Thank your dog

Just practicing some obedience in public places getting ready for our rally trial at the end of the month. Honestly, this environment is a bit high distraction for her (the aggressively barking dog) compared to trial environment but I like to train more than what we need. Had people walking by and some dogs fence running/barking about 50ft away in their yards backed up to the local park. Its a process... I had to let her settle in for 2-3 minutes before we could start work. Before there would be no way I could have her engaged with me that close. Shes learning to trust me when it comes to her big feelings about naughty dogs. Its something she struggles with but I can see her getting better every time we step out!

I thank her every. dang. day. Sometimes multiple times. Love her so and her unconditional love and drive to please. Be sure to thank your dog and enjoy the journey at every step, even the small steps, and tough steps!

Oh so many Amens! to this!!! What they put up with sometimes...

Rits said:

I thank her every. dang. day. Sometimes multiple times. Love her so and her unconditional love and drive to please. Be sure to thank your dog and enjoy the journey at every step, even the small steps, and tough steps!

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^^^^

Yes, never take anything or anyone for granted, especially not your dog.

So very true.

Our trainer has been hitting rally hard and she just got back from the championships the weekend before our show. She said she can tell he really isn't into it like he used to be and is doing it for her. They knock it out of the field pretty much every time they go out but she said she's going to give him a break from it for a while and do other fun stuff together.

JanS said:

So very true.

Our trainer has been hitting rally hard and she just got back from the championships the weekend before our show. She said she can tell he really isn't into it like he used to be and is doing it for her. They knock it out of the field pretty much every time they go out but she said she's going to give him a break from it for a while and do other fun stuff together.

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Exactly. It's always good to take a break or figure out why it isn't fun. For both human and dog! Ripley didn't really enjoy rally until I broke it down into even smaller bites, stopped practicing a full course or even partial course at all except for a trial run, and then once I added a chuck-it ball throw into it she lit up! Its nice to have a bunch of different sports in our pockets for them. I'll train rally for a day then the next day do some agility for reward/break. So fun to see the eagerness in her eyes to do any kind of training. She'll come up to me in the house with that look, ready to do SOMETHING! and I ask her "are you ready to go train?" and she takes off for the door