What does your leash cue to your dog? Have you ever thought about it? Or noticed? Does it depend on which leash, what environment? Dogs have an amazing ability to learn environmental cues. The leash will often trigger a reliable…
NADAC Agility Trial Recap
This past weekend we entered a new mid-winter NADAC trial here. Usually we have a break from agility competitions from either Oct to late March/early April, or New Years to late March/early April. It was nice to get a chance…
Connection
Connection: the relationship of a person, thing or behavior to something or someone else. Connection is an all the rage buzz word in the current world of dog training. In years past the word instead was “Attention”. Attention: the act…
Listen for Stillness
This is starting to look like the season of stays. With stay instruction and training working its way into many lessons. Stays are an integral foundation behavior and a part of nearly all performance sports. And the bare bones basics…
The Devil is in the Details
I’ve yet to work with a new agility student who didn’t start off thinking agility was about dogs doing obstacles. Little secret: it’s not. A few days ago I started with a great new student who has a really fun…
NAE NADAC Trial recap
With Zora now recovered from her injury, we headed to VT for 1 day of a NADAC trial hosted by Northeast Agility Enthusiasts. A good friend of mine happened to have the weekend off, and wanted to get out of…
Agility Trial Routines
I’m a rather routine, predictable person. I find routines comforting and reassuring. I like having plans. It’s harder to get lost, lose things and be forgetful when life is orchestrated with many patterns. It’s no surprise I have any number…
Bonus Box High. They are Addictive!
NADAC trial recap for the weekend. It was awesome!!! I’m over the moon, on cloud 9, still happy dance big grin, etc. It was my clubs annual spring trial, so I worked and helped out more than I usually do…
Our Most Awesome NQ Ever & an All Around NATCH
Awesome, awesome day at the NADAC agility trial. Such fun. There were so many new folks at the trial as well which was fantastic to see! Hope they had a welcoming experience and hope to see them again at future…
Formula for Earning Qualifying Scores
I talk with my agility students and students considering competition often about defining what success in the ring means for them, their dog and their team. As I feel that definition can have a huge impact on not only your…