Fast Pup Dogs On Safari

The Fast Pup Dogs admired all the exotic taxidermy at a recent retrieve seminar at Cabelas

Don't Let Your Dog Become Gun Shy Over Fireworks

 Happy Fourth Of July!  Hopefully you have fully conditioned your hunting dog to LOVE the sound of loud gun fire.  You have gotten your dog really excited about retrieving and introduced your dog to soft gun fire from a distance out of a starter pistol--the sound perhaps muted by the white noise of a nearby freeway.  You have slowly worked your dog up to closer and louder gunfire and now you have a maniac that eagerly looks for birds anytime she hears the sound.

If you have not done this--whoa!  Get ready to take precautions over the Fourth of July!  Close the windows and get plenty of noisy things going--such as television, radio, air conditioner, etc.  Whatever you do, do not baby the dog and try to reassure her that "it's OK," when she startles over the explosions.  If you are tempted to do that, better to put her in a kennel, as far away from outside noise as possible, masked by white noise.  And leave her alone. 

Telling her "It's Ok," when she is frightened can communicate to her that you are anxious or concerned about it.  And that will make everything worse.

A gun shy dog is a very common problem, and one that can be easily avoided with a little advance planning and plenty of common sense. 

It Takes More Than Money To Own A Falcon

My favorite blogger, Terrierman, recently posted this post about what a falconer must go through to qualify to legally own one of those magnificent birds of prey.  Unfortunately for Parrots and Pit Bulls, he points out, one needs only cash. 

Too bad for many pets that their owners did not have to qualify to prove competency as owner/handlers!

Fast Pup Dog Training Works Street Corner Meeker Days

Hundreds of people snapped pictures of the Fast Pup Dog Training dogs as they worked the corner of Pioneer and Meridian at the 2011 Meeker Days Festival.

Join Fast Pup Dog Training at Puyallup's Meeker Days Festival

June 17, 18 & 19, 2011

Father's Day Weekend!

Fast Pup Dog Training will be at this year's Meeker Days Festival.  Be sure to come by and see out dogs.  Here is video from the festival 2 years ago.

Nice Weather Brings Heat And Other Dangers For Dogs

It has been eight long months since we've seen temps in the 70's.  It is finally nice weather, right?  So the last thing we want to do now, is worry or complain about the heat.  But we need to be extra careful about watching our dogs for any signs of heat stress.  Fact is, that here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, we just are not acclimated to ANY sort of heat--and neither are our dogs.

Packing water and a container with the dogs is a great idea for relief from summer heat.

I have a rule that whenever the temps get over 85 degrees, I train retrievers only on water--or have plenty of water available for the dogs to soak in--such as a pool like the one pictured above. Yesterday, during retriever training, I was not prepared with supplies for cooling dogs, like a pool full of water or ice filled "Kool Collars."  After all, it was only going to be in the mid 70's, right?  But--bottom line--is that the dogs, all of them, were significantly heat stressed after running four long marks of several hundred yards and a couple of long blinds.  Going from training regularly in temperatures of 30's, 40's and 50's, the dog's cooling systems were not prepared for the shock of training in warm weather.

Living someplace warm, of course, the dogs would be used to the heat.  But here, we need to take it slow and understand that our dogs need some help adjusting.

Other dangers for dogs associated with the heat of course are from leaving them in a car or letting them swim in a swollen river still running high with snow melt.  Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a car left in the sun on a 75' plus day can quickly go to over 100's and can kill a dog fast.  The local rivers are running high and fast right now, and while dogs seem to fare better in the cold water than people do, it is still not a good idea to take a chance.

Great Big, Out-Of-Control Malamutes Learn To Focus

After one training session and one class, the Malamutes learned to "place" and "stay."

When Erin & Chuck first brought their Malamutes to one of our dog training seminars, they were out of control, lunging and barking at other dogs.  They were very distracted, and at 110 pounds and 140 pounds were a danger to themselves and their owners.  Erin and Chuck had been using the snout loop head harnesses to control them, but the dogs fought the harnesses and had injured themselves straining against them.  After just one session, we transferred responsibility for paying attention to their handlers to the dogs, asked them to step up and learn to follow their handlers, and work with us instead of against us.  The difference from one week to the next was striking.  Everyone is much more relaxed now and feeling much more secure with each other. 

Schipperkes, Pointers And Dobies, Oh My!

Harley, a four-month old Schipperke, is learning to do agility

Look what fun our new class member, Harley, a four month old Schipperke is having learning to do agility.  We have fun at class and also proof the dogs for reliability around severe distractions.  Peace of mind with your dog comes from knowing you can trust your dog to pay attention to you and follow instructions.

Norman, a Wire Haired Pointer

Lucy, a Doberman

Hank, a Doberman

Koda, a Standard Poodle

Spanky, an Australian Kelpie

Do You Have To Have A Hunting Breed To Train For Hunting?

Tom & Jewel ready for a day's retriever training

We are often asked if it is absolutely necessary to own a breed bred specifically for hunting in order to train the dog to hunt. The answer is emphatically NO. But your dog needs to have high drive, lots of determination, be able to learn to work with you as a team player and be intelligent. If you introduce your dog to birds, gunfire and retrieving in a positive way, you will most likely have a dog that will serve you well in the field hunting. Training and play will enhance your relationship with your dog.

Tom Saunders and his Border Collie, Jewel are shown here ready for a day of training in the field. They should be good to go by this year's hunting season.

Cabelas Sporting Dog Days June 24th 25th 2011

Join Fast Pup Dog Training at Cabelas in Lacey, WA on Saturday June 24th and Sunday, June 25th for seminars on "Principles of Field Obedience" and "Fundamentals of Retrieving."

On Saturday, join us at 11:00 am for the presentation on Field Obedience: A dog with great obedience in the field is the first step to creating an enjoyable hunt. In this hour, learn why having a well trained dog will make a hunt more enjoyable and safer for not just you but your hunting partners. Come learn what, when, how, and how often you should work on obedience and don’t risk not getting invited to the next hunt by your buddies because of an unruly dog.

Stick around for the following seminar, Fundamentals of Retrieving,starting at noon: While sporting breeds have a natural ability to retrieve, our experts will discuss what these dogs need become exceptional hunting partners. Training a retriever is more than just dropping a duck in the field and telling your dog to “hunt it up”. Come learn how teaching fundamentals like steadiness, force fetch, multiple marks, and blind retrieves improves your hunting experience with your dog and creates a great day of hunting.

DogTraining In Crazy Weather Around Tacoma

The weather has been really crazy this year. We had record cold in April. The Daffodils and Tulips, the trees, are all late to bloom and set leaves. Last weekend was Sunday, May 15th. Here are pictures of a training pond with an extra several feet of water submerging the banks and the boulders that are usually visible.

Two days later, the sun is out, it is approaching 60 degrees and we are on a photo shoot of dogs with spring flowers.

Iditarod Competitors Grinding Away

The 2011 Iditarod is shaping up with some surprises. Long time competitor, John Baker was the first to reach the Unalakleet checkpoint 5:04 Sunday morning. After four hours of rest and a meal for both dogs and musher, the team headed for Shaktoolik. Baker is struggling fiercely with sleep deprivation.

The weather has been warmer than usual and for many teams the "heat" in the 20 degree range has softened the snow and made it more difficult to sled.

Four time consecutive winner, Lance Mackey, has conceded the race this year after losing a number of his lead dogs to exhaustion, muscle cramps and something he referred to as sled dog myopathy, a condition where the dogs' muscles break down. Mackey is known not only as a fierce competitor, but also for his amazing connection to and care for his team.

Dee Dee Jonrowe, a veteran of 29 Iditarod races is currently in 7th place in the standings having made it to the Unalakleet checkpoint at 11:04 this morning. The 57 year old breast cancer survivor found herself upside down yesterday, pinned under her sled along with an injured dog in water on overflow ice at the Yukon River. She managed to eject herself and the injured dog from the situation, right her sled and make her way to Anvik for an eight hour rest. She arrived there in 14th position with her sled and gear coated in ice. Despite her setbacks, her mostly inexperienced team is considered one of the faster teams in the race.

Here is video of Dee Dee Jonrowe at the start of the race in Willow last Sunday:

Sheepless Herding: Treibball Gaining Popularity

What a great sport to do with a dog.  The cost is minimal (after you convince your dog to quit popping the balls.)  It requires a great deal of teamwork and training the dog for long "go outs," "leave it" commands and directional casts.  Great mental stimulation as well as exercise for a dog.  Check out these videos:





A great training video:

2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race Underway

In my next life, I want to be an Alaskan musher and run a team of Alaskan Huskies in the Iditarod!

Alaskan Huskies are not the same as Siberian Huskies.  Alaskan Huskies are not a recognized breed by any breed registry, such as the American Kennel Club.  Therefore, the mushers and handlers of these dogs are free to breed for maximum performance--not a breed standard or a certain look.

There are many people who have for decades been decrying the inbreeding that goes on to keep a breed "pure" to a breed registry standard.  (One of my favorite bloggers, Patrick Burns from Terrierman is very outspoken about this.)  Many point out that breeding for a certain look and standard promotes health problems in the breeds. 

Lance Mackey, winner of the last four Iditarods, is show here at last Sunday's restart (the real start of the race) in Willow, Alaska.  Ahead of the team is a trail of over 1,150 miles through breathtakingly beautiful and extremely challenging terrain.  Good luck to all the teams.  May you all stay healthy and safe!

Another Tam Update

Kate,

We used the place command in it's first practical application today. Took Tam in to the vet this morning. I usually have to fight to get her on the scale and to sit still. And then when I'm filling out paperwork I'm usually struggling to keep her close on the leash. Well today it was a "place", "sit", "stay". She did great. Even got a "wow" from the receptionist as I filled out paperwork with my back to Tam, leash loose on the floor.

Thanks for everything and see you Sunday

James

Tam--Border Collie Lab Mix And Owner James

February 17th
Really happy to tell you that Tam did great today.  We worked some more on leash and she's really getting it down.  There were birds all in the yard, which was great for our distraction training.  We worked some more on the stay, increasing distance and back turned to her while walking away.   Did some off leash work and then some free play time with long distance recalls.   She's really picking up on this quickly.

tap tap

 

James

Tam places on a stool in living room

March 2nd

Just wanted to let you know the "place" training is going good.

 

Escape The Cold Winter At The NW Flower And Garden Show

Fast Pup Dogs Sit In Front Of Fantasy Garden

Pacific Northwest Fountain Landscape

Dogs, People, Cameras Challenging Mix At NW Flower And Garden Show

Dixie is a star in the Fast Pup Dog Training Booth

Taking an informational brochure on dog training services

Taking pictures of the dogs in the Fast Pup Dog Training Booth

 The Northwest Flower And Garden Show is the biggest, most complicated venue the dogs and I have worked yet.  We are at the Seattle Convention Center, a sprawling complex famous for bottle-necking Interstate 5 through downtown because it was decided years ago to build this complex over and and around the freeway--preventing expansion of lanes in the future. 

Because of the unseasonal snow and ice, the show apparently has been unusually slow.  Yet there are so many visitors that walking through the isles is extremely challenging with the dogs.  Yesterday, upon arriving, I took the dogs out to the Freeway Park outside of the Convention Center for an airing.  When they were sufficiently relieved, we headed back toward the doors.  There were quite a few people coming in and out the doors to the park, so I sat the dogs down about 20 feet from the doors and began calling them in one at a time.  My focus is safety.  I don't want anyone to trip over several dogs underfoot.  When they were all indoors, safely by my side, I turned to figure out the best way to navigate through the halls back to our booth.  I was stunned to see a large and growing group of people with cameras--all taking pictures of my dogs.  They all had still cameras--not movie cameras.  I was amused--but puzzled at the same time.  I have heard that nearly 60 percent or more of households in the US have dogs--and certainly anyone who likes dogs has owned one.  So for people to take pictures of my dogs seems so strange.  When they get home, they are going to have a picture of a dog.  Not a dog doing a trick--or anything unusual--just a picture of a dog. 

A gal in the booth across from me told me that she thought the reason people gather to stare at the dogs is the same reason people gather to stare at and take pictures of street performers who go out in parks and strike a pose--like a statue.  It is so unusual.  And rare. 

Well--to anyone visiting the NW Flower And Garden Show, I hope Fast Pup Dog Training will raise the expectations people have of dogs.  Dogs can be well behaved around severe distractions and in crowds of people.  They can be off leash and under voice control at all times.  It does not need to be a "rare" performance by some unusual dogs.  With proper training, all dogs can be trustworthy around distractions. 

Fast Pup Dog Training At NW Flower And Garden Show

Fast Pup Dog Training Booth 2717

It smells like chocolate here!  Ummm.  Remember, chocolate mulch toxic to dogs.

Lots of plants for sale!

Seeds for planting

Its like a jungle in here!

Last Wild Wolves Part 3

The Pacific Northwest Wolves have a special relationship with Ravens.