Do you ever find yourself, or your dog, struggling with a certain skill? It can be frustrating when you just don't seem to be getting anywhere. However, if you work hard, reinforce well, and stay committed, great things WILL HAPPEN!!! That's what looking for a Brighter Future means!!
I came across the story below in one of my Management articles. I thought it was a great story, and made me realize how important it is to encourage each other. I'm so thankful we have such a great group of dog people that are supportive and help one another.
As we head off to an AKC trial in MO this weekend, I'd like to take a moment to wish BEST OF LUCK and LOTS OF FUN to Mary Beth/Titan and Renee/Belle as they try out some USDAA for the first time this weekend. Also, GO Wendie/Dervish as they earn that last Grand Prix Qualifier!!
Now for the story....
This is the story of two men, both seriously ill, who occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene. One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days, weeks and months passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn and look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate to describe such wonderful things outside this window when there was nothing there. The nurse said she didn't know. She just knew the man was blind and could not even see the wall. "Perhaps," she said, "he just wanted to encourage you."
People whine because they don't have enough space in which to train their dogs.
Don, is one SMART GUY! Why on earth would you finish a basement when you could turn it into your own TRAINING BUILDING!!
Don continues to update and add to his this training sequence. GIVE IT A TRY!
Bill set it up for me in the building, I'm sure Don's basement is MUCH warmer! I won't bother you with the flip footage, but I'm not sure we made SCT! Not to mention, I happened to get lost MULTIPLE TIMES!!
Luckily, I LOVE Front Crosses!
Now, Tina, Don's Terv, doesn't work all 43 at once. She will break the sequence in half and works a section about 4 times a day. That's 86 + Obstacles each day! For Apple Sauce!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! G
Don and Tina are a wonderful team! They are such a joy to watch! I can't wait to see them run next weekend in Wentzville!!
However, once you figure out how it works, it’s LOTS OF FUN! I’ll try my best to explain it, but I think it’s easiest to learn…..if you JUST DO IT!
Here’s our Advanced Snooker course from Saturday.
(Double click on it to make it larger)
A Snookers course can have 3 – 5 red (R) jumps. (This one had 3) These ‘RED’ jumps are used in your ‘opening’ sequence to accumulate additional points. You can only take each RED jump once.
Your closing sequence is always numbered 2-7 and is worth 27 points. (2+3+4+5+6+7 = 27) This sequence of obstacles can be ‘combinations’, meaning there could be two jumps together worth 5 points. As in the example here there’s a 5A-5B combo. The two jumps must be taken in order to get the 5 points. Depending on the judge, your numbered obstacles can be taken in either direction after a RED jump. In the closing however, they must be taken in the correct order.
You always need a minimum of 37 points and must be under Course Time in order to earn a Snooker Leg.
So as you look at the map, you try to figure out how you’re going to earn enough points and stay under time.
You must start with a RED jump (worth one point), then take another (numbered – non red obstacle) for additional points. Then another RED jump followed by a pointed obstacle. “IF’ you drop a RED jump, you must proceed to another RED jump without taking any other pointed obstacle
On judge explained it as; By taking a RED jump you are asking permission to take another numbered jump. If you drop the RED jump, you need to go to another RED in order to ask Permission again. Once you’ve completed all your RED jumps, followed by a pointed jump, you can run the finishing sequence 2-7. You always want to be sure to sprint across the line on order to stop your time!
You can start anywhere behind the ‘imaginary start line’. For Seeker’s run, we did a RED jump, and then the 4 point weaves. RED jump, followed by the 5 point jump combo. RED jump followed by the 7 point weaves. (no refusals, just loss of time) Then the closing 2-7. (You'll here the judge calling out your numbers earned)
Seeker took a bonus RED jump on the way out. That doesn’t count for anything, it just happened to be the best way to get him across the line quickly.
Snooker does take a lot of ‘come into hand’ skill. If you have a dog that likes to work ‘away’, it can be more challenging.
Stormi and Kix are the proud parents of three New PUPPIES! (Black and White) Two Boys and a Girl. Born Tuesday 2/09/2010 (the one to the left is the girl)
Mom and Puppies are doing fine. Dad probably doesn't care all that much!
Seeker is VERY excited to have new siblings to pair up with at future USDAA Trails!
Well, at least I think he's excited. I honestly don't think he understands any of it. I think I said "baby" and he ran and got a toy. Hum....not very promising!
All GREAT things come in Threes!! Seeker was also a litter of 3. Two boys and a girl. (pictured below)
(Scorch/Shiver/Seeker) Seeker was obviously the BIG puppy!
How many times have you heard that as an instructor, or have said it yourself as a dog trainer?
Maybe we need to ‘define training’.
For some it means loading your dog and treats, toys, etc into the van and heading to a formal class or training facility. For others, it might involve heading to your backyard, or a certain room in your own home. Is this really the only time you train?
Sometimes I think we forget that we are actually training our dogs every moment we are with them. In some cases they are training US!
Think about this:
You are sitting at the table and your dog is sitting next to you drooling. You give him a bit of your food.
What have you just ‘taught’ him?
You are at a dog trial and you take your dog out to potty. He drags you to the nearest post. You let him hike his leg on it.
What have you taught him?
You open your front door at home and your dogs charge past you …. ‘making a break for it’.
What have they learned?
There are so many opportunities to train your dog. The ones listed above are simple ‘impulse control’ exercises.
You want a piece of food, lay down at my feet while I eat and ‘maybe’ I’ll reward you. Maybe, better yet, ‘go to your bed’ while we eat and I’ll reward you for that.
If your dog is dragging you to the nearest ‘green space’ or ‘vertical post’, do some ‘punishment walking’. This means simply (for some of us – Martha, please don’t try this!), walking backwards in order to get the dog with you again. The ‘punishment’ is they don’t get there as fast. Walk together to the potty area. When you get to the edge of the grass, ask for a sit or down, then release them to ‘do their thing’.
Here’s another “misnomer”; Male dogs must have something vertical in order to relieve themselves. Do you have a dog that likes to mark ‘ring gates’, ‘door ways’, ‘weave poles’, ‘jump uprights’, ‘sides of buildings’?
If you don’t like this behavior, then why would you reinforce it by looking for something vertical for him to ‘go’ on?
Letting your dogs out your back door to ‘potty’ or exercise can turn into a 3 ring circus in a multiple dog household. Why not require that they sit while you open the door. If they break position, close the door; and they don’t get to go out.
After they’ve learned to wait to be released, practice releasing them one at a time out the door. This is a great one for impulse control. Form your own criteria; for instance, “He who breaks first goes LAST!”
Training doesn’t necessarily involve formal behaviors, such as - “contact training “or “weave poles”. Training also involves behaviors needed for every day living. Skills that make our dogs more enjoyable to live with.
If you don’t care about any of the above, that’s perfectly fine too.
Just be sure you’re not losing your temper over a behavior you’ve been reinforcing all along.
Nicole Bearman and Breaker attended an Obedience trial in Janesville, WI today. It was actually 2 AKC trials in one day.
Breaker was entered in Open A Obedience and scored 195 and First Place in the first trial.
In the second trial he out did himself with a 198 1/2 with First Place and HIGH IN TRIAL!!!!
We are so very proud of Breaker (and Nicole of course) and this wonderful accomplishment. I suppose Nicole did do some of the training, oh and paid the entry fee. Breaker just read the rule book and played along.
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