[dawn miller]

hmm, maybe because it is over the holidays that they’ve missed this question.

[dawn miller]

I’ve taken the Dognition course on Coursera. I had already read the book before finding out about Coursera. It really is good food for thought.

[dawn miller]

Merry Christmas, all you DD folks.

[dawn miller]

Now I’ll have to Google the Hamiltonstovare. I have signed my dogs up with Embark for further DNA testing. My male has a combination membership with Dognition, which is behavioral games and studies.  I’m going to wait until my female is about three before signing her up for Dognition since so much changes as they grow their first two years (GSDs)

[dawn miller]

those are wonderful tricks Barbara! How did you get your dog to backwards around you? My big boy is just now figuring out where his back end is.

[dawn miller]

https://youtu.be/1faFmrPiIIY It is interesting that both dogs like the same game, but my big boy prefers to catch leaves and my little girl prefers to catch pine-cones. They both had some obedience drills mixed into the game and as the Autumn wore on, the obedience got a bit tighter and a little more exacting. My gal is now rewarded for bringing me the pine-cones with a sit in front holding the cone quietly. (she still taunts me to chase her, though. That’s not happening).

[dawn miller]

left and right also come in handy if you do herding or a pulling sport like bikejoring. People oftern use Gee (right) and Haw (left)

[dawn miller]

are you sending them from your phone? With the auto flip feature on phones and tablets. that sometimes messes things up. If so try sending them from your computer.

[dawn miller]

I think they may have lumped Nose Work into the tracking category. My boy loves to Find Coffee when my hubby hides my mug of java in the morning. He loves tracking but when it comes to competitive tracking he still goes a bit too fast and misses corners.

There is a difference between air scenting and obedience style tracking.

[dawn miller]

I had a little dog that did this when first adopted her. In her case I think it was more of “what’s over here? Now what’s over here? Oh, something interesting on the other side…” I had to make things on one side of me accessible as I slowed down to let her sniff. Things on the other side we walked past quickly. She figured out it was better to stay on one side.

As far as herding or claiming, if you walk shoulders up and with confidence and purpose, she shouldn’t feel the need to do either. Making a barrier between you and strangers, that might be the case. I’d recommend showing her that you would rather have her sitting by your side. She really doesn’t need to protect you from friendly strangers. Just my two cents.

[dawn miller]

wow, I can just imagine a St. Bernard lumbering up to a bite sleeve and slobbering all over it. Now that would make for a funny cartoon.

[dawn miller]

gun dog / hunting does sound like a good activity but I suspect if a person isn’t already a hunter, they aren’t going to take it up to give their dog something to do. These other activities, although many require a large investment of time (and money) aren’t such a lifestyle change at taking up hunting.

[dawn miller]

that is a neat story Hazel. I think sometimes we do too much thinking for our dogs. We should be patient enough to let them puzzle things out.

[dawn miller]

thanks for the reminders

[dawn miller]

that is adorable. I’ve thought about doing a video of my dogs with the laundry. It is cute when they carry in a shirt together.

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