Happy fall!

Raviloi is now a full teenager and the most "teenagery" I've had with independence! Still a very easy puppy, but he's lost a bit of the toy skills we had build in well, actually bringing the toy back to me! And a bit further range from me on hiking, alhtough still a nice response to being called back.

Loot is still working through sound sensitivity and I'm bubble wrapping him with management when he goes to class. I was hoping for an agility trial in October but I don't think that will be happening for him.

The good news is that he's doing very well outside with dog barking!

High Value Rewards?

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

I've been quiet this month. But did post about the value of rewards that we use in different environments. Should you increase rewards if the dog is distracted? Click here to join the group and read!

And then I realized that I worded things poorly and put people more on defensive mode than thinking mode. I followed up with this post looking at what questions I ask myself if my dog isn't staying focused with the reward I have. Click to read!

And finally this one on what my goals are in trials for dogs who tend to struggle. Click to read!

September Training Videos

Here are 8 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 unedited versions, head to facebook or instagram!) I hope these videos give you some helpful tips to try or inspire you to train something new!

Ravioli is working on his position changes. I just started to add cues for down, sit, and stand this month. Mostly he's still working on form.

Ginny is now experimenting with box feeding for her exam. I've worked on the box foundation and now am adding in family as helpers for the exam piece. To be determined if this helps her combine the invididual skills (approach, reach, touch) she already knows!

Ravi has also started fronts! Here he's working on "Catching up" to front as he pivots without me moving. This is my favorite way to break down the dog learning to find front, without all the speed from coming from a cookie toss! :

And here he's learning that I can mix up what I'm asking for in a session. Front vs heel vs right side all have different cues, and it's impossible to be in the wrong one if my feet aren't pointing that way!

Ravi is also working on a backup in heel! This was his 1st lesson and he told me he wasn't quite confident in his pivot work to use that to get the backup at my side. I switched to using a rear foot target.

Ginny did some fun work on continuing to practice a reset routine for obedience. Goal is a practiced routine that helps her eagerly setup for the next exercise if she were to freeze or do the wrong behavior in the ring.

And Ravi is learning his "toy" cue for sending to a placed reward on the ground. My foundation will be look at me until released to the toy (with the future also having a "mark" cue to look forward at it!).

And Loot. Loot got to do his first agility trial since spring, outdoors! And he did SO well being outside and handling the environment. Either not reacting at all to barking, or recovering fast. We're not there yet for indoor trials, but hopefully in his future again...

Current April Classes

Class is starting!! Prepare your dog for their 1st measurements, or for the obedience ring. Some working spots still left!

Thinking about showing in obedience or agility someday?

Don't let your prep for the exam be crossed fingers and hoping they have a really good stay.

Break down the skill and use a start button to make sure your dog is fully confident with every step!

Confident Exams & Measuring

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!