Time flies. The pups are already 14 weeks old and one of the 2 pups is ready to go to his new home. I will miss you my baby boy...
Olive-Monk puppies 2014 Spring
Here some videos of the boys' first 14 weeks of life.
Alex (Mr. Red) wants to be out !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lfElBHBVKQ
Alex loves swimming !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYE5XlMUoRw
Marty (Mr. Green) first crate training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfXrMO4IktY
Alex learning sit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLHTXF8m6AE
4 weeks old, first time outside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xky1A_zwddA
14 weeks old
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzbY-r9QfNM
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Sunday, June 16, 2013
2013 Water Training-Group training #1
Today Olive worked on going to 2 people and going to a row boat.
1. 2 people
2 people were in water. First at wading depth and one person called her name. Olive had no problem going out to get treats from the calling person. No problem going to 2 different people (not-so familiar people).
2. Swimming to a row boat (a person on a boat calling her with treats).
At wading depth, she had no problem. But once she reached to her swimming depth, she refused to get close enough to the boat to get treats. We were trying to make her come to right side of the boat (bow facing to beach) which a steward usually calls from. I needed to physically guide her to get close to the boat. Then another person behind the boat (who was in water to stabilize the boat ) called her. She went to the left side of the boat and swam around the boat (counterclockwise) without problem. So, we tried again to make her go around the boat in the same way. She did go around without problem again and swam really close to (was almost "against") the boat, then she could get the treats from the person in the boat (she just came from behind instead of front). At the NCA water test, a dog can approach the boat from either side. My concern is most stewards are right-handed and can reach further with their right hands. It would be nice if I can convince Olive to go to right side of the boat. However, I would still be happy if she is "consistent to get really close" to the boat from left side. I think I will try her today's approach at the next training to see if that's how she wants to do. Today was a good reminder of "I need to observe and read my dog well while training." I cannot always push my dog to do in "my" way. I cannot always use the same technique worked on my previous dogs to my new dog. Olive and I need to find "our" way.
1. 2 people
2 people were in water. First at wading depth and one person called her name. Olive had no problem going out to get treats from the calling person. No problem going to 2 different people (not-so familiar people).
2. Swimming to a row boat (a person on a boat calling her with treats).
At wading depth, she had no problem. But once she reached to her swimming depth, she refused to get close enough to the boat to get treats. We were trying to make her come to right side of the boat (bow facing to beach) which a steward usually calls from. I needed to physically guide her to get close to the boat. Then another person behind the boat (who was in water to stabilize the boat ) called her. She went to the left side of the boat and swam around the boat (counterclockwise) without problem. So, we tried again to make her go around the boat in the same way. She did go around without problem again and swam really close to (was almost "against") the boat, then she could get the treats from the person in the boat (she just came from behind instead of front). At the NCA water test, a dog can approach the boat from either side. My concern is most stewards are right-handed and can reach further with their right hands. It would be nice if I can convince Olive to go to right side of the boat. However, I would still be happy if she is "consistent to get really close" to the boat from left side. I think I will try her today's approach at the next training to see if that's how she wants to do. Today was a good reminder of "I need to observe and read my dog well while training." I cannot always push my dog to do in "my" way. I cannot always use the same technique worked on my previous dogs to my new dog. Olive and I need to find "our" way.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Winter draft work-the beginning
10 days ago Olive and I started working on sledding toward the NCNE winter draft test. Maya, my last draft dog, was a natural drafting dog...I hoped Olive will be just like Maya. Oh, boy, I was so wrong (lol). I knew she is not as bold as Maya, but she was 100% scared of the sled which was "chasing her". I don't know if we will be ready to take a test in one month, but no matter how long it takes, we will eventually take a test in the future.
The starting point was she gets used to be around the sled. Absolutely NO hitching. I, as usual, used the clicker training. I clicked and rewarded every time she gets close to check out the sled. Then I started making her step in between shafts. One leg at a time. At the Newf draft test, a handler basically has two options to hitch his/her dog to the cart/sled. One by pulling the cart from behind the dog. The other by asking the dog to step in between shafts. I used the first option with my previous dogs. However, I chose the second option with Olive. Why ? Because I know she hates something behind, especially something which makes loud noise. I expected to be harder to teach her to stay still when I bring up the sled. No need to scare her more. While she was learning to step in, she hit a shaft and made a little bit of noise. But the noise was much quieter than the noise I could make from pulling.
Here is our first practice video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkOAtWOmMvI
Here is the second practice on the same day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDLs_-R94sQ
In March, Olive passed the NCA draft test. Now she is Kilyka's Amity Lights Up Snowhaven DD.
The starting point was she gets used to be around the sled. Absolutely NO hitching. I, as usual, used the clicker training. I clicked and rewarded every time she gets close to check out the sled. Then I started making her step in between shafts. One leg at a time. At the Newf draft test, a handler basically has two options to hitch his/her dog to the cart/sled. One by pulling the cart from behind the dog. The other by asking the dog to step in between shafts. I used the first option with my previous dogs. However, I chose the second option with Olive. Why ? Because I know she hates something behind, especially something which makes loud noise. I expected to be harder to teach her to stay still when I bring up the sled. No need to scare her more. While she was learning to step in, she hit a shaft and made a little bit of noise. But the noise was much quieter than the noise I could make from pulling.
Here is our first practice video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkOAtWOmMvI
Here is the second practice on the same day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDLs_-R94sQ
In March, Olive passed the NCA draft test. Now she is Kilyka's Amity Lights Up Snowhaven DD.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
A lifejacket or not ?
I had been using a life jacket on Olive since we started training this summer. Last few years my friends have been using life jackets on their young dogs. We thought those dogs are swimming more level (floating hind end) even after stopped using jackets. I saw Olive's hind end was sinking (she was still willing to swim), so I hoped the jacket helps her to float better and to be a more efficient swimmer.
She (on her lifejacket ) had been very willing to swim out to people and also a boat, but did not do well when I told her to do the same things without her jacket. She is a very social girl, so I could not believe she didn't even go out to a person she knows well. She looked she didn't know how to get close to the boat, too. I didn't know taking off her jacket totally could change her attitude in water. After a few failures, we went back to basics, but still without her jacket. Going to a person in wading depth, going to touch the boat in wading depth, lots of treats, etc. We ended her session once she got more comfortable and could perform basics.
The lesson from this experience was it is not always a good idea to use a lifejacket. I think it is better she swims without her jacket for a while to gain more confident in water. Then I will use the jacket when I want her to focus on learning than on swimming (I still believe it is good to use it especially for WRDX training).
She (on her lifejacket ) had been very willing to swim out to people and also a boat, but did not do well when I told her to do the same things without her jacket. She is a very social girl, so I could not believe she didn't even go out to a person she knows well. She looked she didn't know how to get close to the boat, too. I didn't know taking off her jacket totally could change her attitude in water. After a few failures, we went back to basics, but still without her jacket. Going to a person in wading depth, going to touch the boat in wading depth, lots of treats, etc. We ended her session once she got more comfortable and could perform basics.
The lesson from this experience was it is not always a good idea to use a lifejacket. I think it is better she swims without her jacket for a while to gain more confident in water. Then I will use the jacket when I want her to focus on learning than on swimming (I still believe it is good to use it especially for WRDX training).
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Already September
It's already September and our water training season is close to end. But remember, we can still train our dogs on land !
Olive-learning "pull" with a tire
This was her first time to see a tire. At previous trainings in water, she could tow and beach a boat, but not 100% time. She dropped her bumper sometimes when she hit her wading depth and did not beach the boat. I don't want to depend on my luck at tests, so I teach all my dogs the "pull" command even they are natural pullers.
.
Olive-learning "pull" with a tire
This was her first time to see a tire. At previous trainings in water, she could tow and beach a boat, but not 100% time. She dropped her bumper sometimes when she hit her wading depth and did not beach the boat. I don't want to depend on my luck at tests, so I teach all my dogs the "pull" command even they are natural pullers.
.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
July 14 training
Today Olive worked on many things !
1. Teaching "To the boat"
This is another exercise the target training helps. Since she knows she is supposed to go where I point, I started sending her to a row boat on beach. She got distracted with smell on ground once, but did really well. We first practiced without the line.
To the boat without line-on land
Going to the boat without line was my today's goal, but I decided to use the line, too since she was doing well.
To the boat with line-on land
2. Teaching "Go out to a person" without line
She is a very social dog, so I do not worry about her going out to people. I think I need to work on calling her back to me more than sending her out. But here is how I start in water (she goes to people on land no problem). First parallel to shore. I suggest to start much closer than I did with Olive.
To a person
3. Teaching "Swim out" with line
This is something you can work without any other person. Some dogs are reluctant to start swimming out when they need to hold something in their mouths. That is why I practice only "start swimming" with line in mouth. This will help her to bring the line to a person/a boat.
Swim out with line1
4. Teaching "Go out to a person" with line
This was after #3 practice. I put the line in Olive's mouth at the first try. Then I drop the line in front of her for the second try, so she needs to pick it up, then starts swimming to the person. I drop the line a little bit away from her and pointed to pick it up for the third try. In this way, she learns she is "bringing" the line to the person, not just going to the person.
Swim out with line 2
In the end, she jumped off the boat a few times. She was not comfortable getting on the boat (no way jumping off !) last month, so we are making a huge progress !!!
1. Teaching "To the boat"
This is another exercise the target training helps. Since she knows she is supposed to go where I point, I started sending her to a row boat on beach. She got distracted with smell on ground once, but did really well. We first practiced without the line.
To the boat without line-on land
Going to the boat without line was my today's goal, but I decided to use the line, too since she was doing well.
To the boat with line-on land
2. Teaching "Go out to a person" without line
She is a very social dog, so I do not worry about her going out to people. I think I need to work on calling her back to me more than sending her out. But here is how I start in water (she goes to people on land no problem). First parallel to shore. I suggest to start much closer than I did with Olive.
To a person
3. Teaching "Swim out" with line
This is something you can work without any other person. Some dogs are reluctant to start swimming out when they need to hold something in their mouths. That is why I practice only "start swimming" with line in mouth. This will help her to bring the line to a person/a boat.
Swim out with line1
4. Teaching "Go out to a person" with line
This was after #3 practice. I put the line in Olive's mouth at the first try. Then I drop the line in front of her for the second try, so she needs to pick it up, then starts swimming to the person. I drop the line a little bit away from her and pointed to pick it up for the third try. In this way, she learns she is "bringing" the line to the person, not just going to the person.
Swim out with line 2
In the end, she jumped off the boat a few times. She was not comfortable getting on the boat (no way jumping off !) last month, so we are making a huge progress !!!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Swim with handler (a junior exercise)
Swim with handler is the last exercise for NCA water test junior devision. I think this is a good way to show a handler and a dog can work together. I have not had any problem with this exercise. I just train my dog to swim next to me in calm manner just like teaching to heel next to me. At tests, some people dash out to go in front of their dogs, so their dogs cannot scratch or be on top of them. I don't understand why they do that...as a working dog handler, I want to see that dogs can work with their handlers without any harm to each other.
I train my dog to swim next to me as soon as I introduce him to swimming. I start from walking in water next to him just like heeling (walk parallel to shore). He is on leash. He learns to walk nicely next to me in water first. Then I take him to his swimming depth (I still walk), still parallel to shore. Since I am still walking, I have better control of his body in case he starts crowding, climbing up on me, or moving away from me. If he bumps into me, I can gently push him away and guide with my left hand splashing water in front of him (if I use my right hand, he will probably come in front of me). The key is I'm walking next to him to have good control. Since it's likely I don't get scratched (or gets less scratched) when he is under my control, I can stay calm, too. If I get frustrated or need to fight with my dog to gain control, it does not help my dog to learn.
I train my dog to swim next to me as soon as I introduce him to swimming. I start from walking in water next to him just like heeling (walk parallel to shore). He is on leash. He learns to walk nicely next to me in water first. Then I take him to his swimming depth (I still walk), still parallel to shore. Since I am still walking, I have better control of his body in case he starts crowding, climbing up on me, or moving away from me. If he bumps into me, I can gently push him away and guide with my left hand splashing water in front of him (if I use my right hand, he will probably come in front of me). The key is I'm walking next to him to have good control. Since it's likely I don't get scratched (or gets less scratched) when he is under my control, I can stay calm, too. If I get frustrated or need to fight with my dog to gain control, it does not help my dog to learn.
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