Goals

Setting goals is an integral part of animal training.  If you want to train an animal to do anything, you must first decide what it is you want the animal to do!  Perhaps it's as practical as housetraining, as foundational as loose leash walking, or as advanced as search and rescue.  The one thing all of training has in common is that first a goal is set and steps are established by which to accomplish that goal.

The relatively common mistake many people make is of setting their goals and then believing them to be static and unchanging.  Goals, in my opinion, are the opposite -- they are dynamic and constantly changing.  For example, let's say I want to shape my dog to retrieve a pair of socks for me.  I know she already knows how to retrieve her toy, so my goal is to get her to retrieve an object (my socks) that I have named for her.  Let's also say that in the first few minutes of training, the light bulb comes on and she gets right away that this is the same game only with socks instead of her toy.  But, she's having trouble figuring out what exactly "socks" means.  "Is it this, Mom?  Is it this?  Or maybe this?" Now, my goal needs to change -- I don't have to teach her to go get the socks so much as I need to teach her what socks are! 

Setting goals means you will have the information to be able to adjust on the fly.  Using positive reinforcement clicker training sometimes means our animals are quicker to learn than what we might be used to.  And in using positive reinforcement clicker training, it's important to be a step ahead of your animal.  So I like to set my goals with lots of steps in them; that way when my dog moves faster or slower depending on the task, I am always able to visualize where we are headed next. I also like to write things down instead of keeping it all in my head where it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. ;)  With a written plan, I have the information available to me when I need it.


So, you want to begin attending dog shows as a family.  Where to start?  First of all, make sure everyone in the family is interested in going to dog shows.  Maybe they each have different reasons for wanting to go, and that's okay -- just be sure they all have the basic interest.  Okay, everyone wants to go.  Unfortunately we can't ask our dogs, but we can observe them.  Does your dog appear to enjoy training, working, hanging out with you?  (Be objective! Be careful not to make things more than they are.)  Does your dog function fine outside of your home (act similarly to at home, settle easily, potty, eat, sleep relatively normally)?  If after objectively answering these questions, determine what it is you and your dog might like to try -- there are many possibilities:  rally, obedience, agility, tracking, flyball, earthdog, dock-diving, etc. -- and do your research.  Search the internet, get a book, contact someone who competes in that sport and talk to them.  If you want/need to take dog training classes, find an instructor/school that you like, who has experience competing in the sport you are thinking about, and start classes.


Once you have your information, set your goals.  Remember to write them down and have lots of steps.  Have someone look it over for you to see if you've missed anything or need additional steps.  I don't think you can have too much detail!  (You can email us and we would be happy to help you with this!  My experience is with Rally, Obedience, and Junior Showmanship and my husband can help you with Tracking, Scent Work, and Search and Rescue.)


Now you have your family on board and your goals are set -- now start working with your dog and ticking off your goals as you accomplish them.  The first time you walk into a ring or onto a field of competition you will probably be nervous, but you will have a wonderful, amazing feeling of achievement.  I always look at my dogs and our life together as a work in progress, but I take great joy and pride in everything we do and achieve together.  I am most definitely enjoying the journey.

Family Time and Dog Shows

I know how blessed I am that, as a family, we have something we like to do together.  We like to go to dog shows together.  We started going together as spectators, then I ventured into competition (rally and obedience), next was Meagan in Junior Showmanship, Ken gave in and got hooked on rally and obedience, and finally Kendra was old enough to head into the rally ring.  Now I love to judge, Meagan is a much-requested, respected, outstanding table steward, Ken enjoys competing and being my right hand man, and Kendra is one of the most naturally abled dog handlers I have ever had the privilege to watch.

Going to a dog show is a much-anticipated event at our house.  We all love packing up and heading out for a weekend of friends, dogs, and family time.  We look forward to a cramped hotel room with three dogs laying at our feet while we play a highly competitive game of Uno or Clue.  We enjoy reconnecting not only with our dog show family, but also with each other, without the distractions of everyday life, the internet, television, texting, and phone calls.

This is not something I planned for our family.  It just happened.  We share a love for dogs and it grew from that.  In our "normal" life we are four very different people -- Ken is the only human male in the house and has a lot on his plate at any given time with a full-time job and a small business; Meagan is almost 16, is very involved in school, band, theater, dance, and being a teenager; Kendra is 12 and on the brink of being a teenager -- she loves music, being outside, animals, and dances too.  And there's me -- being the mom and wife and trying to keep everybody and everything in some semblance of order while I attempt to fit in time to train dogs and people, write curriculum, volunteer, and run a household.  It is most definitely bordering on a miracle when we all get away together for a dog show weekend!  But it's worth all of the juggling to make it work for us.  It's made us the family and the people that we are today.


My next post will be about setting goals -- specifically about setting goals to begin competing with your dog (my experience is with rally and obedience, but will apply to other dog sports as well!).  Most of all -- keep enjoying the journey you are on with your dog!!!

A Work in Progress

So many times we are focused on when  we are done with something: , "when the dog is trained," "when the kids are grown," "when I retire."  I think the truth is while we are waiting for those things to be completed, we are missing out on life!  Today both Ken and I learned some new things, expanded our horizons, and hopefully, improved our lives a little.  I hope by keeping in mind that most of life is a work in progress, we will learn not only to live life to its fullest all the time, but also not to miss life by putting things off. 

Daisy was not feeling well this week.  Since she was making very good progress with her health, I opted to play with her at a trial this weekend.  Saturday was three of the best runs we have ever had and certainly, overall, one of the best days!  If I had been cautious or opted out of showing, we would not have had that experience together this weekend.  I am so glad we were together, working, playing and enjoying the journey together.  (Please don't misunderstand, if I had thought she was not up to it, I would not have pushed it.  I am not going to jeopardize her health.)

Ken went to BlogPaws 2010 to learn more about the many things available to use via the internet for our dog training business.  Wow! What a wealth of information.  I know he was not overwhelmed about going alone, but he did it for me and for our business and I think he's glad he did.  He spent the day with his boy, Husker, met some great people, got some great stuff and ideas and enjoyed the journey. 

It is good and right to live life with those you love.  If you consider everything as a work in progress I think you will learn very quickly to be flexible, to be openminded, and to enjoy the journey!  I think this different, and maybe new, attitude will change you and change the way you look at things.  I think you will find that it makes things better in many ways.

Spring!

ClickerExpo has come and gone, the CPDT-KA exam is complete, birds are singing and things are getting green. It was a crazy March and one I won't soon forget. Not as much time spent with family and dogs as I would like, but they hung in there with us as we plodded through the month working, reading and studying. Thanks guys!!!

The results of the exam will be here within six weeks and hopefully I will then have the designation of "CPDT-KA" behind my name -- Certified Pet Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed. It's just another step in wanting to help people have better relationships with their dogs.

ClickerExpo was amazing and I hope to return anytime it's within a reasonable distance of home. I learned so much and have already put so much of it into play with both our dogs and in our classes. I highly recommend the experience!!!

And this is Holy Week. The most important time of year in the Christian Church. Amid all the chaos and confusion, I am trying to remember what happened during this week in Jesus' life and to be thankful and faithful to His sacrifice for me.

Blessings everyone!!!
Happy Easter -- He is Risen -- He is Risen Indeed!!!

Clicker Expo

Woohoo! Off to Clicker Expo this weekend in Lexington, Kentucky!!! I am so excited about all the great things we are going to be doing and all of the wonderful information I am going to bring back to my own dogs and to our clients' dogs. Daisy (the beagle) and I will be participating in several Labs as well as spending some time training on our own.

Please keep a good thought for my husband and daughters as they stay home and take care of things here. They are all perfectly capable and will probably do just fine, but a mom worries and I hope the weekend goes well for them. I am so blessed by them and feel especially blessed that they made this trip possible.

Keep building the bond with your dog, spending time together (don't you love this spring weather?!?!?), and enjoying the journey you are on!!!

Research

There are lots of ways to train dogs and lots of tools with which to train dogs. Please, please, please do your research before choosing a trainer and please, please, please stay flexible in all of your training throughout your dogs' lives. While I believe there is no one way all dogs can and should be trained, there are some definite dos and don'ts for training.

First do no harm. Beating a dog, shocking, zapping or tapping a dog, choking a dog, teasing a dog and/or anything that hurts the dog physically or mentally all have no place in any training repertoire. Dogs are thinking, feeling animals and breaking their body and/or spirit is no way to train a dog. It may make a dog perform for you, but it can permanently damage your relationship with your dog. Do you want your dog to execute a behavior because he has learned that good things happen when he does or because he is afraid of what might happen if he doesn't?

Second if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Just because a particular training method worked for one dog or even for one behavior for one dog, doesn't mean it will work for other dogs or other behaviors. Never assume your dog is stupid and can't learn. Nothing could be further from the truth! Dogs are very smart and if we know how to communicate with them, we can teach them to do almost anything (that is within their abilities and senseabilities!). Different dogs need different methods of communication and some dogs need different methods from one behavoir to another. Communication and motivation are the keys to dog training.

Last, if your dog will only "behave" for you when he is wearing a piece of training equipment, then I urge you to ask yourself, and answer honestly -- is my dog truly "trained" or has he learned what he can do and can't do based on the training equipment he is wearing? (There are exceptions to this -- elderly people, people with disabilities, people with limited mobility and/or strength, etc. -- sometimes they need to consistently use a piece of training equipment for their own, and ultimately their dogs', safety and wellbeing.) Dogs don't know right from wrong -- it's just not in their mental hard wiring; but dogs do know safe and dangerous. When your dog is wearing a training collar he knows what is safe to do and what is dangerous. I don't know about anyone but me, but I want my dog to do what needs to be done, when I ask him to do it, regardless of what collar (if any) he is wearing. To me, that is when my dog is "trained."

Do your research, ask questions, be willing to put in the time and effort -- dogs are not taught in a day, it takes perseverance on both your part and your dog's. But I can guarantee if you do you will someday find yourself looking into the eyes of not only your canine best friend, but a well-trained, intelligent, bonded companion.

Loss

Last night I was reminded again how very short the time is that we have with our dogs. One of our students, who also happens to be a long-time friend, lost her very young dog suddenly. The vets think she may have had epilepsy (no symptoms until last night, so undiagnosed). Jade was an Australian Shepherd and was only a little over a year old. Last month, our neighbors lost their beloved Bichon Frise when she broke her leash and was hit by a school bus in the street. Bianca also was very young, about 2 years old.

I am sad about these losses. But I hope I can learn from them. I need to remember to spend time with those I love whenever I can. I need to appreciate the little things in life -- the cold, wet noses, the "I love you more than anything else" looks, the stares as I sit at my computer just a little too long. I need to remember the quote that is something like, "dogs aren't our whole lives, but they make our lives whole" (Roger Caras maybe? I apologize if I have misquoted or wrongly attributed the quote).

Our dogs are with us such a short time in the scheme of things. Make the best of that time.

Rest in Peace Jade, Bianca, and all the beloved dogs at the Rainbow Bridge. We love you and we miss you!