Starting training with a new dog

I've recently had the opportunity to steal a new dog, to train for agility competition. Deo is going to be retiring this year, Flori is likely to never do agility, which means that I really only have Evo competing in agility. 

Storm is a one-year-old heading dog that is now living with me, with her sister Blizzard. She's a very enthused dog who I think will soon be a very strong, and fast dog. She's best mates with Evo, and they are (scarily) very very alike. 

Because she acts and looks like a 'grown-up dog', I've forgotten that she doesn't have a lot of the base skills that I train with my puppy. She doesn't understand markers, hasn't played with toys (in the way that I like), hasn't started fitness work, and doesn't have that many known behaviors. She already has some habits that are undesirable for agility. 

This means that I have to start right from the start, and work through basic skills. It's made me have to be very strategic about what we train - because there's no point in training obstacle skills until she understands basic communication and reward skills. 

Here's the general process and skills I'm working through with her at the moment: 

• Reinforcement markers for food, and toys
• Toy play and managing arousal levels around toys
• Stillness (staying on a platform, waiting in a sit)
• Fitness foundations (feet on objects, sit, down, stand etc.)
• Desensitization / exposure to new places and equipment
• Life skills e.g. decompression walks, recalls, enrichment activities

So whilst technically she 'could' start competing in 6 months' time, I highly doubt that she will be ready then. Hopefully, we can catch her up to start competing next year sometime! 

#doggeekeryDIY - Scratchboard

So most of you that know me know I'm a little crafty, and like making cool dog things! I've decided to put instructions for some of these into blog posts to make them easy to share. Even though most of these things are really pretty easy!

Today here's some instructions to make a DIY scratchboard for nails. I use this in-between cooperative care training sessions, because for some dogs (like Chace) nails are tough! Here's an older post I did on nails: http://hybriddogtraining.blogspot.com/2017/09/nails.html

Equipment

• Base of the scratchboard. I've used a chopping board, but other things that work are clipboards, the back of plastic containers, and a half round PVC pipe. 
• Sandpaper surface. Stick on safety grit step strips, OR rectangle pieces of medium grit sandpaper and liquid nails.
• Duct tape. To hold the edges of the sandpaper down. I prefer the pretty patterned ones. 

How to make it

1. Buy supplies. I bought a slightly more expensive chopping board because it had rubber feet on, and that's going to help it hold position if I prop it up against different things. 
2. Stick the non-slip strips on. You want it wide enough for your dogs front paws in a natural position, and long enough for them to wipe their paws down in a decent length stroke. 
3. Tape down the edges with duct tape to make the strips stay on better. 

I know it's pretty easy!! 

Happy scratching! 

Looking back, and forward.

At the end of the year lot's of people set new year's resolutions. I'm not so good at that.... I know I won't hold myself to the things that I resolve!

But what I've come to realize is that I am good at reflecting, and setting some short and long term goals. In the past I avoided this because in all honesty, I'm such an overthinker that if I didn't achieve a goal I would get myself worked into quite a state overthinking and stressing about that!

This year I have learnt that things don't always go as planned. I had planned to be starting agility competition with Flori, and instead, we are still midpoint in her rehab, with any agility in her future far from a certain thing.

Over this year I've made some amazing new friends, and lost some old ones which I regret. Social interactions are hard for me, and I have a habit of putting my foot in my mouth... and then overthinking about that for months. I need to make more of an effort to be thoughtful about what I say, and who I say them too. Because whilst I'm a complete introvert who genuinely enjoys time alone, everyone needs people sometimes.

I'm not happy with some of my agility progress over the year - I didn't reach my goals particularly with Evo, and NZDAC. After a wee break I'm going to have to reframe my thoughts and training plan of attack, because I love agility and want to keep progressing!

Photo by Mariji Smith

I also need to reframe my fitness work with Deo and Chace, because unfortunately they are getting older and I can see the changes in their bodies happening. I'm determined to give them the best chance to stay strong and sound as they age, and for Deo to be able to be doing agility a little bit longer! I still have a few things in agility I want to achieve.

Deo's NZDAC prizes

Here's the thing I realized this week. I might not have met all of my agility goals, but I've really achieved an absolute shitload this year! And I'm proud to be becoming a trainer and competitor in such a wide range of areas.

Here's some highlights: 

• Getting policy approved for Flori to be one of the first-ever full-time school support dogs
• Achieving Chace's TEAM1 and TEAM2 online FDSA obedience qualifications
• Starting training Nosework, and getting Chace into competition (and gaining ribbons and qualifying certificates too!) and running my first ever competition. 
• Starting to learn about, and consider training some gun dog competition. 
• Bringing two amazing US dog trainers to New Zealand
• Being involved in some amazing international courses as an instructor. It is such a privilege to be working with some amazing people on super cool dog things! 
• Both Evo and Deo placed and got ribbons at NZDAC, including Evo getting his first clear round in a Jumpers A course. 
• I learnt disc, another new sport, and ran the first-ever NZ dog disc competition. 
• Evo was freaken amazing and won three out of five UpDog Challenge disc competition events. 

 

 So as we move into this new year reflect on what is really important to you and the things that you value. Reflect on your year that has just been, and try to focus on all that you have achieved. 

The emotional rollercoaster of Rehabilitation

So here's the thing. Or things. I've been lucky in my dog agility life until recently to have not had any majour orthapedic issues or injuries with my competing agility dogs. I'd like to think that lot's of this was to do with their health, fitness, and management but I know there is also a huge amount of luck. 

Photo by Mariji Smith

Also people assume that I'm a pretty confident person, but I'm actually a very anxious overthinker. 

So when it became apparent that Flori's issues were more than just a strange first season, I immediately went into total stressy overthinking mode. She's the first dog that I've had more than just sore muscles with, and six months into the problem, it's been hard. 

Starting with information gathering and conservative rehab, then operating on one knee, continuing rehab, and we are still not yet at the point of deciding if the first surgery was enough,  and if we also operate on the other knee. Let alone if she's likely to be able to train and compete in sports with a physical aspect like agility.  

But at the moment the up and downs day to day are enough to stop me thinking about the distant whisper of agility.  At the moment it's worrying about how she walks, how she sits, if I walked too much, not enough, OMG did she just hop? Did I let her sit and play with the students too long? 

There's also the additional costs. Surgery with an experienced surgeon was more than I could afford on knee one. I was lucky to have amazing support from the school community to help me out.  But how am I going to manage if knee two needs doing? Because there's also the extra UWT, physio, and rehab vet appointments and the cost of these. 

I'm doing what I can to increase the chances of a fast and trouble free recovery, including following instructions and rehab plans to the letter, collecting accurate data on our activity, and managing her environment. A lot. Puppy pens, crates, and the balance harness and double ended lead are vital tools. Along with a boat load of enrichment toys and activities, and delicious treats. I'm also (as I do with all my dogs!) making sure I support her rehab with an awesome diet and supplements, and other complimentary therapy like laser, the Actipatch, and our PEMF bed. Multimodal support is the key! 

I was surprised about how much the surgery, and this process has stressed (and exhausted) me. I feel like my other dogs arent getting as much of me as they deserve, and definately feel like it impacted our lead up to, and performance at NZDAC. 

So wish us luck.... in a week and a half we are back at the surgeon and we know where we are at! Fingers (and toes and everything else) crossed.  

To run, or not to run ... continued .... FREE mini course!

A while back I wrote an article 'To run or not to run' for the NZ Kennel Gazette. This was prompted by things I was seeing while at agility competitions.

I was recently at our national Agility competition - NZDAC in Cromwell. Whilst I had a blast, I continued to see dogs that were, in my opinion, unsound competing.

Evo at the 2019 NZDAC - Photo by Mariji Smith

On having discussions with some of the amazing treatment providers on-site, it became clear that unfortunately, I wasn't alone.

Deo at NZDAC 2019. Photo by Emily Taylor Photography. 

People often assume that I'm very lucky with my dogs and the lack of injuries (touch wood!). But this isn't the case. None of my dogs are close to perfect structurally, naturally put on muscles, and all except Evo are far from naturally graceful movers. And they haven't been without ongoing small issues. Luckily with a trained eye, and the help of professionals I have been able to avoid these small 'niggles' becoming injuries. I've also gained the knowledge that I need to be able to manage their lives in a way that decreases the chance of injuries occurring.

It was because of this developed eye, and the professionals I regularly use, that Flori's knee issue was picked up so early before substantial damage had been done. Whilst Flori's issue was not typical in presentation, I do not believe that her issue would have been caught if it was not for this. Right now in another home, she could be starting agility competition, instead of being in rehabilitation after knee surgery.

So I've decided to put my money where my mouth is. And I'm giving anyone interested in learning more a FREE mini online course. This will cover:

• Appropriate puppy activities
• What can you do to reduce the chance of injury? 
• Agility training and injury prevention
• Measuring a dogs baseline in their body posture, and movement
• Identifying issues in stance or movement
• Identifying issues in agility
• What to do if you see issues in a dog

This course will run over the month of December via learning units and discussion in a Facebook group. 

It would be especially useful for agility competitors, clubs and agility instructors, and agility judges. 

Are you interested in learning more about this? Then join my FREE online mini-course! This will run over the month of December in this Facebook group. 

What are you fuelling your canine athlete (or pet) with?

Many of you that follow me know I'm a little geeky. About most dog stuff. But I'm super geeky about diet. It has been something that I have been interested in since switching my first dog Brody off kibble because of horrendous allergies. He was scratching out his fur until he was bald and bled, and we had him on Prednisone. When the vet suggested a vet diet allergy food, and I had to feed him a piece at time by hand, and he STILL had horrendous skin I looked for another way. I was lucky to find Lyn who started Raw Essentials, and with a diet change alone we got him off medication and looking amazing.

Since then I've tried to learn about appropriate dog food, and reading labels. There was a small nutritional component in my CCFT course, but I've really learnt the most from following Sascha at The Balance Canine Sydney.  I'm also currently working through an online nutritional certificate.

Also.... do you think it would be good for you, and you would be happy with a 'perfectly balanced' one fits all diet from a box? I know I wouldn't. I love food! I love variety, textures, and difference. I also highly doubt that one box of food is suitable for me, and my dad, and my little nephew. How can one food suit those very different people? So isint it the same for our dogs??

Why should you look at what you are feeding? 

For performance dogs (and pets!) the nutritional choices that we make have an impact on their health, behavior, and performance. A dog with less than ideal nutrition often cannot generate, and maintain muscle mass and power. A dog with less than ideal nutrition may not be physically able to run as fast at the end of a day of agility competition.  Just like children, some dogs can display ADHD like behaviors on some diets (particularly those high in synthetic colours and flavours). Some dogs with certain gut microbiomes may exhibit an increase in aggressive and anxious behaviours. We want our performance dogs to do more than survive, we want them to thrive. 

For me diet is more than just fuel. It's important for behaviour, enrichment, and keeping them physically in top condition. This means that food should provide nutrition, but also provide an opportunity to sooth with chewing, and also enable some ‘hunting’ to occur, in order to meet both physical and behavioral needs. Remember that most countries' standard of care and animal welfare codes includes the criteria of allowing animals to carry out their normal and natural behaviors. Dogs and related species in the wild are not satisfied with food in a bowl. They want to scavenge, hunt, and work for their food.

What do you need to consider?

The commonly talked about standard for pet nutrition standards is the AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials). This is an association that provides certification for a certain food meeting their definition of the minimum nutrition requirements, and that the ingredients listed are accurate. The nutrient profiles that they produce give the minimum and maximum nutrient levels. Some things for you to consider in deciding if an AAFCO certification is a valid source of information for you in choosing a pet food: 

• AAFCO is funded by American pet food manufacturers such as Hills, and Purina. 
• AAFCO only certifies if the MINIMUM requirements for sustaining life are met. Not the optimum levels for an animal to thrive. 
• AAFCO only states the nutrient source, but not the specific details or quality of nutrient sources. For example ‘Chicken’ could be chicken waste products of low quality, including beaks, feet, feathers. 
• Bioavailability. This means how much of the nutrients in the food source is actually able to be digested by the organism and available for use in the body. Despite some dry foods testing acceptably for certain nutrients, the treatment of such products can sometimes mean that your dog may literally poop them out, as they are not in a form that is digestible.

I'm a big fan of looking carefully at labels. Are the top three ingredients biologically appropriate? If that's way too much for you consider taking a look at this website, which analyses the Pet Food’s ingredients, recall history etc. and gives a rating and recommendation to food: https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/ 

So what do I feed?  

I feed a raw and fresh food diet, trying to keep a variety of fresh foods, colour, and rotating through animal protein sources. I’m working to the bone / muscle / organ / fruit and vegetable proportions. I occasionally add a oil that is a specific omega-3 and omega-6 mix, though prefer to get my omega’s through the fresh food. I add a joint supplement that I think has great research behind it - 4CYTE Canine. 

I enjoy making meals with a variety of interesting ingredients which keeps meals nutrient-rich, but also engaging, interesting and enriching for the dogs. I often use slow feeder puzzle bowls to up the enrichment value, and often put larger bones into boxes to add to the tearing / hunting instincts. 

My dogs also get a breakfast frozen kong (or similar food enrichment toy), dry food toy puzzles and scatters in grass, and I treat my training food as a nutritional source, therefore, feed food I think is great - my current favourite is Kiwi Kitchen air dried, and I also like Ziwipeak.

What about behavior?

Many of the performance or pet dogs I see also have small (or not so small) behavioral issues. There is a huge impact on the behavior of dogs from their gut microbiome, and diet. One of my most admired international trainers Sarah Stremming (of The Cognitive Canine) often talks about nutrition as being one of the four steps to behavioral wellness.

So... are you happy with what and how you feed your canine athletes? Or can you make it better?

REFERENCES / RESOURCES

• “Mastication as a stress coping behaviour”  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4450283/ 
• The National Research Council dog and cat diet recommendations: http://dels.nas.edu/global/banr/petdoor?_ga=2.148662782.892330748.1556764472-1293961895.1556764472 
• AAFCO website: https://petfood.aafco.org/ 
• AAFCO nutrient recommendations: https://www.aafco.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Regulatory/Committees/Pet-Food/Reports/Pet_Food_Report_2013_Midyear-Proposed_Revisions_to_AAFCO_Nutrient_Profiles.pdf 
• ‘The Nutritional Requirements of Working Dogs’ Journal Article: https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/128/12/2686S/4724432 
• http://www.rawessentials.co.nz/the-science-behind-raw-feeding 
• https://www.agresearch.co.nz/news/dog-diet-study/ https://peerj.com/articles/3019/ 
• http://www.greyhound-data.com/dir/806/Feeding_a_Racing_Greyhound.pdf 
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279308703_Energy_requirements_for_racing_endurance_sled_dogs 
• http://rrcus.org/health/pdf/Feeding_For_Agility.pdf 
• Nutrition for working and service dogs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24951343  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195561614000539?via%3Dihub 
• A survey of the feeding, activity, supplement use, and energy consumption in North American agility dogs https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/983954BF0CA170F1B01E7A0FE86776BB/S2048679017000441a.pdf/div-class-title-a-survey-of-feeding-activity-supplement-use-and-energy-consumption-in-north-american-agility-dogs-div.pdf 
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3514349/ (Fish oil) 
• https://www.dogingtonpost.com/best-worst-foods-for-dogs/ 
• https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/ 
• https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/are-dog-behavior-problems-linked-to-gut-health/ 
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6330041/ 
• https://www.balanced-canine.com/nutrition 
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/rawandfresh/ 
• https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/11/05/probiotics-for-dogs.aspx 
• http://www.fediaf.org/self-regulation/nutrition.html 
• https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/kibble-never-a-good-option/ 
• https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/4_3/features/5150-1.html 
• https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-017-0981-z?fbclid=IwAR10Fe2IT1BBr9lNd36e2BVvrZvAA__W3Q5tdwDA0BWG_RjD19lo9KRnBoQ 
• https://www.popsci.com/vitamins-supplements-food-health-benefits?fbclid=IwAR32ygzOOBUnYqsaRWxvX43oqOxWK8emadiR0KHBu2wgYWOO54ZS3TAnH1g 

NOSEWORK KITS - Clove Bud oil

I've finally finished making something that I've been thinking about for a while.... Nosework starter kits!

These kits are based on the SSANZ entry level oil - Clove Bud Oil. This is the association who's rules I am following, and am hoping to hold competitions under.

They're based on the starter kit that I got when I started, but also the extra things I find myself using frequently in our training.

These kits contain: 

• A ziplock of gloves, for handling your hot scents and oil
• A pair of tweezers, for transferring your scented cotton buds to new items
• Three round metal tins that are identical, one of which is pre-prepared (and marked) as hot (so has scent inside already). These also have a high strength magnet on the bottom for attaching to metal surfaces like a car. 
• An empty lip balm tube with holes
• Three empty plastic containers (with holes already on the side)
• Room for other containers
• A glass vial with extra cotton buds pre-prepared with oil
• All inside a click-clack container to contain your scent. 
• All hot (scented) items are double bagged in zip locks. 

 

These kits are $30NZD (plus postage)

 and can be purchased by emailing: hybriddogtraining@gmail.com OR in person at the Hybrid Training Shed Shop.