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.
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
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 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!
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
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!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
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....
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....
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Happy New Year!
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I hope it is everything you wish for.
Friday, 16 December 2011
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
Here are some photos
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| Bella looks distinctly unimpressed with her outfit! |
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| Oscar showing off his bonio |
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| Alfie strutting his stuff on the weaves |
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| Donna and Oscar aka Santa and his present! |
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| Helen and Blue looking very professional |
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| Fly retrieving a bonio - perfect! |
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| Honey is also unimpressed by her bee outfit! |
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| Moira in her fab hat! and Gambit doing a "stick 'em up" |
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| The Terrible Trio (humans and dogs!!) |
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| Andy and Zak with a great move! |
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| Zak showing how the tunnel works in the relay race |
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Kennel Club Good Citizen
December 1st saw three of the class feel prepared enough to go forward to take their test for the Kennel Club Good Citizen. Audrey and Flath completed the Bronze Award and Moira with Gambit and Les with Fly completed Silver. We are very proud of all 3 and they will go onto the Tynewater Hall of fame once we get the website sorted for photos!
Audrey and Flath
Moira and Zak
Les and Fly
The Beginners class did their test too on the 1st and all were brilliant. It is so satisfying to see little Belle be able to join in with the group now and bark just for the sheer hell of it rather than fear. Little Oscar has amazed his owner as he isn't fearful at all. That's the value of small classes and suffcient training support to provided one-to-one where required.
Christmas party this week as postponed last week due to the weather. Looking forward to it!
Audrey and Flath
Les and Fly
The Beginners class did their test too on the 1st and all were brilliant. It is so satisfying to see little Belle be able to join in with the group now and bark just for the sheer hell of it rather than fear. Little Oscar has amazed his owner as he isn't fearful at all. That's the value of small classes and suffcient training support to provided one-to-one where required.
Christmas party this week as postponed last week due to the weather. Looking forward to it!
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