Christmas Coming

We did pictures for the Christmas card today and then made them.

Crate Games - Regroup

Tonight we are going back to Crate Games Basics. The sit has disappeared when I tough the latch. Other training is going better.

The day to day things are working well. Waiting to be released at the door is going well. Long and short distance recalls are great. Going potty and poopie on command are good too. The big break through this week was "Give Me Five". Fly finally figured it out. The touches are great with nose wrinkling smashes.

7 months

Fly turned 7 months today. So much to still learn. Somethings are good, lots need work. I love her and watching her learn. Lots of fun!

Snow

Fly got her first introduction to snow yesterday and today we go even more. She is still trying to figure out snowballs when I throw them and they break up. I build her a snowman.

Having Fun

We played lots of games in the dog yard tonight.

Dog in A Box!

We have been having a good time in the new dog yard! Here is Dog in a Box. That is my kennel command. The transfer from the crate to the X-pen worked well. Here is a quick movie.

Distance Work

Part 1 of distance training is working well. Starbuck working in the X-pen at 50 feet and Fly at 25-30 feet.

New Toys - Hoops

First Picture: Fly testing out the new Hoops.

Second Picture: The six hoops, still need to be glued and end caps put on.

Third Picture: The south east corner of the new dog yard.

Sunday Fly and I went the NADAC fun match. We haven't had NADAC agility trials here in Fairbanks so this was learning event for everyone. It was fun! New events, the tunnels was a blast. They use hoops which was new to Fairbanks. The night before they got built for the event. This was great. Something to play with Fly with without jumping. Last night I built 6 hoops. Having my new miter saw it was real easy. I need to finish gluing them tonight. Starbuck and Fly had fun with them last night. It was getting dark when I finished. These are a few pictures from the new dog yard. It is really nice having that working space.

Morning Training

The sun doesn't rise now till about 7am so it is pretty dark at 5am. We go out at 5 for a potty break and then do some tugging, sitting stays ans close in work. We then went inside and with some top class treats did sits, stands, downs, touch's, and target's. Trying to get those really snappy. The nose touch's are good hard nose wrinkling touch's.

Pictures Again Soon

My good camera broke! But there was a really great rebate ($400) if you bought a printer and a camera together. It happened to be the printer Max wanted and the camera I wanted. I was able to order the camera body for half price that way. Yippee for a change I found out before the offer went away or bought the printer alone. So more good pictures soon.

Brilliant Recall Class Finished

The Brilliant Recall Class Finished with the daily games. There are still 2 bonus games coming and one more Distraction Webinar. This was a great class. I know it sound funny to do a dog training class over the web but it worked. Each day a new game got posted with hints for trouble shooting and a video. There were lots of comments from other students who were also working things out. There were a few live webinars too. Everything we did in the class helped all that I am doing with Fly. So many of the games built the relationship. I now have a new tool box to work with. If you haven't check out Susan Garrett's stuff you should. I really like the way she trains her dogs. Susan Garrett's web site.

Fun Puppy Class

Puppy class went pretty good. Weak sports are heeling and a real strong desire to play with all the other dogs. We had fun running in the yard tonight. It is starting to get darker now. Still not total darkness yet.

Mirror Me

This morning I was doing recalls with Fly. I sat her in position and walked away a bit. When I went into the ready, crouched position, she crouched down too. Then I tried standing up and she went back to a normal sit. The dogs are loving running in the new yard in the dirt. It will be so nice when it is grass!.

Just Wow

I have been working on the Brilliant Recall E-Course with Susan Garrett since the first of August. The homework has done amazing things with Fly and especially with Starbuck. Last night I did some rally practice with Starbuck. He was glued to my side or where he was suppose to be. He has focused on me so strong. We normally do the equivalent of one course and he has enough. Last night we kept going and going and he was loving it. This morning I took him for a walk on his long line(50'), still don't trust him. The dogs next door came to the fence and started carrying on. He headed over to check it out. I called him and he turned and came right back to me and even better he park himself at my side in the Reward Zone. I had no treats (opps) but he loves being rubbed and patted real hard as he rolls in the dirt. He got a good reward and we both had a big party right then. I also took my puppy out and she is on a 6' lead in case I need to catch her. She got to run and again the dogs next door started in their noisy things. She ran along the fence with them until I called and she came right away. Tugging is her top reward. I let her run again a few more times and when she was involved in something other than me I called and she came. I have had a bit of trouble when I call her she locks on me, sits and waits for something. Today she came. We need to tighten up the position in the reward zone, but it has moved from out front to my side. All where at distances over 100'. Oh what fun we are having!

Toy Pile Reward

All the ball flat and full and eaten along with other goodies are piled along side of the front lawn. This is the reward pile. After Fly has worked with me she gets to go pick a toy and play for a while. Round balls she rolls to me and we kick and herd it around. Flat balls she runs laps with and brings to me to throw. After a bit I put the toy away and we work. I have "Pick a Toy" as a command that allows her to grab the goodie of her choose. I have "Toys Away" when I put it back on the pile and we go do something different. The toy pile gets a look every now and then. The closer we "work" near the pile the bigger value the distraction. In the last week we have only had a few escapes to the toy pile and it was when I work to long and I knew it. Just trying to get one more in. I am getting better at stopping sooner. I always want to finish on a high note. These four pictures are selecting the flat ball after being given the command pick a toy. She goes over an pokes around a bit before selecting what we will play with. I had a cup balanced on top that just had to be nosed over.

Doing Homework Day 1

Starbuck works for food much better than Fly. Fly is much more easy to distract, a bee, a leaf, or a vole taking a short cut. Even getting Steve to take pictures was a distraction.

Looking Forward

Tomorrow starts the online class for a Brilliant Recall. I am really looking forward to it. I now try for 5 to 7 short sessions with Fly and 3 or 4 with Starbuck each day. I have had such great luck with Susan Garrett's training books and DVD's. I know so much is to be consistent with the dogs. Good treats really help getting started on anything new. I think my family only thinks I cook and shop for the dogs.

Starbuck is resting up for his hard working month. Really he has found the best place in front of the fan. It is hot here.

Self Control

Tonight we played IYC with cookies, great toys, and the soccer ball! Amazing control around the soccer ball, but not perfect. Fly was in control if I threw or rolled the ball but a good hard blast from my foot was too much. I backed off and worked on making it solid.

COOKIES!!!!!!

Fly just discovered you can look over the top of the table and the kitchen counter. She didn't manage to get a cookie but came real close. There were great homemade dog treats on the table too that she missed.

Game 4 - Great Success

Last night I played The ItsYerChoice Game with Fly. In five minutes we were both watching a juicy bit of steak sit on her paw. This morning we played it some more between tugs, breakfast, and other fun. It only gets better. She seems proud of being able to wait. I think with the Crate Games I had a great base. Take the treat away (close my hand) = close the crate door. The only problem might be she is so programed to sit in the crate and that is what she does in this game too. She also runs up and sits for me to give her the tug toys. I get pictures tonight.

Dog Treats

I had to keep going to Susan Garrett's blog to find these so I copied them all and now can find them.

Sardine Snacks
Put into a Blender
3 raw eggs
1 can of sardines packed in olive oil
1 package (an inside sleeve not the entire box) of graham crackers
Mix until liquidy then pour onto a cookie sheet and spread out. Back at 350 F for approximately 20 minutes until it looks rubbery and light brown on top. Let cool then cut. Have at ‘em, Feature loves them and I think they are terrific.



I use this recipe alot
Tuna Fudge
2 cans of tuna (do not drain) or 15 oz can of salmon undrained
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4C parm. cheese
1 TBSP garlic( reduce for less smelly treats)
mix all together and put in a greased 9×9 pan
bake at 350 for 20 mins
cut into small sizes for training.
It make alot but it freezes well.
from
Aliza Smith

Baby Food
One of my students came up with this receipe:
1 jar of baby food (chicken, ham, banana-strawberry, whatever)
1/4 cup skim milk powder
1/4 cup cream of wheat (plus a bit more to thicken if necessary)
Mix ingredients, should be kinda like cake batter consistancy, spread on to cookie sheet very thin, bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes.
She’s been bringing all kinds of flavors to class and every dog seems to love them!



Sunshine Liver Brownies
I have never seen a dog that did not adore these sunshine liver brownies:
• 3 to 3 1/2 lbs of liver, beef or chicken
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 4.25 oz jar fresh minced or crushed garlic
• 2 cups white flour
• 1/2 cup corn meal
• 1 med shaker of grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover cookie sheet with foil, coat with cooking spray, sprinkle lightly with corn meal and set aside. Process liver and garlic in food processor or blender until it looks like milk chocolate. Pour into large mixing bowl and blend in the rest of the ingredients. Spread evenly onto cookie sheet (the mixture will be thick) and sprinkle lightly with corn meal. Bake until no pink is left. Bake them for about 30 min for one pan and then turn the oven off and let the pan cool inside. Cut the brownies and freeze. They last for months in the freezer and this recipe makes a large amount.



Oatmeal and Banana
1 small jar of applesauce
2-3 crushed bananas
( during blueberry season I add blueberries and a little more oatmeal
1/2 envelope of gelatin
add oatmeal to make brownie like batter( about 2.5 cups) pour into baking pan
bake 325 for about 25-30 minutes


Meatballs
8 oz of any kind of meat canned or cooked( if using turkey, chicken, hamburger, pork or fish I use a food processor to shred it).
2 eggs
about 1 cup of potato flour
about 1 cup of oatmeal
1 T of olive or canola oil
a couple of shakes of garlic powder with parsley)
1 envelop of gelatin
Mix and pour into baking cookie sheet
Bake 325 for 25-30 minutes..
Homemade meatballs ( for special training)
Mix 1-2 eggs, 1 cup of oatmeal and a few shakes of garlic powder mixed with parsley into about 1 lb of ground turkey, pork, or beef.
make little balls and cook on stove top until meat is done.
I double and triple the recipes and put in the freezer until ready to use.
Happy baking

Crunchy Treats
These are more crunchie but can be cut into shapes and are really neat as just a reward here and there. They look quite cool since the parsley is baked in little splotches here and there.
-6 oz of canned salmon
-3 eggs
-2 cups of rice flour
-½ cup of fresh parsley (1/4 if dried)
-roll the dough to ¼ inch
-bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes
KEEP REFRIGERATED

Tuna & Cheese
Another recipe
Have yet to try these but a good friend on facebook let me have this recipe and swears that her dogs can’t get enough of it. I imagine they are similar to the tuna fudge.
-1 large can tuna
-2 cups flour
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-1 cup corn meal
-2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
-2 tablespoons parsley flakes
-2 teaspoons canola oil
-1 cup water
-puree the tuna and oil together until smooth
-mix with other ingrediants in large bowl
-add water last, a little at a time and mix until dough is formed
-Roll out and cut with any shape cookie cutter
-bake at about 325 degrees for about an hour or until fingernail won’t easily penatrate
KEEP REFRIGERATED


Beef Heart Cookies
Cook a beef heart sprinked with garlic powder in the crockpot over night, add 1 to 2 cups water depending on size of heart – blend/process it with the resulting juices. Add a half dozen eggs and some parsley, spread it thin on a large cookie sheet (sprayed with Pam and then lined with parchment paper)Bake at 350 until dry (about 35 – 40 mins). Turn off oven and leave for about 30 minutes. The dogs love it (why I can’t imagine as it tastes a lot like cardboard). No mess or grease on the hands. I never met a dog who didn’t love these!!

A beefheart recipe that is widely used in these parts is:
Beef heart – slice and boil with a whole bunch of garlic and drain.
Cut up into 1 inch size chunks, put on foil lined baking sheet, now put slices of bacon overtop and bake at 350 for 5 min. toss around, more baking, toss…ummmm yummy or what..and the bacon goes nice and crispy and can be used for an extra special treat…I just do a whole bunch at once and then freeze till needed..

Slice beef heart and bake on parchment paper lined cookie sheet at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Cool and cut in cubes. I freeze it in small bags and bring it out for training. My dogs go nuts for this.
They also love roast chicken hearts. I get each by the pound at the local Asian market in large quantities for less money than the smaller amounts at my grocery store.

Dried cooked liver slices
As soon as porc liver is on sale here (living in France) I buy lots. Preparing takes time but you can prepare a lot and keep in dry place in paper bag. put slices in your coat pocket on walks, during training or whenever you want. You can easily break off small pieces or for jackpot giving a whole slice. Kind of smelly to prepare.
- Cook in water (about 30 minutes for 1 kg of liver)
- Slice cooked liver in very thin slices (as thin as you can)
- Put slices on baking sheet with baking paper or paper towels.
- Dry in the oven (with door open) at about 130 to 150 F until slices are hard and dried (about 3 hours).
- Store in paper bag in dry area. Will keep for months.

Puppy Class & After Party

Last night was the last puppy class. She does good for about 1/2 the class. I always have the sit and targeting to slow and control things.

Sniffing & Hunting

Fly caught and ate her first vole! She was real proud of it too. So now she is on the hunt when off the mowed lawn. She also has her nose to the ground sniffing a whole lot more than before. A new big time distraction when outside.

I am switching the dogs over to a raw diet. Slowly changing food. Starbuck loves it. Fly wasn't so sure about a turkey leg. She spent a long time licking it. I cut some meat off for her to get her going. She loved the meat, just needs to learn how to attack the big piece.

Dragon Flies Everywhere

Last night when I went outside to work with Fly it was close to impossible. We were dive bombed by dragon flies. They were really neat looking but Fly got caught up in chasing them. We went inside and worked in the kitchen.

Who Me

Fly has started a bit of an independence streak! I have found I need to work a good play session first and get her focused on me. If we don't there are plenty of other good smells, flowers to pick, or voles running by to grab her attention. I also had to shorten up a bit on recalls and do no more than three in a row right now. We are continuing to play the Collar Grab Game and I am building my distraction list. Looking forward to the online Recall Class to start on August 1.

Puppy Class

We did pretty good at class last night. The biggest problem is heeling. You would think that Fly had never heard of heeling. We did great at stationary stuff, sit, stand, down, stays of all kinds, even moving a little with targeting all went great but once in motion the ears plug. Come works great too. Tugging is the best thing, treats are good and cheese is OK, but a rough and tumble tug is great!

Sit and Wait

I am getting pretty good at sitting and waiting till I am released or called.

Rain, Thunder, Lightning!

A real soggy doggie day. We were able to play outside some this morning with just a little light rain that no one cared about. This afternoon the dam burst and it poured and poured. Big and lot of rain drops. I measured over 2" of rain. We get about 11" of rain in a normal year. The dogs stood at the door and watched. Neither one had any interest in going out when they saw the downpour. Starbuck was afraid of the thunder, Fly seem uninterested in it all. We finally had to go out for a potty break. We got caught in a gusher.

We did work on our homework twice today so far with the collar grab game.

So much for getting the lawn mowed. It just keeps growing and growing.

Start of a Brilliant Recall Day -16 - Bonus #1

Today we started our brilliant recalls. The Class starts August 1 but we got Bonus Game #1 today. I was able to play it three times today, at lunch, before dinner, and after dinner. Maybe we will get one more play in later tonight, sunset isn't until 11:56 pm. We are just having too much fun. I did recalls after dinner but I didn't have a holding person to do restrained recalls. The lawn is getting thicker and some of the new grass is starting to peek up in my patches. When you feed the lawn it grows faster along with the right amount of sun and rain.
We also took time to smell the flowers.

Soccer - Well Herding Really

Fly loves the soccer ball reward. She has great fun, speed and position with the ball. Later this fall it will be cool to see her on sheep. Here is a very tight turn, see the leash following her.

Techie Stuff

I turned around in my office and looked at the floor. I had dumped out most of my backpack this morning looking for my Magic Mouse. What a techie collection (DSLR camera, Point & Shoot camera, Flip Video Camera, two extra hard drives, one GPS, a Case of camera bits, pouch of every cable and connector I might need, a spare mouse, 2 pair of glasses) and my dog training books - Shaping Success is sticking out and Ruff Love is inside along with my wrist GPS and a bunch of batteries. I took this with my iPhone.

Dirt Work

Last night I met with the bulldozer guy - College Hoe. He is going to start work this week. The stuff at the top needs to be done before the part I really want, but it is a start. This will also get the right dirt work done around the house that was never finished. Only 27 years later after the construction.

If I can stay employed we can keep picking at it.

Watch this change, this summer or fall I hope!

Added Distraction - Too Much

I was working restrained recall with a person holding. I ran my run right next to the soccer ball. Whoops, too much of a distraction. Herding that ball is one of Fly's favorite reward play events. Right over the ball was too much. I set it off about 8 to 10 feet from my track and Fly flew right by. Wish I could get the dragon fly to show up on cue. The little insects that were major distractions in the evening have been over come. Fly doesn't case each one. Wonder what a firefly would do to her. We don't have them and it doesn't get dark here till August.

Explosive

We been working on flying across the yard. Taking a break after working hard. Sorry most are not well focused but running and taking pictures and training is hard. These are fun!

Communications

We are getting so much better communicating both ways. When I say go "Go potty", "In to the House", "Dog in a box", "Get a Drink", along with "sit", "down" and "stay" there is no doubt what to do. She has a barkish noise that means I really need to go out and if she need to poop when I am bringing her in after playing she has a special down that tells me to turn around to the potty spot, we turn around, she does here thing and we head back in with out goofing off.

New Toys

Grandma sent new dog toys. Fly is sitting in her kennel waiting to be release and pick a new one to play with. Three of these are great tug toys and the ball is lots of fun. Crate Games is wonderful teaching control. We keep it up every time in and out of the kennel. It is amazing though, Fly knows if you know the rules and will take control if you don't.

Homework Practice

RR practice number 1 & 2 (well just recall, no one home to do the restrain part). I went home at lunch and after the potty stop we did three recalls. I did these from a sit at 10 - 15 feet with a tug toy as a reward they were a blast. I ate lunch played with my other dog and brought a crate outside, then I decided to do a few more. I got fly and used cheese as the reward. The first recall was great but with only food the next one was not as exciting. I will work with the crate tonight. The is one of the recalls coming out of a sit only about 10 feet apart.

Recall

He comes Fly on a recall, low distractions.We had a good series of training fun sessions today. All went well until Spark, Ana, and Lilly showed up. Fly knows there was no control when she stayed with them. Everything goes and it sure is fun. After a round with them I did a whole lots of Sit, Down, and Stands with Fly with Buckie and Lilly in the room. It went well. Outside with Lilly or Spark all hell breaks loose! Thanks for the crate games to go back to when chaos erupts.

Controlling the Enviroment

Home for lunch. After a potty stop did 10 fairly short recalls of 10 - 14 feet. Back inside with a great "Dog in the Box!" (that is my command to get in the kennel), a few kisses, and a good treat. Inhaled my lunch and I was off back to work.

Steve is out in the field now for 12 days and I just got him trained to help with recalling. Guess I need to get Max t help me now. He sleeps all day and does his school work at night - on-line classes. He needs training to help me, he he he he he he he.

Training help = car keys
Empty dishwash = stock the right food
Laundry (wash, dry & fold) = bandwidth

Come!

Just a quick little video. Steve got his new iPhone 4 yesterday and needed a reason to take video.

Four Days of Work Celebration!

We went to Hot Licks for an ice cream to celebrate all the good work we did this weekend. Fly managed to get much more than her share of the ice cream because everyone keep talking to me about the cure puppy.

Steve held Fly for explosive recalls so I didn't have to do them all from sits by myself. Fly flies! This really helped. We still have some trouble outside when the big dragon flies swoop down in front of Fly's nose, a level 10 distraction. Airplanes, helicopters, loud trucks on the road, the dogs barking next door (so constant it is background noise to Fly now), other road noise don't seem to provide any distraction to Fly. The bugs circling her nose are a big time problem. They are worse after 10 pm. We are light all night right now and that is wonderful. The sun sets after midnight. Tomorrow back to work for money and home to work for love.

The weekend is Still Busy

It is great to have four day weekends. I got to go to the agility trials three days, train my dogs, survey the land to get the dirt work done to make my agility yard (if there is money), build three more jumps so I can practice puppy jump stuff. We had lots of rain this weekend but some really nice times too. It is great now when most people have to go back to work.

NOW FOR MY HOMEWORK

Snacks/Cookies/Treats my dog loves.

1. Cheese in a can - cheddar is all I have tried so far (A+)
2. Steak (A)
3. Cheese chunks - Cheddar (A)
4. Cheese chunks - others (B+)
5. Yummy Chummies (B)


Toys - Reward I can tug with
1. Red Dog
2. Duckies (tug toy)
3. Pink Dog
4. Life Ring
5. Rope tugs - assorted
6. Fire cracker

Toys for play
1. Soccer Ball - she goes in to full tilt herding
2. Tennis Balls - loves to chase and round up a group
3. Frisbee - sometimes she really gets into it, this is the only thing that gets her barking

Fun for reward
1. Soccer (A+)
2. Run laps with tug toy! She wins! (A)
3. Chase me (B+)
4. Play with Lilly (dog) not often, but when she comes for a visit (A+)


Reward she wants to do
1. Get the charcoal out of the fire pit or chew at the burned wood
2. Chase Buckie round the house, big husky that is not fond of her yet.
3. Dig at the bed
4. Play catch me if you can
5. Pick flowers

For a while every time I put her back in her kennel she popped right away, even after have been given a opportunity outside. This got her out of the kennel again. I then put her in her small airline crate she has really out grown while I cleaned up. Presto no more popping in the crate! Broke that little self reward.

Recalls are good for a short while from any distance but after five minutes I need to bee within ten feet to keep them reliable. The tug reward is far better than any food reward. She will look for the tug but take the treat but has a non enthusiastic body language. She is just 3.5 month and keeping the longer attention is hard. I need to keep changing what we are doing to keep her interested when outside. Inside it is easier to keep working and treating in a less distracting setting.

First Trial

It is a big weekend here in Fairbanks with the three day Agility Trials being held at the fairgrounds. Fly gt invited to come camp in the tent with Luna and Piper who were competing. We were set up right at the front by the jumping events and right near the practice jump. The jump kept getting moved until it was right in front of Fly's kennel. Fly got to visit lots of people. Nothing like being a puppy! We also practiced recalls and sits and downs and targeting. Fly did real well with all the dogs and people around. After watching lots of runs there is no way me and my dog are going to any agility beyond puppy jumping until I have the slid recall. I saw lots of people in all classes have problems getting their dog back. Not many people were confident on their dog's hold and release at the start. I saw a lot of people not always watching their dog and "loose" them. Many dogs to a lot of work to down on the table, not so much when it was a sit. There were many a handler that could use some time at the gym. So I need to:

1. Get a super recall
2. Watch my dog
3. Keep and get in better shape
4. Build a confident start
5. Sits, Downs, and Stand need to be like clock work.
6. Have great FUN! with my dog.
   

Morning Fun

This morning we just played. Yes there were recalls and sits and chasing but the focus was fun. Fly got to win at the tug and take some victory laps around the yard with the pink dog. She herded the soccer ball and then dribbled it to me so I would kick it again. Slowly the dribble it to me is developing as part of our game playing. Steve mowed the lawn last night and it was much easier out there this morning.

Recall

Last night Steve was playing soccer with Fly. Soccer is one of Fly's most favorite things right now. Herding the ball is so much fun. I use it as a reward to play. I came outside and stood to the deck. They were playing and I called come once and Fly broke off the soccer game and flew to me around the cart, up the stairs, and made the U-turn on to the deck and sat at my feet. Wow! This picture wasn't that recall but another one. It is hard to take a picture and focus on the dog.