Apollo has just finished his last days with us as I completed his service dog evaluation and training "boot camp." He has continued on to another long-term foster, but you will continue to see a few videos of his training as I go through my phone!

And big news for my family is that we are unexpectedly moving houses (still staying in Minnesota)! Very busy last 2 weeks as this opportunity came up, and will continue being crazy the next few weeks as we move into a temporary setup to get our house ready to sell.

Should You Keep Trialing?

In case you've missed it, I have a Ring Confidence training group on Facebook!

Due to the sudden craziness of my schedule in July, I don't think I've made any profound posts. But I would still love you to join the group and post about your struggles and any brags!

Click here to join the group!

July Training Videos

Here are 9 videos from the past month's daily uploads of training. Just click on the picture to be taken to youtube. (And if you prefer the non-music versions, head to facebook or instagram!) I hope these videos give you some helpful tips to try or inspire you to train something new!

If you're working on your pivot skills but stuck on the perch. This video shows how I use a large flat target to get the dog used to pivoting at my side with less help.

Want cool patio skills or just a fun trick? This video shows how I start teaching the "park it" trick of having the dog learn to turn around and scoot back under the handler's leg or chair. This will be a crucial public access skill for Apollo as a service dog.

How are your ring entrance routines? This is a video from a recent trial with Grace where I wait with her outside of the ring until the judge calls me in. The ring entrance routine really does set the tone for the rest of the trial run, regardless of what sport you are doing!

Reworking on your hold. I find that this is the hardest part of the retrieve! Apollo has come a long way in a short time, and here I'm working on his hold followed by delivery to my hand. I love using motion to both make it more fun and to have very clear end goals for the dog if they know that they need to hold until it gets to my hand!

Do you have a sit to a fold back down? Here I'm helping Ginny work on keeping her style while I am at a small distance away. I have a rear foot target behind her and progress to it a few feet behind her so that it's not acting as much as a guy and will be easier to get rid of.

Here is your reminder to work on your position changes with some precision! Even if you don't want them for the obedience ring, this is really important conditioning work! It is okay if you do it all lured if that is your goal!

Have a pivot in heel, but stuck on how to get that into your forward heeling? Here is Apollo working on taking his first forward steps of more formal heelwork. I do a lot of "left squares" to have the dog really think about pulling the rear end in. This precision track is always started at a slow and controlled pace.

Ravi is still struggling with his digestive system and training has been very scattered. But we have gotten a few sessions in! Here he is working on a sit in heel. This has been harder for him, especially trying to use a toy when he doesn't have the foundations as strong as I want!

And continuing to work on his teeter foundations. The preplaced toy is hard, but he is starting to get how to offer his little bow.

Current August Classes

Class has begun, so grab them fast if you want to follow along! Last I checked, there were 1 and 2 working spots left in each class!

My favorite class! If your dog enters the ring and their nose can't come off the ground, or they need to run zoomies and visit each person in the ring then you need this class! Teach routines that lower anxiety- from the moment you arrive to the moment you exit the ring and reward them! Find the joy in your training and in trials too!

Ring Confidence

Fancy pivots, pretty position changes, backing up, scent articles, go outs and more! No prerequisites. Learn how much fun obedience foundations can be!

TEAM 1 Obedience

Follow me on the social media platform of your choice to try and catch all my daily training videos. I hope they inspire you to try something fun with your dog! And join my free facebook group on building ring confidence for dog sports!