and I making the move from 4 poles to 6 poles. I have to say, it went a little bit differently than I thought it would, and rather than getting stuck on the method, I responded to what he was giving me, and made some minor adjustments. I think the key with any "method" is flexibility, and in fact, same goes for treatment manuals. There is a ton of research supporting the idea that they (manualized treatments) have to be used with flexibility that responds to the client; if we get too tied down in methodology, we can miss the forest for the trees. As you see in these videos (which are shown chronologically, as we worked through things) the very first time I showed Griff a 4+2 pole set up (Video 1 - 9/28/11) he drove right ahead from the first set of two, to the four poles. I was a little flustered, because it wasn't what I was expecting. On the next attempt, I forced him to take a reward after the first two, and I think that was actually more confusing for him. In video 1, we continued to work this 4+2 set up with variable success. He started to stress out a bit when he started to get it wrong too many times in a row (there is a whole another conversation here about frustration tolerance and working through failure) and I had to back off a bit.

The very next time he saw weave poles, was the next day in a class setting. For 2-3 trials, he saw the 4+2 set up, and again it became obvious, that the whole space between the 4 and 2 poles, was just screwing with his rhythm. I kept having to stop him and give him a reinforcer (food) and I realized that that was counterproductive. I decided to just move the 4+2 set up into one full set of 6. MEB and others recommend a more gradual, incremental moving of the 2 poles, closer and closer to the 4 poles. But based on what I was getting back from Griff, I decided to modify things a bit. Video 2 - 9/29/11, shows a few of his attempts with all 6 poles, after I made that decision. All in all, I was pretty pumped with his performance there. Not only was it the first time he saw 6 poles, all together, but it was also in a class setting, which is typically more stressful for him.

Finally, the last video here is from 9/30/11 and it shows us working 6 poles, at home, the next day. I think here, you can see some regression, because he was not as consistent as he had been the day before, particularly when I started to vary entries. Again, I am always trying to be aware of his frustration tolerance and allowing him to problem solve. As a fellow blogger recently said, you have to give them room to get it wrong. Getting it wrong is how they figure out how to get it right. Any feedback would be great, will keep you guys posted as we continue on the weave pole journey!

Video 1 - 9/28/11

Video 2 - 9/29/11

Video 3 - 9/30/11

Shut Up and Run!

2011-10-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

Stop. No, really, I mean it, stop. Stop reading this. Step away from your computer. Stand up. Now lie down. On your stomach. Lie flat on your stomach. Prop your head up with your arms. Cross your arms under your head, like you would if you were going to take a nap. Now, while lying down, with your chin resting on your arms, look out in front of you. What do you see? I see the legs of my furniture. I see two dogs looking at me like I'm a crazy person.

See anything else? I do... I FINALLY see what Sophia see's when we are running agility (well, and the rest of the time as well.) She sees MY FEET. She doesn't see my arms (at least not in her natural, relaxed body positioning.) In order to see my hands, she has to crank her head up and stare straight up at the ceiling. Why then, do I do all my directing on the agility course from my arms and mouth? Hm, good question? I mean, naturally my feet are part of the equation, but my thoughtful, intentional instructions come from my arms and mouth. My feet are really an after thought. I think about where I am going, and how fast I am going there (motion) but really haven't given a whole lot of thought into what my feet are doing or the direction that they are pointing.

Last week in class, my coach presented me with a challenge. Run the entire course, without using my arms.... then, she upped the ante, and said I couldn't speak either! The reason being, that she noticed that Sophia was often changing leads throughout the course, even on straight lines. She noticed that Soph was always having to look up and check in. The constant checking in, made for choppy running and not very smooth lines. So we did a little experiment.Bottom line, "SHUT UP AND RUN!" I have to say, it was VERY hard for me to shut my mouth while running, but I think the results are pretty interesting.

So, I'll ask you guys. The video below is the "Challenge Video" (with no arms and no voice) and the video below that is the video I posted last week, with my regular style of running. Notice any difference? Better, worse, same? For those of you who run small dogs, do you also use your arms, or focus more on your lower body? What about people running larger dogs?

Challenge Video

Last Week - Regular Handling Style

Dog Park with No Fences?! What?!

2011-09-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's right. This past weekend, Sophia, Griff and I found a hidden gem in the heart of Wilmington, Delaware. A GIGANTIC (at least a couple of acres) dog park, with wide open spaces, lots of room for running and NO fences! I don't think I've ever actually been to a "legit" dog park, (i.e. intended for off-leash dog gathering) with absolutely no fences. It was a real treat to find such a gorgeous oasis with dog loving people who have advocated for this city space.

It was also nice to find a group of respectful, knowledgeable dog owners who were able to take directions and leave Griff alone. For the most part (with the exception of two men, who really thought they could become his best friend in two minutes by leaning over him, whistling at him, shaking their fingers and staring at him.... really guys?!?!) everyone was really good about just ignoring him. And actually, after a little redirection from myself, those two dudes backed off as well. You can see in the video, the one guy tries to get close, but I was able to support Griff, keep him below threshold and get the guy to stop.

Important to note, that this video was taken about 40 minutes after we arrived at the park. Before this, Griff and a few of the other really active dogs were chasing tennis balls and frisbees hard core. He finally started to get tired after awhile and that's when I was able to take a break and run to the car for the flip. He also had easy access to his crate in my car about 50 yards away. In fact, a few times, I walked over to the car with him and gave him the opportunity to jump and take a break in there. He took me up on two of the opportunities to take a break and grab a quick drink of water, before heading back out for more.

He is panting in the video, but I believe it's hot and tired panting, not stress panting (although I could be wrong.) And yes, there are some other minor stress behaviors, but for the most part, I am really proud of him for how he managed this new experience! So, anyone else ever been to a fence-less dog park? Or know where others are? Having lived in NYC for awhile, I am used to tiny little dog parks, with way to many people and dogs, so this was a real treat!

Sophia's Gearing up For a Come Back!

2011-09-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since Sophia and I have trialed, but we are gearing up for our come back tour :) Not really a come back tour, but a nice jump back into the trial scene. We have one AKC trial and one USDAA trial in October and I am really looking forward to competing again! It's been too long! She is getting pumped, and over the last year, we have really been able to click as a team. Not worried about Q'ing, just a good showing, working together and having fun!

Weave Pole Update!

2011-09-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

Check out Griff's progress on the weave poles! We have not been hitting it as hard as I would have liked, it's been a busy month, but we are still making progress. We are at four poles, upright and closed. I have been stalling out on adding another set of two, until we have ROCK solid entries. I don't really see any point in adding another set of two, until I am 100% confident that his entries are where they need to be, and he can nail them, from any angle. I am working angles, sending him from tunnels and weave (want him to work to collect with a full head of steam) and working the poles in class settings and other locations. I'd be curious to think if anyone out there thinks there may be any drawbacks from stalling out at four poles to work entries? Am I risking anything in terms of long term performance by working these entries? I don't think it makes sense to add two more, make the task harder, if he can't show 100% consistency with the criteria we have set. I am typically an 80% criteria kind of person, before I will raise the bar... but with weave poles, I have so often seen weave pole performances deteriorate in performance settings or stressful settings, that I think it makes sense to build confidence and competence now, before the task is even harder. I refuse to be one of those people whose "dog weaves at home..." and I had SUCH trouble teaching Sophia (so hard with a dog with no toy drive and a handler who doesn't know what they are doing) that I want to make sure I get it right with Griff. Any thoughts, input, feedback?

Welcome Back to Dog Nerd!

2011-09-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been awhile since our last post! Whew, it's good to be back! A lot has happened in the past two months... On August 1, 2011, I finally completed my pre-doctoral internship! Once that milestone passed, I officially became Dr. Kirby L. Wycoff! So internship ended on August 1, and post-doctoral residency started on August 2. I have to accrue 2,000 post-doctoral hours this year, and am preparing for my licensing board exams. The EPPP (Professional Practice of Psychology) board exams are a daunting task, but with some concerted effort, I should be prepared to sit for the exam in the late spring. But, even bigger news, is that Dog.Nerd.101 turned a year old on August 1, 2011 as well! It has been a BIG year!

This blog was originally intended as a way for me to document my journey with Sophia and Griff. Because of the challenges he presented, our postings have often focused on Griff, as I found myself needing to tap the collective wisdom of dog lovers "out there." When I reflect back on the year, I can certainly see how far we have come. Griff and I continue to grow in our relationship with one another, learning to trust one another more and more, and really just figuring out how to be team mates.

For a high achiever, type A person like myself, I often find myself wanting to be in control of things. I have learned that if I study hard enough, work hard enough do whatever it is "well enough" I can accomplish anything I want to. Such is not the case when it comes to working with dogs. I have learned that in order for Griff to reach his full potential (and me mine) I often need to take a step back, relinquish control, trust him, and ultimately learn to respect him for who he is. My mudi man is not a golden retriever in a mudi suit, and I think for awhile, maybe without even realizing it, I may have wanted him to be.

I have grown a lot in the last year, and have come to understand him and myself in ways I never could have imagined. The relationship I strive for with my dogs, is not one where I am master and they do my bidding. It is not one I want to be built on fear and intimidation. It is one where I want to develop a mutually respectful, trusting relationship. This was easy with Sophia, it came naturally. She is easy going, works hard for me, and has few vices. With Griff, it has been much harder.

I have realized that my attempts to "fix things" and micro-manage the situation, have been my vain attempts to control things. When I am attempting to control things and micro manage, my own anxiety increases, and shocker, guess who else's does? Boy what a humbling experience it was to realize that I, in some ways, may contribute to Griff's anxiety! Once I had this huge "ah-ha" moment, I noticed things begin to shift. I began to accept him and the situation for what it was. I began to see things more clearly, and realize that Griff is in many ways, exactly what he should be: an intense, hard working, vigilant, intelligent, driven dog, who is well equipped to do the job that he was bred to do. I remember following a thread on one of the international lists that I am on, and they were talking about working lines of dogs, and what they look for in performance dogs for breeding programs in terms of work ethic, drive and intensity. I remember reading the description that one well respected dog person wrote...and she essentially described Griff. He is NOT supposed to want to be everyone's friend, he IS supposed to bark at people he doesn't know, he IS supposed to let me know when things are not ok, he IS supposed to read my body language and become more vigilant when I am. He IS supposed to want to work for me and only me. Whew, again, a humbling moment where I found my mind set shifting.

I see this as a journey. We are not at the end... I am not cured of my desire to control things and excel at things, nor is Griff's work done either. We will grow and change together, and I imagine this is something that we will do for the entirety of our time together. I now look at this as a welcome part of the journey, not just a "destination" that we need to reach.

I received some great affirmation of this just this past weekend. Griff, Soph and I were visiting a fellow dog person and agility enthusiast. One that I personally look up to, and who is well respected in the agility community. She met Griff a few weeks after I got him, and once or twice since then. She has not seen him in about 6 months. I'll keep the words that she shared to myself, but she essentially commended us on our work together, and noted how far he had come, and how unbelievably different he was since the last time she saw him. More confident, more in tune to me, willing to work and work hard. It's so hard to see the progress, when its part of your everyday experience, but so, so nice to hear from someone else, that they notice the work that has been done.

As we close the first chapter of our time together, I eagerly look forward to the next! Thanks for being part of the journey.

Weave Pole Update: The Power of Latent Learning

2011-07-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Fanny Gott and Squid demonstrate the power of Latent Learning

Our bust of a training session when I had to take a step back.

"Ah ha" training session when I realized that time AWAY from training was just as important as time in training.

What exactly is "latent learning"? For fellow psychology nerds out there, latent learning is a familiar concept covered in every single introductory text in psychology. Usually in the chapter on learning theory and classical and operant conditioning, latent learning is essentially described as learning that happens, even though we don't know it's happening.

Obviously, this is an oversimplification, but Mosby's Medical Dictionary further expands on this definition: "Learning acquired unintentionally. It may remain in the subconscious, or be latent, until a need for the knowledge arises." (Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th Edition.)

Tolman and Honzik two psychologists from the 1930's, crafted an experiment using rats in three groups and a maze to demonstrate this concept. Rather than re-invent the wheel, I'll quote Richard Tees from the Dictionary of Biological Psychology.

"The term latent learning emerged in the 1930s when Tolman (1886–1959) showed that fully satiated animals allowed to explore a specific environment (a maze for example) would (when later motivated) learn to traverse that environment more rapidly than controls, who had not had the previous, non-reinforced exposure. Hence, some latent learning took place during exposure, specifically related to the details of observed environment, whose influence was not revealed until later testing. In contemporary theories of learning and reinforcement, its acceptance as a form of procedural learning or perceptual learning and its role in the development of such things as spatial knowledge are relatively well established."

Many would posit (myself included) that the above definition is oversimplified. The concept of latent learning is entirely more nuanced than this brief blog post would allow. For more scientific and in depth discussions of this concept, be sure to check out this article by Robert Jensen, faculty member at California State University entitled Behaviorism, Latent Learning, and Cognitive Maps: Needed Revisions in Introductory Psychology Textbooks

At any rate, the big question is how does this all relate to dog training and Griff's weave poles! Awhile back I was lucky enough to stumble upon Fannie Gott's video on latent learning while she was teaching her BC, Squid, weave poles using 2x2's. I was inspired by this video, because after a recent DUD of a session with Griff, I remembered to keep it short, end on a positive note, not over analyze the training session and wait to see what happened next time out. Fanny reminds her viewers of the importance of SHORT training sessions, evaluating the training and taking breaks. Check out her video below. Then, check out Griff's two videos of his most recent weave pole training. As I said, we had one dud of a session - it was a total bust, he was very unsuccessful, and in truth, I should have made the session shorter. Low and behold, I took a break, tried to stay positive and gave the weave poles a rest...come back a few days later, and holy smokes! It's unbelievable! Lesson learned: Time AWAY from training, is just as important as time IN training.

Hiking with your dogs: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly!

2011-07-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing brings me more joy in the summer time than spending time with my friends and dogs in the great outdoors! Just this past weekend, my friend Rachel and I went on an awesome hike in nearby Mount Gretna. Governor Dick boasts an awesome observation tower and you can see seven counties from the peak! The dogs were awesome, and while Griff continues to drag a long line on our hikes, is recall is getting better and better. I called him off of his investigation of a nearby mountain biker, and he even responded to Rachel calling his name for check-ins! Woo hoo... one of these day's I'll share my journey with the recall challenge, but that is for another day. There is nothing more natural that dogs frolicking in the woods and fields, enjoying quality time with their humans. It's the "ultimate" for most dog lovers.... many of whom can only hope and wish for a dog reliable enough to do this with. But aside from the issue of a rock solid recall and "managing" the hiking situation (i.e. long lines, reinforcers, managing the environment based on your dogs predicted behavior, response to increased distractions etc) there are also other safety issues that can be of concern. A friend of mine, Karen with her standard collie, just emailed me a pretty scary story about her most recent off leash hiking adventure. Karen has given me permission to share her story here. A scary wake up call that regardless of how reliable your dogs are, or how "in control" of the situation are.... there are always in the unknowns in the great outdoors. Preparation and knowledge are key.

Karen's email to me:

"Warning about letting your dogs offl-leash in the woods, Kirby. Yesterday, MacTavish and I were doing our usual loop and he was bounding through the usual patch of woods when a swarm of ground bees came up and stung the hell out of him. He was so busy trying to swat them off of him that he did not run. So, I had to run in and rescue him. Grabbed him by the collar, pulled, yelled "RUN! GO!" Off he went... until I got stung and screamed. He came racing back to help me. I pushed him to run in the other direction and he did. We both beat it out of there. Not far up the trail, MacTavish stopped, sat down, and refused to go any further - not at all like him. He did agree to turn back, so we did but he was lethargic. When we got to the first part of the hike (grass and pond), he lay down in the grass, rubbed his stung nose and face on the ground, moaned and looked just miserable. I rushed him to a local vet, who gave him an injection of benedryl and instructed me to give him 50 miligrams more every 8 hours until the swelling goes down. When we got back, he was just miserable. Tired from the benedryl and restless from discomfort. Finally, he fell into a deep sleep for a few hours, the best thing I think. I made a call to my regular vet, and he said that bee venom can be deadly for MacTavish b/c of the MDR1 mutation. So, it seems, I now need to always carry benedryl with me. Wouldn't be a bad idea for your guys as well, but get a correct dosage from your vet - it's weight-dependent. Last week, I had him in the same area on leash and we nearly stepped on a HUGE black snake. Had MacTavish been off-leash, I have no doubt that he would have chased after it, possibly gotten himself bitten. I have NO IDEA how to treat a snake bite.Just wanted to share these experiences with you as situations to be prepared for."

Whoa! Karen, thanks for sharing your story with our readers.... definitely something to think about. Further complicated if your dog has a health issue, or in MacTavish's case, the MDR1 mutation. For those of your not familiar with MDR1, learn more. It is a scary genetic condition that results in some unexpected reactions to certain medications. Learn more about MDR1 here.

Griff and Goose celebrate the 4th of July!

2011-07-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

Just a quick teaser video of what Griff and Goose were up to this past weekend. Perry and Goose came over to my beach house and all four of us had a BLAST playing on the dock. Goose man has more experience with swimming and "dock diving" but Griff made some great progress this weekend! Goose got really good at swimming when he spent time on the water treadmill over the winter. He kind of flings himself off the dock with reckless abandon and pure joy... Griff on the other hand only realized he could actually swim a few months ago. I think the thing about jumping off the dock, is that he bobs under the water and that might be a little scary for him. Rather than push him, I have let him go at his own pace. I think people assume that all dogs know how to swim (and I think they generally do....) but I don't think THEY KNOW that they know how to swim. So like anything else, the key is to help them build confidence! So Griff-ster graduated from the baby dock to the higher dock this weekend. I put his life jacket back on to encourage the "run and jump" again because I think it builds confidence for him!

Weave Pole Training: Need Advice on Raising Criteria

2011-06-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

How and when do we make the decision to raise criteria when teaching a new set of skills? The beauty of successive approximation and positive reinforcement, is that we can constantly be marking and reinforcing the behaviors we want, while simultaneously "upping" criteria, so we can train a very complex behavior chain. Such is the JOY and challenge of teaching something like weave poles using Susan Garrett's 2x2 method.

So, the challenge of course is figuring out when to raise criteria. I have started with Griff by just using one set of 2x2's. I start the poles perpendicular to his start point, and systematically rotate the poles so that they are in a parallel line to his start point. (Hard to explain, but if you are having trouble visualizing the rotation, check out some you tube videos on Susan Garrett's 2x2 method) I eventually have him driving through just two poles, much in the same way he will look driving through 12 poles. (This is where I am at in the video above.) After I get the poles in the correct orientation, I will systematically add additional pieces of the behavior chain (more sets of 2 poles).

Of course, the whole time I am working on his confidence and accuracy with just one set of 2 poles, I am varying my position, motion, angles relative to him, so that I can work every potential entry point. So varying my position and his entry angle is one way that I can raise criteria, but another thing I can do to make this more difficult and raise criteria, is taking the "show" on the road. Essentially, I want to take my set of 2x2's and have Griff reliably doing his job, in settings with increasing distractions. The last thing I want is a dog that "weaves great in my back yard" but no where else.

So, here is where I am at with Griff. At home, (and in varying places in our neighborhood) he is about 90% accurate with his entries. He is NOT 100% reliable on the road though. I have been doing some experimenting to see where his threshold is with regards to his hierarchy of distractions. Earlier this week I had him at his "highest distraction" location, brought the weave poles out, got myself all ready.... brought him out of the car.... and realized it would be a bad idea to even ASK him to weave.

Why? He was highly distracted and un-focused, and I didn't want to set him up for failure. Instead I left him on the long line and worked on recalls and "It's Yer Choice" games. I was REALLY pleased with how he did with this, and I basically premacked "coming to check in with Mom" with "getting to check things out, sniff the fence line, eat deer shit." The weave poles stood un-touched... and when I put Griff-ster back in the car, I went and got them. Yes, slightly disappointed that I didn't get to see him weave in this setting, but also knowing that I wouldn't have seen success. I did not want him to practice a distracted, slow, tentative weave pole performance and sometimes, we need to check our own expectations and do whats right for our dogs. (Not sometimes, but MOST times!)

My question to you more experienced dog trainers..... do I increase level of difficulty at home (add another set of weave poles) and continue to work just one set on the road... OR do I wait until he is where I want him to be with one set on the road, before I add another set in either setting (home or road.) Is it confusing to the dog to practice 1 set on the road and 2 or more sets at home. Any pro's or con's of either approach? Help!

Volunteering at Agility Trials: Are we chasing our tails?

2011-06-28T16:41:00.001-07:00

For those of you who are members on the Clean Run List Serve, you know that this topic of volunteering at an agility trial is a hot one! There was some very heated debate on the list, with a wide range of perspectives reported by various readers. What I found particularly interesting about the whole dialogue was how intolerant people were of other people's choices. Particularly those less popular voices that echoed "I don't volunteer, don't want to, and don't think I should have to." It's easy to see why an entitled attitude like this, can elicit a strong response from fellow agility competitors. It certainly got a strong reaction from out of me!

I readily admit that there are some trials that I volunteer more at and some that I volunteer less at. I find that if I am stressed or worried about my pre-run routine, or dealing with a new family member (ahem, Griff's trial attendance stresses me out as I try to micro manage the situation) I am certainly less willing (and really able) to volunteer. That being said, once I've had my run, or finished for the day, I pitch in where I can. I'm a particular fan of time constrained volunteer activities like setting up a course. I know roughly how much time will be needed, and I can do my part, and then get back to keeping an eye on my crew. Certainly, the more comfortable I get with the agility scene (multiple rings, not wanting to make a rookie mistake and miss my class!) the more able I am to pitch in and volunteer.

After I got past my strong reaction to the sentiments of one of the contributors, I used my people psychology skills to really think about the situation. Here is someone that doesn't want to volunteer. Nothing wrong with that. What got people fired up though, was the negative, entitled, oppositional and frankly aggressive attitude that came along with it. People volunteer or choose not to volunteer for various reasons, and they are allowed to do whatever they want at trials. Remember folks, agility trials ARE recreational, weekend sports. We each have the free will and independence to chose what we want to do in our free time. We can get caught up in the "should's" or "shouldn't" in life, or the rules we think that ourselves and others must follow, but at the end of the day, there is no "Agility Trial God" out there saying that any competitor absolutely HAS to (or SHOULD) volunteer. That may be our belief about the situation, but it is not reality.

Despite the "should's" or the "should not's" I want to make a quick point about the delivery and tone to the one volunteer who expressed the particularly negative attitude when sharing their thoughts. Daniel Goleman wrote an outstanding book on "Emotional Intelligence" and many other psychologists have weighed in as well. Emotional Intelligence, or "EQ" (or EI") really boils down to the understanding, management and use of emotions. "Emotional intelligence refers to an ability to recognize the meanings of emotion and their relationships, and to reason and problem-solve on the basis of them. Emotional intelligence is involved in the capacity to perceive emotions, assimilate emotion-related feelings, understand the information of those emotions, and manage them. (p. 267 of this article)"

Despite sharing very valid beliefs, there is a way to get a point across, where it has a much higher likelihood of being "heard." Thinking about how a message might be perceived, or what our commentary might elicit from others, is usually a good idea. So this person had absolutely every right to share their opinion, but they WAY they did it, didn't exactly go over well. Employing a little "EQ" here might have been a good idea. Who knows, maybe that person doesn't care that it didn't go over well; maybe they wanted to be controversial and outspoken. The contentious dialogue has certainly made for an interesting blog posting and commentary with agility people, but has it gotten us any closer to finding solutions to the volunteer issue? Until we check our egos at the door, hear various perspectives and come together to problem solve, we will be chasing our tails!

Top 50 Blogs About Dog Agility!

2011-06-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a big day for Dog.Nerd.101! You may notice that snazzy new badge on the upper right hand corner of the blog page. I got a lovely email this afternoon from a member of VetTechSchools.org letting me know that Dog.Nerd.101 has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Blogs about Dog Agility! We are in really good company here too, the top five blogs recognized are: 1) The Days of Johann, 2) Red Dogs Rule, 3) Say Yes!, 4) Agility Nerd and 5) Cedes of Change. You can check out the complete list of the Top 50 Dog Blogs at Top 50 Blogs about Dog Agility! "

Check out what they had to say about us: "Dog.Nerd.101: Yes another nerdy dog lover. This blogger takes pride in their love for doggy analysis and psychology and they love the similarities between animals and humans. This blog brings training experiences as well as an educational view on training!"

Rear End Awareness and "Back Up" Trick

2011-06-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

I am experimenting with high value reinforcers (the hose!) to help build distance to Griff's "Back-Up" trick. Prior to this, I was only able to get him to back up to about five feet. I think what really helped here was the addition of a "lie down" cue, which in a way, "re-set" the behavior chain. I can't take credit for this idea, it was Marisa Scully who recommended that Perry try it with Goose! It worked for them, so I thought I would give it a whirl! That, in addition to the hose, seems to be helping us get some distance! How do others teach distance and rear end awareness? Any other tips on how to increase distance specifically with the "back up" cue?

Value of the Reinforcer: Weave Pole Training with a Hose!

2011-06-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

I am really excited for this week. A few months ago, I was asked by the Director of Psychological Services to provide a training to all of the Behavior Support Staff members on Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning. I am so pumped! I essentially have been given carte blanche to provide training to all staff members on a curriculum that I have developed for them. What an honor! I'll be starting by reviewing some basics of behavior learning theory and applied behavior analysis.

Of course, I wouldn't be a true dog nerd, if I didn't figure out some way to bring "dogs" into this training in some way! One of the most important things I want to convey to the staff and educators is this concept of developing a hierarchy of reinforcement when addressing behavior change. So often, teachers and adults provide reinforcers that THEY feel would be reinforcing to the students... without ever really considering whether the kids themselves find the reward inherently reinforcing.

Case in point... in this video of Griff's 2x2 weave training, I got a little creative with the reinforcer. Because this is a new task and something he is still learning to do... and because I want to build motivation and enthusiasm, I have to BUILD VALUE for the task. Just like a teacher or staff member needs to build value for a new behavior that they want their students to demonstrate. I needed to figure out a way to incorporate his highest value reward (which for the moment, is playing with the hose) into his 2x2 training session.

The good ole Premack Principle will help me here. By having Griff engage in with the poles (which right now is a lower value task) prior to earning access to a higher value activity (hose playing), I am inherently building value for the lower level task. The hose is really fun.... he learns that engaging with the weave poles, earns him access to his really fun hose game!

Now, spraying water into MY face would NOT be reinforcing at all, in fact, it would be quite aversive. (Same goes with Sophia, she would HATE that...) But, for Griff, it's a whole different game! It all depends on the kid, person, dog.... what is reinforcing to one, is not at all to another. It is critical when addressing any behavior change, that this hierarchy of reinforcement is explored and considered! So simple, yet so powerful! I love it!

The key take home message I will give to my trainees, and also holds true for dog training is this: How do we know what is reinforcing to the dog (or child)? IF it DOESN'T CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR, then it is not reinforcing. Learning theory indicates that when working with positive reinforcement, when you add something reinforcing, the desired behavior will increase. If the desired behavior does not increase, then the reward you offered or picked, wasn't sufficiently reinforcing from the "learner's" perspective. So... I will ask you, fellow dog nerds, how do YOU build value with your dogs?

Griff's 2x2 Weave Pole Training

2011-06-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Watching Perry and Goose rip through the 2x2 training, was just the kick in the pants I needed to get started on Griff's 2x2 training! We've had three or four training sessions. I think it's going to end up being a modified or loose interpretation of Susan Garrett's 2x2 method. Mostly experimenting around when I add each additional set on and what I do with the angles of the added sets.

I've only used the method one other time and that was teaching Sophia... and that was (and still is) a HUGE under taking. It was really hard to train, mostly because I bounced around with a bunch of different methods (I was a serious newbie!) I finally settled on 2x2's, but by then, had a lot of bad habits, and I wasn't flexible enough with recognizing when my little low drive Bichon needed more or less help. I think it's MUCH easier to teach weave poles (using 2x2 or any other method) with a dog with high toy drive. I had a hard time rewarding Sophia away from me and for speed, with food.

I got better and learned more as time went on, but it was a challenge! I guess I am better prepared to teach Griff, after having had such a hard time with Sophia! Finger's crossed, we will see! As always, any input, recommendations or suggestions - bring 'em on, open door policy!

*Please excuse the sailor mouth that slipped in towards the end of the video! I had a brain fart and impulse control flew out the window! Sorry!

Trainer Spotlight: That's one talented GOOSE!

2011-06-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

Buddies Griff and Goose

I wanted to share a quick video that is just DYNAMITE! Check out my friend Perry and her border collie Goose. Goose and Griff are major buddies and it's awesome to see a talented dog in the hands of a talented dog trainer. Perry is relatively new to the dog sport seen (Goose is her first Border Collie) and while she has other dogs (a shepherd mix named Billy where she got her feet wet with managing some tough behaviors) she only recently got her CPDT. But when you've got "IT" you've got "IT" regardless of how fresh and new you are to the dog training scene, if your got talent, you've just got it. Check out the weave poles that Goose is doing in this video... she taught them in 3 weeks and it's her first time teaching them.

And it's not just Goose that she is teaching either, check out rescue dog Kaila jumping for disc's! In addition to talent though, Perry will be the first to tell you that it takes committment and dedication to improve your craft, just like any other career path. Perry is a student of the game and she studies footage and materials of countless other trainers in order to perfect what she does. Credit also should be paid to Marisa Scully of Philly Dog Training who discovered this hidden gem of a dog trainer. I remember Marisa and I talking back in the fall and her telling me, "I found this girl, and she is good. I mean, really, really good." Perry now works with Marisa at Philly Dog Training and under Marisa's mentorship, Perry is growing her own client list. This dynamic duo are tearing up the Philly market for dog training services...and for good reason! Check out this video of a sneak peek of what they have to offer!

Hiking With The Dogs: Exploring Pennsylvania's Great Outdoors!

2011-06-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Griff, Sophia and I had some guests come in for a big adventure weekend. Karen with her 20 month old, standard, smooth coat, collie, McTavish, came to help us explore some of the great wilderness in Pennsylvania. One of the major pro's about living out in the middle of farm country, is the easy access to some awesome hiking, backpacking and wilderness space. There are tons of great opportunities in PA for some awesome hiking, biking, backpacking and camping.

I have been conditioning Griff, Sophia and myself for awhile, with regular trail runs and hikes, a couple of times a week. Sophia is a total trooper and keeps up with Griff and I on our trail runs. Despite her small size, she is athletic, lean and in great shape. All three of us were well prepared for our first big weekend day hike.

The first task was to choose WHERE to go. With all of the options we had, it was tough to narrow down. We decided to stay close and hit one of the state parks within an hour from the Hershey and Harrisburg area. The first stop we checked out was the Hershey & Harrisburg Regional Visitors Center. This was a great resource and starting point. They had a bunch of information on nearby hiking opportunities, and this, in addition to the PA Department of Conservation website, I finally picked "Boyd Big Tree Conservation Area."

This was a great pick for us, because it offered a range of trail lengths and level of difficulty. Because it is a "Conservation area" instead of a full fledged recreational park, there is less development, less people and more wilderness. This would be perfect for Griff as a starters hike and the promised well-marked trails would be great for me as well. Karen and MacTavish are wilderness buff's too, but Karen is coming off three knee surgeries and just getting back into full mobility.

We had a little bit of difficulty actually finding the entrance to the conservation site, but once we got there, it was PURE BLISS! Ton's of well marked trails, a large pond, lots of small streams and more rugged terrain mixed in with more gentle terrain. Both humans and all three dogs had an absolute blast. I was a little unsure as to how Griff would be with the other dogs and people on the path, but I am really proud of him. I have been working on his recall (in a unconventional way, that I didn't even realize I was doing for awhile) and I have to tell you, that it worked. There was one moment, when Griff and the other dogs (about 20 feet ahead of us) came to the top of a crest and ran smack into a man and his two off-leash Viszla's. Griff started barking, MacTavish went to greet and Sophia wasn't sure what the heck to do. I yelled at the top of my lungs "THIS WAY!", blew my whistle, and high-taled it at a full blast sprint in the opposite direction on the trail. Both of my dogs immediately whipped their heads around as soon as I yelled and took off after me in a dead sprint! I was so, so, SO thrilled with their response. I am still working on this recall, and will post more about it at some point. We hiked for almost 3 hours, with a rest at the pond, where the dogs went swimming. We covered about 6-7 miles, and a lot of changes in elevation. (I think about 1,000 feet in elevation changes). It was an awesome day, and awesome weekend and all of us are tuckered out after our adventure! I am going to post some tips for hiking with your dogs below:

Do your homework. Make sure you research the area and find out what trails and parks allow dogs. General rule of thumb - state parks have more stringent dog laws, and federal parks usually allow dogs. Some places only allow dogs in the camping area, and not on the trails (which is so stupid in my opinion.)
Follow the rules. Most places stipulate that dogs MUST be on leash, no more than 6 feet long. I let Griff drag a 30 foot long line and Sophia was off-leash. Sophia never wanders more than 10 feet from me, but in reality, she should be dragging a thin long line as well, so in the case of an emergency, I can intervene.
Pack well. Make sure you have a pack that will carry all of the essentials for the length of trip you are taking. For us, that meant lots of water for humans and canines. We also had a compass, map, first aid kit (for humans and canines), bug spray, whistle and snacks for dogs and humans.
Leave no trace. A general camping and hiking rule applies here as well, plain and simple, clean up after yourself. Leave it the way you found it. Lots of parks have rules about picking up dog poop, but I take a little bit a different stance. Certainly, I don't want dog poop in the middle of the trail for the next hiker, but the idea of using a plastic bag, that will ultimately not be recycled, to pick up a substance that can decompensate naturally is just plain silly. I have the dogs poop off the trails and the I also bury it. It's out of the way and being naturally recycled back into the earth.
Stay hydrated. See above, bring lots of water for humans and canines. Dogs are susceptible to heat stroke just like people.
Conditioning. Make sure both humans and canines are physically able to handle the trail. Don't over exert yourself and don't push your dogs more than they are ready. This is why Sophia and Griff (Sophia in particular) has been preparing for quite awhile for the summer hiking season.

All in all, a great weekend! Note, the pictures of the dogs were taken by myself, but the other pictures of Boyd Big Tree Preserve were taken by C.N. Godles (July 27, 2008, using a Nikon D70.)

Happy Be-Lated First Birthday Griff!

2011-06-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Baby Griff! The picture I fell in love with at about 4-6 weeks!

Whoa man, boy have I been a naughty blogger. No click/treats for me! I thought that after my dissertation, I was home free... Boy was I wrong! Successfully defended was only a little part of it... ugh, in fact all of the stinkin' paperwork and stupid hoops to jump through AFTER the defense, were seriously, more annoying and pain in the ass than writing the actual thing! So, the good news, is that the dissertation is not only defended, but actual submitted and on it's way to being published! And, on May 15th, I graduated! Woo hoo! So, it's not "official" until after internship is over, but I am one step closer to being Dr. Wycoff. Wow, that's crazy just to write! Despite the nutty work and school schedule, I have had an eventful two months with the dogs too.

The Griff-ster turned ONE YEAR OLD on April 30, 2011! Yay! He is no longer a "puppy" but well on his way to being an adolescent boy. I never thought I would wish for the puppy antics to come back.... but teenage attitude is way more bratty than puppy antics! He has really filled out physically, but he is also "feeling his oats" in other ways too...Literally, about 1 week before his first birthday, he started lifting his leg to pee like a big boy... and started marking every single god-damn bush around. I have never had boy dogs... and I could totally do without this part! So annoying!

All in all, (despite the annoying boy dog stuff...) it's been an awesome first year with Griff. It's been one hell of a journey, but boy have we grown! I wish I was the kind of doggy Mom that had all of the time in the world, and could have made an awesome "First Year" video... but I just couldn't make it happen! Instead, I collected my favorite videos of Griff-ster below.... from almost day one (the breeders videos from Hungary) all the way to the present.

What a serious little man!

It's amazing to how much physically bigger he has gotten! Mentally he has grown too... from a wild and crazy puppy boy, on his way, to a more confident, poised young man, who can actually use the extraordinary brain that he was given! There have been bumps along the rode, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am blessed to have him in my life, and I truly believe that he was meant to be with me. We have things to learn from one another, and we will both be better for it! Enjoy the videos!

*Stay tuned, sharing photos and video from his first time on sheep just yesterday! He was a rock star!

Dissertation Successfully Defended! Back to Dog Training!

2011-04-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo, on Tuesday, one day before my 28th Birthday, I successfully defended my dissertation! So excited! Amazing to think that the whole thing is OVER with! One step closer to Dr. Wycoff, which is kind of scary. Actually when my committee chair leaned across the board room table and said "Congratulations Dr. Wycoff" I almost had a heart attack! Really an exciting time, and an awesome birthday present to myself! Certainly one I will never forget :) When I came home from work today, there was an odd absence of harried, writing, typing and editing. I came home and actually had some TIME! Wow, not having to work after work, novel idea! Anyway, with all the free time now, I can get back to feeling like a regular person and more time for dog training!

The weather is starting to get nicer here in PA, so it's really fun to get out and play with the dogs. I am so glad that the home stretch of my dissertation was during the winter months. It would have been a lot harder to put in weekend and evening hours writing, if it was really nice out! I defended just in time to enjoy the spring and summer months. Anyway, just two quick videos of Griff and I learning a new trick. This is a disc dog move called the "Back Stall." Until a few days ago, I had no idea that that even meant, but thanks to my friend Perry, I got it. Dog jumps on back "stalls" there for a few seconds and releases. There is a foot stall trick too, which we will work on as well. I think the foot stall is going to be harder. We had two quick training sessions, about 5 minutes each, and got pretty good results.

I just have to work on my frisbee throwing, so I can actually have him launch off my back and catch the frizz. I got some good feedback from fellow dog lover, Julie Norman-Jenkins, who watched the video and mentioned that I needed to work on throwing the disc straight UP (not out as I was trying to do) so that he can catch air and catch the disc. Anyone else out there with disc dog experience, I'd love your input!

Silly Puppy Playing with his Fork!

2011-04-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

It's so much fun to see dogs being silly and playful! I happened to catch Griff playing with a fork last night and it gave me a chuckle. After a long week, putting in extra hours preparing for the dissertation defense next week, its exactly moments like this that keep me sane! Enjoy :)

Handling on The Flat and Problem Solving

2011-04-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick video from a training session I had with Griff a few days ago. We were working on some basic handling on the flat, mostly front crosses and impulse control stuff. I brought out some cones and jump standards to get him working around them, and I think we did a pretty good job. I think I need to clean up some of my cues though. There are a couple of places in the video where we have some SERIOUS collisions. Check out what goes on at point 3:39 and 7:59. We have some serious almost collisions and he cuts behind me. I'm not sure what I can do to fix this... because I thought that all of the foundation heeling work that I've done would lay the foundation for this, but I think I might have missed a step or two. How do I get him to recall to the heel position (really tightly) better?

I think one of the problems is that I have done so much stuff with him putting his body on me, and having contact with me (contact heeling?) that he doesn't seem to respect my body space. I have always done a lot of tugging with him banking of my thighs and on my legs, and I think this has created some problems. Because I am also always worrying about him reacting to things in his environment, I wanted him to default to connecting with me and coming back to me for reassurance. He is a physical dog and we definitely make contact when we are training and playing. Problem is, now when I do a recall (I noticed this when I was playing chuck-it fetch with him) he comes driving back at me full blast (yay for the great recall) but he doesn't put on the breaks when he arrives at me. He sometimes slams into my legs (OUCH) to firmly push the ball or frisbee back into my hand. He uses my body to bank off of, and I think I have created this problem. I also have done a lot of "keep away" fetch with him, so that I can reinforce him coming back to me really well, but this means that he has been reinforced a lot for coming back to me, dropping the retrieved toy, to tug with the toy I have in my hand.

So two problems, (not respecting my space and not staying on the correct side/hand) BOTH which I think are connecting to foundation issues with the recall to heel. I need help though! Any suggestions? Am I correct in thinking this is a recall to heel problem? What else about my handling is not consistent and creating the problems with him cutting behind me? Help!

Managing Stress Levels for Optimal Problem Solving: Trick Training Challenge Part 2

2011-04-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

So after realizing that I missed a few steps in Sylvia Trkman's Trick Training Challenge, I took a few steps back and actually taught the foundation to this trick! Might have been a good idea to do that BEFORE I tried step three of the trick, but oh well, no worries! So here you will see me teaching Griff part 1 of the "Hold the Bottle Challenge" which basically is to just get the dog to wrap a paw around an upright pole. What you will ALSO see here, are remnants of a few other tricks... Interesting how dogs carry over learning from session to session, and how they so obviously offer what has been reinforced in the past. I also love how when teaching one trick, you can see a bunch of other potential tricks wrapped up in the process of teaching the primary trick. I have been teaching Griff to do a hand stand, and reward a lot for his rear end on the air. Somehow, he started to offer this strange little three leg thing, en route to hoisting his back end up in the air for the hand stand. I inadvertently clicked it a few times... and low and behold, now I also have a "three legged limp" trick.

My friend Perry of BBTricksters, who intentionally taught her BC pup this three legged limp trick saw this video and asked me how I taught it. Well.... I didn't really intentionally teach it, it just kind of showed up and a reinforced it. I can get myself in trouble here though... I get SO excited about seeing him (or her) offering so many cool, wacky things that could potentially be tricks, that I click THOSE things too (in addition to the primary trick that I am trying to teach.) I end up with lots of "messy" tricks... and not SO many that are all clean, tidy and polished. Basically, it comes down to stimulus control. What tricks are on a cued control. If I was really going to be strict with myself and my dogs during trick training, I wouldn't (and shouldn't) click things OTHER than the primary trick I am focusing on. Further, when the dog offers those tricks outside of the training session unsolicited, I also shouldn't reward. The first part of this, I don't stick with too much.... the second part of this, I do try to stick to a little more consistently. I didn't need to do this with Sophia, but for whatever reason, Griff can become an "offering manic" ("Is it this, Is it this, Is it this? Will this get a click, will this get a click, will this get a click...??")

I really want to discourage him getting all wacky and wired on me, but I do want to encourage him to be a thinking, problem solving dog. This is a fine line sometimes, at least with this high drive guy. I am learning more and more about his state of mind during problem solving, and what I am getting better at understanding is that while offering and problem solving is good, if it drives him to frustration, where he can't actually use his really good brain, then I need to take a few steps back. So, in this video, you will see him offer some other behaviors (what I call splinter skills from other trained behaviors) and for the most part, I try to ignore them and not reward them. What I have done more of too, is building in rewarding him for settling and being still. When I notice him getting too high (in many cases this equates to anxious, stressed etc.) I will try to help him settle down and bring his stress levels back under threshold. This is another good example of how some stress is good (eustress) while too much stress (distress) is problematic.

AKC Nationals Update!

2011-04-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

AKC Nationals are in full swing down in Lexington, Virginia at the Virginia Horse Center. The AKC's Facebook page is posting regular updates, so be sure to check it out! Some day (hmm when I am no longer a student and actually have money to enter lots of trials.... Sophia and I will be there!) All of the results can be found here on the AKC's webpage. For the State Team results, PA is in 12th place right now, NJ is in 4th, and CA is holding onto 1st place. One thing that is always nice to see in the AKC results (different than USDAA and CynoSport results) is that the top ten 24 inch dogs, after round one, represent a wide range of breeds. Border Collies do NOT make up all of the top ten individual dogs. Breeds in the top ten are as follows: BC, Golden, BC, Poodle, Doberman, Golden, German Wirehaired Pointer, BC,BC, Labrador. Not bad eh? I'd love to watch some of the runs, and AgilityVision is doing live streaming. The courses from today can be seen below. Good Luck to everyone down there!

New Trick Challenge from Sylvia Trkman!

2011-03-29T18:49:00.000-07:00

Like many dog people out there, I am a huge fan of Sylvia Trkman. I kind of wish I could go live next door to her and soak up the brilliance. Not gonna happen any time soon. So, in the mean time, I will continue to flock like the rest of you to her training challenges and blog posts. In her newest video, "Tricks for Better Thinking Skills" Sylvia assigns her faithful followers some homework. The trick challenge homework is to get our dogs to hold a water bottle in their paws, which can be the foundation for a bunch of other tricks.

I saw the video of Panic (yes, Panic the BC with awesome running contacts) and tried to teach the same with Griff. But I think Panic has already done parts 1 and 2 of the trick (teaching him how to hold onto a bar) before proceeding to this step. I'll have to ask her. Oh well, I'll go back to the drawing board and start over and be sure to teach the foundation steps first. If anyone actually knows how Sylvia teaches the earlier steps, feel free to share. I am going to post Griff's video on her website for feedback. If you want to check out a dog that has REALLY got this trick down, see the video of our buddy Spur from Amy's Animal Care! Nice Job Amy and Spur - impressive!

Welcome Back, Welcome Back...

2011-03-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems like its been quite awhile since I had a chance to actually write a post, and I have to say, it's good to be back! The last blog post I wrote was quite a controversial one and what started as a seemingly contentious conversation, actually became a great learning opportunity. For those of you you didn't have a chance to catch the last post, I had written a blurb and posted a video about Griff's reactivity levels pre and post exercise. I filmed some pre-exercise footage, and then after exercise, taped us doing a BAT session walking in our neighborhood for our cool down walk. I had thought I had done a pretty good job of reading his stress signals and keeping him sub-threshold.... boy was I wrong.

A fellow dog lover, who is also a dog trainer and service dog trainer pointed out a number of things that I just did not see. Katrin also shared with readers that she is on the Autism Spectrum and this often makes it difficult for her to communicate with other people. Despite this, she is unbelievably gifted and talented at reading and understanding canines, and she has put up with my not quite getting it as easily as she does. I have been conversing with Katrin privately and she has been gracious enough to help me out with a few things. She viewed some of my videos and gave me some great feedback. Lots of good learning happening all around!

Speaking of learning, one of the reasons I have not posted lately, is because I have been writing non-stop to finish my dissertation. Just last week I submitted all 267 pages of it! Woo hoo! My dissertation defense has officially been scheduled for Tuesday April 12! I am very excited to have this final hoop of graduation school almost complete! The picture above of all 267 pages, is just a sentimental nod to the incredible amount of writing and editing I have done in the past couple of months!

Coming soon.... trick training challenge video with Sylvia Trkman! So glad to be back!

Effects of Exercise of Reactivity: Case Study with Griff

2011-03-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

I did an informal little experiment a week or so ago because I wanted to see what Griff's threshold for triggers was before and after an exercise session. This was the first nice day in awhile, and also one of the first times we were practicing our heel work outside. In the first part of this video, you can see us doing some work outside and then also see his startle response when two young boys seemingly pop out of no where and run up behind him. The silver lining there is that he was off leash, but was able to re-engage with me, and did not advance on the boys, but rather took the opportunity to retreat with me. About an hour or so later, (after some rigorous exercise) I took Griff back out to the parking lot to see if there were any differences. Because it was such a nice day out, we had lots of opportunity to practice. Interestingly, someone on one of the list's that I just shared the video on, asked about my use of "correction words" at the end of the video, where I am retreating with Griff. She was wondering if I knew I used the words, and if they were more for me, or for Griff. It was an interesting comment, and not one I had really thought about. But after contemplating, I came to the conclusion I think maybe they are mostly for myself, because they certainly don't seem to affect him at all.

I try really hard to be all positive, but I will use no reward markers and will use correction words ... but more as an interrupter to an undesired behavior. While it might not be apparent in these videos where Griff is being reactive, he has a very hard, sassy temperament. For example, if we are in my house and he is getting pushy with my 4 year old, 10 pound Bichon and starts to prey drive on her (I have a zero tolerance policy with this) I will use an interrupter word like "ah-ah" more of a "Hey, pay attention to me, I'm going to give you something more appropriate to do" (give him an appropriate behavior that is incompatible with the inappropriate behavior that he was just doing.) In this case, I think maybe using that verbal commentary is more of a habit, and more for me. In addition to "noo" "ah-ha" "too close" I will just sort of talk to him (again, maybe distraction, maybe just a correction for myself) "ohhh boooyyy, we are definitely TOO close to that big scary man" or "whoops, whoops, whoops, he came out of no where, we better get outa here Griff -ster" or "ohh silly Griff, I know that little kid looks SCARY doesn't she!"

Interesting question though, and one I hadn't really thought about. This is why I love taking video, so I can really learn from the situation and watch back and catch things I didn't see the first time around. Would love to hear others thoughts on the use of interrupter, "correction" words?

Moaning Mudi and Brotherly Love

2011-03-09T05:23:00.000-08:00

This is pretty funny stuff. I have been working non-stop on the final stages of my dissertation and between that, and all of the rain we have had here lately, Griff and Sophia have gotten less exercise than typical. I noticed how true this was last night, when I was typing away, and Griff took it upon himself to be HIGHLY annoying! This little interaction struck me as such a clear example of the "annoying little brother" trying to get Sophia to give up her toy. It reminded me of growing up with my brother and sister, where one of us would stand RIGHT next to the other, yammering... "I'm not touching you, I'm not touching you, I'm not touching you..." Also, I don't think I've ever had a dog who moaned quite like this. Dogs make all kinds of funky noises, and I am sure there are others out there who have heard this, but Griff is my first to be quite so vocal. Hah, this gave me a little chuckle, certainly made the dissertation writing a little more humorous! Enjoy!

Online Disc Dog Training?

2011-03-07T15:24:00.000-08:00

What are your thoughts on an online dog training course? Interesting concept. How does it work? Well, similar to how I am always video taping and posting training sessions, and how many of us religiously follow Kikopup's training videos on You Tube, the crew at Pawsitive Vybe, "Dog Training, Performance and Art" are putting their own twist on the concept of online training modules. My friend Perry and I have done a lot of brainstorming and you tube searching in the hopes of finding well developing training videos for teaching disc dog work. Surprisingly, we didn't come up with a whole lot. You can see Perry, Marisa and I working through the steps of teaching Griff to actually catch the frizz a few months ago in the video, "Griff first frisbee catch."

Since then, he has become more and more proficient at catching the from the air, but I want to know more. I want to learn what the disc dog people know, how they teach it and how they build their craft. I had a solid "re-set" on Griff, where I could send him around my back to prepare and set up for the next catch, but a fellow Mudi owner pointed out that by teaching Griff to do that, I was also breaking one of the cardinal rules of foundation agility work, which is we do not want our dogs to cut behind us! Yikes! Low and behold, when I moved on to doing foundation jump work (sending around a cone) there were a few times when Griff cut behind me... and I thought to myself, whoops, I totally taught him how to do that! Anwyay, the guys Pawsitive Vybe have developed a great online course for those of us who don't have access to disc dog trainers. There are different levels of "membership" and with those levels come conference calls, skype sessions with the intstructor and fellow students, AND (this is the BEST part) video analysis of your disc work sessions! Very cool! Brining a whole new twist to distance learning, I love it!

Jenn Crank Seminar with Sophia

2011-03-03T18:57:00.000-08:00

Finally getting around to posting about the Jenn Crank seminar that I did with Sophia last month! Griff-ster is so high maintenance sometimes, that Soph doesn't get her fair shake at blog posts. I swear I do train with both of them pretty equally! Also, as with any seminar presenter, I always ask for permission before posting videos or commentary about what we learned. Due to intellectual property rights, its always a good idea to ask first. *Both this post and the video were posted with permission.

Last month, we had a great opportunity when Jenn Crank came to y2k9's for a seminar! We did the novice/green dog working day, and this was a great fit. Sophia is not entirely green, and neither am I at this point... but together, we are still pretty much still in the newbie category. The other handlers in the seminar were masters handlers, with baby green dogs. This was the best of both worlds because I was able to work confidently with Sophia, but watch all the baby dogs work with their experienced handlers and learn about what I need to do with Griff! Because my start with Sophia was so unorganized and spotty, we have a lot of gaps to fill in too.

So what did we learn? LOTS of good stuff! Jenn is a great instructor. She not only knows her craft very, very well, but she is able to communicate that information effectively. It's one thing to be a talented dog trainer, but it's quite another to also be able to teach other people how to train their dogs. She presented the information systematically and clearly. She started by reminding us what a handling "system" even is.

Basically, a "system" is just a set of guidelines or framework that help us communicate clearly and consistently with our dogs. It's an over arching framework that provides structure to that communication system. I think at the end of the day, each and every one of us have our own "system" that we use with our own dogs. Yes, we may prescribe to general principles, but we use those in a way that makes sense to us and our dogs. Because if it doesn't make sense to us and our dogs, it is not doing anything to help us communicate effectively with our dogs. So, that's my take on what a system even is. Right or wrong, that makes sense to me.

Now, having said that, I learned that Linda Mecklenburg (which is who Jenn was mentored by) uses a "Motion Based Handling System." What the heck does that mean? Well, I had some clue, because I had read some books and listened closely when other people were talking about it and had seen enough dogs trained with this type of system (without even knowing that's what I was watching) that I had a general sense of what a motion based handling system was. In Linda's case, she calls it "Awesome Paws Handling System." If I am perfectly honest, I don't think I can articulate how Linda's system differs from Greg Derret's system... but I am learning. I think the major difference is that Linda's system is motion based and Greg's system (which I think is what Susan Garrett uses?) is more position based. Thanks to my Clean Run subscription and Agility Nerd Website, I am figuring this all out.

What I now CAN articulate (thanks to Jenn's clear and comprehensive instruction) is what a motion based handling system really is. The big picture idea is that in this type of system, MOTION is the biggest cue that we use to communicate with our dogs. In addition to motion, the cues are:

Motion
Location
Shoulders
Eye Contact
Hand
Verbal

The first four cues are natural (body cues) and the last two cues are trained cues (verbal signals and hand signals.) My hand writing was a little fuzzy on my note pad here, so I emailed Jenn to get some help clarifying this: location and position are the same thing, just called different things by different systems. Motion is the strongest, natural cue and it is followed by the others. The four natural cues are stronger than the two trained cues.

From what I gather, communicating with your dog with this type of system is all about the balance of the cues. Really the ratio of the cues that are telling the dog to go forward, versus those that are telling the dog to stop/turn/slow down. To be really clear with your dog, you want to have a distinct load on one side of the ratio, so that the signal is really obvious. A 4:1 ratio: where there are FOUR cues that are telling the dog to go forward (i.e. the 4 forward cues you might use are 1) running forward, 2) position on the landing side of the jump, 3) shoulders facing forward, 4) saying "go jump" VERSUS one cue that is contradictory for example looking at the dog (instead of looking forward).... there is a 4:1 ratio in that handling sequence. This makes it very clear to my dog what we are going to do next on course. If my ratio was 3:3, it would be much less clear to my dog what I want from her. Whew, that was exhausting just to write.... I hope I got it right. If not, well, this is what I got from it. Actually, going through my notes and re-writing about what I learned, is really helpful!

With Jenn, we worked on understanding the framework noted above and did some handling on the flat and some basic crosses and turns. I know I do these with Sophia all the time, but it was helpful to see how she teaches these skills from the ground up. Some quick comments and "take home" messages from Jenn:

When introducing new skills with green or novice dogs, remember to stick to ONE CHALLENGE sequences. If you are teaching a new skill, focus on that new skill. Don't ask your dog to execute a sequence that has three or four new skills all in one. Not fair to the dog, not fair to you.
Only begin to teach sendsonce the dog is confidently and independently completing obstacles. Jenn will not begin using sends in competition until her dogs are competing at the advanced levels in agility. She wants to make sure dog is confident and understands the communication system, before asking for a skill that provides less information to the dog (with a send, you are not using location to be near the obstacle, because you are sending it to the obstacle)
How do we cue a turn? Deceleration and lateral movement. Deceleration has to occur before the point of commitment.

I do have a quick video that gives a sneak peek of what we did with Jenn. Due to intellectual property rights, and respect for her work, I am not showing Jenn instructing or any of her actual lectures. If you are interested in THAT information, you have to go to right to the source :) Her list of seminars can all be found on her website.

Nose Work Success! Way to go Griff!

2011-02-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

So Griff and I have been taking an odor detection & nose work class for the last couple of weeks. I have been doing a lot of this work with him at home (and other familiar settings) without boxes, just doing a match to sample search... mostly with my keys and phone which I seem to loose a lot! Anyway, Griff and I had an "ah-ha" moment last week and I am really proud of him! Quick reminder: we have been working closely with Leslie McDevitt at our training club here, and about 5-6 weeks ago, Leslie and I did a private consult and she said got me started on using "distance" from "scary thing" as his primary reinforcer. Distance was the biggest reinforcer for Griff and it made a lot of sense. So I have been working "the program" which Leslie and I conceptualized as a combination of all her CU work (we have been in her CU class) with the addition of BAT, and use LAT w/ BAT.

So Leslie and I happen to also take this nose work class together. As I said before, I had been doing scent detection work at home with Griff and he is really good at it. This has actually become a "fun trick" that I show to family members if he is a little uncertain of the situation. Well, as you can imagine, nose work class was intended to be a good opportunity for socializing him, building confidence, a developing our team relationship. Perhaps not all that surprising, the actual CLASS setting was much harder for him. The class is just four sessions long, but with an off week in between each session for practice. I am going to be completely honest and tell you that week one, Griff was not successful. He was stressed, I was stressed, I was upset by him being upset, and together we were a hot mess.

The goal is to work the dogs off leash, and during that first class, against my better judgement, I let him off leash to work and he was totally freaked out. I didn't have the leash to help me bring him back in and support him and he couldn't work. He barked at the instructor (and anyone else who had the "gall" to watch him and he was just really stressed.) So after that first class, Leslie and I met privately and did some brainstorming. (Ha - after I did some deep breathing and relaxing myself...) I have been working the BAT program pretty hard for the past 6 weeks.

So, Tuesday night last week was our third nose work class, and Griff was a ROCK STAR! I used a lot of my BAT/CU/LAT techniques and after a few series of BAT in the beginning of the class, he didn't indicate he needed them as frequently. It was as if he drew comfort and confidence in knowing that he COULD use it if he had to. So the first round, I leave him on leash (dragging the leash) so I could help if needed. He was focused, and worked well. The second turn, I decided to take him off leash, and he was a CHAMP! There were people watching, including the woman instructor who freaked him out a few weeks before. There was one moment, where he was searching the boxes (and had started to move out beyond the boxes to search the room too) and there was one moment that he got close to a group of people (including the woman) He stopped, looked at her for a few moments, (information gathering) and then literally, just turned away and went back to searching. I WAS SHOCKED! and so so so excited to see him use the tools on his own. I think the combination of the techniques, with the confidence he has in detection work has been HUGE for him. I seriously found myself getting a little choked up because I was so proud of him.

The story does get better. For those of you who know Leslie personally, you know that she doesn't mince words. She is straight forward and calls it like she sees it (which I love!) she is very honest and very frank and will tell people what needs to be done to help a dog. She doesn't beat around the bush and won't tell you things "look good" if they don't. But she came up to me once I put him back in the crate and said, "Oh my god, that is absolutely THE most relaxed I have ever seen him in this building!"

There are so many frustrating days with a dog like Griff and the little glimmers of hope are what keep you going. Last Tuesday was definitely one of those moments that I will file away in my memory bank, and be sure to remember the next time I feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and confused about how I can help make this awesome little dog be as successful and happy as possible!

For more information about Nose Work and Odor Detection, check out this k9 nose work website and the National Association of Canine Scent Work for more information!

100 Sled Dogs Slaughtered in Canada?!

2011-02-27T21:49:00.000-08:00

This makes me sick. I had to share this story after I came across this information. I was doing some research on harnesses for Griff. I found this great company called Howling Dog Alaska. I was really excited about their product and getting ready to order Griff a new harness when I saw this note saying "Those of us here at Howling Dog Alaska were stunned to hear the tragic news about the dogs slaughtered by Howling Dog Tours Whistler Inc. of Whistler, B.C.. We want everybody to know that Howling Dog Alaska & Howling Dog Enterprises have no connection to Howling Dog Tours Whistler Inc. whatsoever. We are just as horrified as you are to learn about this news and are deeply saddened." I was completely shocked when I read this and re-read it a few times just to make sure I read it correctly!

I of course then did a google search for "Howling Dog Tours in Whistler" and learned that this was in fact a true story! The short version of the story is this: In April 2010, some time after the Olympics in Vancouver, a sled dog company found their business drop off considerably. They had too many sled dogs for the amount of business they were doing and apparently could not find homes for the dogs. So the owner of the business required an employee to shoot all of the dogs. The only reason this story ever even came to anyone's attention was because that employee, Bob Fawcett filed a worker's compensation case because he had developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being forced to shoot the dogs in cold blood.

This particular quote, from the Vancouver Sun newspaper, literally made me sick to my stomach: "The first significant incident occurred when he noticed a female, Nora, who he had shot approximately 20 minutes before, was crawling around in the mass grave he had dug for the animals. He had to climb down into the grave amidst the 10 or so bodies already there and put her out of her misery....He also had to perform what he describes as execution style killings where he wrestled the dogs to the ground and stood on them with one foot to shoot them." Yuck, yuck, yuck - AND mad as hell. To read more about this horrific story, see this article at NowPublic.com Outdoor Adventures Whistler: Sled Dog Slaughter?

Relaxation Protocol - Attempt #2

2011-02-23T17:46:00.000-08:00

Ok, so after a complete bust with the relaxation protocol and mat work, we have gone back to square one with the primary goal to be inducing relaxation in Griff. After watching my first video, and getting a bunch of great input from fellow dog lovers... I was giving all of the cues for a "working session." Standing up, staring at Griff, treats and clicker in hand.... and then getting frustrated when he wouldn't relax! Ha - everything about MY OWN body language said work, NOT relax!

So, I have been trying to become more in tune to my own state of calm and relaxation because I know that this absolutely has an impact on Griff. So, in this second video, you see us both doing "pre-day one" relaxation work. I don't even bring the mat out at this point. Instead, I just focus on connecting with Griff, using t-touch and modulating my own breathing. I am also playing "Through a Dog's Ear" in the background to help us BOTH move into a state of relaxation. The whole session lasted about 15-20 minutes, and you can see how fidgety he is and how difficult it is for him to settle. Interestingly, Sophia makes a visit in the last 30 seconds of the video, and in less than 10 seconds, she is relaxed, on her back, enjoying herself. Would love any feedback or suggestions!

On another quick note, wanted to share a new Kikopup video that I am enjoying. I have been working the BAT protocol with Griff (more on that later) and am incorporating Emily's "positive interrupter" as a way to help Griff disengage if he is becoming fixated or overly concerned with someone. I really like how she explains it in this video. Another home run for Kikopup!

Griff learning Flyball!

2011-02-21T17:59:00.000-08:00

Well, sort of learning flyball. Actually, he hasn't learned the HARDEST part of flyball, which I think is teaching a good box turn... but he apparently really digs the jump lanes! The other night, after Sophia's agility class, my friends and I played around in the flyball building. They happened to have a jump chute set up (6 jumps) with gates up. Griff has never, ever seen a jump grid (agility jump grid or flyball grid) so we decided to let him play. My friend Perry held him and we basically did a restrained recall over the jumps! He seemed to really dig it! Will add "teaching flyball box turn" to the list of one hundred other things I have to teach him! Ah, add it to the list :)

Favorite Training Videos: Vote for Finalist!

2011-02-19T21:31:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you guys, but I know personally that you tube and online training videos have improved my skill set exponentially when it comes to dog training. The advent of using the Internet for information exchange has truly changed the technology when it comes to dissemination of information. Having instant access to Silvia Trkman half way across the world, or Kikopup (Emily Larlham) clear across the country, or countless of the other hundreds of talented and gifted dog trainers and animal lovers around the world has been a gift. Karen Pryor and the folks over at ClickerExpo and Karen Pryor Academy are in the final stages of announcing the 2011 Canis Film Festival Finalists. So, be sure to vote for your favorite! I'm having a hard time deciding between the "Power of Premack" and "Match to Sample." The total nerd in me loves the how the woman in the Premack video demonstrates the principal so simplistically... but the Match to Sample video is a training challenge I want to take on! Vote for your favorite today! Winners will be announced at the end of March at the ClickerExpo in Chicago!

First BAT video (Behavior Adjustment Training) with Griff

2011-02-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, I did a BAT training session that I was able to get on tape. Just as a quick reminder, BAT is Behavioral Adjustment Training and comes from Grisha Stewart's work on Fearful dogs. BAT using the release of pressure (social pressure that Griff finds aversive) and uses retreat, as the highest valued reward. The way I use it, BAT also incorporates Leslie McDevitt's "Look at That" as the key, click-able moment. If Griff offers any calming, behavior directed at the "scary thing" (the decoy person) he is rewarded with a click, retreat, and food reward at a distance. This could include a glance, a yawn, a scratch, sniffing the ground...really anything that qualifies as as a calm, non-reactive, explosive, barking event. Interestingly, in this video, Griff did not seem as bothered by our decoy. I think that's because he has a history of working in this video. He perceives it as a safe place, and while he has never directly met our decoy, he is familiar with her. She is in our agility class, and he knows that she is around. I liken BAT training to any other "social skills training" that can be taught.

One of the complaints or concerns that people have is how does this translate to "real life" or non-set up situation. It's a good question, and not always an easy one to answer. But the way I see it, this is social skills training. I need to do a number of repetitions with "decoy set ups" (where he experiences success) in different settings, different types of people and really proof the rule set as much as I can. Because what I am really teaching him is a "new set of rules" (rule set) for what he can do in stressful social interactions. Much like I would teach a child on the spectrum a "script" for social settings, this is what I am doing with Griff. The hope is that once the child can trust or rely on the "script" they can use it in new, novel situations. The more repetitions that Griff has that are successful, the more he can rely on this script as a "go-to" for stressful situations. This takes time, and like anything else, practice! Will keep you updated on our progress!

Griff's litter mate Hékás rocking the tricks!

2011-02-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Check out Griff's litter mate (G-Litter) Irhaberki Gurulj Hékás doing a great trick/dancing dog routine! Hékás looks like a great little working dog, and what really shines through in this video, is his awesome, playful, positive relationship with his owner Krisztina Ochtinszky. I think she is speaking Hungarian (I am pretty sure she lives in Hungary) and it's fun to watch them interact, when you don't even know what she is saying. The cadence and tone of her voice that shows the fun and joy they are having together! Also, I think he is a brave little guy! Check out this video below! I thought at first he fell down the slide the first time by accident, but he went up onto the play ground for round two! Lots of fun... and those barks are familiar! Griff obviously grew up hearing a different language, and I swear when I started playing the video (particularly with the dog cues on it) his head perked right up, he did the old "head tilt" at the computer and was definitely curious! I wonder if dogs remember that kind of stuff? Sounds like another question for the Canine Cognition Lab at Harvard!

Winter Play Day in the Cornfield!

2011-02-13T20:16:00.000-08:00

I took Griff and Sophia to "our" cornfield across the street for some much needed puppy run! After a long week, he was really pumped to have the cornfield play ground to himself. Sophia was easy to lose, because it is literally a couple hundred acres big, and she blends in with the snow! Anyway, it was fun to get them out and running around, and I just enjoy being in such a big space. Sophia is always a little bit in awe when we go over there, because it is certainly a long way from her days romping in Central Park! If anyone is passing through Central PA and wants a good spot for dog running, this is it! Well, at least until they plant the corn and it starts to grow... then I would REALLY lose Soph!

On another note, I want to thank everyone for the awesome dialogue around the Relaxation Protocol! Very helpful to have the brainstorming going on! Much appreciated.

Relaxation Protcol Day One - FAILURE!

2011-02-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

I first learned about the Relaxation Protocol in Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed Book. I read it, but also sort of read over it, because I didn't think I had the time or the skill to do it. Now though, I am realizing how important that relaxation protocol is to the whole foundation of the work I am doing with Griff. The Relaxation Protocol was developed by vet behaviorist, Dr. Karen Overall. The program is basically the foundation work for any future counter conditioning and desensitization training. It's a systematic behavioral modification program that teaches the dog to relax and stay calm with increasingly intense distractions. It is a slow process and starts by building the behavior in the home, where the dog is most comfortable. Once the dog clearly understands, and can rely on what I will call his "script or game plan for being calm" then you can take the show on the road.

The relaxation training is essentially what I do when I work with traumatized kids using Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Before we ever get to the point where we process the trauma (which would be like the dog facing the traumatic/scary things) I build up all of there self-regulation skills. This includes relaxation training, progressive muscle relaxation and general distress tolerance. I would never want to expose a traumatized child, or my fearful dog, to a stimulus that incites a fearful response (heightened anxiety, hyper-vigilance etc.) without giving them the tools and skills they need first, to manage that situation. Here is a great, comprehensive description of the Relaxation Protocol on Dog Scouts. Our friend, Roxanne Hawn, over at Champion of my Heart also developed Audio files of the Relaxation Protocol. These free, down loadable mp3 files really make the Relaxation Protocol a little less intimidating and manageable.

So I finally decided to really dedicate some time to teaching Griff the RP. Well, in all honesty, we basically BOMBED day one of the Relaxation Protocol. I had no idea this would be so difficult! I spend so much time teaching him tricks, games, high energy thinking activities, (all which I believe he truly does need to channel his energy) but everything about the Relaxation Protocol is the exact opposite of the energetic training we normally do. This will definitely take some time. You can see from the video what a difficult time we are both having.

Any suggestions on how to get him to turn off the working mode, to "work" on the Relaxation Protocol would be greatly appreciated! He turns on and off easily at home... "work/play" and "sleep/nap/relax" are definitely things that he can easily distinguish between and switch back and forth between. I assure you, he is NOT a dog who is on the go at all times. But when I bring out treats, clicker and start a training session, he absolutely "turns on." So, I need help! How do we get our dogs to "turn off" so they can learn the Relaxation Protocol. Basically, I think I need to spend a lot of time doing pre-day 1 relaxation training. I have to build his skill set, so he is actually prepared to learn this stuff. Any other suggestions, ideas, comments would be greatly appreciated!

New Game Plan for Griff!

2011-02-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

So, one of the great things about taking videos of your training sessions, is so that you (and others) can brainstorm when you hit a wall. Awhile back, I had made a few videos of Griff doing Control Unleashed exercises. I shared them with Leslie McDevitt and there were a few things she noticed.... particularly around my choice of "play" as a reinforcer, and more specifically, how I was using it. I substituted play for treats (because Griff doesn't really like to work for food in these situations) but what I was missing was that his reluctance to take food was more about him NOT being sub-threshold. I was taking his engaging in tugging as information that indicating he was not in a fearful state.... because I believed fear to be incompatible with play. And it is. But, the way I see it, it is only incompatible, if what you are seeing is true play. True play reflects a different inner emotional experience than fear. But what Griff was doing with me, was not true play... it was just a redirection of nervous, anxious energy. His tugging was simply re-direction of anxiety, not a reduction or elimination of anxiety. In enter Leslie, who very simply (and oh so accurately) pointed out that if the tugging and play were actually rewarding to Griff, the behaviors would have changed. Shocker; they haven't!

Leslie is good friends with Grisha Stewart, of Ahimsa Dog Training in Seattle. Grisha put a spin on the classic CAT (which is a pretty sterile protocol in and of itself) and modified it (using Leslie's Look at That Game) and developed BAT or "Behavioral Adjustment Training." As I noted above, we have figured out that the MOST rewarding thing for Griff (and many dogs who are so fearful) is not treats, toys or anything else tangible, but rather RETREAT. To GET AWAY from that scary thing he sees on his walk, is the highest, most valuable reward. So the concept is simple. If I see another person on the walk (and I sense Griff might have a reactive episode) turn around and walk in the opposite direction, the moment I see him offer a calm behavior. So if he looks at the scary person, doesn't bark, say yes or good boy and turn and walk away. You are rewarding the calm behavior (glancing at the person) with the highest value reward, which is to retreat and leave and get away. The basic concept is that you are teaching the dog that by offering calm (non-reactive behaviors) they (the dog) can actually control their environment (as opposed to barking, reacting, getting worked up and anxious in order to control things).There is a great handout, as well as videos and ton of other information on Grisha's website, Ahimsa Dog Training. I am attaching a few of the videos from the website for a sneak peak! As soon as I get things going, I will post some of the videos from Griff and I working on BAT too!

Pet Smart Advertising Job

2011-02-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post here. Do you have an adorable puppy between the ages of 10 weeks and four months, that would be able to sit on a piddle pad and look cute for a Pet Smart ad? If your interested in this paying job, send photos of your puppy to linda@bohm-marrazzo.com.

Interactive Doggy Puzzles on a Winter Day!

2011-02-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

I had another TWO days off this week due to the crazy winter weather here in Central PA! I have been struggling to figure out what I can do with Sophia and Griff to keep them active and happy while cooped up indoors. Interactive dog games like the Nina Ottoson Doggy Puzzles are a GREAT way to give your dog a mental work out. Really, any thing that you can come up with that makes your dog think, and use their brain (and or/nose) will provide a great mental work out. Our friends over at "Johann the Dog", have a great list of toys and games that would keep even the smartest Fido busy. If you don't want to spend the 25 - 55$ for an interactive toy, you can also try to make your own! That's just what the designers of the Amazing Treat Machine did. (Check out the video below).

With just a couple of card board boxes, empty water bottles, tennis balls, scissors and some creativity, you could give it a go and try make your own scent detection interactive toy. For example, this"Muffin Tin Game" looks easy enough. Get a muffin or cupcake pan, drop some smelly treats in each of the cupcake spots, and cover all of them up with a tennis ball. Check out the video of the muffin tin game, here. Or try getting some PVC pipe or used empty paper towel rolls, connect them with some duct tape and make a funky, weird shape with them.... then drop a ping pong ball in the "maze." Another option is to re-create Kong Wobbler, but getting a plastic container, cutting some holes in it, and putting some dog food in it, just like this crafty dog owner did (Tofu with his home made dog toy.) Kikopup has a great tutorial on how to do this, How to make an interactive dog toy. This Corgi seems to love the Peanut Butter Jar Toy his mom made him! And this German Shepherd is getting a work out with this Hidden Treat Ice Cube toy. I really love this one, and the Border Collie really seems to enjoy knocking the food out of his Water Bottle Swinging Toy!

What do YOU do with your dogs to keep them busy and occupied when you can't give them a lot of physical activity? Whether it's weather related, injury, or something else, it seems that creativity is the key!

Another Snow Day!

2011-02-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

Well, we have another snow day here in PA! This time, we have a one-two punch with snow, then a lot of freezing rain and ice. Roads are pretty bad, and there are inches of ice covering everything! The dogs are enjoying the time out side, and Griff thinks all of the snow is just fantastic! Sophia on the other hand... has her reservations. She does not like that she gets LOST in the snow... and that I insist on putting a blinking red light on her collar just so I don't lose her. Her coat get's all matted up with the snow and she kind of looks like the abominable snowman! I have found that playing frisbee in a foot of fresh snow is great exercise for Griff. He runs his hardest (sort of bouncing like a deer) and is always a little late, because the snow slows him down... but then he thrusts his head deep into the powder with such gusto and glee, it is hilarious! He comes up with a mouth full of snow, the frizz clenched in his teeth... and looking like a white faced mudi!

Y2K9's at the Dog Expo!

2011-01-27T18:03:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post with a short little video. Two weeks ago there was a big Dog Expo at the Philly Convention Center and y2k9's did a bunch of doggy demo's! I stopped by on Sunday and did a quick run with Sophia. There were a ton of people and it was great practice for both of us. I can tell you that we are a little rusty! I think she might have been a little tired too, the day before we did a full day seminar with Jen Crank at the club. It was a great seminar, and I will post more on that later. The other take away message from the day at the Expo, was I got to work with Griff in the big empty space next to the action of the expo. There were a bunch of fabric room dividers up, so he couldn't SEE all of the action, but he could hear it and feel it. It was a great opportunity for me to see where things are at... and, well it was a little discouraging to say the least. He was really worried, really anxious... not even barking and being reactive but just frozen. It was obvious to me within 30 seconds that I was pushing it and he was so past being sub-threshold, it wasn't even funny. I got him out of there pretty quickly and ended what seemed to be torture for him. The irony is, just the day before, at the Jen Crank Seminar he was such a good, brave boy! He quietly and calmly hung out in his crate during the whole seminar, watching high drive dogs work and was just such a gentleman. This is a good reminder that for every one step forward I make, it often feels like I take two steps back. I want to end this post on a positive note though and I have good reason to be optimistic. I started Griff in a new Nose Work class, and lucky me, one of the 4 people in the class is Leslie McDevitt. She has helped me with Griff before, but not in the last few months. After class, she graciously offered to stay with me and do a training/brainstorming session. She is brilliant and immediately pointed out a few things I was doing that were exacerbating the problem. We got those fixed and we even have a new game plan in place... more to come on that front!

Shelter Dogs and Homeless Teens Empower One Another

2011-01-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ever hear of a program, an idea, or a solution and think to yourself "BRILLIANT!" (Perhaps followed by "damn, why didn't I think of that...?") This is exactly what I was thinking when I heard about Hand2Paw. Hand2Paw is the solution that 20 year old, U-PENN college student, Rachel Cohen, came up with after years of volunteering at PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) in Philadelphia. Just over a year ago, PAWS decided to open a new Wellness Clinic that would provide low cost spay and neuters located in the Grays Ferry Neighborhood of Philadelphia. The clinic doors opened in March of 2010 with the intention of serving pet owners who have difficulty accessing basic veterinary care, as well as rescue organizations who needed somewhere to go for affordable spay and neuters. The only problem with getting the Wellness Clinic off the ground was that it was woefully understaffed and an army of volunteers was needed to keep it up and running. Rachel candidly notes, "I decided to create a unique synergistic solution to the problem by combining the ideas behind Back On My Feet and Puppies Behind Bars. Covenant House (the youth homeless shelter) was sold from day one."

So what exactly is it? Hand2Paw brings homeless youth from the Covenant House, together with the homeless animals at PAWS, with the hope of educating and empowering both. Covenant House is a homeless youth center serving teenagers and young adults in Philadelphia. Youth between the ages of 18-22 are eligible to work as volunteers and interns at PAWS, where they spend time socializing, caring for and even training the homeless dogs and cats. In fact, recently Rachel was awarded a grant that allowed Hand2Paw to hire a certified dog trainer, Carol Siegrist, who has provided even more "value added" to all of the participants, of both the two legged and four legged variety. The youth learn valuable job training skills that could be used to secure employment in the future and the dogs receive valuable training and socialization that makes them more adoptable. The program is just over a year old, and 85 youth and over a 1,000 animals have been served. There is even a wait list for the program at the shelter!

This is the ultimate solution in terms of creative problem solving and from a community psychology perspective, it's a jack pot! Two under-served groups, that have something to offer one another. Aside from the skills that both the kids and the dogs and cats develop... there is of course that intangible thing called unconditional love. The human-animal bond is at work again here and both the youth and the animals get to walk away knowing that they have felt the love, warmth, care and kindness from another being. A gift that will stay with both, long after the walk is over. It doesn't get much better than that.

Rachel has big plans for the Hand2Paws program. Before the heads down the path of vet school or med school, she wants to take some time to dedicate herself to growing and supporting Hand2Paw. When asked about the big picture impact of the program, Rachel reports, "I hope it will help the shelters by increasing the adoptability of the animals, and as for the kids, I hope that it can provide them with the professional skills and support that they need to transition into adult life. I have witnessed Hand2Paw's power to transform youth from withdrawn to elated in minutes, and I have watched some youth grow immensely in terms of maturity and confidence as they have worked with the animals."

How can you help? Rachel has been nominated for a Service Award Grant which would help fund additional paid internships for the youth involved. This would provide some much needed funding for the program and you can vote as many times as your want! Check out Do Something.Org for more information!

Sophia is a Smarty Pants!

2011-01-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

With all of the new puppy fun, I have not done a great job of showing off Little Miss Sophia's brilliance! I have done a bunch of trick training with her, and everything that Griff has learned, so has she. (Often with more thoughtfulness and clarity too I might add...) She also is the lucky girl that gets to go to agility class EVERY week (literally every week since I moved back to PA, so almost 7 months) at Y2K9's with Rosie Sutheland. She really has been coming along so well. Her weaves are rockin', she is gaining a lot of confidence on the dog walk, and she is just doing awesome. In fact, this coming weekend we are doing a Jenn Crank seminar, just for Sophia! Anyway, I just wanted to show off a quick trick... that she LITERALLY learned in this one session! This is why I love clicker training, because it makes problem solving dogs and real thinkers! So here it is, Sophia's new trick "scooch back." She's just the best, I love her!

New Trick Training Videos and Griff's First Frisbee Catch!

2011-01-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

Here are a few videos that I have taken over the last few days (plus an older one) that I have been meaning to put on YouTube. I finally set some time aside this evening and got it done!

My favorite is the frisbee catch. I have to admit, I sort of took for granted that Griff would just magically learn how to catch the frizz in his mouth. Um, I am not entirely sure where I got that idea from... but it was there. I asked a few of my dog training friends how they taught their dog to catch the frizz and many of them said, "Oh I don't know, he/she just picked it up along the way." Well, that wasn't good enough for me and I was annoyed that Griff had not yet just "picked it up along the way." (Yes patience is one of my goals for 2011) So after doing some research with my disc dog friends (now THEY really know how to teach a dog to catch a frizz) and getting some help from my friends Perry and Marisa (Philly Dog Training) we actually taught Griff to catch the frizz. Another "duh" moment for me. Hm, you want your dog to catch a frizz, guess what, you have to teach them how. Novel idea right! Oh, one other thing... you have to PRACTICE throwing the frisbee before you work on it with your dog! I was throwing HORRIBLY in this video, which did not make it easy for him to catch it. So piece of advice, practice sans dog first!

Speaking of teaching dogs new things, I love Griff's latest trick, "Be Shy." I really have to make sure I give my friend Perry DeWitt (BB Tricksters on YouTube) credit for that one. She babysat Griff for me a few weeks ago when I was out of town and taught him this trick! She has an unconventional (but oh so effective) way of teaching this. Be sure to check out the video for details!

Two more extra videos just for fun! One is an older one from Griff playing with tunnels at our training club and the other is Griff and Porkie the bull dog playing! I babysat my sisters dog, Porkie over New Years and it was fun to watch the two different breeds types play!

New Years Resolution: Foundation Jump Work

2011-01-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

First Jump Work Assessment - 6 months old

Second Jump Work Assessment - 8 months old
Happy New Years! Wow, I can't believe it's already 2011 and on December 31st, Griff turned 8 months old! Boy does time fly! Of course, with the New Year, comes new convictions and resolutions. I have a long list of New Years resolutions but there are two big ones in particular. First, get to more trial's with Sophia. She has been kicking butt in training, and our former nemesis, the weave poles, are really coming along. I know she has it in her to be super star agility dog, and a stand out Agility Bichon! I just have to get my butt into gear and get her to the trials so she can strut her stuff.

My second big resolution, is to get Griff going with his jump work training. Part of my challenge has been thinking about WHAT jump work training to even do! Griff is the first dog I got, with agility in mind. So I never did true foundation jump work with Sophia (and now that I know more about jump form, I wish I had!) but I am going to put the time in to develop Griff "the right way" (whatever that really means...) So, the big names in jump work are Susan Salo and Linda Mecklenberg (plus I love Silvia's Jump Work and Susan Garrett has great jump training information out too...) I'd love to get to one of their seminars, but in the mean time, I am training jump work with the help my local coach Rosie Sutheland, and a few of my agility friends who can help me analyze video tape. I am ALSO tapping into another great resource, my Mom! Why my mom? My mom had an outstanding professional career as a horsewoman. She competed at the highest levels in grand prix jumping and has an unbelievable eye. She has pointed things out to me that I would have totally missed! My sister and I also grew up around horses, rode ponies and then junior jumpers competatively and have a pretty good idea of what it takes to jump. I know about collection and extension, and know what is "supposed" to look like. Now the challenge will be figuring out how to train it (not from the back of my horse) but standing next to my pup.

Linda Mecklenburg's Book "Developing Jumping Skills for Awesome Agility Dogs" has been an invaluable resource so far. One thing Linda addresses, as do others, is WHEN do you start. The bottom line with this, is that everyone seems to have a different opinion! Many people suggest you should absolutely not start jump work until after the dog is at least 1 year of age, with the hope that their growth plates are closed by then. Others suggest that jump work done with no height (like Susan Salo's jump bumps on the ground) is fine, and still others evaluate "readiness" on an individual basis. My thought for now is that I need to look to my individual dog, with a dose of common sense, to guide the jump training time line. I can tell you, without a doubt, that Griff does some CRAZY, WACKY (sometimes scary) stuff with his body on a daily basis. Jumping from ottoman to couch, flinging himself over a creek bed... all of these things he does regularly with puppy gusto. I try to get him out and keep him active in all sorts of nature type experiences, and he regularly does athletic and perhaps damaging things to his body. So, I am not of the mind to think that one training session of jump work on a 12 inch jump will seriously damage him in any way. That being said, consistent, repetitous pounding on the joints, (by doing one exercise over and over again) could be detrimental.

Many of you know that I am a big fan of Silvia Trkman's. I am sort of following her mantra with jump training. She is not overly systematic or obsessively formulaic. She teaches cik&cap (tight left and right turn around a jump standard) to her puppies very early on, and then is actually doing small agility courses (with bars on the ground) by 6 months old! If you check out her youtube page (see link on her website, found on my list of favorites) you can see her newest pup doing all sorts of cool things on mini-courses.

So, with the input of some trusted agility mentors, I decided to do a brief assessment of Griff at 6 months of age, just to get a sense of where he was at physically in terms of his ability to actually navigate the exercises. Based on what I saw there, I decided he wasn't physically (or mentally) ready to do the sustained effort required for jump work, and decided to revisit it 2 months later. So just a few days ago, when he turned 8 months old, we went back for round two with a basic jump work exercise. I see him being much more physically able now than he was before, it's amazing what 2 months can do in terms of maturity.

The exercise you see us doing is one of the basics from Linda Mecklenburg's book, and focuses on the dog using his rear end to load the power, and propel himself up and over the jump. You don't want the dog using his front end to pump himself over, but rather, you are looking for the rock back on the hind quarters, which loads the power in the rear, which is what drives the jumping effort. Of course, the front end is very much involved. Front end needs to tuck the front legs neatly up underneath the shoulders and drive the head set and shoulder set down the landing side of the jump. You really want your dog focusing his attention at the ground on the landing side, which encourages the rounded, jumping arc. If the dogs attention is up by the standing handler, he is more likely to jump in an inverted style. (This is just on a one jump exercise, of course, once the dog knows how to correctly jump, you do want them look at where they are going next on course.) In this basic exercise I am just sitting in a neutral position next to the jump standard and using my clicker, getting Griff to offer jumping back and forth over the bar. You can see in the first video, which was literally our first try at the exercise, that I had to start by luring him over, so he could get the hang of it. He also gave me a lot of information that he WAS NOT READY TO CONTINUE WITH THE JUMP WORK AT 6 months of age.

It is important that everyone understands that the first jump session at 6 months of age, was simply intended to be a one time shot, assessment session. I literally did zero jump work for 2 months, until a few days ago. Now, two months later, he is much more confident in his efforts. He can use himself more efficiently, and is able to problem solve through the exercise. Despite this, even at 8 months, it is clear to me that this takes mental effort. It involves problem solving, and physical exertion, and the coordination of both the mental and physical capacities! He was exhausted after this session, and this is part of why the session is so short. When I do move forward with jump work, this type of stuff will likely only be done 1-2 times per week, and for no more than 5 minutes per session.

So, the question is this, where do we go from here? Does he look physically able to continue with this type of jump work? Should I alternate between this and more of Susan Salo's jump bump stuff, which focuses more on him propelling himself forward and finding the appropriate set point, or take off point? Any suggestions from you more knowledgeable agility people would truly be helpful!

The 12 Days of Christmas...

2010-12-29T16:56:00.000-08:00

First of all, I hope everyone had a VERY Merry Christmas! The pictures above are just a few of my "Christmas Card Torture" series where I bribed Griff and Sophia to pose for our Christmas card picture. They just make me laugh, which is why I posted them :) Anyway, over the Christmas holiday I traveled with my family and enjoyed some time down South. Sophia came with me, but Griff had to stay at home. I was bummed to miss his FIRST Christmas AND first blizzard! He was in good hands with my good friend Marisa though, and he had some great experiences with her 3 dogs and her family. As I have mentioned before, Griff and I were taking a Trick Training Class at Y2K9's with Cindy Otto, DVM. Cindy is trick trainer extraordinaire and she even does a "Trick of the Month" video series! For Christmas, Cindy did "The 12 Days of Christmas..." and BOTH Sophia and Griff made the final cut! Check out her video below. Sophia makes her cameo around the "10th Day of Christmas..." (Time 1:08) and Griff makes his appearance around the "3rd Day of Christmas... "(Time 4:06) I love seeing all of these tricksters doing their thing!

Doggy Christmas Pictures....

2010-12-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

From L to R. Cassie, 11 year old Rottie. Griff, 7 month old Mudi, Bella, 3 yr. old Bichon, Sophia, 4 yr. old Bichon and finally Miss Porkie, 2 yr old English Bulldog!

Oh boy, if any of you love your dogs as much as I do, you probably at least TRY to get them all together for "THE" Christmas picture. Well, on Sunday afternoon, I roped my sister and mom into helping me get all five of our dogs sitting together in their new doggy coats, posing for our Christmas picture. Let's just say it was QUITE the production. Thank goodness for my assistants and lots of treats. Above, you can see the final shot... the best one and the one that we will use for our Christmas cards. Now, here is the kicker... I took about fifty images in about 15 minutes, but after ALL of that begging and pleading, it was the VERY FIRST IMAGE that we ended up choosing as the best! Go figure! Ha, oh well! I am adding some of the "bloopers" below for your enjoyment :) Also, check out the Foggy Mountain Dog Coat website, where we bought all of our very fancy looking matching dog coats. Would love to see your Holiday pictures and any bloopers... feel free to share! I love Cassie (the Rottie) in the one picture where she was laying down... about half way through she looked at me and was like "Listen, I'm old, I'm tired, I have had enough of this crap..." Hilarious!

Quick Trick Update! Fun with Griff, and Bichon Bella Makes her Debut!

2010-12-15T17:12:00.000-08:00

This is just a quick trick update! A few of our readers know that Griff and I have been taking an awesome trick class with Cindy Otto at y2k9's Canine Sport Club! The great thing about tricks is that it builds confidence and also builds relationships! I have Silvia Trkman's "Trick Video" on my Christmas list for that very reason! Part of what makes trick training so much fun is that it helps get you thinking creatively about using every day things, in new and inventive way! In fact, I used a lot of trick training foundation work to capture the image for our Christmas card this year... (will be sharing that when we get closer to the 25th!) Here are two quick videos where I teach Griff and BELLA to do a trick with a suitecase! The great thing about Miss Bella is CH. Whitebred's Diamond in a Pearl, an accomplished confirmation bitch. Brains and beauty, I love it! On a side note, I want to clarify that I have written before, there are many pro's and con's to the AKC. With a breed like the Bichon, (a non-working dog) I see LESS of a problem with the development of the confirmation and working lines, that appear to be almost two different dogs(i.e Border Collie.) Tricks are a quick and dirty way to get some training in and keep your dogs happy and stimulated. What fun tricks have you been working on during this busy holiday season?

Control Unleashed During the Holiday Season!

2010-12-08T17:47:00.000-08:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but the holiday season is one of my MOST favorite! It also provides me with innumerable opportunities to socialize my dogs, and educate friends and family about my dogs. As much as us humans enjoy the holiday season, for our dogs, it can be a really stressful experience. Even for the most well adjusted pooch, the comings and goings, busy schedules, Christmas trees and decorations are all a whirlwind for our four legged friends. Sophia is a pretty happy go lucky kind of girl and she seems to enjoy all of the people that come and go during the Christmas season. We visit friends, travel, spend time with my family, and she just goes with the flow. I still take time to educate all of the little ones (and big ones...) about how to appropriately interact with, how to leave her alone in her crate, how to make her sit for a treat and so on...

Now, Griff on the other hand is almost the exact opposite. If he never saw another person again, he would be just peachy. Helping him feel safe and secure around unfamiliar people is an ongoing challenge, and if you've read the blog in the past, you know that I am always working on this. During this busy holiday season (and all of the time in reality) I use a lot of the Control Unleashed principles, as well as a number of other concepts from learning theory, behavior management and fear reactivity with Griff. While I was home for Thanksgiving, I actually had my video camera nearby for two awesome learning opportunities. I have always tried to show and talk about my most authentic experiences with Griff and Sophia (for better or worse) and I wanted to share these two clips with all of you, even though looking back, there are things I wish I did differently. I will let the clips speak for themselves and as anyone out there with a "difficult" dog knows, the support, brainstorming, ideas, are ALWAYS welcome!

As a quick side note, I want to mention that it is easy to get discouraged when living with a dog who is so not into people. I will admit I have moments of weakness, when I look at him and think to myself, "please, just get over it!" But wishing he was different, or allowing myself to only focus on his shortcomings, is an exercise in futility. It does neither him nor myself any good to spend time wishing things were different. When I remind myself how lucky I am to have him, that he came into my life for a reason and that we are on this journey together, I am much better able to embrace the present and dream about his amazing future. There are so, so, so many incredible things about him, and I simply remind myself that no one dog (or person) is perfect, and life is about making the most out of what you've got. I have only to look at the hundreds of other video clips I have of him to be grateful for how brilliant, affectionate, loyal, intuitive, stoic, funny, sneaky, clever, crafty, honest, fast, athletic, willing he is. I have only to look at him right now, resting by my feet to know how lucky I am.
* ALSO, please excuse my attire in the video outside... I literally was just running the dogs out for a potty break, when this happened, so I am dressed like a goof and freezing my butt off! In the other video, I have curlers in my hair... also wasn't planning on being taped right at that moment...

Happy Thanksgiving! Whitebred Bichon takes 3rd Place in Non-Sporting Group at Purina's National Dog Show

2010-11-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all got to watch the National Dog Show today on NBC. If any of you saw the non-sporting group you saw the GORGEOUS Bichon Frise come in 3rd place. That is "Lupo" or Champion Whitebreds Kissed by the Moonlight! Lupo and Sophia have the same sire and my mom's Bichon, Bella (Whitebred's Diamond in a Pearl) is a FULL littermate to Lupo! Lupo was breed by Karen Graeber of Whitebred's Bichon's our good friend and the breeder of both Sophia and Bella. In addition to breeding great conformation dogs, with outstanding health (OFA's and CERF's on all) she breeds dogs with fabulous temperaments AND athletic ability! Sophia is Whitebreds very first agility dog and certified therapy dog. Lupo's handler, is Anibal Faria, who handles and finishes many of the Whitebred Bichon's. We entrust Bella to Anibal for weeks on end, while she works the show circuit. Keep your eyes peeled for Bella to start rocking the conformation circuit! Her coat is back and she looks better than ever! A BIG congratulations to Karen and her husband John for 15 + years breeding outstanding Bichons and Anibal for all of the hard work he put into getting Lupo ready for prime time! Well done! Also, for anyone who missed the Best in Show coverage today, Clooney, an Irish Setter, won best in show at The National Dog Show today!

Running Contact Updates

2010-11-22T19:54:00.000-08:00

Griff and I have been working on his running contacts foundation work. I went back to basics, and got a super thin, wide board. I have been reading a lot on Silvia Trkman's methods, as well as talking to Soshana, who both endorse the use of a thin, wide board to start. The goal here is just to get him really running over the board at full speed, almost as if the board is not even there! I think we are on the right track but who knows! My questions are: #1) Does it matter if I have him going back and forth over the board in two directions? #2) Is it better to throw the toy after he hits, place the toy as a target for him to drive towards, or use the Manner's Minder as a stationary reward system? #3) Silvia almost always uses a collar grab to work on her RC's... right now, I am alternating between a collar grab and a down stay, is there a reason I should only use one or another? I posted the video on Silvia's website, hopefully she'll have a chance to take a look and give us some feedback!

Griff's Running Contacts - 11/20/10

Hit the small YouTube button in the bottom right hand corner, to get a bigger video!

The National Dog Show Presented by Purina and the Philadelphia Kennel Club

2010-11-21T20:40:00.000-08:00

I do know who won Best in Show at the National Dog Show, but I did not want to spoil if for all of you! If you want to know though, leave a comment or shoot me an email at dog.nerd.101@gmail.com and I can share the results and send you a few pictures too :)

This weekend my mom, grandmother and two friends, Marisa and Perry took a trip out to the Convention Center to see the Purina National Dog Show that will air on Thanksgiving Day, on NBC right after the Macy's Day Parade. It was fun filled day with lots of doggy activity and excitement. Everything from dock diving, agility and disc dog demo's, to the featured conformation show. Throughout the competition season, these dogs compete in different shows and earn points. If they earn enough points in their breed shows, they get invited to the bigger competitions, like this National Dog Show. My Mom's Bichon Bella ("Whitebred's Diamond in a Pearl") is competing for her conformation titles and she is already Championed. She was invited to Westminster last year, but got injured and blew her coat a month before the show. Anyway, all of these dogs are considered "the best of the best" ( I will get back to this later) in order to compete in the National Dog Show. Like any other dog sport, this takes time, commitment and dedication to the dogs and the sport itself.

For the most part, the dogs represented in these American Kennel Club Shows are the ideal specimen of any given breed. For the Bichon Frise, you will see some of the best, most structurally sound Bichon's in the country... in the conformation show ring. But in my opinion, when it comes to "Best of the Best" for the working and sport dogs, I think this is a whole different story. One only has to look to our beloved Border Collie to see how the "Conformation BC" and the "True working BC" are almost two different breeds. I have my own opinions about this, and they are quite strong. I think that for all intents and purposes, the AKC has effectively diluted the strong working abilities of the Border Collie.

As someone who is actively involved in the Mudi, I have been thinking about this a great deal. In our last club meeting, we had an animated conversation about the inevitability of the Mudi eventually becoming AKC recognized. Right now, the Mudi is still in the Foundation Stock Services registry of the AKC. In all honesty, I would be quite happy if they stayed right there. This is is no way to knock the AKC, because I support all that they do for dogs and dog lovers across the country. I think the AKC is a wonderful organization that truly has the best interest of dogs in mind. But the organization, or more specifically the breeders who endorse the organization, have breed certain characteristics in many of their dogs, at the expense of other characteristics. I am not going to claim to know all of the nuances of developing breeding programs, but I do know this. Whenever you breed exclusively for ANY one characteristic, this will most certainly come at a cost. Whether that's conformation, drive, intensity, whatever - when you breed primarily for that one characteristic, the idea of a balanced, physically and mentally sound specimen will fall to the way side. Show me a BC who is titled in AKC conformation, that is also titled as a working sheep dog. I don't know of many, if any at all. Who knows, I could be wrong. If I am, someone please show me that dog. I will get off my soap box for now, but take a look at the videos below, and make your own decisions. Do you think the dog in video 1 can do what the dogs do in video 2? Maybe, maybe not, but I'll let you decide.

Despite all of this, the Purina National Dog Show was a lot of fun! It was great to see all of the dogs strutting their stuff in the ring, and even better to see the publics animated interest in the dogs. This is an open benching show, which means that spectators can roam in the isles of where the dogs are crated, and meet the dogs, ask lots of questions and generally see what goes into getting dogs ready for prime time. From a public awareness perspective, this is where AKC really shines. They get the general public involved and interested in dogs. They are quite vocal about the abomination of puppy mills and mass production of animals and they send the message that responsible dog ownership is a must. I took some great pictures from the event, and my favorite dog was the Rottie that won the working group! Love him! I won't ruin the surprise by telling you who won Best in Show, but be sure to tune in on Thanksgiving Day to the NBC coverage of this event! Side Note: Keep your eyes peeled for the lady wearing a brown hat with feathers right behind the side of the ring where the dogs line up, before stacking for the judge... that's my mom and I am probably sitting right next to her!

Herding Group - The Border Collie - The Philadelphia Kennel Club

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

United States Border Collie Handler Association's National Sheepdog Finals
For more information go to www.nationalsheepdogfinals.com

Trick Training Update! Playing the Piano, Ring Toss and Riding the Skateboard!

2010-11-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

Check out some of Griff's new trick training work! This is the first session for all three of these tricks, which we started working on in our Trick Training Class at Y2K9's Sport Training Club. Cindy Otto, DVM is out instructor for this class and she has been great in helping keeping us inspired and thinking creatively. Cindy is an Associate Professor of Critical Care, in the Department of Clinical Studies at UPENN Vet School. In addition to her DVM, Cindy also has a Ph.D in Veterinary Physiology! Holy smokes, we are really getting our money's worth for this class! She truly is an expert, not just in behavioral modification and training, but also in physical development, and structure. In fact she has given me some great advice about Griff's stretching routine and things I can do to both hinder and help his physical development. She has been able to help me think about the tricks in terms of physical development and core strength for Griff. Check out Cindy's YouTube channel, and see all of the awesome tricks she has done with her pup, Dolce (and her cat too!)

In the first video, you can see our updates on the Head Down Trick, as well as pivot work on the bucket from Silvia Trkman's heeling program. I got Silvia's heeling video about two weeks ago, and I am working on these pivoting with both Griff and Sophia, as the foundation for rock solid heeling. Unlike some other methods, Silvia focuses a lot on stationary work, which then builds into the heeling movement. She spends a lot of time laying the foundation for the pivot turn, where the dog glues himself to your leg, which develops into those awesome little micro-adjustments that you see her dogs make when she moves her feet, forward, backwards, laterally and in any other direction you can imagine! Check our Silvia's website to order her heeling video. Next on our list is her Cik & Cap Video which is all about super tight turns and body awareness.

The clips in these videos are from our actual trick class, and one thing I love about this, is seeing Griff working through the distractions that are going on all around him. Without a doubt, executing these tricks is much more difficult for him in this more exciting environment, but he did a pretty good job. This is great for our Control Unleashed work too, because it not only builds confidence, but it gets him more comfortable with the people and dogs milling around. He is task oriented while all of this is going on, and it gives him a job to do and focus on. I also incorporate a lot of tugging into the trick training and I do this for two reasons. First, I am using it as a reward, he loves to tug and I try to weave it into my trick training sessions so the whole experience is just fun. He doesn't know where training ends and fun begins. The second reason, is that to the best of my knowledge, true play is biologically incompatible with fear. If I can get Griff truly playing, relaxed, with lots of good feeling neurotransmitters flowing, he is less likely to demonstrate fear and reactivity. So all of the tugging, play, and trick training with all of the people and their dogs milling around, is a big deal for him! Keep checking back for trick training updates!

Trick Training Updates! Teaching Griff "Head Down" and "Dead Dog"

2010-11-17T21:13:00.000-08:00

*Click on the YouTube button or the Enlarge Button to see the videos in a larger format.

I absolutely LOVE seeing all of the awesome trick training videos on YouTube and seeing what other people out there are doing with their dogs. When I am hitting a creative slump and simply can't think of another thing to teach my dogs, I have a whole slew of YouTube channels I can tune into for some fantastic ideas! The final products (i.e. snazzy, polished videos) that people show of their pets doing all sorts of amazing feats are so impressive and inspiring. I just saw one yesterday of a Jack Russell doing laundry, taking out the trash, dusting,.... paying the bills, changing the oil...Ok, well not quite, but you get the idea. Here is the thing though, these videos are great help when it comes to brainstorming, but I often find myself scratching my head after watching these videos, wondering, "Well how the heck did you train it?" There are a few dedicated trainers out there, like Emily Larlham (Kikopup) out in California that continues to produce high quality training videos. I am a huge fan of hers. So, in the spirit of actually showing the "how," I am sharing some of Griff's trick training sessions. Not just the end product, but the process that we took to work towards the end product. No editing out of the bad stuff here, just raw training. For better or worse, here is a clip of Griff and I working on two new tricks... "Dead dog" and "Head down." You can see me struggle with discrimination and stimulus control... but it's a work in progress, so what the heck!

Trick Training with the Silly Puppy

2010-11-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

The great, fun thing about trick training is that it gives us one more opportunity to interact with our dogs in a playful, exciting way. The way I see it, trick training does two things. #1 Builds the Relationship and #2 Builds Confidence. When we invest in our time in training tricks with our dogs, we are committing to daily interactions with our dogs. Trick training is not about the final product, it's about the process of getting there. I love watching my dogs to see the wacky, goofy things that they do... because those are the very things that I will "grab" and try to shape into tricks. The things that many dog owners would scold their dogs for, I try to see as an opportunity.

If Griff is willing to carry my clothes around the apartment... instead of getting annoyed (which I admit, I still work hard not to do!) I think of how I can put that behavior under stimulus control, and "ta-da" I have a new trick. Whenever I spray Sophia with a doggy spray to freshen her up after our hikes, she always runs around the house like a nut job, burrowing her nose into the pillows and sneezing. See the behavior, be creative, capture, click, reinforce...rinse and repeat! Now Sophia will sneeze on command! The other night I was working on my computer... and I heard this funny noise coming from the kitchen. Hmm... after a little investigating I snuck of Griff and saw him blowing bubbles into his water bowl! It was hilarious! and of course.... I see a trick in the making! Enjoy the video!

Running Contacts with Griff and Soph!

2010-11-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am definitely doing this. I am going to try to train Griff with running contacts. I am ALSO hoping I can work out some of Sophia's contact issues too while I am at it! When I first trained her dog walk and see-saw, I wasn't clear about what was what. She somehow got confused about which one was which, and while she would do the see saw confidently and with speed.... the dog walk was a different story. She often would (will still sometimes) look down on either side of the dog walk as if she is unsure if it will move out from underneath her (as though it were a see-saw.) The height of the dog walk off the ground also seemed to make her a little unsure of herself. The way I see it, all of this foundation board work should, at the very least, make Sophia more comfortable moving over the board at speed. I am going to leave it low for awhile and really try to get her to stretch out when she moves over it. For Griff man... I am going to try to follow Silvia Trkman's method and see what happens!

Of course, I anticipate there will be some bumps along the way, and I am going to go at this with an open mind. I will definitely be looking at other strategies as well and really, I am going to do what works for my dogs. I imagine we will end up with some conglomerate of a "Kirby-Griff-Soph-We-did-what-worked-for-us" kind of method! In the mean time, I will be looking to some of these other trainers who have trained some awesome running contacts for ideas! Melanie Miller trained some awesome running contacts - Check out her youtube page. Daisy Peel and her dog Solar have some awesome running contacts and a GREAT video journal of the process. Adrian Rowan, a teenager in KY has trained some really nice RC's on her BC Panic - she has great video diary too! Finally, for a lot of great running contact information, all in one place, check out this blog devoted exclusively to Running Contacts! As always, comments, questions, suggestions and ideas are ALWAYS welcome! This is my first time training a running contact from the ground up, so I am figuring it out as I go along!

Griff and Glance...Long lost friends...reunited at last!

2010-11-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

Griff and Glance part two! A few weekends ago, Griff got to meet up with his buddy Glance! (See "Griff and Glance" Video One :) The boys met for the first time back in August, when Soshana and Glance came to PA for a Puppy Clinic with Mary Ellen in Barto. It was man love at first sight and they totally hit it off. It was SO MUCH FUN to see them together again, a few months older, bigger, stronger and faster. They are hilarious together and Soshana and I both agree that it will be a ton of fun to see the boys "grow old" together! Griff and I can learn a lot from Soshana and all that she is doing with Glance... striking that perfect balance between teaching him, loving him and just letting him be! It was great to brainstorm about where we both are at with training and hear from her about what she is working on with Glance.

Picking Soshana's brain is so helpful for a newbie agility person like myself. It's hard to remember all of the stuff I am supposed to be teaching Griff and I am sure I am missing something, but brainstorming with friends helps me keep track of where we are and where we need to be going. Board work - check. Trick training - check. Targeting - check. Letting him just be a dog - check. One thing Soshana and I talked a lot about was training running contacts. We are both going to give it a whirl with the dude's. She obviosuly knows a lot more about this than I do though, and she was gracious enough to offer to share her training videos with me. She is working with Jen Pinder and a few others, and she promised to keep me appraised of her progress! So awesome to have great mentors - Thank you to Soshana and all the others out there who have been cheering me on and helping me out on this journey!

Trying to figure out this board work stuff...

2010-11-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

I am going to give this whole running contacts things a shot. I am considering re-training Sophia on them, and also training a running dog walk and A-frame for Griff. I'm young, I can run fast, if not now, when! Only problem is, I've never done it before! I have a pretty good idea of what I have to do... and with a good video camera, I know I can tape my trainings and monitor the process. I have a bunch of great mentors, both near and far who I know will help me with the process. In fact, one of my all time favorite trainers, Silvia Trkman encourages people to visit her LoLaLu Land Running Contacts Website and submit training videos for her to comment on! Once I get moving along with Griff, I might take advantage of it! For now, take a look at our base line videos! Certainly A LOT to work on!

USDAA "Y" Agility Trial - Halloween Weekend

2010-11-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

Sophia and I wrapped up a great Halloween weekend at the "Y" Agility Trial this past Sunday Sophia and I entered three classes, Snooker, Jumpers and Standard. I was really pumped because the Snooker class had a set of six weave poles, so I was able to use those as a warm up and confidence builder for the set of twelve that I knew we would see in Standard. I have to say, we had a BIG day on Saturday and after lots of traveling, farm house antics with Griff, Super and our buddy McTavish, and a nice long hike on Saturday afternoon... we were all a little slow off the draw on Sunday morning. While Griff was still raring to go Sunday morning, Sophia (and I) were definitely a little slower than we normally are at a trial. Oh well, no big deal!

I was really pleased with the improvement on her weave pole performance, and while she did pop out of the first set of 12, she readily and happily went back for a second try. This is big for her, because she has the tendency to shut down and stop trying when it comes to weave poles, so for her, this is progress! Of course, always things to work on! I also want to go back to some basic foundation handling with her and get some of those turns tighter and less loopy. All in all though, great day for us! She Q'ed and came first in Jumpers and Q'ed and took second place in Standard. We did not qualify in Snooker, because she jumped off the A-frame before she hit the contact! Partly my fault, because I A) need to train it better and B) Can't try to layer a jump on the down side, especially when I haven't taught it well! Oh well, work in progress! Check out our videos below! Also, the second video is a few different runs from all of the Mudi's that came to the USDAA trial on Sunday! It was great to see all of them together! First time that I know of that we had more than 2-3 Mudi's at one trial! Great job to all of those Mudi's who competed on Sunday and represented the breed!

New England Road Trip! Mudi Picnic and "Y" Agility Trial!

2010-11-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Griff, Sophia, and I took a mini road trip up through the country side to Northern CT. Our buddy Super (Marisa Scully's little terrier mix) came along for the ride! His mom is in Cali for the week, so Super-Man got to come along for the adventure! Friday afternoon we stopped in NJ to visit a friend and her 14 month old Standard Collie at their fantastic farm. Then we were up and at 'em early Saturday morning to make the rest of the drive up to CT for the Annual Mudi Picnic! This was my very first Mudi gathering and it was an absolute blast!

The Mudi Meeting was at Tails-U-Win training center in Manchester, CT and we had 17 Mudi's and their people in attendance, which is the largest gathering to date! Mudi owners came to CT from all up and down the East Coast.... and members all the way from Canada! Saturday was jam packed with dog activties, including a mini agility trial, a "Fastest Mudi Race" and an egg and spoon (well tennis ball and ladle) heeling challenge! The "Fastest Mudi Race" was a 2 dog race, where one dog was knocked out during each round. After the final match up's, Kris Seiter's Matra came out on top! Matra is my most favorite Mudi man, and the reason I got Griff! Sue Witte's Inas and Melanie Dubberly's Zenta finishing second and third! The mini agility trial was a hit too, with a tie break run between Kim Seiter's Nyalka and Deryl's Flyte. Nyalka came out on top, followed closely by Flyte and Sue and Leza in third place. Now, for the final (and most hilarious event of the day) the "Egg and Spoon Heeling Challenge" I am PROUD to say, that Griff and I came in second place! This to was an elimination contest, and Griff and I made it through the first three rounds, but then lost by just a hair to Kris and Matra! Griff now has a very handsome second place Mudi Medal! His first placement, hopefully not his last!

Later in the evening, a bunch of us took our dogs out for a hike. Plopped right in the middle of Manchester, CT was this gorgeous woodlands preserve. Great colors of the changing foliage, a river flowing through the trail and all the dogs off leash. If you didn't know any better you would have thought you were in the middle of the mountains, not a car or building in sight! Check out the videos below of all of the dogs totally digging their trail hike! Agility videos and updates coming soon!

Puppy Foundation Work

2010-10-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like you aren't doing enough? Like there just simply is not enough time in the day? Part of being an intern, writing a dissertation and finishing a doctoral program means that I need to consciously make time for the other things in my life or I will be swallowed whole by the internship monster! All of us have our busy careers, endless committments, and a whole bunch of responsibilties that pull us in all different directions.

This is one of the reasons I often feel guilty that I haven't put as much time into Griff's foundation training as I would have liked. I think of what Silvia Trkman's puppy knows, at the same age of Griff and I CRINGE! At six months, we are primarily focusing on board work, body awareness and most importantly relationship building. I have spent a great time of time working on Griff's trust in me and our ability to work together. Things have improved significantly, and every day I am impressed by my little learning machine. Side note, he is not so little anymore, we were at the vet today and he weighs 26 pounds!

Griff is also the first puppy that I am starting from the ground up, with a sports career in mind. Sophia and I focused on therapy dog work first and then most of our agility training was in the last year or so, when she was 2-3 years old. It is a whole different ball game with these hyperactive youngsters! I am trying my best not to miss anything and keep him on the right track! He has so much potential, no pressure! Here is a quick video of some of our board work this week! As always, feedback, ideas, brainstorming always welcome!

AKC Meet the Breeds!

2010-10-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Griff, Sophia and I took a big trip into NYC for the Meet The Breeds Event at the Javits Center! It is hard to believe that just one year ago, I was at the very same event, meeting the Mudi "Spring" for the first time. Sophia and I were volunteering with the "Angels on a Leash" organization. We had a blast last year and got to spend some time with (i.e. loiter by the Mudi booth and ask Amanda Haldeman every question under the sun...) the Mudi representatives. It was that meeting that had me really looking into the Mudi as a my next dog! Now, just a year later, I was back at that same event, with a Mudi all of my own! Hard to believe! Like last year, this year was a dog lover's heaven! In fact, this year they had even more doggy vendors then they did last year. There were a TON of vendors and dog related merchants. One of my most favorite companies, The Honest Kitchen was there giving away a ton of free food. I got a bunch of samples and was even able to try the newest Honest Kitchen formula, Zeal.

In addition to the great goodies, there was a TON of interest in the Mudi. Our booth was hopping, with lots of people stopping for pictures and questions. Miss Spring was an excellent ambassador for the breed and she was really working the crowd! She did a fly ball demonstration on both days and everyone LOVED seeing her. Griff took it all in and really did a great job. I was interested to see how he handled the crowds, and while he wasn't particularly outgoing, he took it all in stride. He hung out in the x-pen behind our table, where everyone could see him, but he could have some distance from all of the grabbing hands. He was not overly stressed, was comfortable being separated from me and was generally polite and well mannered! He really was just taking it all in, and you could see his wheels turning. His ears where like satellite receptors twisting and turning all over the place just taking all of the information in.

Puppy socialization is critical and this was just one more experience that Griff had to work through and learn to deal with. He wasn't stress free, but it was good to see him work through the high levels of stimulation. All in all, I was really proud of him and I know next year he will be even more comfortable than he was this year! Check out the video below!

Heeling Contest Update! Training through Distractions

2010-10-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

I hope none of you thought I had forgotten about the great Heeling Challenge! Griff, Sophia and I have been working diligently to improve our heel work. There have been a few challenges along the way... for example, I am still struggling with the back-up part and continue to work on rear end awareness. One thing I have noticed is that my zone of reinforcement has been reinforced quite a bit and the recall to heel exercises have flowed really nicely from this work. There has been some AWESOME dialouge about play and food drive and how we all get the most out of our dogs. Tons of great feedback and ideas, and I can't wait to incorporate some of these ideas. One thing I love about all of you doggy nerds out there is that there is a great community for sharing ideas and our love of dogs. I really used a combination of clicker/food and toys in working on the heeling. For Sophia, primarily clicker/treats... but with some throwing and tossing of the treats (thank you to Amy who reminded me to do this in my heel work) which get's Sophia really pumped and has her FLYING back to me in heel position. For Griff, a combination of food and toys.

In this video, I did some quick and dirty heel work with Sophia and Griff at our training club, Y2K9's. This is usually the flyball arena, but we also have other classes in there. I had just finished Griff's CU class and Sophia's Recall Boot Camp with Deb Norman (if any of you live ANYWHERE near Philadelphia, Deb's Recall Boot Camp is a MUST) Four sessions spread out over 8 weeks, so there is ample time to practice in between each session. Anyway, there were quite a few dogs and people milling around when I did these training sessions, so you can see both dogs (well Griff really) try to work through the distractions. Can't wait to hear about all of YOUR progress on the Heeling Challenge...remember there is a Clean Run Gift Certificate to the winner!

Play Drive vs. Toy Drive - How do you get the most out of your dogs?

2010-10-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

The more I get to know Griff and his style of working, the more I realize how toy driven he is. I sort of missed the boat with Sophia on this one and reinforced a lot of static, quiet behaviors...as opposed to bringing out her playful, joyful self. All is not lost though, and I continue to put a lot of training into bringing out and reinforcing Sophia's toy drive. I have used the really basic psychological and behavioral theory, the Premack Principle. The Premack Principle, essentially says that you can increase the occurence of a lower probability behaviors, my reinforcing them with higher probability behaviors. In other words, this means that a preferred behaviors can be used to reinforce unpreferred behaviors.

In Sophia's case the "preferred behavior" (the one that she would prefer) is "eating treats." Her less preferred behavior (and the one that I want to increase the occurrence of) is "using a tug toy." So in order to increase the "using a tug toy" I first make her "use the tug toy" in order to gain access to her preferred behavior, "eating treats." When we use this principle in psychology it might look something like this: Child likes eating M&M's. Child does not like doing homework. Child does homework, THEN gains access to M&M's. The theory is pushed further in that you can essentially pair the lower probability behavior with the higher probability behavior (which is also the reward in this case) and the child will more readily do the homework, because they know that after homework comes time for candy.

With dog training, we are essentially using this behavior all of the time. Every time we want to teach something new, we pair the unreliable (unrefereed) behavior (the new trick) with the preferred behavior (eating a treat.) I like to think of this as the "gain access" concept. In order to gain access to something desired (M&M's, a game of fetch, a piece of hot dog) the dog (or child) first has to "earn" it. So, I have been working quite diligently to build Sophia's toy drive, by rewarding her for tugging, with her more preferred reinforcer, food. The key here is to really focus on SMALL approximations to the final goal (lots of enthusiastic tugging) and avoid satiation or frustration.

That means, that in the beginning, every time Sophia would even touch the toy with her teeth, I would give her a treat. You can use a clicker here, but I find it unnecessary (remember the clicker is just a bridge between the behavior and the reinforcer) Rather than use the clicker, I just have her take her teeth off the toy (I say drop it) and immediately shove a treat in her mouth. The other catch here is that you have to be a disciplined trainer. When you see your non-tugging dog tug, you get so excited that you want to just have them keep tugging! You don't want to interrupt the tugging... BUT - you have to. You have to interrupt the tugging, to deliver the reinforcer. If you do not, you will quickly see that you went too long without a reinforcer, because your dog will quickly become uninterested (at least this is what Sophia does.)

So... here is the deal, Griff is the EXACT opposite of Sophia. He LOVES to play with toys... but he is not so keen on food rewarders. That's all good and well, but I want to have the option of using toy and food rewarders with both of my dogs. Sometimes, I find myself literally stuffing a piece of hot dog in Griff's mouth and I have to scratch my head and wonder what the heck is going on. There are usually two things happening: #1 he is too stressed to eat and #2 I haven't done a good enough job of building value for food rewards. More often than not, it's both of these things together! I would LOVE the input of DogNerd readers to help me brainstorm. I made a quick video below to show you guys what seems to be going on. Please help!

Cynosports Results! Susan Garrett Cleans House!

2010-10-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

Susan Garrett cleaned up at Cynosports this weekend. After putting in an outstanding performance a few weeks ago in Germany (despite her one mental fart which she talks about on her blog), she came back state side and kicked butt in Kentucky this past weekend. I haven't seen the runs yet (my life feed was going nuts) but Susan and Encore reportedly ROCKED the Grand Prix course and won the whole thing by almost a second and a half. Susan won Steeplechase, DAM Team AND Grand Prix! Holy smokes! Here is the Grand Prix Course, I can't wait to see the videso! I am not going to re-invent the wheel here so I am sending our readers all over the internet for the most up to date Cynosports Results! With the USDAA website and live feed being up and down all weekend
(so frustrating) the official results have been hard to track down. I snooped around on the web for some sites that were posting live information. Check out the Cynosport Blog for more details information. But the short story is this..the Sunday results are not yet finalized. BUT, the results from Saturday are as follows:

Steeplechase Finals - 10/16/10 Course

12" - 1st Masher/D. Fox, 2nd Tommy/M. Foster, 3rd Kona/M. Padgett

16" - 1st Luka/A. Deacon, 2nd Funkee Monkee/K. McCann, 3rd Rush/J. Nyes

22" - 1st Zack/L. Mitchell, 2nd Steeple/K. Terrill, 3rd Maizy/M. Barry

26" - 1st Feature/S. Garrett, 2nd Scream/A. Braue, 3rd Icon/C. Fosty

Performance Speed Jumping Finals -10/16/10 Course

8" - 1st Eve/J. Julyan, 2nd Furby/K. Wilson, 3rd Ruby/V. Besthoff Insert Soph here, why not? :)

12" - 1st Neil/J. Meyer, 2nd Skye/L. Michael, 3rd Sparkle/P. Gagnon

16" - 1st Juice/M. Topps, 2nd Driven/K. Moureaux 3rd Kit Kat/L. Vojtech

22" - 1st Kestrel/C. Bates, 2nd Derby/H. Kaluza, 3rd Jive/C. Jones

Team Jumpers - 10/16/10 - Course

12" - 1st Tantrum/J. Dunn, 2nd Flip/S. Birdsall, 3rd Kona/M. Padgett

16" - 1st Taser/J. Pinder, 2nd Rush/J. Nyes, 3rd Funkee Monk/K. McCann

22" - 1st Wally/S Peardot, 2nd Zack/L Mitchell, 3rd Crush/M. King

26" - 1st Feature/S. Garrett, 2nd Scream/A. Braue, 3rd Solar/D. Peel

PVP Jumpers - 10/16/10 Course

8" - 1st Eve/J. Julyan, 2nd Lexi/B. Carlson, 3rd Tobi/D. Paul

12" - 1st Sierra/L. Fearn, 2nd Sparkle/P. Gagnon, 3rd Chase/D. McBride

16" - 1st Juice/M. Topps, 2nd Tango/J. Simon, 3rd Pilot/N. Lauerman

22" - 1st Skillett/ K. James, 2nd Zippity/A. Greiner, 3rd Fable/R. Sanders

Check out these YouTube Channels for the most recent video postings. Visit the CynoSport Link above for more you tube channels - I tracked the results down on the Cynosport Blog, so big thanks to them for sharing all of the great information. I expect as people arrive home this evening and tomorrow, we will be getting even more live information! "Sweet Gurkin" is our personal favorites with Soshana, Portia, Pinch and Griff's buddy Glance!)

You Tube Channel: Sweet Gurkin

You Tube Channel: Contact Sports Agility

You Tube Channel: Emily Snider

You Tube Channel: Bow Wowz Agility

You Tube Channel: Derby Goes Fast

You Tube Channel: Agility Nut

UPDATE: All Cynosports results can be found here: 2010 CynoSports Results
CynoSports Photographer - Dog Sport Photos

Philadelphia Art Museum Visit.... Practicing for Griff's Debut at the Meet the Breeds Event!

2010-10-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

Subway rumbling under your feet, taxi cabs screeching to a halt, street cleaner trucks swishing by on the curb... the background noise of the city provides a great opportunity for dog socialization. Marisa and I took all of the dogs (almost all) for a trek in Center City a few days ago and we had a blast! Despite the somewhat over cast weather, I was really looking forward to getting Griff out and about in the Philly. Sophia was raised from puppy hood in NYC and I truly believe that the constant buzz of the city, desensitized her and provided for some fabulous socialization. Of course, the wide open spaces of the suburbs would seem like the best fit for most dogs.... BUT there is something to be gained by raising a dog in a busy metropolitan city. Conversely, there is something to be lost in the way of socialization, when you raise your dogs where there are more cornfields than people! This is just one of the reasons that I JUMPED at the opportunity to head into NYC this weekend and visit some friends and attend the AKC Meet The Breed's Event with Sophia and Griff! Sophia and I went last year as representatives for "Angels on a Leash" the AKC's Therapy Dog Program and we had a ton of fun. If you are in the city this weekend, stop by the Javits Center and meet Griff and Sophia! Also, check out my friend Sarah's Dog Blog, Doggy Academy for a great run down on the other dog friendly activities going on in Manhattan this weekend! Hope to see you there! Check out the videos of our Philly Trip below!

2010 USDAA Cynosport World Agility Games!

2010-10-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week many of our agility friends and family made the trek from all over the country to Louisville, Kentucky. Mini-vans loaded up with crates, bungee cords, dog crates, tarps, water coolers, bait bags, tug toys, and dorky, doggy stickers smacked on the back of all of the agility-nut mobiles. In fact, I know of at least TWO people who got stuck in traffic driving to KY... and pulled up alongside of fellow competitors! If you are talented enough to have earned your way into the USDAA World Games, then you, along with hundreds of others were drawn to Kentucky like moths to a light this week. LUCKY YOU!

Well, the games have begun and it is so much fun to watch these outstanding handlers and dogs kick butt. Between FCI's and now the World Games in KY, all of us newbie agility people have had some outstanding examples of "what we want to be when we grow up!" Who are your dog sport mentors? Who do you look up to... which dog and handler teams do follow on youtube, or look through the running orders to see when they are running? Here is to "THOSE" people, who have risen to the top of the sport, and inspired a number of people along the way.

Check out the videos below of some of the top competitors who are making a splash in KY! Special shout out to Kris Seiter with War, Flame and Lochlan, Rosie Sutherland with her crew, Soshana with Pinch and Portia... as well as Lisa Topol with Schmutzy, who are making their World Games Debut! Best of luck to all of the competitors, and some day, we hope to join you there! Our friends over at the Team Small Dog Blog are doing a great photo-journalistic accounting of the Cynosport festivities!

Soshana and Pinch in Team Standards - 2010 USDAA Nationals

Jessica Ajoux and Streak in Team Gamble - 2010 USDAA Nationals

Pinch and Soshana in European Standard - 2010 USDAA

Mary and Bug - The fastest Cattle Dog EVER (2010 USDAA Nationals - Quarterfinals)

Bug and Mary - Team Standard - USDAA Nationals

Smitty European Standard - 2010 USDAA Nationals

Dog loving Eagles fans can sleep easy tonight! No Vick and Eagles pull off the win!

2010-10-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe we can't sleep entirely easy because Kevin Kolb (pronounced "cobb") did get roughed up in the pocket a little bit and in truth, the Eagles BARELY squeaked out a win tonight.... BUT, the Eagles won a game WITHOUT Michael Vick. The final score, 27-24 Eagles, was really to close for comfort and it is almost certain that once Vick heals, he will have his starting position back. I am the first one to admit, that when Vick plays and Vick plays well, I am as pumped as any other Philly fan out there. I was at the Eagles game last weekend and the bottom line is that Michael Vick is a talented athlete.

But I, like so many other dog loving, die hard Eagles fans out there have been engaging in a little bit of "cognitive dissonance" lately. Wikipedia describes Cognitive dissonance as an "uncomfortable feeling caused by holding conflicting ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce their dissonance. They do this by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions. Dissonance is also reduced by justifying, blaming, and denying." As someone who stood outside the Eagles games last year protesting and screaming "Hide your Beagle, Vick's an Eagle" and "Neuter Michael Vick!," I was hard pressed to even watch a Eagles game. But, it seems that Vick has gotten reprieve from many of the Eagles fans, at least for as long as he is winning games. For the past few weeks, I readily admit that I have had to swallow the conflict between love of dogs and desire to see the Eagles win games.

But tonight, thank you Kevin Kolb, I will sleep easy. You proved we could win a game (barely) without the help of Vick and my dissonance is held at bay, if only for one game. When Vick does return, I once again will have to justify why I even watch. On the other hand, maybe Vick won't even come back. His recent rib injury and the Eagles loss last weekend is a little bit like karma coming back to bite us in the ass. The dog loving side of me knows that Michael Vick should rot in hell for what he did and if the Eagles choke this season (which there is always a high probability of happening) the Vick Curse will have proved true. The only silver lining to the Michael Vick case is that it has cast a light on the ugly world of dog fighting in the US. It has required sports fans and animal lovers to examine their own morality. The rehabilitation of many of these dogs is the true story of forgiveness and resiliency here.

Check out this CBS video on the "Lost Dogs" which highlights how far these dogs have come and where they are now. What do other people out there think about the Michael Vick story? Do you think the Eagles were right to forgive him? Or is not about forgiveness and morality, but purely about the franchise making money and winning games? What do you think of the socio-economical factors that Vick claims lead him to dog fighting in the first place? Is it really possible for former fighting dogs to be truly rehabilitated? This is an ongoing debate, that always stirs lots of emotion and passion, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

CanAm Classic FlyBall Tournament - Free Live Feed!

2010-10-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

A bunch of people from y2k9's Dog Sport Club are at one of the biggest flyball tournaments of the season this weekend! Fur Fun Flyball Team, based out of y2k9's in Wyndmoor, PA is on the road to Indy for the big CanAm Classic. Check out the live feed below and show the home town team some love! The CanAm Classic is sponsored by the North American Flyball Association and will feature some of the fastest fur in the country! Now ironically, the Can-Am (Canadaian vs. American) tournament is NOT in Canada...(I assumed it was..) but rather it is being held in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. All of running orders and teams can be found at the CanAm Classic website. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Spring the Mudi with Amanda Haldeman of Spring Hill Dogs! She runs with a New England Team called Canine Mutiny Flyball Team and is handled by Amanda Haldeman. Enjoy the free, live action, which starts at 8am on Friday morning! Good Luck to Marisa, (with my personal favorite, Super) Deb, Rose, Julie and the rest of the gang!

Watch live streaming video from danphillips at livestream.com

Free New Webisode Series: Vets without Borders!

2010-10-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

We have all heard about Doctors Without Borders and the amazing work they do in some of the most under served parts of the world. They bring life saving health care to areas where most people wouldn't dare go. In the spirit of bringing critical care to those who need it most, Modern Dog Magazine is launching a new web series called "Vets without Borders!" Vets without Borders (VWB) is dynamic new web based show that follows a team of vets and vet techs who travel into a small, rural village in Guatemala. The vets are primarily focusing their efforts on spay and neuter clinics, but as I saw from watching these three free web shows, these vets deal with everything and anything that walks in the door (or really in the dusty hut where they have set up shop.)

To me, this is actually a public health initiative as well as a community education program. In fact, the reason the VWB team went to this community was because the stray dog population is out of control. I urge you to try not to judge the people of Todos, Santos, because without truly understanding their life circumstances, we also cannot understand the cultural and socio-economical factors that impact the human canine relationship. Make no mistake, I am not condoning what the people of Todos do to their dogs, but I also try to understand that this problem is far more complex than it may see on the surface (Episode 2 really highlights this.) If these vets and professional judged these people, they never would be able to earn their trust and build the relationships necessary to even provide their medical services. Understanding and compassion are critical with these types of programs.

These webisodes, (Episode 1, 2 and 3 below) are part of the premier for the VWB's annual campaign for "Make Rabies History." Some of these dogs stories will bring you to tears and some of what you will see is far beyond what would be considered animal abuse here in the US. But on another level, it is pretty amazing to see this grass roots organization making a difference. I was particularly moved by the fact that many of these people, who can barely provide food and shelter for themselves, and perhaps don't treat their dogs the way you or I do, still reach out in an attempt to having meaningful relationship with animals. It might look different in different parts of the world, but on some level, the human animal connection is truly universal.
Vets without Borders - Episode 1

Vets without Borders - Episode 2

Vets without Borders - Episode 3

CU Class, Griff makes some major progress!

2010-10-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

Griff and I had another Control Unleashed Class tonight and I am really seeing some concrete improvement! As a back drop to tonight's class, two weeks ago I spent a good half hour chatting with Leslie McDevitt in the parking lot of Y2K9's and she had some great information. We brainstormed different strategies, discussed how they could be used in real time in the class setting and what things I can look for as we move forward. She thinks Griff is so darn cute she even wants to have him photographed for her new puppy book - what fun!

Anyway, she had some great ideas and she and Alexa did some consulting about what would help Griff the most in the class. We all have brought our most creative strategies to the table and I am really seeing progress! Griff is the youngest one in the class (by at least 4-5 months) and we needed to be flexible about how to teach him the concepts, but also not push his frustration tolerance over board, keep him engaged and working for short bits of time and be sensitive to developmental periods. We had started some mat work and as I spoke about earlier, we have been working on (not so diligently, but still have been doing it) Dr. Karen Overall's Relaxation Protocol. I think this really played a role in some of the success I saw today. In addition to the relaxation protocol and the mat work, in class we have also started the "On/Off" game .

The "On/Off" game is really about teaching self-regulation skills and teaching the dog that in order for the game or the fun to continue, they have to exhibit and offer some self control (i.e. for this tug game to continue, offer me a behavior like a sit, down, wait.. that indicates to me you are thinking through your arousal, and not getting so over the top that you can't think at all.) Griff has really been great with this "On/Off" game, and I have been incorporating these ideas into all of our play activities. In fact, I think, like so many other dog sport people out there, I have been doing these things from the get-go, but now, the game has a name and some formal structure to follow.

So, today in class we built on the "On/Off" game foundation work by starting to teach the "Look at That" game. First, we loaded up the "Look at Me" activity, by clicking and treating (c/t) anytime our dogs looked at us. The dogs were lying down on their mats while doing this activity. So we first c/t for looking at us. Then we add in the second layer of distraction, which is "Look at that." Alexa or the handler would present a "neutral object" to the dog and we now c/t for the dog looking AT the neutral object. So Alexa held a small closed umbrella behind her back (neutral for most dogs, not associated yet with anything positive or negative) and the handler would cue the dog to "Look at that." As the handler gives the cue, Alexa (or other helper) hold the object out from behind her back, dog glances at object, object disappears back behind helpers back. Dog is click/treated for the immediate glance at the neutral object, for which they then naturally orient back to the handler to get their treat. This game is taught and practiced a lot with neutral objects so that you can build a reinforcement history for the dog. Basically, you teach the dog the rules of the game on things that are not over arousing or do not send the dog over their threshold and tolerance levels. Once the game is sufficiently practiced and the dog truly understands the "Look at That Game" you can slowly begin to build away from just neutral objects, to more arousing or exciting objects. Well, Griff man is smart, this I knew. But sometimes, his stress about people over rides the "thinking" part of his brain. He immediately feels a rush of adrenaline from the brain and his body goes into fight or flight (or bark and carry on) mode without truly THINKING through some of the more arousing situations. There is brain science to support how the fear and arousal systems work in canines, but I won't get too into the nerdy stuff today :)

BUT today, he made some HUGE steps forward. Today, I actually witnessed him make a concerted effort to THINK through his fear and frustration. He actually was able to stay laying down on the mat, allowed Alexa to come all the way up to the mat (all the while I am c/t for him looking at her, then back a me) THEN he actually PLAYED THE GAME WITH HER! This might not seem like that big of a deal to some of you, but for a pup that really chooses only to play with me (or a few select other people) to have him work through his own fear and nerves was incredible. He not only picked up the game really quickly, but was then able to transition to working with me, to working with someone else, right before my eyes! He didn't bark, he didn't break his stay on the mat, he wasn't exhibiting any stress signals and his body language actually indicated that he was relaxed. It was amazing! Truly a moment where you step back and think to your self, "We can actually do this." There is hope that I can turn out a wonderful, well adjusted, smart, athletic dog who can "deal" with life without becoming a total stress ball.

This ah-ha moment reminded of when I talked to my mentor, Kris Seiter, over a year ago, about what my next dog should be. Kris has two mudik herself (in addition to border collies, and a whole menagerie of other animals) and she looked at me and said "If you want to become a top notch agility competitor and get a bunch of titles and pretty ribbons, get a border collie. If you want to become a better TRAINER, get a mudi. They will challenge you in ways no other dog ever has or will and you will truly be a better dog person because of it." Boy was she right.

Sneak Peak footage of the FCI Action!

2010-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

I didn't sign up for the full live streaming from AgilityVision, but ManyMuddyPaws tracked down these video's on Fanny Gott`s youtube page. Seeing these complex, challenging courses and the phenomenal handling, definitely has be wanting to buy the DVD! Of course Silvia and La are a big hit, great team work and so much fun to watch! Check out her running dog walk with Bu in the second video... UNREAL! How about Jenny Damm's run with Ina in the third video! I am still trying to track down some of the Mudi footage. On a related side note, fellow Mudi fancier Cynthia Hildebrand, of Hilarow Kennels ran some statistics. In the Individual Medium Jumpers there were 79 dogs running, 6 of which were Mudi. The Mudi's placed as follows: #2 Safea, #7 Sja, #9 Nomade, #41 Erszie, #46 Kiki, DQ Rokka. As Cynthia noted, the Mudi's did well for themselves and definitely represented the breed well! Mudis were 7.6% of the total dogs running yet they held 30% of the placements in the top 10. In total, 83% of the Mudis who ran, qualified. Not bad for a little known breed in a sport dominated by Border Collies and Shelties! Thanks for sharing Cynthia! These videos are awesome, definitely has whet my appetite to get the full DVD and do some tape review, examine the handling options, what worked, what didn't, why, why not... Enjoy!