We’ve moved! October 13, 2009
Posted by k9fun in dogs.add a comment
This blog has moved to K9FUNdamentals
Please come visit us there.
-sam
Glacier Chasers Trial October 9, 2009
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If the weather permits, Corbie & I will be taking the K9FUNdamentals store to Kalispell for the weekend. Glacier Chasers always puts on a fun trial: I’m looking forward to Oktoberfest as well as the chance to see some excellent agility from the Canadians. Hope the roads are clear!
-sam
Dog training in a nut shell October 6, 2009
Posted by k9fun in dog training, dogs, learning theory, obedience, schutzhund.1 comment so far
Notes from a three-week obedience intensive
Week 1 Day 1
There are really only two practical ways to obedience train a dog: you can teach through compulsion, where the dog is physically positioned or made to perform a behaviour; or you can use inducive methods, where the dog is induced or coerced to perform a behaviour. In compulsion, the dog has no choice but to perform the action. In inducive training, the dog makes a choice to perform, because he wants something the trainer can provide.
Compulsion means force, but it doesn’t have to mean harsh corrections and severe collars: placing the dog in a sit by pulling up on the collar and pushing down on the butt is compulsion. The dog has no choice.
In inducive training, the dog is somehow lured or coerced into performing a behaviour, and then rewarded. The dog has a choice in whether or not to perform. The trainer’s job is to find something the dog wants enough to make the right choice. (more…)
No double Qs, but a great time! October 6, 2009
Posted by k9fun in agility, Australian shepherds, dogs.add a comment
Thanks to HMKC for a very fun trial. We really enjoyed judge Sue Fregien’s courses, which were both challenging and fast. Corbie Q’d in two standard runs, taking first place in ExB 20″ one day – that doesn’t happen often!, and third the other. He added in a few gratuitous jumps in the jumpers runs, so no Q’s.
Sue reminded us the first day how quickly we can lose our dogs, and that any day we get to play, win or lose, is a great day.
-sam
K9FUN store heading to Helena October 2, 2009
Posted by k9fun in agility, Australian shepherds, dog toys, dogs.add a comment
Helena Montana Kennel Club is hosting an AKC agility trial this weekend and the K9FUN store will be there. Corbie will also be running in Excellent Standard and Jumpers… wish us luck, it sure would be nice to bring home a Double Q!
Cheers,
-sam
Chuckit! Players October 1, 2009
Posted by k9fun in agility, dog toys, dog training, dogs, German shepherds, malinois, New!, obedience.Tags: dogs
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One of my absolute favourite dog toys is the Chuckit! Tennis Trainer. We’ve been out of stock for a bit, but now have them back in. These motivational toys are great for obedience rewards and dogs love them!
Tennis trainers are fun and extremely durable — they stand up to some tuff-tugging German shepherds and Malinois — but they’re not meant to be everyday chew toys. Unsupervised, most dogs will immediately set to work chewing the web handle off.
Tennis Trainer
Now — for a toy you can let them play with without your being attached to the other end — we’re stocking Tennis and Football Players and Fanatics. Made with natural cotton rope and durable natural rubber, they look like they’ll be lots of fun.
Zappa "I want it!" Harley "Mine"
Football Player
Tennis Player
Congratulations!!! October 1, 2009
Posted by k9fun in agility, Australian shepherds, dogs, NADAC.Tags: dogs
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Congratulations to my former student, Jeannie Biggers!!!
I say “former” student, because Jeannie has far surpassed the teacher. She and her two Aussies, Paisley and Saige, not only survived the NADAC Championships in Tennessee, but placed in the ribbons consistently!
Congratulations to the three of them and to all the successful NADAC competitors!
Paisley
Saige
I learned to braid! October 1, 2009
Posted by k9fun in agility, dogs, New!.Tags: dogs
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Thanks to Rocky, who took the time to teach me to braid like the buckaroos did. Although they used leather and horse hair instead of parachute cord!
I now have 4- and 8-strand snap leashes and agility slip leads available in a variety of colours.
Current colours
They are available in both snap lead
8-strand snap lead
and slip lead styles,
4-strand slip lead
and 4-strand (about 3/8″ diameter) and 8-strand (about 1/2″ diameter) leashes.
These leashes soften with use and are washable.
Toy testers needed! September 30, 2009
Posted by k9fun in dog toys, dogs.Tags: dogs
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I’m looking for three or four good dogs to be official toy testers for the K9FUN store. These dogs should be death on toys. I mean, really destructive!
I will send you a toy or two to test… in return, you will write a short critique of the toy — what you liked about it, what your dog liked about it, how well it held up to abuse, etc.
Most toys are “durable but not indestructible” — but how well did it last? Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks? or more?
My own dogs are not really the best testers around. First, they love everthing. There isn’t a toy they don’t like. Of course, they’ll retrieve fluff and blades of grass, carefully placing a bit of something in my lap hoping I’ll throw it. And Harley, the malinois, always has a toy in his mouth — he even falls asleep with a toy — but he is very gentle and rarely damages it… that is, until another one of the dogs tries to steal it and it becomes the victim of a violent episode of tug-o-war…
So if you’re a writer and photographer and have a dog who’d give some toys a run for their money, please contact me at k9fundamentals at gmail.com
Thanks!
-sam in Montana
Montana did well at the NADAC Champs! September 30, 2009
Posted by k9fun in agility, dogs, NADAC.Tags: dogs
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Below are the placements of the Montana contestants, as reported by Jeannie:
Jumpers Round 1:
* Sophie Loeser 6th
* Brady Blue Scranton 6th
* Deena Osmun 8th
* Paisley Biggers 7th
Jumpers Round 2 (no data)
Weavers Rounds 1 and 2
* Skeeter Osmun 4th and 6th
* Saige Biggers 1st and 6th
* Brady Blue Scranton 6th in second round
Tunnelers Rounds 1 and 2
* Gadget Pollari 6th and 6th
* Derby Pollari 7th and 8th
* Saige Biggers 4th and 1st
Hoopers round 1
* Brady Blue Scranton 5th
* Skeeter Osmun 3rd
* Saige Biggers 5th
* Paisley Biggers 6th
Hoopers 2
* Deena Osmun 4th
* Paisley Biggers 8th
* Saige Biggers 10th
Reg 1
* Ace Pollari 7th
* Derby Pollari 7th
* Brady Blue Scranton 5th
* Saige Biggers 9th
* Skeeter Osmun 5th
* Kip Loeser 7th
Reg 2
* Ace Pollari 6th
* Deena Osmun 4th
* Paisley Biggers 9th
* Derby Pollari 5th
* Brady Blue Scranton 4th
* Skeeter Osmun 4th
Reg 3
* Derby Pollari 7th
* Brady Blue Scranton 7th
* Saige Biggers 4th
* Skeeter Osmun 3rd
* Kip Loeser 9th
Reg 4
* Ace Pollari 7th
* Deena Osmun 9th
* Derby Pollari 7th
* Brady Blue Scranton 3rd
* Saige Biggers 3rd
* Skeeter Osmun 3rd
Congratulations to all of you for your awesome showing at the 2009 NADAC Champs!
-sam (still) in Montana
