My dog blew me off.
My dog doesn't like the scent my instructor uses.
My dog is so stubborn.
My dog missed the contact again.
My dog .... fill in the blank
How about getting to we and sharing responsibility?
We weren't communicating quite well enough
We didn't practise the right stuff
We don't have the pre show routine worked out yet
Or even better accept the human role in the mistakes:
I need to plan my training
I need to work on fitness
I should work with more distractions
My reward placement should improve
The rate of reinforcement needs to be better
How about it isn't a fault thing? It's a learning opportunity?
Cheer leading is a great sport I hear.
It's entertaining.
It's athletic.
It builds team comradeship and is apparently both fun and challenging.
BUT it's its own sport.
There is NO NEED for cheer leading in dog sports, or horse sports. Easy to say isn't it? Yah I do it too!
STOP. RIGHT. NOW.
Begging for engagement, clapping your hands, pointy fingers, scooping over, repeating the dogs name a million times, all this and more can easily turn into cheer leading. Cheer leading is not rewarding ... it is noise for the sake of noise, self rewarding (look at me super handler being all positive and shit) and it is a a feel good behaviour.
It is not constructive, helpful, educational nor useful.
Bending over your dog, asking for hand touches that the dog never gets to follow through on, repeating a phrase or name again and again or any other similar behaviour simply poisons that cue. The dog will become inured to it's effect, and it will lose all impact. Not might. WILL.
Reward your dog (and yourself) thoughtfully with a plan. Have a plan in place for when your dog loses focus, or works more slowly than you want or whatever but please avoid the cheer leading! If I find myself cheer leading I quit. Right there and then. Done for the day - dog doesn't want to play anyhow and making the dog play is no fun for any of us. I obviously need to spend the time planning not training if faking being happy is the norm.
Don't get me wrong - I talk to my dogs and horses a LOT especially in early training. "Yesssssssssssss, good dawg, lovely, ohh soooooo good", even just talking to myself in a happy voice "ohh pointy finger go away we don't need you here" or talking about what I want to see "focus forward a little more zoom" whatever keeps me on track works. I am not advocating silent training.
I am encouraging you to use rewards (of all sort) effectively and thoughtfully. I am suggesting you can nag a dog through cheer leading. Timing and reward placement are critical concepts no matter the sport ... use them well.
I suppose there are lots of ways judges can be bad - which is why I use the quotations. If a judge is gratuitously mean; or disengaged (reading their phone would be one good example) or otherwise just not behaving nicely then they aren't the best judges. But if they hold high standards, explain what they are looking for and judge fairly across competitors then they are the best judges. I find it stressful when a judge who knows most of the people running picks and chooses who to watch contacts very closely on for example. (Well I find it stressful with Sally, Brody has never missed a contact so judges who were uneven in how closely they watched people never bothered watching him too carefully). Are you going to "get away" with it or not? I'd much rather have a best "bad" judge and know we have to hit the contact hard enough to leave no doubt at all.
I judged a little schooling show for horses yesterday. It is hard to be fair sitting on the other side of the run. I wanted to reward the cute, the sad, the hard trier. I didn't really want to use the rider I overheard making nasty comments about her competition. Judging the classes I was judging yesterday is a lot more subjective than agility - more like rally maybe - and sometimes more like figuring skating. But even so I made every effort to put everything out of my mind except what I could actually see in front of me. The subjective bit popped up when I had two equal performances and had to split them somehow. Then I made every effort to share the love around ;)
Fair standards, clarity and consistency that's what the best judges embrace and uphold that means a "bad" judge might just be the best of judges. Embrace them. Learn from them. And use what they teach you the next time you compete!
so much sad ... people, dogs - death and sadness everywhere ..
so sad I have to post some antidote photos .. Arnold the piglet is absolutely hilarious - Cotton Cat and Thea are very very entertaining in Arnold world
Today's a BLOG DAY! YAY! No thinking of topics - just trying to figure out a take on the topic that embraces my own perspective and isn't a repeat of all the other things I've said on the subject.
PUPPIES and starting puppies is the focus of today. For more great articles click on Blog Day either here or in the first sentence.
Puppies we do a plenty. We have fostered high risk animals for many years and orphan puppies, or underage puppies certainly are high risk. In fact we foster infants of many species (wildlife has been under the control of a certified wild life center - that is - legal). Kittens, puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds (most notably a blue jay), a raccoon and now a piglet.
Somehow I am sure there will be lots of plans for success today. Puppy Peaks people will astound you with their puppy's preciousness. People will be so proud of what their dogs could do by X age. Body awareness, preparation for life as an agility dog, things to do. I can`t wait to read them all. I am so proud of all the puppies I know who amaze and astound their humans with their brilliance and excellent teaching.
BUT
my plan is much simpler. (Although I do love the learning from all the babies!)
Thanks to literally hundreds of orphans for the lessons .. and little Arnold for the current reminders. (Yes raising a pig is much like a puppy it turns out - just on a faster timeline - already I think Arnold is smarter than me - and he isn't two weeks old yet!)
Provide the essentials: Food, Water, Shelter and Love. Unconditionally and always. If infants are secure in the knowledge of these things all the rest really will come in the fullness of time.
Make sure rewards are rewarding for the puppy not for you. Just one example: lots of people swear by tugging but if that isn't rewarding to the puppy there is NO POINT in using it as a reward. Play with it, sure, see if it becomes more enjoyable (and every non tugging low drive puppy we'e had here has developed a love for tugging). I love a mix of rewards - personal play, toy play and mixed bag of food - but each animal I play with has their own preference too - so I respect that and give em what THEY want. Not what I want them to want. They are the one who earned it after all.
Give them time to be a puppy (or pig). They have attention spans typical of any small infant ... do one or two repetitions of something for you - then take a break. For example - recalls. Lots of great games to play to make recalls FABULOUS - but if you overdo them you risk poisoning your cue as they will eventually get distracted. Let them explore new things at their pace. Try not to rush them, avoid "see see this ball, THIS BALL THIS BALL is what I want you to see", even if a cat has come to check them out and they want to reciprocate.
Avoid poisoning any cue. I really don't rush to put formal cues in place. The longer you can make sure the behaviour is solid the more responsive to the cue the dog will be. All the puppies we have had, as adults in their permanent homes, run to pup pup pup with great reliability. "Here" comes much much later in this neck of the woods.
Address stuff or ignore it - depending on what it is. Fear is a good one to consider in this context. I keep reading about fear periods in puppies. I have seen the odd moment of concern flit across some of the puppies we have had long enough to go through at least one classical phase of it but many of the puppies sort it out themselves. I carry on. Life is normal. If I notice something causing a little more concern than I think it normal I ignore it at the time then do a gradual set up to help them deal with it. Yen was very afraid of banging pots and pans ... rather than making a huge deal of it if a pot banged I would get cookies for the dogs who wanted to be in the kitchen afterwards. She would sit on the couch and shake and stare at us at first. Now if a pot bangs (and I store cookie sheets in a stupid place here so the clatter often) she runs to see what the hand out will be. If there is a backdoor, lazy way to help my dogs you know I'm all over it!
Your baby is a baby. Seriously. They don't need to jump, do a teeter, weave have any stress on their body that is forced. Playing rock around the house, or learning to scramble up over and through things is plenty of body stress. They need long periods of down time to grow up. Resting or sleeping is so important for healthy development across species. They need time to play - not play training games but play for sheer joy and learning inherent in a good game of whatever. Play laid down here will result in happy play forever.
Stop comparing. Love the one you live with. Swagger was an incredible puppy - and is an incredible dog. But I'm not Susan Garrett and Wyn wasn't bred out of champion stock. Dora sure isn't a Wyn. Other people's experiences can be guide posts but don't let them be your measuring stick. Your experience is your own. Your relationship with your puppy is unique, special and precious. Do not be disappointed if your puppy is a little slower at some stuff than another puppy. Celebrate it!
Have Fun! Your dog is only a puppy once. If going to puppy camp and spending lots of money learning stuff together makes you happy that's awesome - do it. If instead it causes you grave stress (either financial or emotional) do a simple local puppy class (if possible) and don't sweat it. Do your socialization thing but do the bits that make you happy and are doable. You do not need to accomplish entire lists unless you want to. Brody started agility trials at 7 years old. I have had just as much fun with him as I have with Sally who started doing agility prep before I knew she'd survive. Agility prep work would not have been fun for Brody as a five month old - it would have caused us both stress. I am very glad I got hooked when he was a adult. Celebrate the zoomie fits, and occasional mistake. Plan some time to just enjoy your new friend. Build your memory bank for that day - far off we all hope- that memories are so precious to us.
Enjoy this Blog Day - let me know what you think (I love comments!) - and if you want more of my thoughts on puppy raising just enter puppy in the search box above ... there's been lots of puppy since this blog started
To mark this day I offer you the following photos:
Arnold is a ten day old foster piglet. The dogs are enchanted by him. Dora and Wilkie (Mum's dog) adore his milky face. And he adores me. So it's pretty amusing around here at the moment. Even tiny infant piglets wag their tails when excited/happy. Piglets are way cleaner than kittens or puppies of the same age.
He is named after the pig on Green Acres. I now want to watch Green Acres as all I really know from the show is the theme song.
This came up because a dear internet friend is facing terminal illness with her much much beloved lab ... while chatting to her about the future I mentioned that I do something meaningful for and with the ones I love every day when their status is palliative. I wish I could say I do it for everyone every day. I don't but I think I may work at it harder after writing this.
When Laurice died I did it right. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma after a painful bump came up on her leg. Every single day something special happened for her from diagnosis to death. I had started that with Rufus when he went into liver failure but missed some days. As a palliative foster parent we have had more chances than many people to figure out how to say - I love you, I value you, you are special to us.
Go somewhere they enjoy alone with them. Even just sitting in a favourite park can be a pleasure.
Do a short, slow version of a treasured walk.
Sit outside a store and be admired.
Go somewhere they enjoy with the family. Even if all they feel up to is watching a younger dog play they'll enjoy it.
Brush them gently in their favourite places.
Find some sun and sit in it together.
Visit a pet friendly store.
Pick a BRAND new toy out and take it home with you.
Let go of some rules. Maybe they can lick a plate after meals? Get on your bed? You know your rules and your canine. Make it special.
Find a puddle they can lie in if they love to swim but can't anymore.
Make a huge and very comfy bed for them for the times getting on a couch or the bed is too hard.
Invite their human friends over for a visit.
Go visit favourite humans, trainers, vets, groomer - whoever makes your dog happy.
Go visit favourite non human friends or invite them over.
Go through a McDonald's drive through and order them a plain cheeseburger, or chicken nuggets.
Go through Timmies and get them a tim bit.
Take them through the drive through with you.
Read them a story
Share an ice cream cone.
Tell them stories about when they were young.
Find someone who can do a reiki session for them. (or play, gently, with their energy fields yourself)
If they are up to it and would enjoy it book a swim for them.
Make a little extra of your breakfast and share it.
Try making special dog treats yourself - with your dogs favourite ingredients.
Make a little extra lunch and share it.
Turn an extra heater on in winter, or an extra fan on them in summer. Let them be super super comfy.
Make a little extra of your dinner and share it.
Make sure you leave them, even if it's not for long, so they can have the joy of welcoming you home.
Laugh with them.
Cup their chin in the palm of your hand and connect with them..
Give them a puppy pad or other indoor place to potty if they simply can't hold it anymore.
Cry with them.
When you get frustrated or sad explain why to them and let it go.
Learn a couple of TTOUCH moves and practise them with your dog. (I love raccon personally)
Book a massage for them.
Sit quietly with them in a peaceful place watching the birds or squirrels or whatever.
Make a fun ritual of medication time - premack the meds with something awesome. Pills and shots predict GREATNESS!
Make a video or slide show of your favourite clips of them.
Share your clip with friends - and tell your dog all the great things they say.
Go for a drive to see something new - cows? horses? a waterfall?
Teach them a new trick
Watch animal shows on tv with them.
Review an old favourite trick.
Pat and scratch them their favourite ways not the easy ways.
Brush up on a trained skill.
Have a photo shoot - pro or friend with props and silly stuff .
Look into their eyes and smile or make your mutally favourite face.
Let them lick you if they love to do so.
Feed them an extra meal in a day.
and of course
50. Tell them you love them when you awaken, when you go to sleep and a million times in between.
