Dylan's Journey 20-24 Weeks Old
DYLAN'S JOURNEY CONTINUES.... This has been a very interesting and exciting time as Dylan grows and grows but with this growth and continual patient training and love, he has grown to have good household manners especially with chewing on things he should not be destroying; paws up on the counters; barking in the car while Beckett trains; completing his puppy shots so he can now go places; going on new hikes to meet new people, places and things he has never seen; letting me dremel his nails; getting his ears set (I hope) and so much more.
Along with his growth and maturity comes new and updated training goals - most of which are based on Petra Ford's obedience and utility foundation work (everything is a fun trick and done in tiny pieces to perfection) and Susan Garrett's RECALLERS - always ongoing.
1. FIRST, as part of foundation it is very important for young dogs to learn to HOLD and not drop the things they are carrying back to you such as the dumbbell, scent articles and the gloves. This training begins indoors with just being sure the dog understands how to hold, drop in your hand, and come back to you. Not asking for a front or finish at this time but by calling them you help to ensure a tight turn right from the beginning. Big wide loopy turns are hard to fix - right Beckett :)
NOTE: If at any time, the puppy/dog drops the article/glove no verbal is given.... Just start again. The dog will know that the absence of reward/treats is why this was not reinforced. They always do it correct the 2nd time.
Also.... games such as the "FIND MINE" with the utility scent article cannot be played until the dog consistently will bring back the scent article, DB or glove without dropping it.
2. GO OUTS: The dog needs to learn to MARK so when ever you MARK the dog for the GO OUT or GLOVES you can be sure they are looking where you indend them to go. We are not using the stantion to mark but rather a lid with a very high value treat. The reason I am no longer using the stantion is that the place they go to often changes its appearance (color, metal); may be off set; may have tall rebar close by to support the ring. The dog needs to learn to GO STRAIGHT, KEEP LOOKING after they have been marked and turn tight... Eventually this tight turn to a sig will be taught. We begin this inside and then another non-distracting place just a foot or 2 away. Eventually we work up to ring size of 40 feet... A lot of foundation work to do. Very important to have a strong MARK up close.
3. PIVOTS: both in recallers and in foundation obedience, the dog needs to keep focused on you and begin to start turning at your side in their set-up position at the seam of your pants. Which leads to..
4. FOCUS on you. Dog should be looking up at you for coming front, set-up position and throughout work.
Added to this is our training at the training field where we practice. There are adjoining rings so there are often dogs doing agility in the ring adjoining obedience. Great experience for Dylan since he is fascinated with their run and it being another dog. He is learning to watch for less time and return to me for fun things.
5. STRONG AND MULTIPLE HAND TARGETS: This is eventually (starting now) used for so much in obedience such as a good finish, getting into SET-UP position, and much more.
6. GOOD STAND: Dog needs to learn how to do a correct STAND before you can move on with hand signals
7. TIGHT SIT
8. DOWN; where there is no forward movement and if possible some backward movement. This is helped by teaching the trick - put your FEET on the platform and eventually blanket or pad behind you - I use the work "feet" to indicate this and Dylan always enjoys this trick.
9. SCENT ARTICLES; There will NOT be formal training in finding scent articles. Dylan is doing a lot of scent work which he not only greatly enjoys, has great focus on and does very well. He just finished 2 Intro to Odor classes and is doing so well that we are preparing for him to enter the NACSW ORT (odor recognition test which must be taken before they can enter an event). There will be an ORT on May 25th in Chino Valley and I believe that Dylan will be ready. His biggest challenge is a new indoor environment with people around. He already recognizes and does 12 ORT boxes with birch. He also recognizes Anaise in searches. Also planning on entering an AKC novice trail in Prescott in April. Confidence and joy in scent work will make article finding easy. At this point he is so far away from competing in obedience that we will focus on scent work for him to enjoy and have fun success always rewarded and reinforced first.
I do however do a fun "find mine" game with the dogs at this age if they are good with their odor from scent work. I take one scent article and scent it and then put it somewhere, first in the house nearby and then outside in easier places than the scent tins and do a "FIND MINE". Started this today with Dylan (2/19/24) and he did awesome and loves the hunt. Video below.
10. HERDING: We will continue every few week to provide a short period for Dylan to meet the goats and learn he can move them --- even better coming from behind.
11. SOCIALIZATION AND TRAIL EDIQUETTE: The picture below is one of my favorite young dog, local hikes. It is 10 minutes from my home and not only has some of the most gorgeous red rock scenery in Sedona, but also offers the dogs EXCELLENT opportunities to see and meet many new people, children and occasional leashed dog passing by on the trail. Beckett is a great mentor of how to meet and greet children and people. Dylan of course thinks everyone has come to see him but he is learning otherwise. He also would just love to go and jump in that raging oak creek we hike by. We do short hikes at least 3 times a week with a distance of 1 -1 1/2 miles or less.
12: On going: lots of continual RECALLERS with many recalls in many places even with distractions; the "IT'S YOUR CHOICE" game.... great for making good decisions that we want by shaping this; crate games where there is continual value built for all type of crates... soon for being in at a show with Beckett.
13: Introducing the Puppy to Baby Dog Grids: All my dog have been introduced to jumping though the work of Susan Salo. Susan Salo has over 35 years of experience in the world of show jumping as both a competitor and a professional trainer and for many years was followed to teach dogs to jump. Many people believe that dogs do not need to be taught to jump but have you ever watched dogs that cannot jump smoothly and often studder step or act unsure of the jump. Jumping grids are one perfect way to introduce dogs to how to jump correctly. Beckett who started this way is a lovely jumper which of course has to be done in obedience.
Susan like to start dogs between the ages of 4-6 months. At this age they have not completed their neurological pathways yet nor have their growth plates closed work done with them at this early age carefully. Jump bumps are perfect since there is no jumping involved but introduce the puppy to the mechanics of the job ahead of them.
Beginnine exercises include: the set-point exercise; short diagonal line and the puppy version of beginning bend work. Below you will see where Dylan, who is 5 months old, was introduced to the set-point a few days ago and today the diagonal line. It is important to only have a few reps and only do these a couple of days a week. I was impressed that Dylan had a lovely start line stay and did not try to run around the jumps as dogs often do.
14: One of the biggest challenges young dogs have is going places and eventually to shows with all the people and other dogs. Most of my dogs have seemed to believe everyone has come to meet and greet them and they have trouble not wanting to go and meet or jump up on people. Also Dylan has had 2 dogs that he has enjoyed playing with so this is another learning experience - not to run up to or want to go to dogs he passes or sees. This is why the Canine Good Citizen is perfect practice for this. Along with the CGC AKC likes to put the trick dog title where they are introduced to great puppy exercises. You will see what Dylan did for his AKC Novice Trick Dog title.
UPDATE: Yesterday (March 23, 2024) we went to the Cactus Classic Reigning Event in Scottsdale for the "Run for a Million." Even though I love to go and watch I used this as a great way to socialize and expose Dylan to an event and this one was huge with hundreds of people, dogs and dogs off leash. He was a "rock star" as my friend said and learned he did not have to great everyone; dogs were hard but I learned to call him to look at me and treat him with a dog distraction. He was also able to focus on his "place, sit and down." He sat and watched and laid down in the aisle; was not afraid of the horses and I thought was amazing for his age and not having been in at a big event.
Set-up for Beginning Puppy Exercises
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VIDEO 1: "FIND MINE" GAME: Dylan was introduced to odor (nose work) at 10 weeks old and done it regularly since then. He has done very well and really enjoys it being very focused. We have used his indoor crate to have him stay while the outside hides are placed so it is used again to find my scented scent article. This is all I do with the dogs for awhile before I start using multiple scent articles in plastic scented containers for discrimination. It is all about having it be fun and building confidence.
VIDEO 2: Puppy Jump Bumps
VIDEO 3: Dylan's AKC Novice Trick Dog tricks. This is a great way to introduce the dog to some balance work, agility, obedience and scent work.
VIDEO 4: From our 2nd Scent Work Class
This type of search was intended to introduce sport dogs to detection work that they might find in Search and Rescue where they have to find odor originating from the ground. In this exercise for Novice six containers are used with "play sand" and covered with metal grate; one is a hot box with birch initially on the surface and later buried in the sand. At the next level the hide is now in water rather than sand.
Dylan is introduced to the buried hide. Initially I like to include a straight line for our searches to remind him to start at the top and go down the line. Also like to include a hide with the first box containing the odor since it is easy for them to just hurry and skip over it. This is Dylan's 2nd day of being exposed to buried hides and he has not had any trouble with finding the correct sand box with odor.
VIDEO 5: These nose work videos are included to demonstrate Dylan's diversity in recognition of odor. By taking our time he loves these hunting games but he also now does all the AKC nose work and will be entered in his first AKC Nose Work trial in April 2024. From this work I do see any lack or confidence or any behavior to show his confusion b between all these different searches including our new "FIND MINE" for Utility.
These buried hides are from Aleks class and here is her feedback which is greatly appreciated since you will see the difference in his approach to "finding odor" in a buried container.
ALEX's feedback on first video with 6 boxes: His attention at the start (looking away) lets me know he needs a bunch more shell game with 3 containers to build the value of knowing containers only have odor worth checking. Remember that shell game won't have a start line (just first rep, and will often be much more random. Allow it to be non-structured) 1 - Good click :) 4 - He's starting to slip to the side of the container (when you clicked) - remove 3 containers and go back to shell games - off leash and allowing him to work it more naturally, allowing the odor to train him and his search (vs. your movement and the leash, both which are guiding his search and method to work through the containers).
Feedback after the revision: MUCH better!! Love the joy :)
VIDEO 6: Progressing "Find Mine" to 3 Utility Scent Articles: First I must say that I never add a new level or progression of what we are doing until Dylan shows his understanding and confidence. He has done a lot of nose work and can find the 3 odors (birch, anise and clove) in outdoor, indoor and container searches. He has a lot of joy for this so thought I would try "Find Mine." It is done very differently which to me differentiates it from nose work. We did one article for several weeks and he was doing well always finding and returning them to me without dropping them. I thought I would try 2 utility scent articles. I did both leather and wood and again no problem. Two days ago I added a third... Here is the video. From watching Dylan and still doing nose work which he is always correct on, I do not feel that the utility finding of articles is confused by nose work.
VIDEO 7: This is for my record of where Dylan is at after progressing his foundation work which we have tried to make into fun. It is not perfect at all but for 6 months he is doing extremely well. Some will say he is not fast. and drivey enough but for now he is learning the proper way to do these exercises and for me it is more important that he know what the behavior is that is asked for. Rather than correcting him, such as dropping a glove or article he just does NOT get a reinforcement. Also do not want to put him over the top and start up barking. AND for the most part, this is. his first time outside with so many more distractions: first time gloves and scent articles.
I am still trying to learn which would be his preferred way for Go Outs and he really loves the "TOUCH" and enjoys whenever asked to do this. I put out a single stantion and he seemed to like this and thought it was fun. This dish is fun also but harder to get a solid behavior for; least interest seems to be high value food so we may end up with the stantion.
VIDEO 2: Puppy Jump Bumps
VIDEO 3: Dylan's AKC Novice Trick Dog tricks. This is a great way to introduce the dog to some balance work, agility, obedience and scent work.
VIDEO 4: From our 2nd Scent Work Class
This type of search was intended to introduce sport dogs to detection work that they might find in Search and Rescue where they have to find odor originating from the ground. In this exercise for Novice six containers are used with "play sand" and covered with metal grate; one is a hot box with birch initially on the surface and later buried in the sand. At the next level the hide is now in water rather than sand.
Dylan is introduced to the buried hide. Initially I like to include a straight line for our searches to remind him to start at the top and go down the line. Also like to include a hide with the first box containing the odor since it is easy for them to just hurry and skip over it. This is Dylan's 2nd day of being exposed to buried hides and he has not had any trouble with finding the correct sand box with odor.
VIDEO 5: These nose work videos are included to demonstrate Dylan's diversity in recognition of odor. By taking our time he loves these hunting games but he also now does all the AKC nose work and will be entered in his first AKC Nose Work trial in April 2024. From this work I do see any lack or confidence or any behavior to show his confusion b between all these different searches including our new "FIND MINE" for Utility.
These buried hides are from Aleks class and here is her feedback which is greatly appreciated since you will see the difference in his approach to "finding odor" in a buried container.
ALEX's feedback on first video with 6 boxes: His attention at the start (looking away) lets me know he needs a bunch more shell game with 3 containers to build the value of knowing containers only have odor worth checking. Remember that shell game won't have a start line (just first rep, and will often be much more random. Allow it to be non-structured) 1 - Good click :) 4 - He's starting to slip to the side of the container (when you clicked) - remove 3 containers and go back to shell games - off leash and allowing him to work it more naturally, allowing the odor to train him and his search (vs. your movement and the leash, both which are guiding his search and method to work through the containers).
Feedback after the revision: MUCH better!! Love the joy :)
VIDEO 6: Progressing "Find Mine" to 3 Utility Scent Articles: First I must say that I never add a new level or progression of what we are doing until Dylan shows his understanding and confidence. He has done a lot of nose work and can find the 3 odors (birch, anise and clove) in outdoor, indoor and container searches. He has a lot of joy for this so thought I would try "Find Mine." It is done very differently which to me differentiates it from nose work. We did one article for several weeks and he was doing well always finding and returning them to me without dropping them. I thought I would try 2 utility scent articles. I did both leather and wood and again no problem. Two days ago I added a third... Here is the video. From watching Dylan and still doing nose work which he is always correct on, I do not feel that the utility finding of articles is confused by nose work.
VIDEO 7: This is for my record of where Dylan is at after progressing his foundation work which we have tried to make into fun. It is not perfect at all but for 6 months he is doing extremely well. Some will say he is not fast. and drivey enough but for now he is learning the proper way to do these exercises and for me it is more important that he know what the behavior is that is asked for. Rather than correcting him, such as dropping a glove or article he just does NOT get a reinforcement. Also do not want to put him over the top and start up barking. AND for the most part, this is. his first time outside with so many more distractions: first time gloves and scent articles.
I am still trying to learn which would be his preferred way for Go Outs and he really loves the "TOUCH" and enjoys whenever asked to do this. I put out a single stantion and he seemed to like this and thought it was fun. This dish is fun also but harder to get a solid behavior for; least interest seems to be high value food so we may end up with the stantion.
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Dylan at 7 Months Just Passed his AKC Intermediate Trick Dog (title dependent upon AKC approval)
VIDEO 1: Dylan just passed his AKC Intermediate Trick Dog for his title depending on AKC approval. This was all done on video due to the use of props. This video follows the AKC intermediate tricks for the intermediate trick dog title. The first 5 tricks are on this video; the next 5 on the 2nd part 2 video. Dylan is 7 months old.
VIDEO 2: 5 tricks included: interactive dog puzzle last since it is the longest. Handlers choice before the puzzle.
VIDEO 2: 5 tricks included: interactive dog puzzle last since it is the longest. Handlers choice before the puzzle.
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