Facebook Deb Krsnich check out the beautiful jewelry that my friend, Christine, makes!! I have this one.#/dkrsnich?v=feed&story_fbid=450209715312: "Animal Handsome German Shepherd necklace by ChristineGruen
www.etsy.com
This necklace is great for any dog lover; especially German Shepherd lovers! The German Shepherd charm and little bones are pewter. The long"
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Kennel Call
Today was a kennel call day! Instead of making multiple trips to the office, my vet fits in a kennel call between his farm visits nearby. It is so much easier for me, and less stressful for the dogs. I just grab them from their kennels, ply them with treats and they are back in a flash not even knowing they just received a poke in the butt! Really so much more efficient and even safer for the dogs, since they don't have to hang out in a waiting room and be exposed to sick animals. Or oblivious owners who think a flexi lead entitles their dog to make contact with everyone else within reach.
I am so lucky to have two wonderful vets to count on. Dr Jay Peters at Countryside has been a wonderful partner in my dog endeavors here. I often contact him to bounce off questions about vet treatments and new discoveries, and as a vet he treats me with respect and as a partner in treatment, as well. I trust him to listen, and to explain to me his choices and decisions and he allows me to weigh the options without being condescending. He is just a great guy, and has an absolute love of the animals he treats. I highly recommend him to anyone in this area.
The other vet that I use is Dr. Strickfaden in DePere, for holistic treatment. She helped with Ali when he was naked, and Jinx with her cancer. She has worked with a number of dog owners that I know. Her talents and interest are unique in that area and I am fortunate that I have those options available to me. Sometimes it helps to think outside the box.
Today was a kennel call day. The thing about fitting in amongst farm visits is that you must be flexible. Things come up on farms! So, even though we aimed for 1-2 pm, the visit actually took place after 4 pm. The dogs were the lucky ones with this arrangment, since I spent the afternoon at the kennel building, grooming and playing with dogs. They were oblivious to any appointment schedule and thought it was all about them! Ali spent his time playing with his monkey fist balls, tugging and swapping one for the other. Ridley had a turn at working for treats and we started shaping her head position walking between my legs. Recalls and spins in both directions and a couple attempts at the down position. She did move into it with a slight assist of pressure on her rump. We ended with the bite pillow play and she was quite frustrated because everytime she put her mouth on it but did not bite down, I snatched it away from her. Finally, she got the picture and gripped hard, for which she was rewarded with more tug play. Next time I will put Muffi's new sleeve leash on it so I can get my dog back!! Cooper practiced his obedience work, as well. A few dogs received dremel pedicures and grooming. Ridley thought she needed to protect me from Dr. Jay upon his arrival and woof woofed at him in quite a serious manner for a puppy, but decided he wasn't so bad after all when I gave him treats. Jinx rode up in the van and also took her turn in the building, doing a little heeling, positions and some tug play. Needless to say, she thought she was very special! And, of course, she is!
It sure felt good to be able to train dogs again like that! My dogs are happy and tired and so am I.
I am so lucky to have two wonderful vets to count on. Dr Jay Peters at Countryside has been a wonderful partner in my dog endeavors here. I often contact him to bounce off questions about vet treatments and new discoveries, and as a vet he treats me with respect and as a partner in treatment, as well. I trust him to listen, and to explain to me his choices and decisions and he allows me to weigh the options without being condescending. He is just a great guy, and has an absolute love of the animals he treats. I highly recommend him to anyone in this area.
The other vet that I use is Dr. Strickfaden in DePere, for holistic treatment. She helped with Ali when he was naked, and Jinx with her cancer. She has worked with a number of dog owners that I know. Her talents and interest are unique in that area and I am fortunate that I have those options available to me. Sometimes it helps to think outside the box.
Today was a kennel call day. The thing about fitting in amongst farm visits is that you must be flexible. Things come up on farms! So, even though we aimed for 1-2 pm, the visit actually took place after 4 pm. The dogs were the lucky ones with this arrangment, since I spent the afternoon at the kennel building, grooming and playing with dogs. They were oblivious to any appointment schedule and thought it was all about them! Ali spent his time playing with his monkey fist balls, tugging and swapping one for the other. Ridley had a turn at working for treats and we started shaping her head position walking between my legs. Recalls and spins in both directions and a couple attempts at the down position. She did move into it with a slight assist of pressure on her rump. We ended with the bite pillow play and she was quite frustrated because everytime she put her mouth on it but did not bite down, I snatched it away from her. Finally, she got the picture and gripped hard, for which she was rewarded with more tug play. Next time I will put Muffi's new sleeve leash on it so I can get my dog back!! Cooper practiced his obedience work, as well. A few dogs received dremel pedicures and grooming. Ridley thought she needed to protect me from Dr. Jay upon his arrival and woof woofed at him in quite a serious manner for a puppy, but decided he wasn't so bad after all when I gave him treats. Jinx rode up in the van and also took her turn in the building, doing a little heeling, positions and some tug play. Needless to say, she thought she was very special! And, of course, she is!
It sure felt good to be able to train dogs again like that! My dogs are happy and tired and so am I.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Dennis Bilik at BannerDogs
Last weekend I attended a seminar with Dennis Bilik at Donna Matey's BannerDogs facility. My intention was to continue the training I had begun the previous weekend with Quinn. I am always cautious about working my dog on a decoy I am unfamiliar with, but since I had seen Dennis' work I decided to include Cooper this time. 
Donna Matey and Aida Flick, who are both seasoned Mondioring competitors, were there and assisted me with the exercises. In fact, Aida is now a deputy judge! I was sad to learn that I had received misinformation the previous weekend and that the MR1 and FR1 legs are not interchangeable; that changes my plans for spring trials. One difference noted between their training is that they are less formal in beginning the exercises, using horns, etc. In MR the horn (like one of those silly clown horns, or bike horns!) marks the beginning and end of the exercises, halts, etc. It was mentioned to me that you need to add random horn honks so that the dog does not cue on the use of the horn. Thinking this through, I noted that if I NEVER use the horn to begin/end/signal exercises.... and instead have random horn honks throughout, the dog will never attribute it. Seems to me a far better idea than first teaching the dog that the horn has meaning and then trying to convince him through random application that you lied!!
Whether it was because Dennis was warm, or because he was more comfortable working with me now he was much more open and talkative. In Minnesota, I questioned whether he really wanted to be working my dog or not. Of course, I may have to accept some blame as I told him Quinn was a schutzhund dog and probably wouldn't bite hard, knowing full well that he would, and he bruised Dennis in his trial suit. Do decoys hold that sort of thing against you? It's not as if I meant to hurt him, but I have always subscribed to the theory that you underestimate your dog when working with a new decoy so that they don't try to prove something with your dog.
This past weekend, he was extremely helpful in explaining how he thought the exercises should go and what to work on next and I enjoyed working with him.
We worked on the defense of handler exercise. Dennis said that the other work is in order and that the "out" and "whistle recall" would be the most important for us to finish. In only one week's time, Quinn is showing he understands "contact" and is moving around me to follow the decoy. Quinn is recalling off the decoy to a pillow bite from me... I'll have to start asking him to come to a position to receive his bite next. Much of what I have to consider is how best to communicate what I want while not creating conflict in other behaviors. When I am going recall Quinn I use the whistle and when I am asking him to out and guard I use his name as a preface, saying "Quinn, out-platz." Dennis said that last weekend he wasn't sure my goals were possible, but after this weekend they are definately in reach.
I find it amusing that Quinn's foundation in schutzhund has helped to make this easier. He obeys commands, understands markers and reward and knows how to learn. The "triangle" work with Greg Doud prepares him for the decoy enticing him to be drawn off the line. "transport" gave him a headstart on understanding to move and keep watch on the decoy. I worried about whether I was doing the right thing in switching him over, "ruining" him..... but he oozed enthusiasm as we moved through the exercises. Even when corrected, he kept a calm head and it did not dampen his enthusiasm.
Having seen his work, I decided to bring Cooper along on this trip, as well. He has had some 
foundation in legs, but only a session or two. I recall Greg not being enthusiastic about my taking Cooper to work on Mike Ellis, but it did not seem to pose a problem with his grip work. I like to give my young dogs a foundation in how to work legs properly so that I can always return to it later if I desire. I worked Cooper on a harness and back line, and would let him drag me in and then "pop" it about 4 feet before the grip, so that he was driving in hard and accelerating. This was after we saw that he was turning his head properly while working both legs. First I wanted to work his grips for long periods, and I liked that he continued to drive in and take more and more. Cooper also knows to release on command and to down and wait, so this helps as well.
foundation in legs, but only a session or two. I recall Greg not being enthusiastic about my taking Cooper to work on Mike Ellis, but it did not seem to pose a problem with his grip work. I like to give my young dogs a foundation in how to work legs properly so that I can always return to it later if I desire. I worked Cooper on a harness and back line, and would let him drag me in and then "pop" it about 4 feet before the grip, so that he was driving in hard and accelerating. This was after we saw that he was turning his head properly while working both legs. First I wanted to work his grips for long periods, and I liked that he continued to drive in and take more and more. Cooper also knows to release on command and to down and wait, so this helps as well.
The one thing that I plan to utilize more as our training continues is the bridge "goooood" to signal the decoy to return and present a bite as reward. We do it in our schutzhund training and not only do I think it will be helpful, but also clear and consistent in the method. It helps to reward the correct behavior. Downside is that you may not be able to work the session so long as you give those extra grips.
Michael Ellis will be coming to BannerDogs in February. According to Donna, she does not know when he might return. I imagine with his new school in California he is very busy and no longer needs to travel so much. I am on the waiting list, since those seminars fill at the previous seminar.... there is the chance that I will not be able to get in, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. Cooper will be returning to his schutzhund career and plans to certify as a disaster dog, and Quinn will hopefully be adding the initials MR1 behind his name before summer's end.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Inspiration on a Tuesday
I was inspired after my weekend of training in Minnesota, though I did take yesterday off for physical therapy and recovery! Plus, I am coming down with a cold. ick. So, with those excuses behind me, I headed up to my training building to get to work this afternoon.
First, I worked with Cooper. He was so excited to go to work! Since we've had quite a lay-off since my surgery, I was cautious not to over-work him and to keep it dynamic and brief, leaving him wanting more. We worked on his heeling and head position, ala Knut Fuchs, between the legs and then moving into spins, into the front position... positions....I even had him climb on up an end table and practice his positions! He is such a good boy. I often call him a good LITTLE boy, but he is not that any longer.
Next came Ridley. Poor Ridley has not had much work in her formative months so far. It is evident that I need to feed her by hand and make her a little more hungry. She loves the food and actually does work well for it, but would then tear off, making her own play with the long line. If she has a toy in her mouth she prefers to possess it rather than driving back in to me, so that is another thing to work on. I started feeding her in the position between my legs and working on head position and she did pretty well at that. Spins are good but she falls out of my hand and wants to dart in instead of maintaining hand contact. We worked a little bit on the object guard, as well. For her, that means simply teaching her to be on the object. She does not currently have sustained attention to problem solve in that manner. She has an awesome search, but the guard wasn't clear to her and she doesn't know how to experiment yet so far as figuring out what I am asking, and would romp away with her line in her mouth instead. We ended with tug play, where I would make play chase with the tug toy and then work the grip. She holds it calmly and will adjust and fill her mouth if she isn't holding it properly and I ask her to "packen". She doesn't yet want to bring it back to me to play, but that will come. All in all, though, she had fun being with me which is good.
Last on the afternoon agenda was the Quinnster. He is just sooo enthusiastic to come out and work at any time, and his favorite thing is to race away, then turn and fly back at him and pummel me with both his front feet. And then do it again! I made sure to tell him what a good boy he was and keep things very positive as he practiced his skills. I put him on the same end table as I had done with Cooper, and practiced his positions. We practiced the whistle back. I would leave him on a sit or down and then move to different positions and whistle, at which time he would be released for a bite on the bite pillow. It isn't the same thing as whistling him off another grip, but since he had never even heard a whistle prior to this weekend I wanted to take a step backwards and make it a positive event. If he knows what is being asked of him, it will be less likely to have to use force to create the behavior. He likes to punch through between the legs and I wanted to practice him him go through and turn back into the transport position, but I wasn't able to do it properly by myself. What he picked up easily was the "contact" exercise, where he has to make contact with my leg as I move. This will come in handy in the protection exercises. I used a ball reward on that and he was moving and pressing himself against my leg without force, after I guided him there a couple times and rewarded him. It does make me wonder why decoys such as Dennis that we worked with this weekend, would use force to teach everything. As I wrote in an earlier post, the way he did some things would not have been my preference to introduce it but Quinn was so amped by the biting that it didn't diminish him. Still, I wanted to go back this week and reinforce things positively. Quinn is an enthusiastic learner so it isn't difficult to teach the behaviors. He loves food or toy and so I have many tools to reward him. I did a couple send aways, at an angle and also practiced having him hold and retrieve an empty soda bottle to work on his "munching". Since I can hear it when he crunches, I can mark it.
The afternoon's work left me very happy with my furry kidlets. They all did well and it was so much fun to get back to the business of training. What I have to do yet is to list the behaviors I need to teach so I can measure my progress. I am so looking forward to this season!
First, I worked with Cooper. He was so excited to go to work! Since we've had quite a lay-off since my surgery, I was cautious not to over-work him and to keep it dynamic and brief, leaving him wanting more. We worked on his heeling and head position, ala Knut Fuchs, between the legs and then moving into spins, into the front position... positions....I even had him climb on up an end table and practice his positions! He is such a good boy. I often call him a good LITTLE boy, but he is not that any longer.
Next came Ridley. Poor Ridley has not had much work in her formative months so far. It is evident that I need to feed her by hand and make her a little more hungry. She loves the food and actually does work well for it, but would then tear off, making her own play with the long line. If she has a toy in her mouth she prefers to possess it rather than driving back in to me, so that is another thing to work on. I started feeding her in the position between my legs and working on head position and she did pretty well at that. Spins are good but she falls out of my hand and wants to dart in instead of maintaining hand contact. We worked a little bit on the object guard, as well. For her, that means simply teaching her to be on the object. She does not currently have sustained attention to problem solve in that manner. She has an awesome search, but the guard wasn't clear to her and she doesn't know how to experiment yet so far as figuring out what I am asking, and would romp away with her line in her mouth instead. We ended with tug play, where I would make play chase with the tug toy and then work the grip. She holds it calmly and will adjust and fill her mouth if she isn't holding it properly and I ask her to "packen". She doesn't yet want to bring it back to me to play, but that will come. All in all, though, she had fun being with me which is good.
Last on the afternoon agenda was the Quinnster. He is just sooo enthusiastic to come out and work at any time, and his favorite thing is to race away, then turn and fly back at him and pummel me with both his front feet. And then do it again! I made sure to tell him what a good boy he was and keep things very positive as he practiced his skills. I put him on the same end table as I had done with Cooper, and practiced his positions. We practiced the whistle back. I would leave him on a sit or down and then move to different positions and whistle, at which time he would be released for a bite on the bite pillow. It isn't the same thing as whistling him off another grip, but since he had never even heard a whistle prior to this weekend I wanted to take a step backwards and make it a positive event. If he knows what is being asked of him, it will be less likely to have to use force to create the behavior. He likes to punch through between the legs and I wanted to practice him him go through and turn back into the transport position, but I wasn't able to do it properly by myself. What he picked up easily was the "contact" exercise, where he has to make contact with my leg as I move. This will come in handy in the protection exercises. I used a ball reward on that and he was moving and pressing himself against my leg without force, after I guided him there a couple times and rewarded him. It does make me wonder why decoys such as Dennis that we worked with this weekend, would use force to teach everything. As I wrote in an earlier post, the way he did some things would not have been my preference to introduce it but Quinn was so amped by the biting that it didn't diminish him. Still, I wanted to go back this week and reinforce things positively. Quinn is an enthusiastic learner so it isn't difficult to teach the behaviors. He loves food or toy and so I have many tools to reward him. I did a couple send aways, at an angle and also practiced having him hold and retrieve an empty soda bottle to work on his "munching". Since I can hear it when he crunches, I can mark it.
The afternoon's work left me very happy with my furry kidlets. They all did well and it was so much fun to get back to the business of training. What I have to do yet is to list the behaviors I need to teach so I can measure my progress. I am so looking forward to this season!
Open Training Day in Harris, MN
This past weekend, I traveled to Harris, MN where Lisa and Ron Geller opened their building to dog sport enthusiasts for open training. It was a good opportunity to jump start the training season, and I was fortunate to have two World MR Team members there to help walk me through the exercises. Lisa and Melissa were terrific about sharing their knowledge and helping me out.
It would have been nice to take Ridley with me, but the weather was bitterly cold and I just didn't think I would enjoy having to get a puppy in and out of a hotel once I was inside and warm!! Sam and I will work on her foundation before I take her out like that, anyway. I had offers to help post or hold my dog, but I had asked Brad, my physical therapist before I left and he said there was no damage that would be done to my shoulder by the work, only it would be sore. And it was. but I was able to do all the tug play myself. In the moment, you pretty much just do it and it isn't until later that you realize how much you ache!
There were folks from a number of schutzhund clubs in the area, as well as ringsport aficionados. Many different breeds were represented, as well: rottweiler, german shepherd, malinois, renaissance bulldog AND a long coated one, laekenois, and boxer. The funny thing is that I recall in the past having to wait for all the ring folks to finish their lengthy routines and being impatient, but now "I is one!" It was handled well by alternating ring and schutzhund at this event, and in between, folks could go inside the observation room (heated!) and eat Ron's delicious chili!! yummo!
Quinn had fun. We worked a session on Saturday afternoon and could have worked again in the evening, but for the fact that I was freezing and sore by that time so I opted for a hot shower in my hotel! On Sunday we worked one session. The thing about ringsport sessions is that they are long, so it isn't like one session offered only a couple grips. You move from obedience into the protection work. Lisa and Melissa coached me on the prep and start and the basics of the exercises. I had competed with Jinx for her MR1 before, but much of it seems to have been lost from my memory banks when it came to the details. Quinn had never done a whistle recall before and in hindsight, I would have preferred to teach that at home first but we did work on it there, using a prong collar and long line for guidance. You could just see how amped up Quinn was in the exercises. He was under control but clearly so happy with himself. I now have a list of exercises to work on with a specific goal in mind. I learned that the MR and FR titles will cross over, and that if I pass a MR1 leg with him at Melissa's spring trial and pass a FR1 leg at Lisa's trial in June, Quinn will have both a French Ring1 and a Mondioring1 title. How cool is that??
Right up to the last moment, I questioned whether I was doing the right thing by switching to ringsport with Quinn instead of remaining in schutzhund. He is 12xSchH3, though, and will never be fast enough in the judge's opinion to win a Championship, so I might was well let him have some fun. Me, too. I have to note that it is his foundation that lets us make the switch this easily. He learned to work legs on a separate command when he was young. I taught him positions, as well, and played with his obedience and transport between the legs. So while there are finesse points we need to work on, he already has the overall picture of the work.
So now, by virtue of a drive to Minnesota, I have added two new goals for Quinn this year. In addition to being crazy enough to still intend to earn his FH!! I have to be nuts to do ringsport and still want to track.....
No pics for now, but soon.....
It would have been nice to take Ridley with me, but the weather was bitterly cold and I just didn't think I would enjoy having to get a puppy in and out of a hotel once I was inside and warm!! Sam and I will work on her foundation before I take her out like that, anyway. I had offers to help post or hold my dog, but I had asked Brad, my physical therapist before I left and he said there was no damage that would be done to my shoulder by the work, only it would be sore. And it was. but I was able to do all the tug play myself. In the moment, you pretty much just do it and it isn't until later that you realize how much you ache!
There were folks from a number of schutzhund clubs in the area, as well as ringsport aficionados. Many different breeds were represented, as well: rottweiler, german shepherd, malinois, renaissance bulldog AND a long coated one, laekenois, and boxer. The funny thing is that I recall in the past having to wait for all the ring folks to finish their lengthy routines and being impatient, but now "I is one!" It was handled well by alternating ring and schutzhund at this event, and in between, folks could go inside the observation room (heated!) and eat Ron's delicious chili!! yummo!
Quinn had fun. We worked a session on Saturday afternoon and could have worked again in the evening, but for the fact that I was freezing and sore by that time so I opted for a hot shower in my hotel! On Sunday we worked one session. The thing about ringsport sessions is that they are long, so it isn't like one session offered only a couple grips. You move from obedience into the protection work. Lisa and Melissa coached me on the prep and start and the basics of the exercises. I had competed with Jinx for her MR1 before, but much of it seems to have been lost from my memory banks when it came to the details. Quinn had never done a whistle recall before and in hindsight, I would have preferred to teach that at home first but we did work on it there, using a prong collar and long line for guidance. You could just see how amped up Quinn was in the exercises. He was under control but clearly so happy with himself. I now have a list of exercises to work on with a specific goal in mind. I learned that the MR and FR titles will cross over, and that if I pass a MR1 leg with him at Melissa's spring trial and pass a FR1 leg at Lisa's trial in June, Quinn will have both a French Ring1 and a Mondioring1 title. How cool is that??
Right up to the last moment, I questioned whether I was doing the right thing by switching to ringsport with Quinn instead of remaining in schutzhund. He is 12xSchH3, though, and will never be fast enough in the judge's opinion to win a Championship, so I might was well let him have some fun. Me, too. I have to note that it is his foundation that lets us make the switch this easily. He learned to work legs on a separate command when he was young. I taught him positions, as well, and played with his obedience and transport between the legs. So while there are finesse points we need to work on, he already has the overall picture of the work.
So now, by virtue of a drive to Minnesota, I have added two new goals for Quinn this year. In addition to being crazy enough to still intend to earn his FH!! I have to be nuts to do ringsport and still want to track.....
No pics for now, but soon.....
Monday, January 4, 2010
2010 Goals
In 2008 I had added 6 more SchH3/IPO3 titles to Quinn's repertoire, making him 8xSchH3. All of those were High SchH3 and all but one was High in Trial at club trials. He earned High obedience and protection at the Regional Championships. On my Goals and Accomplishments sheet I wrote that my goals for 2009 were: FH, HOT trial, not sure about other National Events, Regional Champion. Ultimate goal is 14x SchH3, DPO if I can find a trial."
At the end of the year, we had earned only three more SchH3 titles. As it turns out, the HOT trial was too early for us to be ready but we did compete in the AWDF Championship where we were proud to pass, as many dogs had difficulty. I, on the other hand, DID earn a trophy! I was awarded the "Sportsmanship Trophy", which to me is what the sport should be about. By choosing to compete in that trial, and helping out where I could, I met many new and wonderful people, had a great time and was rewarded in many ways. During the previous year, Quinn's "out" had gotten stickier and stickier and finally darned near missing. In my pursuit of titles, he became quite trial wise and so I elected not to enter as many trials and to prepare for the bigger Championships. We did compete at our club trial and again at the Regional Championship. Quinn had improved in many areas, but it wasn't enough to earn the SchH3 Championships. Since earning an FH was on my list, we also made one attempt at that. We made a good start but, an ugly middle, and a finish granted by the grace of the judge after we failed. I had hoped to make it to the AWMA Championships in Florida in December, but instead found myself undergoing rehab after a shoulder surgery. Plans change.
In 2010. I will earn an FH with Quinn. (notice that I am not saying that I "hope to" or "plan to". Be positive! Be affirmative!) I have earned FH's with two Dutch Shepherds and now it's Quinn's turn. I know he can do it. There is only one DPO judge in USA any longer, and I have yet to see a club offer a DPO trial under him, at least in our area; if it was possible, I sure would like to do that yet. However, we are going to take a slight turn and pursue Mondioring this year! Frankly, I became disappointed that Quinn was not as competitive as he needs to be to win trials. He will never be as fast as the judges want to see. He has improved and given me his 100% in many areas and many arenas. He is fun to work, and I love that dog! So now I am going to give him a gift and let him play Mondioring in 2009. He has a foundation in suit/leg work and after the Regionals I worked him on Fernando Dosta, who was there to begin a ring seminar the follow day, and he pronounced Quinn had the tools to pursue MR. In 2010, I will earn a MR1 with Quinn. The only funny part about this is that many ring folk leave or avoid schutzhund because they don't like tracking, so here I am pursuing ring but also an advanced tracking title!! Call me crazy!
Back at goal setting time for 2009, Jinx was rehabbing what was supposed to be a torn glenohumeral ligament. At that time she had earned one leg of her MR1, SchH2 and was one of only two dogs in Wisconsin with a Type 1/CE SUSAR disaster dog certification. My goal for 2009 was "rehab and recovery. Everything will depend on that. If she remains well enough, SchH3, second leg of her MR1 and the International Rescue Dog test." Now we know that the limp was actually the first manifestation of the brachial nerve sheath tumor, which likely weakened the ligament as well. Now, I am grateful for each day with Jinx. It is extremely unlikely that her atrophied front leg will regain use, or that she will ever finish schutzhund titles. Life, however, is more precious than any title in the world. My goal for Jinx for 2010 is to keep her happy and healthy and celebrate the coming of 2011. I don't know how much of that I can control, but this dream is as big as it gets.
My 2009 goal for Cooper was "CGC, BH, SchH1 and FSA". wow! What was I thinking? We did pass our Canine Good Citizen test. We worked hard to prepare for the FSA. Cooper really came into his own this past season. The little man grew up. He took direction and learned the elements so quickly it astounded me. We were prepared to take the FSA and even drove to CT this past fall but the test was canceled at the last minute, so we will have to seek one out in 2010. In 2010 Cooper will earn his BH, SchH1 and FSA. In order to accomplish the SchH1 I will need to get busy and finish his retrieve over the winter, and track once spring arrives. I joined a DVG club so that we will be able to compete in the DVG Regionals and enter the AWDF Championship. As a Dutch Shepherd and having no breed club, he can't participate in AWDF that way, but he can as a DVG member. hmmm.....
In 2010, I will sell the dogs that aren't actively being worked. That means Chica, Bart, Enno and Excel. It is important that they have their own special homes where they are the most important dogs, worked and loved.
I had hoped to breed Quinn to Ozzie Loups du Soleil in 2010 but unfortunately, the timing is not good for the owner and so that particular goal is out of my reach. I thought that pairing would produce some strong dogs, and I looked forward to keeping a pup for myself. Now it is entirely possible that circumstances are for the best, or at least I will tell myself that. It's not as if I really need another dog. (but who does??)
I do have my newest Dutch Shepherd puppy, Ridley, who promises to be quite a handful! In 2010 I will give Ridley a foundation in the schutzhund elements and also ringsports, and let her tell me what she wants to be when she grows up! No goals bigger than that with her for 2010. If I have the opportunity, I would like to show the Dutch Shepherds in conformation. Cooper is awesomely handsome. I would also like to compete with Quinn in AKC or UKC obedience. Who knows, maybe Cooper, too? Those are just "would like to" , not real goals, because I have to fit those things in where I can and they depend on whether trials are offered nearby that aren't in conflict with schutzhund events.
Some of my goals depend on timing, and not being in conflict with other events or K9 classes, but if time permits, in 2010 I will compete in the AWDF Championship and the NC Regional Championship and the Malinois Championship.
Are there enough days in the year for all my goals? Most definately! Dream so big it's scarey. Dream of titles and travel, of fine tuning your relationship with your dog and meeting new people. Expand your experiences. Read, study, attend seminars. But above all, do it because you and your canine partner enjoy it. Your goals are yours. Remember that. Once you add another to the equation, whether it be human or four-legged, be mindful that they might not share your dreams. They may well have their own, and to drag an unwilling dog along on your ego trip is patently unfair. My goal is always to have my dog give his 100%. If your goal is to be on the podium but the dog does not have that to give, your choice is either to accept his 100% even if it translates to 80 points or find the dog a new home or career. Be fair. What if the dog could evaluate our handling skills and ask to be transferred if we didn't live up to his expectations? What if the dog could say" this girl is never going to get me to the podium. She is not committed to regular training, she can't focus on one task and I would like a new home, please." If you make goals you need to be committed to doing your part to make them happen, as well.
So, get with it! 2010 can be the best year yet! What are YOUR goals?
At the end of the year, we had earned only three more SchH3 titles. As it turns out, the HOT trial was too early for us to be ready but we did compete in the AWDF Championship where we were proud to pass, as many dogs had difficulty. I, on the other hand, DID earn a trophy! I was awarded the "Sportsmanship Trophy", which to me is what the sport should be about. By choosing to compete in that trial, and helping out where I could, I met many new and wonderful people, had a great time and was rewarded in many ways. During the previous year, Quinn's "out" had gotten stickier and stickier and finally darned near missing. In my pursuit of titles, he became quite trial wise and so I elected not to enter as many trials and to prepare for the bigger Championships. We did compete at our club trial and again at the Regional Championship. Quinn had improved in many areas, but it wasn't enough to earn the SchH3 Championships. Since earning an FH was on my list, we also made one attempt at that. We made a good start but, an ugly middle, and a finish granted by the grace of the judge after we failed. I had hoped to make it to the AWMA Championships in Florida in December, but instead found myself undergoing rehab after a shoulder surgery. Plans change.
In 2010. I will earn an FH with Quinn. (notice that I am not saying that I "hope to" or "plan to". Be positive! Be affirmative!) I have earned FH's with two Dutch Shepherds and now it's Quinn's turn. I know he can do it. There is only one DPO judge in USA any longer, and I have yet to see a club offer a DPO trial under him, at least in our area; if it was possible, I sure would like to do that yet. However, we are going to take a slight turn and pursue Mondioring this year! Frankly, I became disappointed that Quinn was not as competitive as he needs to be to win trials. He will never be as fast as the judges want to see. He has improved and given me his 100% in many areas and many arenas. He is fun to work, and I love that dog! So now I am going to give him a gift and let him play Mondioring in 2009. He has a foundation in suit/leg work and after the Regionals I worked him on Fernando Dosta, who was there to begin a ring seminar the follow day, and he pronounced Quinn had the tools to pursue MR. In 2010, I will earn a MR1 with Quinn. The only funny part about this is that many ring folk leave or avoid schutzhund because they don't like tracking, so here I am pursuing ring but also an advanced tracking title!! Call me crazy!
Back at goal setting time for 2009, Jinx was rehabbing what was supposed to be a torn glenohumeral ligament. At that time she had earned one leg of her MR1, SchH2 and was one of only two dogs in Wisconsin with a Type 1/CE SUSAR disaster dog certification. My goal for 2009 was "rehab and recovery. Everything will depend on that. If she remains well enough, SchH3, second leg of her MR1 and the International Rescue Dog test." Now we know that the limp was actually the first manifestation of the brachial nerve sheath tumor, which likely weakened the ligament as well. Now, I am grateful for each day with Jinx. It is extremely unlikely that her atrophied front leg will regain use, or that she will ever finish schutzhund titles. Life, however, is more precious than any title in the world. My goal for Jinx for 2010 is to keep her happy and healthy and celebrate the coming of 2011. I don't know how much of that I can control, but this dream is as big as it gets.
My 2009 goal for Cooper was "CGC, BH, SchH1 and FSA". wow! What was I thinking? We did pass our Canine Good Citizen test. We worked hard to prepare for the FSA. Cooper really came into his own this past season. The little man grew up. He took direction and learned the elements so quickly it astounded me. We were prepared to take the FSA and even drove to CT this past fall but the test was canceled at the last minute, so we will have to seek one out in 2010. In 2010 Cooper will earn his BH, SchH1 and FSA. In order to accomplish the SchH1 I will need to get busy and finish his retrieve over the winter, and track once spring arrives. I joined a DVG club so that we will be able to compete in the DVG Regionals and enter the AWDF Championship. As a Dutch Shepherd and having no breed club, he can't participate in AWDF that way, but he can as a DVG member. hmmm.....
In 2010, I will sell the dogs that aren't actively being worked. That means Chica, Bart, Enno and Excel. It is important that they have their own special homes where they are the most important dogs, worked and loved.
I had hoped to breed Quinn to Ozzie Loups du Soleil in 2010 but unfortunately, the timing is not good for the owner and so that particular goal is out of my reach. I thought that pairing would produce some strong dogs, and I looked forward to keeping a pup for myself. Now it is entirely possible that circumstances are for the best, or at least I will tell myself that. It's not as if I really need another dog. (but who does??)
I do have my newest Dutch Shepherd puppy, Ridley, who promises to be quite a handful! In 2010 I will give Ridley a foundation in the schutzhund elements and also ringsports, and let her tell me what she wants to be when she grows up! No goals bigger than that with her for 2010. If I have the opportunity, I would like to show the Dutch Shepherds in conformation. Cooper is awesomely handsome. I would also like to compete with Quinn in AKC or UKC obedience. Who knows, maybe Cooper, too? Those are just "would like to" , not real goals, because I have to fit those things in where I can and they depend on whether trials are offered nearby that aren't in conflict with schutzhund events.
Some of my goals depend on timing, and not being in conflict with other events or K9 classes, but if time permits, in 2010 I will compete in the AWDF Championship and the NC Regional Championship and the Malinois Championship.
Are there enough days in the year for all my goals? Most definately! Dream so big it's scarey. Dream of titles and travel, of fine tuning your relationship with your dog and meeting new people. Expand your experiences. Read, study, attend seminars. But above all, do it because you and your canine partner enjoy it. Your goals are yours. Remember that. Once you add another to the equation, whether it be human or four-legged, be mindful that they might not share your dreams. They may well have their own, and to drag an unwilling dog along on your ego trip is patently unfair. My goal is always to have my dog give his 100%. If your goal is to be on the podium but the dog does not have that to give, your choice is either to accept his 100% even if it translates to 80 points or find the dog a new home or career. Be fair. What if the dog could evaluate our handling skills and ask to be transferred if we didn't live up to his expectations? What if the dog could say" this girl is never going to get me to the podium. She is not committed to regular training, she can't focus on one task and I would like a new home, please." If you make goals you need to be committed to doing your part to make them happen, as well.
So, get with it! 2010 can be the best year yet! What are YOUR goals?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Schutzhund and Mary Kay
Did I get your attention with that? Good! I'll bet you are wondering what in the world could schutzhund possibly have in common with the Goddess of Women's Cosmetics? Well, let me tell you!
It was my intention to write a post about goals and dreams, as they relate to our upcoming year in dogsports, particularly schutzhund. As I put pen to paper, my mind immediately went to quotations I had read in Mary Kay Ash's book, "Miracles Happen." As anyone familiar with Mary Kay Ash knows, she took adversity and created a lasting tribute to her hard work and commitment. Why can't we apply the same principles? Every year I ask that our schutzhund club members dedicate a few minutes to writing down what they accomplished during the past year, and recognizing that as a group, and also writing down and sharing their goals for 2010. I considered that some people might shy away from making their goals too big for fear of embarrassment when they are read the following year.
Mary Kay Ash writes, "you wouldn't start (a trip) without a road map. The same should be true of your life. Without a plan-- a road map--- you will never get where you want to go. To accomplish anything significant, you must sit down and decide what you want from life." What is your schutzhund "road map?" Clearly, it must involve knowing the rules, for without that you do not know what it is you do not know! Everyone should own a current rule book.
Continuing, she wrote, "Often, when people list long term goals, they seem overwhelming. But as the old Chinese proverb relates, "The longest journey begins with a single step." At the same time, a good goal is like a strenuous exercise-- it makes you stretch. Goals should be slightly out of reach, to be of maximum value. Remember, if you shoot for the moon and miss, you will still be among the beautiful stars."
When you write your goals, make them stretch. Let it be something you are willing to work for but slightly scarey in how big it is. If you are thinking of a SchH1 why not say you are going to be the SchH1 Regional Champion? If you fall short, you still will have put the pieces together to go to the Regionals. You will have studied the rules and practiced and exposed yourself and your dog to things outside your comfort zone. If you miss, you're still among the beautiful stars of experience and support.
However, to reach those big goals you need to put them into a manageable size. Inch by inch, it's a cinch, but yard by yard, it's hard. Mary Kay told a young entrepreneur that" she should set her sights on short-term, attainable goals. Otherwise, that great big lifetime dream would be overwhelming. It's great to think big-- but take care to break that big goal into smaller goals or plateaus that you can achieve by stretching yourself. You can eat an elephant, one bite at a time."
How will you plan those manageable steps? By consulting your road map, your rulebook. At times, I have literally broken down a goal into each behavior I needed to train, with plans on how I was going to approach it. Put in simplest terms you have a means of checking off the steps you take toward the goal, and measuring your progress.
Mary Kay writes, "The world is full of people who are very quick to dream and very slow to act. Often it's because they have failed to break big goals into manageable goals, but more often, it is a fear of failure. Many people are so afraid of failure, that they never try anything.... The death of fear is in doing what you fear to do. Yes, you're going to make mistakes along the way, but you'll also be learning. And as I said earlier, we fail forward to success. You will make mistakes, and sometimes you will be frustrated as you work toward your goals. But for every failure, there's an alternative course of action.... Have confidence in yourself, and you'll find another route. Remember that obstacles either "polish us up" or "wear us down." A diamond was once just a hunk of coal until it was put under pressure and polished to perfection."
Get out there and do it! You will never recognize the potential of yourself or your dog if you do not risk failure. I should add here as well that you must risk embarrassment. For some, the fear of being embarrassed is immobilizing. If you handle a dog for any period of time, one or the other of you is going to do something to cause embarrassment. Or perhaps it is just in learning--and admitting-- that you don't know everything. Or that what you did, or thought you knew, was incorrect. In the years I have been in the sport, so many things have changed. I've been willing to learn new methods and adapt. Had I clung to what I did twenty-odd years ago, not risking embarrassment by refusing to attend new seminars, well, I would be where I was twenty-odd years ago. Those are people we refer to as "having had the same experience for twenty years" rather than having twenty years of experience. I've been in National events, and I've both passed and failed there. Failure has inspired me to reevaluate, regroup and keep trying. And in those experiences, I have met some wonderful people. Nothing is lost in that. I think it is also humbling to know that there, by the Grace of God, go I. Dogs are not machines and despite training and expectations, sometimes they just do things that defy explanation.
Mary Kay Ash wrote of attending a convention that changed her life. "Among the things they told us that day was "Hitch your wagon to a star." .... Another principle they taught us was to "Get a railroad track to run on".... The final lesson I learned at that convention was "Tell somebody what you are going to do."
What does this mean to you? Those are probably the most important words I can share with you, from the pages of Mary Kay Ash. When she writes to "hitch your wagon to a star" that means to seek out the person who has reached the level you want to achieve and learn from them. Ask how they reached their goals and what advice they might give you . Watch and learn. If you want to improve, you don't take lessons or advice from a person who knows the same as you or who has not accomplished what you want. "Get a railroad track to run on" means to pull that rulebook out and study it. That is your railroad track. It provides a path to the place you want to be. Frankly, if you don't know the rules of the sport you want to participate in, you will never be among the stars.
Lastly, "tell someone what you are going to do" is reflected in many businesses and motivational seminars, and is something I like to follow for our schutzhund club. When you speak the words "I WILL.." outloud, you give those words validity. You are also advising your support network that this is your goal and that you will need their help and support to get their. Not only that, but you are asking them to hold you to those words, and remind you of them when you are tired or disappointed, and to tell you that you CAN do it. Say it out loud. Write it down and tape it to your mirror or refrigerator so that you see it every day. Visualize what it will look like when you are successful.
As I reviewed the goals I had set for myself last year, Mary Kay Ash's words rang true in my ears. In my next post I will commit my goals for next year to writing. Feel free to hold me accountable!
In the meantime, sit down and put your own goals for 2010 to paper. I found beautiful hinged ornaments at Stein's this year and filled them with chocolate and trinkets for my nieces and nephews. One thing I thought to do was to save one for myself and to place inside a note with 5 things that happened during the year, 5 things I want to accomplish in 2010 and 5 things I want for the future. Won't that be interesting to look at in another year? Or ten?
Go now and take the first step toward making your goals a reality. As Mary Kay said, "inch by inch, it's a cinch!"
It was my intention to write a post about goals and dreams, as they relate to our upcoming year in dogsports, particularly schutzhund. As I put pen to paper, my mind immediately went to quotations I had read in Mary Kay Ash's book, "Miracles Happen." As anyone familiar with Mary Kay Ash knows, she took adversity and created a lasting tribute to her hard work and commitment. Why can't we apply the same principles? Every year I ask that our schutzhund club members dedicate a few minutes to writing down what they accomplished during the past year, and recognizing that as a group, and also writing down and sharing their goals for 2010. I considered that some people might shy away from making their goals too big for fear of embarrassment when they are read the following year.
Mary Kay Ash writes, "you wouldn't start (a trip) without a road map. The same should be true of your life. Without a plan-- a road map--- you will never get where you want to go. To accomplish anything significant, you must sit down and decide what you want from life." What is your schutzhund "road map?" Clearly, it must involve knowing the rules, for without that you do not know what it is you do not know! Everyone should own a current rule book.
Continuing, she wrote, "Often, when people list long term goals, they seem overwhelming. But as the old Chinese proverb relates, "The longest journey begins with a single step." At the same time, a good goal is like a strenuous exercise-- it makes you stretch. Goals should be slightly out of reach, to be of maximum value. Remember, if you shoot for the moon and miss, you will still be among the beautiful stars."
When you write your goals, make them stretch. Let it be something you are willing to work for but slightly scarey in how big it is. If you are thinking of a SchH1 why not say you are going to be the SchH1 Regional Champion? If you fall short, you still will have put the pieces together to go to the Regionals. You will have studied the rules and practiced and exposed yourself and your dog to things outside your comfort zone. If you miss, you're still among the beautiful stars of experience and support.
However, to reach those big goals you need to put them into a manageable size. Inch by inch, it's a cinch, but yard by yard, it's hard. Mary Kay told a young entrepreneur that" she should set her sights on short-term, attainable goals. Otherwise, that great big lifetime dream would be overwhelming. It's great to think big-- but take care to break that big goal into smaller goals or plateaus that you can achieve by stretching yourself. You can eat an elephant, one bite at a time."
How will you plan those manageable steps? By consulting your road map, your rulebook. At times, I have literally broken down a goal into each behavior I needed to train, with plans on how I was going to approach it. Put in simplest terms you have a means of checking off the steps you take toward the goal, and measuring your progress.
Mary Kay writes, "The world is full of people who are very quick to dream and very slow to act. Often it's because they have failed to break big goals into manageable goals, but more often, it is a fear of failure. Many people are so afraid of failure, that they never try anything.... The death of fear is in doing what you fear to do. Yes, you're going to make mistakes along the way, but you'll also be learning. And as I said earlier, we fail forward to success. You will make mistakes, and sometimes you will be frustrated as you work toward your goals. But for every failure, there's an alternative course of action.... Have confidence in yourself, and you'll find another route. Remember that obstacles either "polish us up" or "wear us down." A diamond was once just a hunk of coal until it was put under pressure and polished to perfection."
Get out there and do it! You will never recognize the potential of yourself or your dog if you do not risk failure. I should add here as well that you must risk embarrassment. For some, the fear of being embarrassed is immobilizing. If you handle a dog for any period of time, one or the other of you is going to do something to cause embarrassment. Or perhaps it is just in learning--and admitting-- that you don't know everything. Or that what you did, or thought you knew, was incorrect. In the years I have been in the sport, so many things have changed. I've been willing to learn new methods and adapt. Had I clung to what I did twenty-odd years ago, not risking embarrassment by refusing to attend new seminars, well, I would be where I was twenty-odd years ago. Those are people we refer to as "having had the same experience for twenty years" rather than having twenty years of experience. I've been in National events, and I've both passed and failed there. Failure has inspired me to reevaluate, regroup and keep trying. And in those experiences, I have met some wonderful people. Nothing is lost in that. I think it is also humbling to know that there, by the Grace of God, go I. Dogs are not machines and despite training and expectations, sometimes they just do things that defy explanation.
Mary Kay Ash wrote of attending a convention that changed her life. "Among the things they told us that day was "Hitch your wagon to a star." .... Another principle they taught us was to "Get a railroad track to run on".... The final lesson I learned at that convention was "Tell somebody what you are going to do."
What does this mean to you? Those are probably the most important words I can share with you, from the pages of Mary Kay Ash. When she writes to "hitch your wagon to a star" that means to seek out the person who has reached the level you want to achieve and learn from them. Ask how they reached their goals and what advice they might give you . Watch and learn. If you want to improve, you don't take lessons or advice from a person who knows the same as you or who has not accomplished what you want. "Get a railroad track to run on" means to pull that rulebook out and study it. That is your railroad track. It provides a path to the place you want to be. Frankly, if you don't know the rules of the sport you want to participate in, you will never be among the stars.
Lastly, "tell someone what you are going to do" is reflected in many businesses and motivational seminars, and is something I like to follow for our schutzhund club. When you speak the words "I WILL.." outloud, you give those words validity. You are also advising your support network that this is your goal and that you will need their help and support to get their. Not only that, but you are asking them to hold you to those words, and remind you of them when you are tired or disappointed, and to tell you that you CAN do it. Say it out loud. Write it down and tape it to your mirror or refrigerator so that you see it every day. Visualize what it will look like when you are successful.
As I reviewed the goals I had set for myself last year, Mary Kay Ash's words rang true in my ears. In my next post I will commit my goals for next year to writing. Feel free to hold me accountable!
In the meantime, sit down and put your own goals for 2010 to paper. I found beautiful hinged ornaments at Stein's this year and filled them with chocolate and trinkets for my nieces and nephews. One thing I thought to do was to save one for myself and to place inside a note with 5 things that happened during the year, 5 things I want to accomplish in 2010 and 5 things I want for the future. Won't that be interesting to look at in another year? Or ten?
Go now and take the first step toward making your goals a reality. As Mary Kay said, "inch by inch, it's a cinch!"
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