Join Us, We are Back!!! Dog Training for Fun

 

Hey Everyone,  I'm ready to get back into group training and hope you are too.  Big big invitation, if you are interested in getting together with others in the Stouffville area, please let me know.  I'm willing to travel further, if a group of 5 or more confirms attendance. I run an FB Group, East GTA Dog Training Meet-up 

I hoping you will join us so that I can change "I" to "We".

Rainy Day Meet-up

Team Scamps

What a great day. We had a fabulous turn-out, and better yet, Mio's mom was on hand to wield the camera and take some fantastic team pictures and video. Look at those smiles.

Team Zombie

Team Sonic

Missing from group shot is Team Mio, working it close by.

 Video is an awesome tool.  Everyone, I always bring my camera, feel free to ask for a video of you. I learn so much from watching. Yesterday I thought Sonic was a little off, a little not into things. The video tells me otherwise, and gave me so much to think about, things to adjust, things to change for next time.  Anyone who wants a video, please ask.  These are good self-study tools, and of course, you can ask a member to hold your phone for you.

Here's what I learned from the video. I posted on Sonic's Blog, as this one is for the group, but you might have a peak if you like, you never know, when, or if, something will resonate, plus, I've included some super juicy nerdy training links therein.

Winter Memorial Park Dog Training Meet-up

Winter Memorial Park meet-ups start at the parking lot across from Latchham Hall; we use the paved area for some ice free training space. You may want to consider booties to protect paws from salt.

Park Drive and Hoover Park has cleared paved double wide walking trails which gives us plenty of space to work with.

Group/Pack walks are fun for all.

Thanking Team Mio for making time for a play break during the walk.

  We all took a few moments to play with our dogs in the open space south of the library.

And then there were four

Great meet-up!   It's such fun to come out and train with my fellow dog enthusiasts. The winter weather was fabulous, with February sunshine warming keep us warm.  Using the empty parking lot for a nice flat ice free surface.  Big Thank You to Team Zombie, Team Scampers, Team Mio, and Team Sonic (that's me and Mr Sonic) for an awesome fun time.

Using a Dog Park as a Training Space

What to do when you can't find dogs to practice with.

Here's one of Team Sonic's activities.

 

pardon the video quality, it's, um, literally, hand held

Walking with dogs, practicing great dog manners and leash manners while doing 'dog things' in the company of other dogs. There are a number of people who show up to walk their dogs around the reservoir for some low key 'just being a dog' fun that does not involve the rough and tumble that goes on within the dog park. You'll meet senior dogs, shy dogs, reserved dogs, slow dogs and a range of 'not a dog park' dogs.  Polite human and canine company is appreciated, Team Sonic included.

Activity two: play and train outside of the fence.  Having a dog that can focus and have fun, without fear or frustration in the vicinity of lively dogs is a goal for many, and absolutely necessary if competition or performance is a goal.  It's a great way to work toward or maintain good behaviours. For reactive dogs, this may be a distant goal, but if your dog is ready for the experience, a dog park is one of the few places where you (mostly) have control of Distance, Duration and Distraction. You can move away or toward the area with dogs.  I said 'mostly' as occasionally there may be a rude puppy run up in the leashed only zone, but mostly dogs are leashed or well-enough socialized to know not run up to an unwilling canine.

For those of you who have dogs that enjoy being inside of the dog park, the dog park can be an excellent place to practice great leash manners.  Use entry into the dog park as your dog's reward. Make walking up to the entry into the dog park contingent on good behaviour. If your dog puts pressure on the leash (pulls, even a little), stop moving or even turn around. Teach your dog, when outside of the dog park, that not all dogs want to say hi. The ability to ignore and/or be neutral to passing dogs is an important life skill for both safety and courtesy.

If you want some company practicing, just ask. I go there a few times a week. Sonic and I do not go inside the dog park but do enjoy sedate group walks around the park.

NOTE: If you go to the dog park to practice, expect your dog to 'forget' everything you think he knows. For most dogs, a dog park is one of the most distracting and difficult places to train.  Be prepared to start at the beginning, or possibly just work on focus and calm, or focus and fun (depending on your dogs temperament)--I do the latter.

NOTE:  Because not all dogs are under control in the 'leashed zone' regardless of the rules, this isn't a good place to train for all dogs. Use your judgement.  Generally, the crazy zone is between the parking lot and the gate, as a few people don't bother leashing their dogs for the short walk up to the park. 

Memorial Park January Meet-up, here's what we do

I got video, yay.

Here we are; some dogs & their humans, plenty of space to work with.  It's pretty typical of what we do. We train outdoors in (almost) any weather.  We maintain distance (or not) according to the wishes and or needs of dogs and their humans.  We each work with our dogs as individuals, our way. Team Sonic working at fun and buckets in the great outdoors.
I hope you can join us, more dogs equals more fun. Watching how others work is always illuminating.

Fairy Lake Excursion, Newmarket Winter Dog Social

We Getz Awesome Dog Selfies in Newmarket

Planning a New Excursion to Fairy Lake, Newmarket, about 1/2 hour from Stouffville.  This is an urban park, with a well-maintained paved trail, there is also  urban walking/shops along Main Street; some of them are dog-friendly spaces.
The walk will be Sunday afternoon. Leashed dogs only--for details, please join our facebook group or contact me.

About 1 hour. Winter maintanaince is good.  Leashed dogs trails only.  There will be open space for fun and training; bring a long line if you wish.

Washrooms available at the starting point.
Hot food on Mainstreet & Commons. Outdoor sheltered seating at Commons.

And at least one dog-friendly store

Meet up at Newmarket River Walk Commons, Skating Rink (I will be skating afterward), and walk the Fairy Lake trails south to Mulock Drive, linear urban park paved trail.

I'm planning on skating afterwards, you are welcome to join me if your dog is comfortable resting in your vehicle. Parking within sight of the rink is available (if I can't get a spot there, I won't be skating)

Dates and details to announced on facebook group or via email distribution. Membership is free.

Dog Park & Main Street, two new activities

Hey all, on Friday I started something new. Your company is more than welcome. If interested, let me know in advance so that I can square up the times.

At the dog park. Working on the periphery of the dog park, I'm walking, training, playing with my dog. My own goal is getting him ready for a group agility. For that I need him accustomed to the sight of other dogs doing high speed exciting things while he pays attention and minds me.  The more action happening in the dog park the better.  Friday's at 11am is pretty low key. I'm also going out on Sunday afternoons, plenty of action on weekends.

What I do.
At the parkinglot, I use the walk up to the dog park as an excellent opportunity to practice and maintain good leash walking skills, and let him settle and sniff and pee.  Along the fence, outside of the dog park, I practice fun tricks and obedience, and desensitization to running active out of reach dogs.
If someone goes for a leashed walk, if I'm feeling socialble, I ask if they want company and walk the circle for a pleasant polite leashed walking experience.  All great opportunities.

Main Street Urban Hiking.
I park at the Longo's plaza and walk the very busy urban street of Stouffville Main Street West.  Great opportunity to desensitize to traffic noises and people. Sidewalks are wide and maintained throughout winter. There are fun obstacles along the way for tricks and training.

Meet-Up at the Lake

December Newsletter

December is here!  And Snow! & Winter Weather, not always nice.
Sometimes the wind is howling, sometimes it's bitter cold, sometimes the walkways are dangerously icy, or minefields of razor sharp salt.

Thursday Meet-ups remain regular, weather permitting, unless cancelled (please signup to the facebook group or email list for specific time & place as I don't post specifics publicly).

Other meet-ups will be announced through facebook or by your request on an ad hoc/last minute basis.

While the purpose of the group is to train together, there may be a switch to group walks as a way to deal with colder weather (keeps bodies warm).

I want to thank EVERYONE who has come out for a session. It has been a pleasure to meet you and your canine partner. I love you all.  My happiest times have been those sessions when we travelled as a small polite dog mob.  It was wonderful, my inner tribal self came out, it was fun.  I absolutedly loved getting together to promenade together on the Trails of Fairy Lake Newmarket.  There was a memorable dark grey rainy day in Stouffville where we sent are dogs up onto a flat bed trailer, all at once, just for fun. I still have pictures to prove it.  There was a last minute meet-up that took us into Uxbridge to mix with the artsy set in Art in the Park.

Also a very special thank you for my friends who come out regularly, who make training so much fun, who carry-on or put up with my non-stop dog-nerdy conversations, you are fabulous. I am so glad I met you.

In future, I hope to grow the group for you, for me, and our canine partners.
NEW:  I'm trying google docs for a shareable changeable one stop online schedule. Send me your email and I can send you the link.

Please use the comments for questions, or drop me your email (I will not publish your email, but will get back to you).

How To Join 

November Newsletter

November Newsletter

Wow, what a change a few days makes. Instead of rain, it's Snow!  A good time to talk about cancellations.

BAD WEATHER.  Meet-ups happen rain, shine, sleet or snow, however, severe winter weather may result in cancellations, check facebook on the morning of.  It's hard to know in advance, but if it's too cold to train wearing fingerless mittens, ice storms, cold rains (raining below 10C), meet ups may be cancelled. We are a hardy bunch. Dress warm and wear boots with good traction. 

Last year, sharp road salt created some painful problems for the dogs. I'll being trying out rubber dog booties to tackle the salt problem. 

Meet-ups are regular Thursday's at Memorial Park Stouffville, Friday at Coultice Park, Musselman's Lake, and occassional Thursday Night slots & Sunday afternoon (to be announced).  Details are available on the facebook group Stouffville Dog Training Practice Meet Up or via email (I'm still working on getting a working mailing list).

Facebook is still our best option. Please check group postings for times and places. If you are interested in coming out, please leave a comment, so I know to be there, otherwise I might cancel without notice.

Thursdays!!!  I know some of you can't make it to daytime meetups. For that reason, I will occasionally make a Thursday night available. If you can come out on Thursday night after 7:30, please keep an eye out for the weekly announcement and if you are interested, please let me know. 

Sundays!!! I'll be trying out some Sunday meetups.

Everything is on facebook, or, if you've shared your email, with your permission, I can let you know through email.

Here is Team Sonic practicing in Coultice Park.

Meet-up Planner for keeners & newbies

Stouffville Dog Training Meet-ups are casual self study sessions.  If it's your first time out, or you are fairly new to dog training, it can be a little confusing to be standing around with your dog wondering what to do. Other members may be working on things that don't interest you, oe working at a distance, and may be busy with their own dog. 

For this reason it's good to have a plan. On this page, I'll give pointers for getting together a training plan.

Jot down your goals, figure out how you can get there. If you need help with the basics, find a local group dog training class to get you started with the basics.   Group members are familiar with local trainers & internet resources, so feel free to ask for recommendations.

It's always okay to ask for tips, be inspired by others, or suggest a group exercise.

It's always a great idea to let others know what you are working on, and what your goals are.  Sometimes there are great group exercises we can work on together, and other times, distance is your friend and we can help with that too.


Below are some internet sources you can use to help you get started.

It's a work in progress for now, suggestions welcome.

Basics/Manners

Sometimes it's handy to crib from elsewhere.  This one is handy if you need some guidance, also outlines a comprehensive training method starting at the absolute beginning.
Sue Ailsby's Training Level

Intermediate/Advanced

CARO Canadian Association Rally Obedience.  This is a competitive obedience association, if you download their rules, you will have a collection of pages that can be used as goals or prompts. In rally you learn to heel on the right & left, turn in different directions, and some fancy footwork. Levels will give you guidance of where to start.

Caro Rally Handbook & Rules Here

Look up canine parkour

Tricks

Training in the Rain and other aversities.

I learned a few things today that in a perfect world would have been missed.
It was raining, not just raining, but pouring rain, nasty wet newsworthy weather.  My meet-up partners had to cancel, so it was just team Sonic.  Worse yet, Sonic has a bit of limp today, so that meant meant a big fat no to the fun stuff. No play, no excitement, no getting the dog excited, no spins, no twirls, no tugging, no chasing, no no no & more no.

I decided that 'stays' would be okay for a slightly sore dog, and I'd keep the running to minimum by being boring.  So the treats would come out, but not get tossed to be chased. I'd speak soft and calm, no excitement, no cheer leading, no chase me rewards.  And guess what; he loved it.

I brought some carpet mats along so he'd have something warm & comfy to practice on.  I put them out under the pavillion in Memorial Park. The pavillion is a great rainy day public training space; much of it was crispy dry, a little dark but plenty of fresh air, a dry surface, and a bit of a view.  My raincoat & bag tossed aside turned into a confusing distraction (both much easier to see than the carpets) so I put the raincoat on one carpet and bag on the other. Now he has some clear targets to head to.  I moved them further apart, and at one point, had to put them closer together. It's always good to back up a few steps if the dog is hesitating.  I didn't much care what he did as long as he 'stayed' at the carpet, and moves out ahead of me with confidence (easier said than done).

Sorry about the lousy video (dark) but here's a sample of what you can practice on a less than perfect day.

So what did I learn? I learned that sometimes 'fun me' is 'confusing her' to Sonic. Sometimes 'fun me' is 'she's pushy' to Sonic.  Sometimes I throw too much at him at once, thinking, but he knows all this, and I fry his little brain until he spins in unprompted circles.  What I saw is that while he seemed a little bored at the beginning of what turned out to be a very long session, by the end, he wanted more, and he wanted action. He was ready to play, to run, and to spin on cue. Well, not today, sorry Mr Sonic. But I learned a few things by slowing things down and tuning down the excitement.

Sometimes being forced to things differently can be a learning experience.

Have you had moments where your routine was broken, you had to improvise, change things up & learned a valuable lesson as a result?

October Newsletter -- Stouffville Dog Training Practice Meet-Up

Some of us getting ready for the big stage ;-)   (just kidding, having fun on the Elgin Park outdoor stage)

 October Newsletter --  Stouffville Dog Training Practice Meet-Up

1st Inaugural Monthly Newsletter

 

Stouffville Dog Training Practice Meet-Up

We are small but mighty.  Regular meet-ups happening now, weekly, Thursday & Friday during the day, Memorial Park & Coultice Park, details announced on the facebook group and via email.

It has come to my attention that FB is not sharing meet-up times/locations and announcements to all group members and some of you are missing out.  For this reason, I am gathering email addresses for an opt-in Monthly (or less) newsletter to be distributed via email.  If you are interested in attending occasional or future meet-ups, please send me your email address & I'll add you to a monthly (or less) 'newsletter' mailing list. 

Also, on an opt-in basis, I will send all meet-up announcements, re-schedules, cancellations and last minute adventure opportunities via email as they happen so you don't have to miss the fun.  <-- ask for 'all meet-ups'

The facebook group will continue to function as the main stage for event & meet-up information, along with social chitchat, brags, and relevant training links for tips and continued learning. 

Anytime you like, you can ask for meet-up buddies through the fb group or via email.  (to add yourself to the email list, please use the comments section, I will not publish your email but I will contact via email with more info).

Face Book Group Url: https://www.facebook.com/groups/253969018545476/

Or send me your email & say you want to be on the 'all meet-ups' mailing list (this will be announcing meet-ups, times, cancellations & reschedules only), if you only want monthly, ask for the 'newsletter'.

Team Sonic--what we are currently working on. What is your team up to?

Join us on facebook Stouffville Dog Training Practice Meet-Up

Introducing the Stouffville Dog Training Meet Up Group.

Introducing the Stouffville Dog Training Meet Up Group,
a fun free and collaborative dog training group for dog peeps.

Sonic and I are always on the look-out for dog training buddies to keep us on task, otherwise we just wander off to sniff the flowers or chase the squirrels.  The Stouffville Dog Training Meet Up Group lives on Facebook and via email.


What we do is meet-up in public places and train our dogs.  Mostly, you train your way, I train my way; we co-operate to create distractions, or work at whatever we are interested in.


To Join:  Stouffville Dog Training Meet Up Group

Description


This is a dog training self-study group to meet up and practice training our dogs open to anyone who wants some extra practice time outside of lessons or organized activities. As study buddies we make ourselves available to create distractions or work in pairs. We meet outdoors, show up with your dog, equipment you normally use, leash or long-line required, and a plan. This is a self-study group; there will be no instruction. All training styles welcome. Work on obedience, tricks, basic manners, etc... As a courtesy to other study group handlers, please do not allow your dog to meet any of the participants unless invited (they might not appreciate a strange dog walking up to them) and please maintain control of your dog for the safety and comfort of all.