Some pictures

This morning... Hello, good morning, mummy!

 

 

And some pictures I took on our snowy walk a couple of week ago at Addington Hills.

 

 

 

 

 

Training Week-end with Kamal Fernandez

Jesse and I went to a training week-end with Kamal Fernandez. We had a fantastic time and learnt lots. Most of the training is done the same way as we do it with Pat and Michael, but a couple of techniques were different. Some of the things that stuck in my mind particularly:

• Difference between handling and training! Posture in handling needs to be upright and straight, in training it can be different to help the dog. 

• Work for drive! Get the dog excited enough that they are super keen to do whatever they are asked. This is done with playing and treats (throwing them so the dog moves).

• Vary rewards depending on quality of work! Ok performance gets verbal praise, good performance a treat and super performance a crazy game or whatever the dog loves best.

• Don't be happy with average, expect super! Aim for great performance, not just ok performance... this ties in with drive and rewards!

• Get your footwork right, woman! LOL I have finally found a way to do turns that suits me by keeping my feet within touching distance when turning. I have been practising loads and it works better for me than any other turns I have tried so far.

• Proofing, proofing, proofing! Proofing exercises for all eventualities in the ring (or indeed in real life) will prevent losing valuable points if something unexpected or unusual happens in the ring and will also give the dog more overall confidence because they are used to all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff going on around them whilst they are working. I am proud to say that Jesse's attention was really good, I guess he is used to working with three others dogs in his space etc. 

Kamal was great. Jesse and I were the odd one out for various reasons: we were the only ones that had never trained with him as it was a training week-end with his regular group, and Jesse was the only small dog and I was one of the least experienced handlers there. But we were made to feel very welcome by everyone and we had a great time!