Two Success Stories!

We have just recently returned to classes after a summer break.  It was great to get back and to catch up with everyone's stories on how their dogs have been getting on.

Bella

Readers of this blog will be familiar with Bella's story (see previous post).  Bella and her owner were at the beach during the break.  Bella was off lead as it was failry quiet.  She took off running along the beach and when her owner recalled her she suddenly found herself in the middle of a family with kids and a dog! Bella's owner was understandably worrried that Bella may react but Bella looked at them all, paused, then ran straight to her owner!  What a fantastic result! We are all so proud of Bella as she has come a long way and of her owner who has put so much hard work in.

We should always remember though, that Bella's innate response to things that worry her is to react, but by giving her options, alternatvie behaviours and building her confidence, we help her to make the right decision. 

Kara

Kara is a Groenendael and due to an incident at a show was quite nervous of people approaching from behind.  Groenendaels as a breed are naturally wary and Kara is no exception.  We started off gently just being around Kara and her owner and slowly built up her confidence with a range of exercises until we could approach from behind, we simulated the show ring and various "judges".  Kara and her owner have worked hard over the last few months and a couple of weeks ago they gained a Bitch Challenge Certificate!  We are very proud of them both.

Bella's Progress

We had our doggie olympics evening on Thursday and everyone had a great time but it was particularly pleasing to see Bella, the little Coton De Tulear, playing with Otto the Rottweiler.  Nothing to write home about you may think except for the little and large scenario!  However, for Bella and her owner this is a huge step forward and marks a real step change in Bella's relationship not just with other dogs but people as well.

Bella had a very difficult start in life and spent all of her early months in quarantine which resulted in her being extremely reactive to other dogs.  Following an incident with a "trainer/behaviourist" in a large training club she then became reactive to people.  Bella and her owner came to us to see if we could help.  

We have worked hard over the last few months gradually integrating Bella into the class, little by little, and as she has grown in confidence she has ventured further and further into the general class.  Over the last few months she has gained her Bronze Kennel Club Good Citizen and then her Silver just a few weeks ago.  Bearing in mind that Silver involves examination of a dog by an individual unknown to the dog this was a big turnaround for Bella. Bella and her owner are now working towards Gold Good Citizen.

So in summary it really was an occasion to see Bella play with Otto and we are so proud of both Bella and her owner for all their hard work as it has really paid off.

Well, it's been some time since I posted but what a busy time it's been!

Crufts was great, met some lovely people and caught up with friends old and new.  Then it was onto the Gorebridge Open Trial where I am the Trials Manager.  The trial went well, despite losing some fields at short notice.

April was a whirlwind of training classes and and we held our TTouch workshop with the wonderful Tracey McLennan.

May saw the Tynewater's first birthday, the relaunch of our website, Bronze Good Citizen tests with all participants passing, the Scottish Working Trials training weekend and the Championship Trial.

And onto June! Our puppy school graduated and some have gone on to the beginners class and are doing very well.   We attended the Marc Bekoff seminar last weekend which was very interesting and then this weekend is Inchnabobart Trial so photos will follow I promise!

Crufts!

Off to Crufts - I don't show my dogs but love to catch up with friends and do some shopping!  Will post when I come back.  Dogs are left in charge of husband and cat so who knows what news will greet me on my return!

Performance (Sport) Dogs

I was re-reading Leslie McDevitt's great book Control Unleashed and it struck a chord with me as a competitor in Working Trials.

Briefly the background was Leslie's dog Rumour who was her "competition dog" to work in Agility and subsequently had to retire at a very early age due to a incurable spinal condition.  Leslie stopped doing all training with him and even the things he could do and enjoyed.  She lost her enjoyment in the dog and resented his inability tocompete.  Leslie took up Rally-O with Rumour but he just wasn't having fun and it was then that Leslie realised she had changed the way in which she interacted with her dogs becaue of competing.  Rumour became a pet dog and Leslie went back to doing a little bit of training with him on the things they enjoyed and their relationship flourished.

I understood where Leslie was coming from. My GSD Cooper came to me as a puppy and I was already in Trials with my Cocker but I wanted to progress through the stakes and needed a bigger dog.  Cooper was from a great sire and I had high hopes and he did really well in his first two Championships qualifying in 2 stakes and being placed.  Unfortunately he had an accident on the scale jump and although I didn't know it at the time it was his last competition at the age of 3.  He had severe spondylosis and was out of trials for good.  I was very disappointed as this was "the dog" and for a while I did nothing with him - "what was the point of doing training if he wasn't competing?"

Neither Cooper nor I were happy though and I decided that as he and I loved tracking we would continue -it was good exercise for his muscles and his brain! and we enjoyed the time together.  We joined in the golden oldies fun competitions where the dogs were spoiled and had great fun tracking and searching and when he died aged 10  I can honestly say he was still "the dog" to me.  We had a great life together, we had fun and he was the funniest clown I have ever met! I am so glad I came to my senses quickly and enjoyed who he was as dog and not a competition dog.

It is often the case in canine sports that when the dog can't compete they no longer do any of the activities they so enjoyed as the handler gets another "competition dog".  So what is about canine sport we enjoy? Is is the enjoyment of a dog using his natural abilities or is the competitive streak? We miss out on so much if it is just for competition....

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I hope it is everything you wish for.

It's Christmas!

We had great fun last night at the Tynewater Christmas Parties.  We had a relay race using the weave poles, tunnel, cones and hula hoops and included some singing!  There was retrieve a bonio, musical chairs, best party trick and best fancy dress.


Here are some photos

Bella looks distinctly unimpressed with her outfit!

                           

Oscar showing off his bonio

                             

Alfie strutting his stuff on the weaves

Donna and Oscar aka Santa and his present!

Helen and Blue looking very professional

Fly retrieving a bonio - perfect!

Honey is also unimpressed by her bee outfit!

Moira in her fab hat! and Gambit doing a "stick 'em up"

The Terrible Trio (humans and dogs!!)

Andy and Zak with a great move!

 

Zak showing how the tunnel works in the relay race