Tracking... :)

We've been playing with the tracking for some time - with only me there's just so much I can do when it comes to hsi tracktraining...

But today.. as motherinlaw was out doing stuff outside and he showed will to track her (yes.. he "gossips" with tracking too "she's been here.. and she touched that and she moved this") so I asked if she could hide some food around the yard.

5 different spots marked with food - and he found them all, picked up the track and litterally chuchued away like a little train. Nose on the ground and followed her every step. He did SO good!! Even tho he at times was in a bit of a hurry...

Yesterday he was kinda cheap... being the teenager he is and the collie in heat, but today.. oh today his pricetag is HUGE, plenty and plenty of zeros. His nose impresses me, always have, guess thats why i've been a bit frustrated with the tracking aprt for a while - a person can only do So much on their own.

Take care and have a GREAT evening! :)

Aggression is todays topic!

Todays topic is aggression.

What we sometimes forget is that aggression can be based on several different things - FEAR being one of them. Most dogs that lunge and barks meeting other dogs do so for several different reasons:

1. some have a need to protect their handler - in those cases the handler haven't putten down the rules well enough and it isn't true aggression. It's a dog wearing too big shoes.

2. Some are insecure and barks/lunges because it's "better to bite first" - there it is a trust issue that the handler needs to work on. Show that "it's allright, focus on me - i'll handle it"

3. True aggression, as far as Im concerned. The true aggression Waits, watches and makes the call. It doesn't Explode the first it does. It start with little signs, head held higher, tail held higher. Here too it's a handlers job to control it.

The DOG shouldn't have to make the call. You as the owner/handler should. You NEED to figure out WHY your dog has the need to lunge and bark, and put rules down. Form the dog, and show it that "That isn't your job - it's MY job to make the call".

People think that a dog barking, lunging and snarling is aggressive. Most times it is not, most times it is "stuck" in the leash, insecure with the situation and since it can not flee it fights - or tries too.

Kaiser has a lovely general Idea about things. He sees it, watches it and after that He acts. He doesn't automaticly respond with barking and snarling, he studies and you can litteraly see the wheels turning in his head. And I LOVE that part of him even more than I love his good morning kisses and happy face. He has 2 strong reactions to "new things" - play or aggression. 99% of the cases it's play and Yiiihoooo this is fuuuun! But when he decides that something is a true threat - he will step up and act on it. Without fear, but an attitude that says: I am KING, and I am ready to prove it!". He is selfconfident. No need to bark, lunge or snarl as first reaction.

He knows that he can handle it, that I can handle it, there for he doesn't have to react with "aggression" for "no reason".

And he knows the rules...

Help your dog by training on taking charge, show your dog it's not it's responsability - it is yours. MAke it fun, make it clear and rebuild your dogs confidence. Prove to it that it Dont have to fight as first reaction. It is not an aggressive dog - it is more than likely an insecure dog.

Good luck and HAVE FUN with your dog!!

Well... My uncle.

I have an uncle who trained his horses like they were dogs.

He had some quite amazing studs, the first stud I ever rode was one of his - I was 11 years old and hardly knew up from down on a horse to tell the truth. Still today I remember his horses and his dogs with a smile.

I don't think anyone realized it then - and most don't realize it now - that his horses laid the foundation to my opinions as to How a stallion should be. Nor did anyone realize then the difference it made to me to get to know his dog Malte.

Malte would grab your arm as a way of saying hello. And I mean GRAB. If you pulled away - he'd bite harder and pull back. So the key to not getting bit was to keep your arm still. He was a very nice dog, a lab I think, realy pretty but a little bit fat. And probibly one of few labs you could sick on cattle if needed. Him and Raja. If I ever get a female it will have the housename Raja or Surry... Might even name one Arja after my mothers dog.

Anyway, getting to know my uncles animals have affected me - and the way I view respect that goes both ways. I doubt that my uncle ever beat an animal part from his bulls when he was trying to break up a fight (I saw it.. still laugh at that memory). Horses nor dogs. He'd wave, and snarl and make himself Big. He wasn't a very big man, stought yes, but not big. Short, but veryvery loving. Last time I spoke to him he told me about his new collie, a bc I think it was, that he was wanting to show it. All he needed was the new rulebook. I wish that I one day will be able to say that. "I want to start showing Again, I just need the rulebook".

And my mother, let's get on that topic, My mother. My mother is something special. I have never met a dog that didn't like her. Neighbours dog would lay down and refuse to move if she didn't get to go and say hi to my ma, one time I was dogsitting a friends mothers dog who was quite the little leashpuller - and somewhat dogaggressive too! Ma took the leash for 5 minutes and cured the pulling. After that she's my guru. She has the answers to my questions! The dog went back home after 2 very nice weeks and we didn't have any trouble at all. About a year later I visit the family again and the dog tried to throw himself down from 3d floor when he saw me. He was back to pulling the leash... so we went for a walk - 2 minor corrections and the dog walked calm and very nicley by my side.

What my mother and my uncle has taught me is: Clear communication. And never be afraid of applying preassure - as long as you are in a position where you can read the dog.

Kaiser needs more preassure in the training, so thats where we're going now.

I am ever so gratefull for the people in my life who gives me their thoughts and ideas. Who listen to me when i'm upset or confused.

And as todays finishing words I want to quote my mother, what she told me when I was worried over Baltazar growling at strangers:

Never worry about a behaviour you have under control!

..and I want to add my part to it: All behaviours can be put under control - IF the dog has all it's pieces in the right place.