Bring the dogs, but train them first!

 

I think a lot of multi-dog household handlers get the same comments when we take our dogs out in public. “You have your hands full”, “How do you manage all of that?”, “Good luck” are a few I have heard. I don’t think they are all necessarily negative comments. I think the new norm of providing our with dogs fulfilling lives beyond the backyard is still new to some generations. My family dog growing up never had the opportunities that my current dogs have already had in their short lives. My vacation away from my dogs made it extremely obvious to me that my reality includes my dogs experiencing things with me, rather than allowing them to exist in the background. I love my new normal, and have spent a lot of time reflecting on how we got here. 

I fully recognize the fact that I have surrounded myself with like minded dog people. When I brought Chief into my life, I dove into the world of dog sports and became much more serious about dog training. These two activities go hand in hand when you have a high energy, high drive breed like a heeler- without proper training, you can’t expect the dog to excel in the dog sports setting. The dog needs to be prepared to exist around other high drive dogs without letting the stress get to them. I started with socialization (new experiences, sounds, busy locations, variable environments) and by nature of the activities we participate in this evolved into much more challenging training scenarios. Because of all of this hard work, not only can Chief participate in high stakes dog events, but he can also sit quietly on a brewery patio and enjoy lunch with us. This wide spectrum of behavior training was not easy to achieve but it was always a goal of mine for Chief, as it is now for Chickie, too. 

Much like myself, the majority of dog owners now bring their dogs everywhere with them. The tough part about this is that I don’t believe most dog are given the preparation they need to succeed in busy social situations. No dog is born with proper obedience, it is up to us to help the dog achieve a level of comfort in social situations that we ask them to participate in. Not all dogs are going to be perfect patio pups (Vinny would NEVER be able to enjoy this type of outing). Our communities are becoming more dog friendly than ever, which I believe is shedding light on both the benefits of consistent dog training as well as the fall out from a lack of dog training. 

You won’t find me at many “dog friendly events” with my dogs. Something that is important to me is building such a strong bond with my dogs that they would rather spend time with me than anything in the environment around them, other dogs included. This is not to say that my dogs don’t have dogs in their lives that they enjoy spending time with. At the end of the day, our family dynamic hinges on the fact that we prioritize each other and enjoy experiences together.

I remember walking Chief and Vinny past an active construction crew in our neighborhood last summer. As usual, Chief was on my left and Vinny was on my right. As we passed, one of the workers yelled out “You’ve done a great job with those dogs”. That kind comment stuck with me to this day- in the moment, I was so worried that Vinny would react to the crew, and get Chief riled up. But as I heard that comment and registered what was being said, I looked at my dogs and realized they were walking in sync with me, focused straight ahead, entirely unbothered by the chaos around them. My hands may look full, but I have it under control thanks to training, community support, and setting proper goals for each of my dogs. Build the life you want to live with your dogs, and work tirelessly to achieve these goals together. There are more opportunities than ever to share life’s experiences with your dogs!

“what are you training for?”

 

When I train my dogs in public, I am often asked “What are you training for?”. At first, I didn’t know how to respond to this. To me, training with my dogs is a lifestyle. I don’t even think twice before clipping on my training pouch, making sure my dogs have the right gear on based on the outing, and pre-planning how to help them succeed. The answer to this question is a lot more in depth than I think the normal passerby wants to listen to. Everyone has unique goals for their dogs, but I think writing objectives down is the best way to stay accountable. 

Opportunities

In an increasingly “dog friendly” world, you never know when an opportunity to include your dog might present itself. After becoming involved with the dog instagram community I have had the opportunity to meet so many great people and their dogs. If my dogs weren’t prepared to handle these social situations appropriately, I would have missed out on making friends and meeting some fantastic dogs. Another opportunity we had this summer was to enjoy our first partnered stay at a cabin in the Adirondacks (shout out to The Good Chalet!!). My dogs are both crate trained, and extensively trained to not chew/destroy/play with random household objects or furniture. Without training, I don’t think I would have been confident that my dogs could respect the new environment. I am proud to report both dogs, including Chickie at  just under 5 months old, were wonderful house guests, settled in the cabin without any drama, had no accidents, and were extremely well behaved around the other people we invited to join us. 

Overall Wellness

Training isn’t alway sit, down, stay. For us, a lot of training is showing the dog the difference between right and wrong. Chief will not grab dropped food off the floor. He doesn’t put foreign objects in his mouth when we pass something on the ground in a hardware store. He has never destroyed a piece of furniture. This is all from training and consistency, and could be potentially life saving. Teaching your dog how to live safely is a huge piece of everyday training. This is something they learn through real life experience and the reinforcement of boundaries. 

Injury Prevention

The majority of our formal training involves conditioning. This is like “gym time” for my dogs.  While you may think my dogs are conditioned only because they participate in high impact activities, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Every dog can benefit from conditioning. Thinking about your dogs’ future in the present can keep them doing the things they love for many years to come. My dogs condition for sports, hiking, high impact play, running, and even walking. This may not be the most exciting part of training, but I assure you seeing the results over time becomes addicting. Think the equivalent of “making gains” in the gym. I love watching my dogs become stronger and more confident through routine conditioning. 

They love it!

One of Chief’s day school trainers was telling me how surprised she was by Chief’s love of obedience training. Chief literally does a tap dance every morning when he realizes it is his turn to train. He works extremely hard and loves the process. I am working to instill this same enthusiasm in Chickie, who is already showing great interest in our training. If it isn’t fun, neither of you will want to do it. Always make training enjoyable and strive to make it a part of your day that both you and your dog look forward to. 

Everyone has different motivations for training their dogs. The important part is that you are doing it. Training for 5 to 10 minutes a day will likely show better results than training for 30 minutes once or twice a week. Start slow, figure out what you and your dog enjoy, and trust the process. If you aren’t sure where to start, hop into a local group training class. Almost every trainer will give you weekly homework and inspire you to keep practicing throughout the week. Try something new, be safe, and have fun!

The Happy Heeler Summer Recap!

 

I am on vacation this week (sans-dogs, very sad) so I figured it was a good time to reflect on the busy but enjoyable summer we have had so far. The dogs are doing great, they stay somewhere that they absolutely love and have way too much fun. I miss them terribly, but I try to tell myself time apart is good for all of us! I don’t know who is more dependent on the other, me or the dogs. They truly are my family and I feel like a part of myself is missing when they aren’t with me. What a beautiful relationship we get to share with these amazing animals. 

Let’s jump back to May. Chickie attended her first pack walk and puppy class at My Dog’s Mind! I was very nervous because she was only 3 months old at the time, but she did incredibly well at both. It was very fun to see her little personality start to show as we built our relationship together through play, training, and new experiences. Chief ran his first Fast CAT in May at American K-9 Country. I haven’t shared about this yet, but it was unforgettable in a comedic way. They first run I had my husband release him, and I called him to the end. He didn’t seem to notice the lure so it was more of a 100 yard recall. The second run, I released him and my husband waited to catch… but Chief decided he wasn’t interested in running without me! So naturally the two of us ran down the track as I laughed the entire way. We learned our lesson for if we ever decide to trial him again! Other notable events were a freestyle disc seminar that Chief and I participated in, and Chickie’s first time at the Dock Dogs pool. I love cattle dogs because once you gain their trust, they are willing to try almost anything with you. 

Back when Chickie needed a life jacket, 
she has come so far this summer!

June brought Chief’s first Dock Dogs event of the season. He did extremely well- achieving a huge personal best of 24’3” and wowing the crowd with every high flying dive. It is funny to see the reactions he gets- very few people expect my little cattle dog to launch more than halfway across the pool with such ease! Of course this event brought its own challenges with Chief’s reactivity (as I detailed in a previous post) but we worked through it and I learned more about what Chief needs from me to feel confident and supported in these situations. 

We met an Instagram friend in real life, @Happylittlewinnie! She is an absolutely wonderful person who I cannot wait to spend time with again someday. We talked for hours and Chief and Chickie loved her. Instagram can offer you an incredible community if you remain authentic and approach new connections with an open mind. 

Chickie meeting @happylittlewinnie

Chickie went on her first vacation with us to The Adirondacks! We stayed at The Good Chalet and it was a weekend of relaxation and enjoyment for all dogs and humans included. We hiked a beautiful trail at Stag Brook Falls so the dogs could swim, visited downtown Lake Placid, and spent quality time at the gorgeous A-Frame cabin. Chickie was a perfect angel the whole trip, even though she made me carry her the entire two mile walk around Mirror Lake. That’s what I get for leaving her stroller at home, but we made it work and she loved the attention. Chief loves exploring new places and did fantastic in the busy environments we visited.

Group photo in downtown Lake Placid

In July, we spent a lot of time at the family pool where the dogs love to dive for their bumpers and make everyone laugh at their antics. Chickie learned the ropes of trail walking and followed the excellent example set by Chief who is my perfect hiking buddy. We hosted our extended family for the annual “beer olympics”. The dogs were on their best behavior even with the bustle of 20 people in our typically quiet house. The dogs learned to paddle board and seem to really like it! After a disastrous first attempt back in June, they settled in and enjoyed the ride with us. Chickie learned to love diving off the ramp at the Dock Dogs pool, and even had the chance to experience the big dock for the first time. I believe this little girl is going to love dock diving just as much as Chief does.

August started with a bang as Chief and I travelled to Wizard of Paws in Connecticut for a live seminar portion of my Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer program. Chief was a very good boy, even while participating in an assessment portion of the course. In typical cattle dog fashion, he can exhibit some stranger danger. He quickly settled in and seemed to realize he was in the company of “dog people”. I was very proud of him for trusting me and being open to the experience. The chance to learn more about something you love in person is invaluable. I cannot recommend these types of experiences enough. 

Chief being a great demo dog at the 
CPCFT Live seminar

I feel such a sense of purpose when I am able to provide my dogs with experiences that enrich their lives. Whether we are exploring a new trail, trying a new sport, or learning a new skill, the memories I make with these cattle dogs are some of the best of my lifetime thus far. I love the idea that this blog will memorialize our experiences together, cementing my memories and emotions surrounding these events into perpetuity. We hope you have had a healthy, memorable, and above all FUN summer!

Our Rocky Road To Dock Diving Success

 

We all know social media is a highlight reel, predominantly showcasing snap shots of our successful moments and high points. It is easy to feel like you are falling behind. I receive a lot of messages about dock diving- where to start, how to get your dog comfortable with water, and what to do when they refuse to jump. I love pulling back the curtain and telling people our story. Chief wasn’t always the high flying “Red Blue Blur” which makes me even more proud of where he is today in this sport. 

Before Chief was even earth side, I knew I wanted to pursue dock diving with a fun, driven dog. Our trainer was very active in dock diving and suggested it to me. Both his mal and red heeler absolutely love the sport and were very successful. About a year later, Chief came home in August. One of the first things he did was run into our yard, and cannon ball into the kiddie pool we set up for the dogs. He had the zoomies all over the place and kept falling head over heels into the little pool. I was sure he would be a water dog just like the generational lines that preceded him. 

August quickly turned to fall, and we didn’t have much more opportunity to introduce Chief to water. Over the winter, we brought him to the local indoor dock diving pool for lessons. At around five months he seemed terrified of the pool. He would very cautiously work his way down the ramp, lean as far forward as possible to grab his toy out of the water, and run back to the “safety” of the dock. When the instructor took him into the pool, he was more than capable of swimming independently but didn’t seem to enjoy it. We took 3 or 4 lessons then decided to throw in the towel and try again in the spring. 

In May we joined Seacoast Dock Dogs, our local Dock Dogs club. They were extremely welcoming and supportive of Chief as he continued to be wary of the water. We showed up to practice almost every weekend to give Chief the opportunity to build his confidence. Outside of practice, we went to the beach and my in law’s pool as much as possible to allow him to have positive associations with swimming and build his water toy drive. Finally, he did a little leap off the ramp and I cheered like he won the gold! This is your reminder to always celebrate the little wins. 

Summer continued to pass at lightning speed, and Chief still refused to jump off of the “big dock”. We tried everything- splashing the toy, moving the toy around in the water, even me getting in the pool to entice him to join me. One day in late July, he finally half jumped-half fell off the dock into the pool. I couldn’t believe it, after months of trying he finally went for it. By the end of the hour, he was jumping close to 10 feet consistently and with plenty of enthusiasm and confidence! 

Now that we knew he was capable and truly enjoyed the sport (this part is very important), we signed Chief up for his first Dock Dogs competition. It was a hot August day and I was nervous as ever. Chief and I took the dock, and my only goal was for him to attempt to jump. To my surprise, the MC announced that Chief jumped 12 feet! I celebrated like crazy and the crowd cheered with me. By the end of the competition, Chief jumped 16’1” and I knew right away how special this journey was about to be for us. 

Chief went on to finish the season with a personal best of almost 23 feet. He qualified for Dock Dogs Nationals and was named the number one ranked dog in the Senior Division nationwide. The sense of pride I feel in our accomplishments is beyond compare. I wouldn’t have cared if he never jumped more than a few feet- my goal was for us to have fun and challenge ourselves to learn something new. Chief’s personal best now sits at 24’3” and we compete again in late August, a little over a year after his first competition ever. 

There is a difference between your dog doing what you ask out of obedience, and your dog truly enjoying what they are doing. Please consider this when you participate in dog sports. The environment can feel high stakes and stressful. Advocate for your dog in every situation, and show up to have FUN no matter what you are doing. These days, I enjoy our private pool rentals far more than competitions, but we do both because Chief doesn’t care where we are as long as we are dock diving. Support your dog, figure out what their drivers are, and give them all the patience they need to succeed. You and your dog are capable of incredible things together, you just have to figure out what those things are!