APBC conference Harness the power of the dog's nose

Yesterday was spent listening to various people talking about canine noses, some of the information I knew, mainly due to a couple of John Rogerson courses I have done, other stuff was totally new.  It was a very worth while day, with my favourite speaker being David Ryan as he gave practical training advice which I need for ADT.  Dr John Bradshaw gave an in depth talk on the how dogs noses work, knowing the theory behind something helps give a basis to work up from.

Harold Burrows MBE talked passionately about the work of the National  Search and Rescue Dogs Association, and I was lucky enough to sit with him at lunch and continue talking about whether the take their dogs aboard, which was a no, the hard work put in Lockerbie, and how understanding their families are. 

The Blue Cross use scent training to help with some high energy dogs and even to get aggressive dogs to relax in the company of others using scent work as a distraction.  The day finished with an update on the amazing work medical detection dogs are doing, reminding us that scent work is not only something fun to do with your dog, but also still has serious uses to help mankind.

I come away with a renewed drive towards scent work and lots of knowledge for how to progress with my college practical. It is a shame that there seem to be limited classes for scent work.  I know there are courses for example the ones run by John Rogerson, but they are few and far between and run as a bloke of four or more days rather than weekly classes.  Maybe this is a gap in the market to exploit?  I feel I could run a class for object or people searching and trailing, even basic tracking although this is an area which I find slow and haven't really done, but with work it is trying to fit it in and finding a market it for it.  Maybe something for the future. 

Aggression and muzzles

Maybe it's because we're studying aggression at college or all the cases that appear in the papers, but I have decided that maybe Murphy should be muzzled.  For a dog that is scared of his own shadow it is was not a decision made lightly, he is not a bad dog, on walks with no one about there are no issues.  His bad side shows when bouncy dogs get to close.  He is not polite with his go away, for about a year he has not been let off lead very often I know he has issues.  My big worry is that if off lead and it happened I would be to blame.  So he is on lead, I avoid other people, but and there is always but, there are still those dogs that want to say hello and owners who think that's fine.  To save a very long this link sums it up nicely. http://flyingdogpress.com/content/view/42/97/

An incident at the end of last year really proved that some owners are not aware of their dogs actions.

Sitting on bench with my three waiting for a friend
Gentleman walks passed with JRT off lead who's heading towards me, head on stairing.
Murphy starts growling even at ten feet he is not wanting this dog any closer.
JRT thinks about it, but doesn't change direction, growling continues from Murphy.
Owner is now level with me and Murphy has had enough, turns and snaps at Dash.
JRT owners mutters something about unhappy dogs, having my hands full.
I couldn't say anything, he really didn't have a clue that his dog was the cause of all the trouble, I loudly said to Murphy "I know that nasty little dog wound you up, but there was no need to take it out on the puppy" and hoped in future the owner would take the hint.

Anyway back to muzzle, with owners out there who don't try their hardess (since getting Dash I know sometimes things are beyond anyone control, but really some just don't care) to keep their dogs under control, I want to be able to relax on my walks so if muzzling Murphy is the way to go, then we'll try.

The muzzle arrived today and it will take a while to get he ready to wear it, with a careful desensitisation programme, so far he has eaten two sausages out of it and some pate.  He puts his mouth in and relaxes, if the angle of the muzzle changes he then backs out and we start again.  Hopefully in a few days we might be able to attempt to see if it actually fits!  Why they suggest you try these thing on in store is almost beyond me.  Forcing it on would just cause more work in the long term and desensitisation would involve moving into the store.

Hopefully over time he will accept and if dogs get to close for him to cope with and he goes into one, although this is not pleasant for Murphy others owners my really get the hint.  I think I'm deciding that both my dogs and myself are anti social, and I don't think that's a problem.

Please note, Murphy has never bitten another dog, there are some dogs normally the older polite dogs that he has no problems at all with.

A day at the vets

Not me, but Dash.  He was booked into have his boy bits removed as one was retained and need out.  Four days before the operation he ate a hair scrunchie.  When booking him in I mentioned the scrunchie and they said they would look for it.  It was found by x ray and removed the same way it had gone in.  When calling to enquire how he was I got told it was a little harsh to castrate him just because he ate a scrunchie!  His check up the following week, went well he walked into the vets full of life and fun.  He loved the vets and the nurses, "scrunchie boy" seemed pleased to be back.  They said he was doing fine and has been discharged.

I didn't expect the scrunchie to be return, I suppose it proof they removed it.  It has been washed and will be as it now the world's most expensive scrunchie.

I also got contact details for trying get to a work placement with them for my next college work experience.  Talking about college all my marks for level four are back and the exam board will sit soon so fingers cross they will agree with the marks and I will have passed.

Time to relax

The last week has been a long one, my first week back at work since breaking my finger, and two college assignments due tomorrow.  I also decided that today would be a good time to do some overtime. I've been saying I do some since September and had yet to get to it. 

Yesterday started with agility, Racer is still progressing well, Dash is well, progressing between running off! I then spent the rest of the day writing about Bach flower remedies, which I actually enjoyed.  Today was work for five hours then back to finishing college work.  It is always hard to cull the word count back, without loosing the meaning or good grammar.  But both college assignments are now in and I find myself relaxing with a glass of wine.

Life looks good at the moment, until the results are out!

Agilty

This morning I took both welshies to agility (Murphy will not lower himself to jumping for anyone).  Racer hasn't done any since 2010, when it was very half hearted.  But as I started with Dash, I thought Racer might like a go too, and it means I get to practise my handling more as well.

So off we went for our one to one and wow!  He was amazing,  better than he's ever been, dog walk and A frame never his favourites over no problem.  Jumps and tunnels easy.  Even Pam the trainer was surprised, and we can only think Dash has been telling him what his missing out on!

Racer back in 2009.

Dash's go was a little less wow, he had a mischievous streak and didn't want to focus for long.  But he will get there with practise, I think he got over excited waiting for his turn.  He is still doing well for 8 months and was better at the start of the class than the end. A little clip of the pupster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htZAnTH2lm8&list=UUiM1waiYBLDYW7E1PuKzKQg&index=1&feature=plcp

College Work

I have been snowed under with college work lately, two more assignments due by the 23rd, then a break, thank goodness.  It's a big push, but I'm sure I'll get there.  The dogs have been very good lazing around the house while I write and type and stress under a growing pile of books, but have been rewarded with some nice walks.

Dash is getting to the age where running away on his own seems like a fun thing, so I'm working hard on recall with a pocket full of biscuits.  His recall is very good, unless there are groups of standing people or dogs within a certain distance, we will get there.  His recall was good at training when he tries to say hello to the other dogs, which gives me a boost. I feel recall training is very important and would rather recall my dogs and put them on lead that let them run up to people or play with any dog they meet.  This doesn't always work as people can appear from nowhere, but I am trying.

Murphy is still his odd self, and hids away at home, out the way,  to the point you actually have to look for him! 

Selling Radley Signature Handbags and Scent Training

Well firstly I have started selling off my Radley handbag collection, don't worry my 2002 large beach hut bag and 1 /500 Radley cottage will not be going anywhere.  Selling on ebay is fun in a way, when things sell and annoying when they don't.  Setting the price isn't easy either as what is a good sale price turns out to be less than you think once ebay and paypal have taken their money.  So far two of the signature bags are on their way to new homes hopefully more will follow suit. Although I still love Radley bags I don't use them and those that aren't close to my heart have to go.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/akamurphysgirl/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

I did have one point have nearly every signature bag from the start in 2002 to 2008,  now I have only the ones I love, which I use including the "walk in the woods" bag of which only 250 were made. 

One of the events that started this new year sale was this conference
https://www.eventelephant.com/apbcannualconferenceharnessingthepowerofthedogsnose

I have got back into scent work mainly for advance dog training module at college.  I have done two John Rogerson courses which I recommend for anyone who likes dog training with a smile on their face.  Dash has taken to scent work, like a duck to water and is really doing well.  He has the drive to "find it" and recognises the scent he's after, we just have to refine his identification signal and build up search times.  Then once we've taken it outside added in distractions we'll be laughing!

Agility is also progressing but at a slower rate due to handler injury.