Braveheart Agility Classes

I wanted to give everyone an update and heads up about the recreational agility classes that I offer on Saturdays in Castro Valley.  As some of you know, I had decided to discontinue offering the agility classes.  There are a few reasons for this.  The main reason is that the agility equipment is heavy and awkward and I have ongoing problems with my back.  Teaching four classes in a row in addition to taking out, setting up, moving, breaking down and putting away the agility equipment has made Saturdays very difficult for me.  Typically, my back will hurt for at least a day after this.  It's just too much.  It makes me very sad because I know that people are upset with this decision.  I don't want to take away a class that people enjoy, but I do need to protect my body and my ability to continue working. 

Right now, I am tossing around some ideas in my head to see if I can figure out a way to continue to offer the agility classes.  One of those options is to only offer one agility class (either Agility 1 or Agility 2) and alternate back and forth each session between the two.  This would cut my classes down to 3 rather than 4 which would help.  Another option is to ask students to come early and stay to help Kathy and I with equipment.  This is standard in most agility classes, I have just never done it.  So, I may give it a shot this way and see how it works out.

Just so everyone knows we do have an Agility 1 AND an Agility 2 class starting in Castro Valley on February 27 which we WILL be offering.  Those classes have not and will not be cancelled, they will run as planned on schedule. 

I am sorry for any upset this has caused.  I am trying to figure out a way to keep everyone happy while still keeping myself safe.

Thank you for your understanding.

New Facebook Page

I have just created an official Braveheart Dog Training Facebook page.  I will be deleting the Braveheart Facebook group and just using this page to post on Facebook for Braveheart.  You can get Braveheart Facebook postings by clicking on the heading above and choosing to Become a Fan!

No Conformation Class on Tuesday, February 2

There will be no drop in conformation classes on Tuesday, February 2.  Classes will resume on February 9.

Canine Massage and Grooming Class, Sunday, January 10

We still have a few openings in the Canine Massage and Grooming class that will be held on Sunday, January 10 from 10am to 12pm in San Leandro.  The cost is $40.  Please contact me if you are interested.

My essay makes it to the finals!

The following is an essay that I wrote for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Train Your Dog Month contest.  My essay make the finals, now the APDT membership will vote and choose a winner from each category and an overall winner.  Wish me luck!

Allison and Remy- Helping a Teenage Dog Find His Way

I met Remy, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog when he was just a 10-week-old puppy.  He was a friendly and adorable rolly polly chunk of a puppy.  Allison, Remy's owner, got him as a puppy and was taking my Puppy Preschool class determined to make sure Remy grew up social and happy.  She was going to do everything right with this dog. Remy breezed through class, easily picking up the behaviors we taught with clicker training. He was an eager and responsive learner.  He was a fun puppy to train.

Allison got Remy from a reputable breeder and intended to show Remy in conformation.  So, while he didn't do my beginning classes, he did attend my conformation drop in classes.  As Remy got bigger and bigger, it became apparent that he may need more basic training.  In conformation class Remy seemed uninterested in Allison and instead wanted to go visit other dogs and pull her around for the ride.  She was barely able to control him.

By the time Remy was about 10 months old, he was more than a challenge and Allison was at her wits end.  He was easily over 100 pounds.  Allison is a small woman and standing next to her, Remy looked huge.  She sent me an email and laid it all out on the line.  She was frustrated with him.  She felt he was out of control and that she couldn't control him.  Allison's first Swissy, Dexter, who had recently passed away, was very different from Remy.  Dexter was shy and insecure compared to Remy and in Allison's eyes, much easier to deal with.   So, this new, exuberant, active, and super outgoing dog was extremely challenging for her. 

Allison said she loved my training style and methods but that other Swissy people were telling her that she needed to be "firmer" with him and "get on him" more.  She said that while she thought positive methods worked for Dexter, based on what she was hearing she wasn't so sure it would work for Remy.  Did she need to be tougher with him?  Should she take my beginning class?  Did I think it would work for Remy?  She asked me to be honest.  I have to say here how much I respected her for coming to me with honest and completely valid questions and concerns.  She could have just walked away, but she genuinely wanted to do what was best for Remy. 

She asked for my honest opinion so I gave it to her.  I told her that I felt that Remy would benefit greatly from doing my beginning obedience/manners class, which is all clicker training.  I told her that I could see her frustration and that I felt they were working against each other instead of with each other.  I told her that Remy was just too big for her to be able to "make" him do anything anyway, so it would be best for her to try and teach him to want to do it.  I also sent her an article, written by Suzanne Clothier called How Much Does Your Dogs Cooperation Weigh?  I recommended she take the class and take it from there.

She read the article and decided to take the class.  From the first moment that they walked into the beginning class together, I could see that things had changed.  Allison had made a conscious decision to work with Remy as her partner.  When she made that choice, she never looked back and neither did Remy.  She worked very hard with Remy and he excelled in class.  Each week they would come in and have a great time together.  Allison was extremely patient with Remy and she always made sure to set him up to succeed.  Every week I saw them successfully learn the behaviors we were working on.  Remy no longer seemed distracted and uninterested; he watched her more and was eager and happy to work with her.  When Remy did seem distracted she would simply give him more distance from the other dogs or ask for something that was easier for him to succeed at. They were no longer working against each other, they had become a team.  They were partners.

Allison and Remy continue to come to my advanced class.  Remy is over a year old now and is still being shown in conformation and is handled by Allison.  Last week they came into class with a picture of Remy's most recent win.  He was also wearing the new collar that he had won at the dog show.  She mentioned to me that many of the people at the show commented to her about how great Remy was doing now and how well behaved he was in the show ring.  They were all impressed.  And, so am I.  Allison changed her behavior so that Remy could change his. 

This story is not over.  Remy is still a young dog and of course Allison will have to continue to work with him so that he can continue to improve and learn more.   And, I know she will because when I see her in class look down at her dog and smile, and I see him look up at her and smile, I know that they are both enjoying themselves and the training process itself.  They are a team and they are in it for the long haul together.

Therapy Dog Orientation

A client of mine asked me to share this.  I have attended this free orientation and then went on to get my dog Winnie's Delta Society Therapy Dog certification.  Winnie retired last year but it was a great experience.  Anyone wanting to do therapy dog work, should start right here!

 

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A THERAPY DOG TEAM?

P R E S E N T A T I O N  B Y  K A T H Y  M O N T G O M E R Y

* Sunday, January 17, 2010 *
1 : 0 0 P. M .
C O N T R A C O S TA WAT E R D I S T R I C T O F F I C E
1 3 3 1 C O N C O R D AV E , C O N C O R D C A
Sponsored By
Nor-Cal Toy Dog Fanciers
Poodle Club of Central California
Golden Gate Shih Tzu Fanciers

* * *
Invite your friends/ puppy buyers/ fellow exhibitors!
Kathy’s presentation at the Cavalier National Specialty got rave reviews!
* * *

Kathy Montgomery is a licensed instructor, Evaluator and Evaluator Instructor for the Delta Society Pet Partners and has been involved in pet therapy for 15+ years. She initiated the hospital programs for Sutter General and Memorial in Sacramento, and was also instrumental in initiating the program for Shriners Childrenʼs Hospital, and in evaluating therapy teams for Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Childrenʼs Hospital. Kathy currently uses her Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (Marty & Little Boom), but initiated her visiting programs with a Wheaten Terrier (Zipper) and her Tibetan Terrier (Beetle). Kathy will discuss the commitment involved, the types of facilities that welcome therapy teams, and hat skills are needed for a
successful Therapy Dog Team. She will provide information about: 1. Different national organizations who offer testing, liability insurance, etc. 2. Differences/skills needed in working a small dog vs. a large dog 3. Patient/staff/family reactions to dogs in facilities - good AND bad.

Sign - Ups & Questions: Sally Vilas: phone: 510-276-5521 or email: vilenzo@earthlink.net

Free - but help us plan by signing up in advance (Do not bring a dog)

General Meeting of Nor-Cal Toy Dog Fanciers will follow this seminar

 

Directions:
From Sacramento area: Hwy I-80 West towards San Francisco; merge onto I-680S via exit 40/Benecia/San
Jose.
Merge onto CA4 via exit 53 toward Antioch/Pittsburgh; merge onto CA242 via exit 15A towards Oakland/
Concord. Take Concord Ave exit; 1331 on right side of street.
From Bay Area: From Hwy I-880, take Hwy I-980 East toward CA24/Berkeley/Walnut Creek; Merge onto I-680North
(left lanes toward Sacramento/Concord). Merge onto 242 North via exit 50/ Concord Pittsburgh; exit Clayton Road
toward Concord; left turn onto Market Street, left turn onto Concord Ave; 1331 on right side of street.
From Livermore: Take Hwy I-580 West toward Oakland; merge onto I-680 North toward Sacramento
Merge onto CA 242 Norht via exit 50 toward Concord /Pittsburgh. TAke Clayton Road exit toward Concord.
Turn left onto Market St; Turn left onto Concord Ave; 1331 is on the right.

January 2010 - BraveHeart to Heart

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! I sure did and am ready to take off running on the classes starting for Braveheart!

Dog of the Month
Remy Ching


Remy is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog belonging to Allison Ching. Remy started with Braveheart has a tiny puppy in our preschool classes and has continued through our Intermediate class and conformation classes. Currently, Remy is being shown in conformation and already has some nice wins under his belt at a young age. Allison has done a beautiful job with Remy and we are very happy to have them in our classes.

Upcoming Classes
Beginning Obedience/Manners, Thursdays, 7pm, San Lorenzo, starts January 7, 6 weeks

Puppy Preschool, Thursdays, 6pm, San Lorenzo, starts January 7, 6 weeks

Indoor/Outdoor Intermediate, Saturdays, San Leandro, January 9, 4 weeks

Canine Massage/Grooming, Sunday, San Leandro, January 10, 1 session

Drop in conformation classes start back up on Tueday, January 5.
Drop in Rally classes start back up on Monday, January 25.

More classes being added! Keep checking the website.

Playgroups
Welcome Yvonne Chohan as the new Braveheart Small Dog and Puppy Playgroups Supervisor. We will all miss Maureen but I am so happy that Yvonne stepped in to take over playgroups. I know that you will all love her!

Conformation Classes

Drop in Conformation classes will start back up on Tuesday, January 5. Hope to see you then!