Over the past few years I have been buying lots of dog training books, from the really great to the amazingly rubbish.
This is my fave book out of the lot. I initially got it to help with Mias reactivity, and it has helped lots (and is keeping on helping)
But the more I read it the more I realised it helps with ALL dogs.
The programme is great for Mia, reactive, easily distracted, v smart, high energy with issues with other dogs.
It has taught me great ways to build focus in her using games and behavioural tools, how to deal with her triggers, to realise when she was about to go off on one and how to improve that.
But it has also helped lots with Ben, ideas on how to increase his focus and excitement for working, how rate of reward can really build value in a trick, position or command to make him enjoy doing it more, to understand more his level of arousal so I know whether he needs geed up a bit or calmed down.
Watching other dogs in classes, agility shows and out about in the street I can see how other dogs would benefit from a little Control Unleashed.
I have enjoyed reading and using it so much that I have even sourced a hall to hopefully run a kind of informal class and allow me to work Mia with more distractions.
If you have a great dog but want to understand them more get this book!
If you have a dog with a few issues get this book
If you have a dog with lots of issued get this book - but also contact a behaviourist
If you are thinking of doing agility or are doing agility but could do better GET THIS BOOK!
So far all my fuzzies have gone to animal loving homes. This time a lady asked me if I could do a 1/2 splat squirrel for her dad who hates them
I wasnt sure how well it would work out. I really wanted to do a fluffy tail but as these are designed to be used I had to firmly felt, a fluffy tail just wouldnt keep its shape
I also worked on sculpting the legs some more to show muscle - I always overdo custom orders and make them harder for myself!! :D This time I nuno felted the body, white on the bottom and grey on the top. I have a little extra left over - so watch this space to see what else I am coming up with!
To keep my focus I am being brave and posting how I am getting on with my targets for 2010 So I had planned/hoped for 2 sales a week For January I got 14 sales!! 6 over target!!
How I am doing this 1. Posting a new item or relisting every day 2. Being active in Etsy chat and forums 3. Increasing fan page visability with Link Love 4. Tweeting at least weekly 5. Blogging often 6. Creating as much fuzzies as I can before my arms fall off (I think its a danger, shoulder is creaking now!!)
What has helped
My biggest January thankyou goes to Pat - an amazing artist - who, a little bird tells me might be selling some of her lovely work soon - so stay posted. Pat has been so suportive of my new splat range, being my first customer and shouting about me from the rooftops - well forums :D
Thankyou so much
Etsy
I have been on Etsy for 18 months or so, but this month it has been really amazing for me. Many kind people liking my work and putting me in their treasuries, and then the cherry on the cake was 3 front pages this week! 3! You wait for 18 months then 3 come along at once!
Everyone!
This month I have got so much support from total strangers, it is lovely. Buying from a total stranger and having items shipped to you from all over the world. Much more exciting than buying in a shop.
Thankyou all for making January great! Heres to a good Feb for everyone
The aim of this web-site is to provide the media and members of the public with more information about the behaviour of dogs, the possible consequences of using aversive training techniques, and where to go for appropriate advice on training and behaviour issues.
It contains some great information and links for finding good dog trainers and behaviourists in the UK.
It explains the problems with using aversive punishment training on dogs and has a list of all the experts and bodies in the UK who are specifically against Cesar Millan, his teachings, his TV show and his tour of the UK.
It is sad that so many experts in the UK voice concerns of the dangers of using these types of confrontational methods and yet he is still coming to the country, his shows still get the airplay on the TV.
If you have a problem with your dogs behaviour please please contact an expert, do not try and follow advice from a TV entertainer
Many people often comment that Cesar Millans more extream methods are OK because they are saving the lives of real OTT red zone dogs that would otherwise be put to sleep. Most people do not realise that most behaviourists will deal with these type of dogs on a regular basis. In the main these methods are not shown on TV as they do not seem as flashy, the dogs are kept calm - not as interesting for TV as a 'out of control' dog, a man v's dog struggle and then a 'calm, fixed' dog turning up as if by some kind of magic. So I am puting up a couple of similar examples for you to see the difference
This first clip shows a positive way to do things. At the start the dog is very stressed and giving out mixed signals to the dog. Sure its tail is wagging but look in its eyes, look at its face. This is a common problem with people with fearful dogs. This dog is stress panting, it does not know how to behaive with the other dog being there and has learnt the best way to cope is to bark and be scary because that makes the other dog go away (either the other dog is taken away or it is dragged away - either way it dosent have to interact with the other dog) At this point the trainers are not training the dog, they are assesing the situation. The dog is not in a position to learn anything much, it is just reacting. Like all flashy TV shows this is now cut as the dog is taught some better ways to behaive. Training a dog at a great enough distance from the trigger (the other dog in this case) so the dog can be calm. It learns that nice things happen when the other dog is about and that the handler is not going to force it to interact with the other dog. At the end of the clip you can see from the dogs body language that it is relaxed and happy, it is able to focus on the handler and is enjoying working with them. It is aware of the other dog being there but now the other dog being there is just a signal that nice things - like work and treats - are gonna happen, the other dog is no threat. That dog is calm, happy and safe.
Now lets see how Cesar deals with a dog like that. (for some strange reason Nat Geo takes these clips down often - strange that - so it is working now but if it is gone when you try to watch then let me know and I will try and find one that is up)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eSERTmOrpk At the start the dog is walking fairly close to the collie although it dosent look v happy it is not showing agression and there are plenty of chances for CM to reward the dog. But of course CM does not reward a dog for good behaviour he prefers to force it do the wrong thing so he can punish it and show it who is the boss. So he keeps bringing the dogs closer together until the dog looks at the collie Note there is STILL no agression here yet But that is enough for CM. He kicks the dog and at the same time tightens the lead
Now people argue about the force of the kick, whether this is a 'foot tap' or a 'kick' Have you ever been focused on something and not realised a friend is behind you until they tap you on the shoulder? Sometimes you whip round heart racing, you really jump When you see it is a friend you calm down say 'what a fright you gave me' and have a laugh But in Shadows case it isnt a friend behind him, its CM, who at the same time is tighting the lead up and cutting off the dogs air
Of course the dog will fight back, and it shows what a really good dog that is that it dosent do some real harm to CM. It could have if it had wanted to.
Now there is a battle, it ends when the dog gives up - whether it has run out of air or if it just gives up I do not know. But what has it learnt here?? Strange dog is about, it is still scary, but this man is even more scary
The slideshow shows where CM goes from here He muzzles the dog and surrounds it with strange dogs If you look at the dog you can see it is NOT happy, it is NOT calm and submissive it is stressed and scared. Now what do you think will happen when it sees another dog when CM is not holding the lead?? Do you think that the owners are going to be able to fight him like that to show that they are more scary than the other dogs??
Please remember if you like my blog to vote on it Trainpetdog invited my blog to enter in its 2010 d0g blog award contest To get to the next level I need 50 people to vote for my blog All you have to go is visit them and enter this code 7cn2I in the box. Pretty please! :D
Trainpetdog invited my blog to enter in its 2010 d0g blog award contest To get to the next level I need 50 people to vote for my blog All you have to go is visit them and enter this code 7cn2I in the box. Pretty please! :D
He is made on a wire frame with merino white fleece. I then blended some camel fibre with Shetland wool to work on the shading, with a little more black merino blended in to make his back, ears and top of his head a little darker
He is posed just rising up on his hind legs - and wonders of wonders I actually managed to make him balance on his own in that position (fancy name - free standing :D)
I am stumped for a name for this one so any ideas???
Still planing for this to be the year when I take my first steps to be a dog trainer then a behaviourist.
I have the hall all lined up, just short of funds for a few weeks.
So my friends kindly let me practise on them and their dogs.
A pair of lovely crazy collies.
I was wanting to practise some of the 'control unleashed' stuff I have been doing with Mia, so I kind of used her as a demo dog while at the same time working on her with bigger distractions.
First I did a little focus work, showing them how to build focus in the dog and what to be looking for.
Mia gave a great demo, when I started she was sniffing about paying no heed to me at all and then as I clicked her for any interaction with me she quickly turned from no focus to lots and lots of focus.
The first dog Bu**** (white face in the fotos) is a typical collie with a high work drive so had no problem with focus so we were able to get onto moving a little and the beginnings of circle work
The 2nd dog Bl** is a lot more sensitive. He gets stressed by being asked for commands.
You can see in the first foto (sorry about quality) he is looking very dejected by the clicker being out and him being asked to work.
But within about 5 clicks he realised that he wasnt being asked to do anything he just was getting rewarded for paying attention to mom - then he really started to get it
We ended this bit here but you can see a total change in his body language - focus on mom, tail up, happy looking dog.
We did a little 'go to your place' Bu has been clicker trained and is used to free shaping so got this vv quickly Bl did v well too.
Not sure if I explained the point of this exercise well but hopefully they work on it a little because this would really help with Bu's reactivity when he is watching Bl work.
Finally as a little trick and to teach back end awareness I showed them 'brick work' Both dogs figured out getting their paws on the object so thats a good starts
Next step is getting the back legs moving :D
I talked a little about 'LAT' exercises, default behaviours (Bu showed a lovely default sit) and how to keep a training sesh really short espech for Bl to build motivation.
I had fun although it was a little weird, I hope I didnt do too bad.
Then we let the dogs play a bit and practised some weaves - Mia actually did pretty good and Bu was doing them better with his owner moving a little beside him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blo6YcFWNtw&feature=channel At agility lots of people are saying they just dont have the imagination to teach tricks so I was wondering if that may be somewhere to make a start with some classes. I love training tricks, I think its the best way to make the dog think and sitting, doing agility, obedience, not chasing the postman, really they are all tricks for the dog
In my welcome section below you will find my blog updates on Mia my foster dog, Bens agility stories and some dog training tips I am learning. Please check out out brand new website SerendipityScotland for needle felting, nuno felting, knitwear, wax painting, supplies and more.
An interesting custom request
I also worked on sculpting the legs some more to show muscle - I always overdo custom orders and make them harder for myself!! :D
To keep my focus I am being brave and posting how I am getting on with my targets for 2010
I have been on Etsy for 18 months or so, but this month it has been really amazing for me. Many kind people liking my work and putting me in their treasuries, and then the cherry on the cake was 3 front pages this week! 3! You wait for 18 months then 3 come along at once!
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