Thursday, January 27, 2011
Mr Mav at puppy camp
Johnny Hill took some great shots of Mr Mav in action at puppy camp. It's great to have such a wonderful photographer around to capture these moments. Thanks John!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Puppy Camp may be over but the work has just begun
Wow - it was quite a couple of days! If you ever - and I mean ever - have the opportunity to go to a class from Susan Garrett take it! At least audit it! You will learn so much.
When I first got Cinder (almost 7 years ago) I knew nothing about dog training - and even less about agility training. His training was less than stellar - and his foundation training was almost non-existant (something which I pay for every time we step on an agility course). We learned many lessons together - and for the record, I wouldn't change Cinder for the world. He is my once in a lifetime dog and although I will never go to World's with him, he is the dog that got me to World's.
When I started thinking about getting another puppy, I decided that I really wanted to fix all of the mistakes I made with Cinder. I read all the books and studied the videos. For the last year I have been surrounded by World Team dogs and I was determined that my new pup was going to be trained with excellence in mind.
Then dear Mr Mav come into my life and I was trying to implement everything I had learned. And then I got lazy. I rested on Mr Mav's success and didn't push any further.
This weekend was a great eye opener for me. I came into it thinking that I had well trained puppy with maybe the odd hole in his training. Well - I do have a great puppy - Mr Mav is wonderful! But my training is not living up to his potential.
Yes - Mr Mav is wonderful at so many things at home... in my hallway... with no distractions. But how much have I tested him outside that situation? How many times has Mr Mav done something wonderfully at home and I just pat my self on the back thinking that I am such a wonderful dog trainer and not pushed him any further?
Well - this weekend sure put things into perspective for me. Those amazing things that my baby dog could do at home so brilliantly (remember - because I am such a brilliant dog trainer - little scarcasm) weren't so easy for the Mavster in a new environment with lost of distractions. Instead of getting lazy at home, I should have been pushing my dog - upping the ante for that next cookie - making us both better.
Please don't think that Mr Mav hasn't been trained. He is house broken - knows his sit and down - and has been crate trained. Many would think he was a very well trained dog. But I want more for Mr Mav.
I learned many things this weekend, but a big one is - dogs don't lie. Don't come to class saying you trained something - because your dog will give it away pretty quickly if you haven't...lol! I thought I had lots of things trained - but Mr Mav showed me that I was missing a lot of things. He also showed the instructors what I lacked in his training. Drat - I was hoping he would keep our little secret...lol! I was sooo busted!
There were some very hard moments for me over the past couple of days - heck - no one wants to hear they are doing it wrong. But I am very grateful for those moments and the time my instructors took teaching me in those moments.
So I am leaving puppy camp a better dog trainer and with a list of things to do differently. Most importantly I am leaving inspired to be better - to learn and grow.
Mr Mav did everything just the way I taught him to do - he wasn't naughty - my training was. Susan always says that our dogs are a reflection of our abilities as a dog trainer. It is very, very true.
It would be easy for me to post on my blog how wonderful everything went and how great we are - most of you wouldn't know any different. But I just couldn't do that. They say that admitting you have a problem is the first stage of recovery - guess I consider this my first step...lol.
When I first got Cinder (almost 7 years ago) I knew nothing about dog training - and even less about agility training. His training was less than stellar - and his foundation training was almost non-existant (something which I pay for every time we step on an agility course). We learned many lessons together - and for the record, I wouldn't change Cinder for the world. He is my once in a lifetime dog and although I will never go to World's with him, he is the dog that got me to World's.
When I started thinking about getting another puppy, I decided that I really wanted to fix all of the mistakes I made with Cinder. I read all the books and studied the videos. For the last year I have been surrounded by World Team dogs and I was determined that my new pup was going to be trained with excellence in mind.
Then dear Mr Mav come into my life and I was trying to implement everything I had learned. And then I got lazy. I rested on Mr Mav's success and didn't push any further.
This weekend was a great eye opener for me. I came into it thinking that I had well trained puppy with maybe the odd hole in his training. Well - I do have a great puppy - Mr Mav is wonderful! But my training is not living up to his potential.
Yes - Mr Mav is wonderful at so many things at home... in my hallway... with no distractions. But how much have I tested him outside that situation? How many times has Mr Mav done something wonderfully at home and I just pat my self on the back thinking that I am such a wonderful dog trainer and not pushed him any further?
Well - this weekend sure put things into perspective for me. Those amazing things that my baby dog could do at home so brilliantly (remember - because I am such a brilliant dog trainer - little scarcasm) weren't so easy for the Mavster in a new environment with lost of distractions. Instead of getting lazy at home, I should have been pushing my dog - upping the ante for that next cookie - making us both better.
Please don't think that Mr Mav hasn't been trained. He is house broken - knows his sit and down - and has been crate trained. Many would think he was a very well trained dog. But I want more for Mr Mav.
I learned many things this weekend, but a big one is - dogs don't lie. Don't come to class saying you trained something - because your dog will give it away pretty quickly if you haven't...lol! I thought I had lots of things trained - but Mr Mav showed me that I was missing a lot of things. He also showed the instructors what I lacked in his training. Drat - I was hoping he would keep our little secret...lol! I was sooo busted!
There were some very hard moments for me over the past couple of days - heck - no one wants to hear they are doing it wrong. But I am very grateful for those moments and the time my instructors took teaching me in those moments.
So I am leaving puppy camp a better dog trainer and with a list of things to do differently. Most importantly I am leaving inspired to be better - to learn and grow.
Mr Mav did everything just the way I taught him to do - he wasn't naughty - my training was. Susan always says that our dogs are a reflection of our abilities as a dog trainer. It is very, very true.
It would be easy for me to post on my blog how wonderful everything went and how great we are - most of you wouldn't know any different. But I just couldn't do that. They say that admitting you have a problem is the first stage of recovery - guess I consider this my first step...lol.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Puppy Camp is AWESOME!
Day one complete of Say Yes Puppy Camp - except for the homework.
Mr Mav was great on the flight. I was nervous because he had to change planes in Calgary - but he was a trooper. When we got to our destination he ran back into his crate no problem. (Cinder sure wasn't like that after his first cross country flight)
Here's Mr Mav getting on the plane in Calgary
Mr Mav was great on the flight. I was nervous because he had to change planes in Calgary - but he was a trooper. When we got to our destination he ran back into his crate no problem. (Cinder sure wasn't like that after his first cross country flight)
Here's Mr Mav getting on the plane in Calgary
And here's Mr Mav learning the true meaning of cold getting off the plane in Hamilton. Check out the bundled workers. It was sooooo cold getting off the plane.
The first day of puppy camp has been amazing. Learned a ton. Susan and her instructors Lynda and Penny really inspire me to be a better dog trainer. It's amazing how even the smallest details now will make the biggest difference in the future. The official name of the course is "Critical Elements for Sport and Life" and it really lives up to its name. Outstanding stuff!
Better run and work on that homework. I need to shape Mr Mav to walk backward.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Mr Mav & Cinder - well sorta
Just before the holidays I was sent to take a couple of courses at the Disney Institute for work. I know - pretty rough - right? Well it is when you have a young puppy at home. It was REALLY tough to be away. Even though I know Mr Mav and Cinder were in excellent hands, I just wanted them with me.
Well - while in Disneyland, one of the Disney artists made this for me. It now has a special place in my home. I LOVE IT!
Well - while in Disneyland, one of the Disney artists made this for me. It now has a special place in my home. I LOVE IT!
I was really homesick for my doggies on this trip (Vancouver - LA - Toronto - Vancouver) - but Cinder was with me on the flight from LA to Toronto. Well - not physically, but his movie Cats & Dogs 2 was playing. I think people were wondering why I kept taking photos of the movie screen...lol!
I am such a lucky mamma to have two such wonderful boys!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Da mamma is more exciting than cow poop! YAHHH!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Mr Mav and Cinder had the perfect start to the new year with a great walk in the woods with 5 of their friends. Yes - 7 dogs, 5 people.
With all of the big dogs running around him, Mr Mav desperately wanted to be let off leash, but there was no way that was happening until he was 100% with his recall. Yes - even with all the distractions of 6 big dogs running around him (not to mention all of the new smells), Mr Mav is still expected to have a great recall.
We had a great time working on restrained recalls with him - and I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it too. Run to the auntie when she calls me and I get a cookie? Then I run back to da mamma when she calls my name and I get a cookie? BONUS! Great way to get a pooped puppy and train recalls at the same time.
When we got to a clearing (and Mr Mav had been doing well with his recalls while on leash) I thought I would try to see how he does off leash. He was wonderful! Even with all the cow patties around, Mr Mav would run to da mamma every time he was called. It was awesome and made it a really fun walk. And the best part? When we got back, ALL the dogs passed out! I LOVE THAT PART!
Please note - I don't want you to think Mr Mav is some doggie prodigy (although he is REALLY cute - but I am a little biased). At the park the other day, we were doing the same recall work and he simply wouldn't come. And when I went towards him, he would run away. I was shocked. He had NEVER done that before. My first reaction was "bad dog - what has gotten into you" (I never said that out loud - just really, really loud inside my head and I never scolded him) I was not a happy camper - and I didn't care how cute he was. But then I heard that little voice in my head "your dog is a reflection of you as a dog trainer" Dang - I hate when that voice is right! It wasn't Mr Mav - it was that my dog training had gotten sloppy. I had just taken for granted that he had brilliant recalls (which obviously he doesn't) and I got sloppy. The result was a puppy that wanted to play more than come to da mamma. I have to thank Mr Mav for that wake up call! They teach us so much.
Three weeks until we go to Say Yes puppy camp in Ontario - that is great motivation to get our training back on track! You can learn more about Susan Garrett and Say Yes Dog training on her website - http://clickerdogs.com/
Anyway - back to yesterday's lovely walk - here are some photos. (thanks Sis for all the great shots!)
Mr Mav and Cinder had the perfect start to the new year with a great walk in the woods with 5 of their friends. Yes - 7 dogs, 5 people.
With all of the big dogs running around him, Mr Mav desperately wanted to be let off leash, but there was no way that was happening until he was 100% with his recall. Yes - even with all the distractions of 6 big dogs running around him (not to mention all of the new smells), Mr Mav is still expected to have a great recall.
We had a great time working on restrained recalls with him - and I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it too. Run to the auntie when she calls me and I get a cookie? Then I run back to da mamma when she calls my name and I get a cookie? BONUS! Great way to get a pooped puppy and train recalls at the same time.
When we got to a clearing (and Mr Mav had been doing well with his recalls while on leash) I thought I would try to see how he does off leash. He was wonderful! Even with all the cow patties around, Mr Mav would run to da mamma every time he was called. It was awesome and made it a really fun walk. And the best part? When we got back, ALL the dogs passed out! I LOVE THAT PART!
Please note - I don't want you to think Mr Mav is some doggie prodigy (although he is REALLY cute - but I am a little biased). At the park the other day, we were doing the same recall work and he simply wouldn't come. And when I went towards him, he would run away. I was shocked. He had NEVER done that before. My first reaction was "bad dog - what has gotten into you" (I never said that out loud - just really, really loud inside my head and I never scolded him) I was not a happy camper - and I didn't care how cute he was. But then I heard that little voice in my head "your dog is a reflection of you as a dog trainer" Dang - I hate when that voice is right! It wasn't Mr Mav - it was that my dog training had gotten sloppy. I had just taken for granted that he had brilliant recalls (which obviously he doesn't) and I got sloppy. The result was a puppy that wanted to play more than come to da mamma. I have to thank Mr Mav for that wake up call! They teach us so much.
Three weeks until we go to Say Yes puppy camp in Ontario - that is great motivation to get our training back on track! You can learn more about Susan Garrett and Say Yes Dog training on her website - http://clickerdogs.com/
Anyway - back to yesterday's lovely walk - here are some photos. (thanks Sis for all the great shots!)
Tahnis was taking photos while we were playing recall with Mr Mav. I love this shot!
Mr Mav at my side
Our Cuz - Leroy Brown has been with us for the week while my bro is on holidays. Mav and Leroy have become great friends. This was an attempt at a family photo - it's hard to be director and photographer at the same time
Mr Mav checking things out
"Look ma - I can do it with my eyes closed!" Cinder had a great time too!
He's such a sweet boy - but he can also be a little monkey so don't let the innocent face fool you!
The group shot! What a great bunch of doggies!
My boys!
My favourite photo of them all! Me and the boys!
Oh and remember that "friend" who took the naughty photo of Mr Mav - well...it's payback time! LOL! Love you Auntie Tahnis!
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