Puppy Class in kids drawings

I came across these drawings today. They are drawings made by my daughter Fenja - drawn probably about 3-4 years ago. I would guess she was about 6 or 7 when she made them.

I remember when she drew them and gave them to me.

Before she got so very busy with after school activities, she used to love coming along to puppy class. Sometimes we have had many puppies living in families and several kids accompany their puppies and come along to the same class - other times there have not been that many kids or none. Being a mom, and also someone who believes very strongly our puppies benefit from having people of all ages take part in the class - I love it when kids come along. So, my own kids were a staple at puppy classes for quite a while. They were great helpers in setting up for class, and sometimes there were bonus puppies that needed a Junior Handler!

Sometimes we would get `bonus puppies` show up from a rescue or shelter.
I have always encouraged the local shelter to get in touch if they have Puppies waiting to be adopted and drop in to Wags` puppy foundation skills class, at no charge. I think it benefits everyone! The puppies get a little outing with some good learning, a volunteer is likely to accompany them - and it gives that volunteer a chance to perhaps learn something new as well as get out and mingle and let the puppy meet some additional people and dogs.

Fenja`s drawings all focus beautifully on the exercises we did with the puppies. (and we still do these types of things, among many others). 

The top drawing  shows an owner working with a puppy to introduce the puppy to go through a chute. It`s just a confidence builder and something simple and fun - yet is very helpful for some more advanced exercises later on. So, dogs who have been introduced to chutes and many strange objects as puppies have a clear advantage.

The middle drawing is equally descriptive :-) It`s extremely beneficial to introduce puppies to as many different kinds of surfaces as possible and get them comfortable stepping on and confidently walking on anything and everything they might later encounter. In the illustration the puppy is practicing sits and downs on a slippery surface (can you guess what the surface is? well clearly: a snow slider toboggan!)

And the final drawing below here shows all the prep work necessary to get ready to teach puppy class. It`s a big job to get ready for the little bundles!

Yup. That`s me with the purple shirt and the mop. Floors always get carefully cleaned before any puppy enters the training room. Carefully selected props and items are brought out. Here we`re obviously setting up the chutes as well as a tunnel. (I believe that to be one of Fenja`s brothers helping with the tunnel).

Before Wags` had a home base and a permanent indoor location, classes moved around quite a bit: I have taught in many different locations in Banff and Canmore. For some of that time I even lugged around my own flooring which was assembled before each class, and again disassembled after...(see the blue rubber tile in the top right: yeah, that`s what that is. This is an extremely accurate drawing!)

What treasures these drawings are. There were a few more...Maybe another day I can share the rest. 

Tommy in Black and White

Here is Tommy in Black and White. What a character. So many expressions in this Young little Guy. I love the one eyed look as he is engaged with his toy (top right). Tonight I`ll see Tommy in Puppy Foundation Skills class and we are going to work more on play: retrieve and tugging to be specific.

The owners were asked to bring two identical toys for tonight so I can show them a very cool, simple and extremely effective way of building solid retrieving skills in a dog. So many dogs learn to enjoy the `keep away` version of retrieving: with the owner going after the dog in hopes of getting the toy back...not something I recommend. 
So - we`re going to address that tonight, use two toys and get him - and the other puppies - enjoying coming right back to their people with the retrieve object. Simple, and SO much fun!

Teaching your dog to play with you using toys is simply one of the Very Best things you can do. Enough can`t be said about the benefits of human-dog play.
What you can do with great play skills is Magical. Nothing less!
So - on that note, I am heading out with my own dogs to play, tug, and retrieve!

Canine CSI: Murder Mystery in Banff

A shrill scream resonates in the dead of the night. You jump out of bed, to realize your partner is missing. As your mind feverishly races to figure what has happened, your friends surround you and convey the bad news – your partner has been kidnapped. As you grapple with your socks and grab your trusty dog’s leash you realize you have only 2 hours before your friend could be killed. Your hands tremble as you command your dog to search. Questions race through your mind… who could it be? Could it be the cannibalistic tribe that lives in the neighbouring valley? Or the strange man who accosted your car on the way to the campsite? Another scream pierces the air. Visions of the person being tortured flood your mind. Can you find the lost person before it is too late?

Have you always dreamed of becoming Sherlock Holmes? Well, dream no more, join us for this unique opportunity to work hands-on with John Rogerson: canine scenting and crime scene investigation course – it teaches you how to train a dog to find anything – drugs, explosives, even a lost person. Are you up to the challenge? Do you have it in you to become Sherlock Bones? And train a dog to become Dr. ‘Paw’son? Then take up the gauntlet and read on.

Past courses of this type have included:

• Tracking, scent detection, advanced control and problem solving
• Team and relationship building exercises in a variety of groups
• Working on almost every exercise connected to controlling and having lots of fun with your dog
• The first couple of days you and your dog receive training to become a super sleuth
• The final days participants work in a small team of dogs and handlers while attempting to solve a heinous crime using your canine detective, your powers of observation, and problem solving skills to sort out the case
• Arson, explosive, firearm, and drug detection (real weapons, accelerants, explosives and drugs are NOT used)

This is going to be an Amazing experience! What a privilege it is for Wags unlimited to be hosting this fun learning opportunity. You can find more details here.

We're booked in to do this course in Banff June 20-23, 2013 and the course sold out incredibly fast! Now it just so happens that *ONE* auditor spot has opened up as a cancellation. Some lucky person who has dreamed of getting in on a John Rogerson course will have a chance to join us...

Please Note: This course is not intended for law enforcement officers as it is a fun mystery course designed to “have some of the most fun you could ever imagine having with your dog” (quote from past course participant) as well as create new ideas for running dog training classes where there's a real purpose and end result to the training.

So what do you need to join? Do you need a degree in forensics? Be able to shoot straight or run like the wind?  Nah. What is needed is a huge amount of enthusiasm, the ability to get along with others and work in a small team, and… nerves of steel. This training course is like no other – can you handle the challenge? Yes? Then sign up today and don’t forget to bring along your thinking hat – you’ll need it!

Happy Victoria Day!

Everything feels great after a walk in the woods.

Sharing just a couple of shots from the other day with my patient and extremely cooperative models; Maggio and Pinot.

I walk around with a lot of photo inspiration these days - seeing trees, bushes, branches, and grasses as potential backdrops. Opportunities seem to be everywhere - it`s fun to be riding a massive wave of inspiration!

Bringing the camera on a dog outing brings me a lot of joy right now - and fortunately I think the dogs are really loving it, too. 

The reason I love to photograph my dogs in the woods so much is likely very very simple - it`s my `daily therapy session`- the time for me to recharge and renew and just spend time with these amazing four-legged friends of mine. 

I`ve heard a neat saying that goes  something like `there`s no problem or worry in the world that can`t be resolved from the back of a horse`and I feel a bit the same about our daily outings into nature. 

How could  Everything not feel great after one of these adventures!

Tommy

Meet Tommy - the Awesome and Very Handsome 9+ week old English Bulldog puppy. He`s recently enrolled in Wags`Puppy Foundation skills class. I talked about him in a blog post just a few days back.
Yesterday I had the great honour to do a photo shoot with him. What a cute Dude! 
Here are just a couple of shots of Tommy. Enjoy.

The garden hose - in frequent use these days.

After a long winter and walking dogs that always were nice and clean when we came back home from our walks - the garden hose is now out, ready to hose off dirty dogs on a moment`s notice.
Most days I can`t deny Pinot and Maggio a good roll in puddles and mud - they get hot and want to cool off in whatever water they find. So be it. That`s a dog. Then we come home and hose off in clean water and quickly try to close the bedroom door so they don`t go have their after-run-nap in our bed!

AAWH. The pleasures of spring. Dirt. Muck. Dogs.