Excellent

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Jamie
We did it!

We did it!

When Risa and I started training for rally 6 or so years ago, I never thought we’d get this far. She was never particularly attentive during the exercises and I always joked that maybe I would try rally with her when she was 10. Once she’d slowed down a bit. Even then, an RA was the highest level title I thought she’d achieve. They still had the honor exercise in Excellent and I couldn’t risk Risa having a bad experience in the ring if a dog came over to say “Hi” while she was honoring. AKC eliminated the honor a couple years ago. We had the option of going further. And we did.

After our disastrous last AKC showing in January where we were excused from the ring, I knew I needed to get Risa back into classes. It is just too hard for her to focus on me amid such craziness if she’s not exposed to it on a more regular basis. We started attending classes again and I stepped up my game with her training at home. We also had a lot of fun at the C-WAGS trial which I think helped as well.

Even so, I was a bag of nerves on Saturday. I couldn’t help but remember how bad our performance had been the last time we’d stepped foot in an AKC ring. I forced myself to smile and have fun regardless. The course was difficult and the judge very strict (my favorite type, truth be told). The first sign was the “Send to Jump” where you must send your dog to the jump from 10 feet away, stay 3 feet from the jump at all times, and have your dog back in heel position before crossing the plane of the jump and moving forward. Risa tends to be hit or miss on this one. I never thought I’d say this, but I was thankful she wandered away from me after we started. It set her up perfectly to take the jump! She spend some time seriously sniffing in the corner and I had to retry that sign because she sat after the pivot once I finally got her attention (it was the “Left Pivot – Forward). She then missed the second jump because I cued her to take it too late. Once I got her past the next sign, she was on. Her “Stand Dog, Walk Away, Down Dog, Call Dog Front, Finish” into the “Down In Motion Walk Around Dog” was particularly beautiful. Her score, however, was just barely qualifying: 71. I didn’t care. She Q’d!

After our run Saturday, one of our competitors came up to me to tell me how happy Risa looked out there. I absolutely glowed inside. I have always wondered whether or not Risa enjoys rally. The fact that several people came up to me to comment on her joy and good looks makes me certain she’s having a good time out there. Given her history, this makes me prouder than just earning the ribbons and rosettes.

I wanted her to Q on Sunday so badly. I had seen and been coveting the beautiful RE ribbon they had at the trophy table. The course was much easier on Sunday and Risa was much more attentive. She did not do as much sniffing on the ground though she was more distracted by scents in the air and the sights around her. (I don’t know if maybe she could smell that my mom was there and that was why she was checking things out more. It’s possible. But I asked my mom to come so it’s my fault if that was why. 🙂 ) I was a good handler and I cued her early enough on the jumps that she took them both with ease. However, I screwed her up on the sit-stay at the end. There were several signs on the course where she needed to stand. My stand cue and my stay cue are too similar. When I cued Risa to “stay,” she began to stand up because she misunderstood my cue. I knew instantly what I had done but it was too late. I recued the sit and the stay and we finished the course. She earned a score of 86, second place, and her RE title. It only took her four visits to the ring to earn it. Fewer than it took her to earn her Advanced title. I am so proud of her!

With knowing she had the potential to title this weekend, I wasn’t sure where we’d go from here. While AKC is not my favorite venue to trial in, I was saddened by the prospect of not being able to trial close to home. We travel long distances to compete in freestyle and other rally venues. It’s always been nice to stay home and trial in AKC. I was hesitant to consider going for Risa’s RAE, though. We trial so infrequently and need to have double-Qs each outing, I figured she’d be 13 before she would earn the title! After some serious thought, I decided we are not done with AKC Rally after this weekend. I am going to continue trialing Risa. We are going to attempt to earn legs towards her RAE though I have no intention of finishing it. If we do–AWESOME. But we’re just in it for fun and something to do close to home at this point. I may look into trying Beginner Novice with her. My only concern is that the judge has to touch her and she’s not a huge fan of that. It is something we can train for, though, and not nearly as risky as a long stay among dogs. 🙂

Posted in AKC, Dog Sports, Fear, Rally, Reactivity, Training | 1 Comment

Pick Me! Pick Me!

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Jamie
"Pick me! I'm the cutest little dog EVER!"

“Pick me! I’m the cutest little dog EVER!”

I’m currently in the market for a second dog. I fully expect, given that I am fostering dogs for a local rescue, to have a foster fail. One of the dogs I’m fostering is bound to win my heart (and Risa’s) and never leave. Even so, I have still gone to look at a couple dogs with other rescues. Dogs that I thought might be a good fit for my household.

As I touched on before, looks aren’t everything. Still, I have a type and the dogs I’ve looked at certainly have fit that. More importantly, I have a very specific set of criteria a dog must meet. Given Risa’s issues, it is important to me that any dog I adopt be dog-savvy. Not just good with other dogs but able to read and understand the subtleties of communication. To me, “good with other dogs” is too vague for me. Gibbs was “good with other dogs” and yet he scared Risa because he was big and didn’t understand he needed to take it slow with her. I also want an athlete and a dog who is handler-focused and intelligent. I want another competition dog so a lazy housedog isn’t going to cut it. Along with that, I would like a male who is about Risa’s size and between 1.5 and 3 years old. Confidence is also very important to me. I cannot have another fearful/reactive dog in the house (one is more than enough, thanks).

Some might consider me too picky. I’m willing to do some give and take, of course. But I also have to be selective for what I want. I want it to be a good match for everyone. This is a lifetime commitment, after all. I’m taking in this dog for the long haul. He’d better be what I’m looking for!

Having dealt with a couple different groups while looking for a dog, I’ve found some I would be honored to adopt a dog from and others not so much. Not all rescues are the same, of course, no more than all breeders or shelters are. The shelter I got Risa from was honest with me about what she was. They even had her out front with the staff rather than back with the other dogs to try and help her overcome some of her fearfulness when I went to meet her. But, like many shelters, they didn’t have the time to really get to know the dog in their care. You can only get a small window into a dog’s personality in a shelter. It’s so alien to what they have known before (whether they were someone’s pet or a stray). Many dogs in a shelter are shut down while others are balls-to-the-walls crazy. If you take them home, they may not be what you expect. That being said, you can still find a great dog in a shelter and I wouldn’t want to sway people away from getting a dog there.

I am a big fan of foster-based rescues and not just because I volunteer for one. 😉 The main reason being that the foster parent(s) really get a feel for who this dog is. The dogs are generally housed inside with the family. They go for walks, have playdates with other dogs, are exposed to kids and normal life. It’s much easier to determine who this dog is in the real world because being fostered in a home is the real world. The foster parents are more knowledgeable about the individual dog because that is the only dog they are caring for. They don’t have 20+ dogs to know. Just one.

No matter where you look for a dog, find out as much about him as you can so you can be sure to have many, happy years together.

No matter where you look for a dog, find out as much about him as you can so you can be sure to have many, happy years together.

When I look for a dog, I want to know a lot about him. Right off the bat, I want to hear how he is in various situations. Is he good with kids, dogs, fearful of men, excited to see anyone with a pulse? Does he enjoy training? What behaviors does he know and what does he need work on? Is there any history on him? Thoughts on breed/breed traits I should be aware of? Basically, who is this dog? On top of that, they should be asking me what I’m looking for in a dog to be certain this particular one is going to be what I’m looking for.

I recently went to see a dog and I was a bit disappointed in the staff. They didn’t really ask me what I was looking for. They didn’t tell me much about the dog I had come to see. We went outside, started walking, and then they handed me the leash so I could get to know him and the volunteer went back inside. I had expected a bit more. Maybe I’m biased by how in-depth the rescue I volunteer with is. Perhaps I really am too picky about a lot of things (actually, I am but usually in a good way). It almost felt like they wanted me to take the dog. All rescues do, of course, but this felt more like “let’s get him placed” rather than “let’s find the best home possible for him.”

My thoughts regarding bringing a dog into the family is that the dog (regardless of whether you adopt from a shelter/rescue or get a dog from a reputable breeder) should match your lifestyle. A good breeder/rescue/shelter should be asking a million questions about you, your home, your pets, and what you’re looking for in a canine companion. They should also be willing to answer any question you might have about them, their dogs, and the process of adopting/purchasing a dog. Even more importantly, are they there to support you after you bring the dog home? Are they just a phone call away to answer your questions about the dog’s behavior? Are they willing to take the dog back, no questions asked, if it doesn’t work out? Or are you on your own as soon as the check clears?

People research cars before they buy them. They go to see several houses before they plop down the money on one they want to buy. We compare the specs on televisions before we bring home that big screen behemoth. We should do the same with dogs. If more people did, there would be less of a need for shelters and rescues.

Posted in Fostering, Thoughts | Leave a comment

Trying Something New

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Jamie
Look at that focus on the startline. If only I could get it, and keep it, all the time!

Look at that focus on the startline. If only I could get it, and keep it, all the time!

It’s been a while since I’ve gone on a roadtrip with Risa. Wintertime around here tends to limit your traveling activities for sure. 🙂 Life’s been stressing us both out lately and I knew we needed to get away. It was perfect timing that, this past weekend, we had signed up for a C-WAGS rally trial. There are a lot of different versions of rally out there and I liked some of the unique options C-WAGS offered. Especially the ARF (Agility-Rally-Freestyle). I just wanted to have fun and try something new so we signed up for one run each of Zoom (no stopping, heelwork only), Starter, Advanced, and ARF. I couldn’t wait to try it out.

Besides the fun of trialing, I was really looking forward to going to Great Companions again. I’ve only trialed there twice before this weekend and attended two seminars there but I feel a strong connection to the two people who put in the heavy legwork to make this trial possible. I owe them both so much. Risa would not be the awesome dog she is today had Kim not recommended the book Scaredy Dog to me nor if Ali had not written it. Besides, they always host such fun events and are excellent judges to trial under. I had also met amazing people at the previous trials and was looking forward to connecting with them again. On top of all that, they also set up the event to run relatively smoothly for any reactive dogs in attendance (and there are usually several and no real incidences!).

Our weekend started off spectacularly. Gibbs, my foster dog, was adopted. He went to his new home on Saturday and I couldn’t be happier for him (he was too normal to stay here long 😉 ). When I got to the hotel, it wasn’t overly crowded (last time we stayed there it was graduation weekend) and we had a nice room. Risa was only mildly barky at the noises outside. I barely had to shush her. She was so good, in fact, that I didn’t make her sleep in her pop-up kennel. She slept out on the bed all night and I never heard a peep out of her! It’s not often we both sleep so well on the road.

The weather on the day of the trial was gloomy, damp, and cool. But it didn’t effect my mood. I was bound and determined to have a good time. I’d even written out some things for me to keep in mind while trialing. The stuff I usually forget about until afterward when I kick myself for doing them (like nagging Risa about her attention or talking to her non-stop in the ring). With the stress of the last month behind me, I focused on enjoying a day with my dog.

The competition at the trial was great; everyone seemed to have brought their A game. So many beautiful runs and great dog-handler teams. I enjoyed chatting with friends I hadn’t seen in years and found new people to chat with as well. Everyone I met was open, supportive, and many shared my views and experiences. The trial atmosphere was relaxed. It felt more like a bunch of friends getting together to host a dog event rather than a sanctioned trial. (This is something I usually only experience in freestyle.) My only complaint was that the trial was LONG. It was worth waiting for our turn as it gave Risa plenty of time to rest between events. Four events in one day is a lot and I know it is much more than she’s used to. Most of our trials are one and done!

Poised and ready for action!

Poised and ready for action!

On her first two events in the ring, she was pretty distracted and sniffy. I pretty much expected this. Her focus is notoriously poor in rally and we hadn’t practiced in an outdoor setting in months. I was true to my promise, however, that I wouldn’t nag her or get frustrated about her lack of attention on me. She did well in both Zoom and Starter. Her score in Zoom was 95 (lost points on tight leash, naturally) and she got 93 in Starter. Both scores earned her 3rd place rosettes. I was very proud of her especially since the competition was stiffer in Starter as we were in the B class.

We were not well-prepared for the Advanced and ARF courses. I knew going in that there were several signs Risa could not do or, at the very least, I couldn’t count on her doing. Of the signs on the course, I figured we could fudge through most of them and still come out okay. It didn’t matter anyway. I wasn’t looking for titles, Qs, or legs really. I was just out to try something fun and enjoy the weekend with the Mutt.

She started off well in Advanced now that she was finally off-leash. I don’t know if keeping her on the first two runs helped her remember she needed to focus or that, once it was off, she realized it was work-time. Most of our work is done without the lead. I had her focus right away on the start which was a huge improvement over the first two runs. She was also less sniffy and had several moments when she was totally with me. In fact, her halt 1-2-3 steps was AMAZING. I only wish I could have had that dog the entire run! She refused to take the jump. . .twice. I don’t know if it was because it was at a longer distance than I’ve worked with her on or if the dampness in the air made her sore and not want to take it. She does have some arthritis in her knees. We did not qualify on that run but only because we didn’t score enough points. We had 63 (needed 70). We didn’t do anything blatant at least!

Finally, it was time to try ARF. We were the only ones (besides the judges) brave enough to try it. Though a friend of mine did decide to do it for exhibition only with her dog. 🙂 I knew Risa would like this version of rally as it encompasses elements of agility (jumps, table, tunnel) and freestyle (working both sides and a mini freestyle sequence). Her focus was better but our lack of preparedness made things difficult. She was head-over-heels excited to find a tunnel out there on the course that she almost missed doing the first sign. Then, once she got through the tunnel, she had to go back in and do it again. *Sigh* She did pretty well though she refused the jump again. I even tried calling her differently in the hopes that she’d realize what I wanted. But no. Ris was not jumping anything. She surprised the heck out of me by performing the back up 3 steps in heel position flawlessly. I have barely worked on this with her and pretty much expected us to blow that sign. But she did it. Beautifully.

Once we finally got to the mini freestyle sequence, you could see Risa light up. She can do rally but freestyle is her thing. She got some nice audience feedback as well which just makes her even more into it. I have no idea what our final score was for that and I didn’t care. Clearly, she had enjoyed herself out there.

After events like this, I always try and figure out if she had fun. I know I did and I think, overall, she did enjoy herself. It’s just that rally really isn’t her thing. She’s actually really good at it when she’s focused and attentive. It’s just getting and keeping her attention is harder in rally because she’s not as motivated to do it. It’s frustrating, too, because rally is the easiest thing for us to trial in. We don’t have to travel at all or can stay relatively close by to do AKC rally. But she’s 2 legs away from her AKC Rally Excellent title and, once she gets it, we’re finished with AKC. I have no dreams of trying to get an RAE with Risa. Even the RE is further than I’d anticipated getting with her.

I don’t think we’re done with C-WAGS yet. I think I’d really like to brush up on her stuff and introduce her to some of the other ARF moves that she doesn’t know yet and try for her ARF title. I’d also like to start working her nose a bit more and see if I can begin introducing odor and give her the chance to try some of the scent games C-WAGS offers. Ris really likes to use her nose and I think it would be something else she’d really enjoy. Besides, we already know she’s good at sniffing around a ring and ignoring Mom completely. 🙂

Posted in C-WAGS, Dog Sports, Fear, Fostering, Rally, Reactivity, Training | Leave a comment

The Importance of Knowing Why

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Jamie
Woo hoo! Another dog! Playtime for me!

Woo hoo! Another dog! Playtime for me!

I know some trainers working with behavioral issues feel it’s irrelevant to know the motivation of the dog. You only need to know two things: what you want the dog to do and how to train him to get there. While I agree with this and truly believe you can rehabilitate a dog knowing only those things, I think you might see quicker results if you understand the whys.

My current foster dog, Gibbs, loses his mind when he sees another dog. He begins to bark non-stop, pull and lunge on the leash. His visual behavior is not unlike the behavior I used to see in Risa. The mere sight of another dog, even at a distance, sets him off. It turns him into a crazed, barking maniac.

What makes him completely different from Risa is his motivation: the reason why he exhibits this behavior. Unlike Risa, Gibbs is not afraid of other dogs. He is not trying to increase his distance from them by carrying on like a loon. Instead, he’s expressing his frustration that he cannot go over there right now and meet that dog. Gibbs absolutely loves other dogs and thinks they are all potential playmates. His behavior is similar to what you may see in a dog-reactive dog but the complete opposite when it comes to motivation.

The techniques I use to work with a reactive dog work very well with fun-loving party-starters too. It’s all about teaching self-control, having a plan to get out of Dodge when you step over the dog’s threshold, learning to read your dog, and setting up a lot of trials where the dog is able to practice the desired behaviors. Where things can differ, however, is in the use of real-life rewards. While a dog barking and lunging out of fear can be rewarded for calm behaviors by increasing their distance from the trigger, a dog who wants to make friends can be rewarded by decreasing the distance. Ultimately, you can even reward a dog who loves other dogs by letting him greet the other dog when he’s calm. With reactive dogs, meeting the other dog is not really that dog’s goal. (I certainly do recommend working with reactive dogs so that they become more comfortable with greeting dogs but that’s my goal, not the dog’s. I’m pretty sure, at least at the beginning, Risa would have been totally fine not meeting another dog ever again.)

How could you not love me?

How could you not love me?

Having these two very differently motivated dogs in the same household has been a challenge. Gibbs is practically head-over-heels for Risa; he wants to meet her so badly. Risa, however, is afraid of his behavior. He scares her with his constant barking and inability to read her signs of discomfort. Having both dogs in the same room causes a lot of stress for everyone. So I’ve had to play the “crate and rotate” game while Gibbs is here to keep everyone relatively happy. Gibbs cannot be frustrated that he cannot greet Risa if she’s not in sight. Risa cannot be scared of Gibbs’ barking if she is in the other room. And I don’t have to listen to Gibbs barking non-stop or watch Risa be scared of his gregarious behavior. It’s not a perfect situation and I would find it very hard to own a dog like Gibbs while I still have Risa. The two are in constant conflict. Risa wants to stay far away and Gibbs wants to get closer. It’s certainly possible to have two dogs like that coexist and, eventually, even get along. However, he’s a foster dog and it’s just not worth the time and effort to get to that point knowing he won’t be here long. 🙂

Posted in Fear, Fostering, Reactivity, Thoughts, Training | Leave a comment

More Than Just a Pretty Face

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Jamie
Just too cute for my own good.

Just too cute for my own good.

Every time I get a new foster dog, people seem to think I’m going to keep him. While I cannot deny that is bound to happen eventually, everyone seems to want me to keep the dog for the wrong reasons. The usual one? Because he’s cute.

I got that from a lot of people with my last foster, Merlin. He had the cutest little foxy face. But he was not even close to what I’m looking for in a dog. He was part herding dog. . .and that was about the only box he checked on my list!

Certainly, the way a dog looks is important. You’re going to wake up with that cold nose in your face for a LONG time; you’d better like what you see. And I definitely have preferences in what I find aesthetically pleasing in a dog. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a certain look in mind.

What I do have issue with, however, is choosing a dog based solely on his looks. This is bound to cause trouble.

I mean, seriously. What a goofy-looking dog!

I mean, seriously. What a goofy-looking dog!

A dog is much more than what he looks like. In fact, if you just want to live with a picture of a dog, get a poster. It’s far more important to make sure his nature and personality match with you and your household. I will admit, Risa is not exactly what I was looking for looks-wise when I sought a canine companion. In fact, I thought she was really goofy-looking (I actually still think that 😉 ). I did love her half-pricked ears and her seal-colored coat. That was about it, though. Over time, I have come to love her sleek coat, bulging muscles, and sighthoundy build. Even her face with her award-winning smile can’t help but bring joy to my life.

When you’re seeking out a new friend, remember it’s more important to focus on who he is not just what he looks like. Is he extremely active or a lazy couch potato? Is he tolerant of being touched or more aloof? Does he need a simple walk around the block or is he going to drive you batty unless he get training sessions, long walks, and games of fetch? You’re not living with a photograph; you’re living with that particular personality. Make sure it’s a good fit.

Posted in Fostering, Thoughts | Leave a comment