Drop in K9 Nose Work class moves to Wednesdays!

Beginning in January, our every other week drop in K9 Nose Work class will be held on Wednesdays at 7pm instead of Tuesdays.  This change becomes effective on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.  We will also now have a 6 class punch card so that you can purchase 6 classes at one time!

Update about January Nose Work classes

The January K9 Nose Work classes (Intro to Nose Work and Intro to Odor) will be held in San Leandro at Braveheart Dog Training NOT in San Lorenzo.  You will need to register for this class with me directly.

December Newsletter

I can't believe that 2011 is coming to an end and 2012 is just around the corner.  Wow, time flies!  I want to thank all of you for your continued support.  Your trust and confidence in me means the world to me and to Braveheart Dog Training.  One of the things that I am most happy about and most proud of about Braveheart is that I feel I have accomplished my goal of creating a sense of community.  It really warms my heart to see students who know each other from class to class and to know that friendships (both dog and human) have been formed as a result of meeting in my classes.  That is exactly what I wanted to create.  I want my classes to be a fun, rewarding, relaxing place for dogs and their people to have fun and spend time together.  I feel that we are there and I hope you all do too.  Thank you for making this possible.  I wish you all a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year.

Point Isabel Dog Walk
As many of you know, each year several of us get together for our annual Christmas Eve Point Isabel Dog Walk.  It is a great way to visit with friends, gear up for the holidays and spend time with your dogs burning off some of their energy before the celebrating begins.  Please join us if you can.  We will meet on Christmas Eve morning at 10am at Point Isabel in front of Mudpuppies.

DOG OF THE MONTH
Beau Ramos

 
Beau has been coming to Braveheart classes since he was a tiny puppy and yes, he was once a tiny puppy even though it is hard to believe by looking at him.  Actually, he still is a puppy!  He started in our Puppy Preschool class and then went on to our Beginning Obedience/Manners class and then Introduction to K9 Nose Work.  He is currently rocking it out in our Introduction to Odor class.  He is a natural at nose work and a total love bug.  Sometimes as class is about to start and I begin to check to see who is here and who is on the way in from the parking lot I will

hear Beau bay from the parking lot and know he is on his way:)  He is owned by Vicki Ramos.







Upcoming Classes
Introduction to K9 Nose Work, San Lorenzo, Thursday, January 12, 6:00-7:30pm
Introduction to Odor, San Lorenzo, Thursday, January 12, 7:30-9:00pm

Three's Company, San Leandro, Tuesday, January 17, 6:00-6:45pm

Small Dog Beginning Obedience/Manners, Castro Valley, Monday, January 23, 6:30-7:30pm
Intermediate Obedience, Castro Valley, Monday, January 23, 7:30-8:15pm

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Castro Valley, Saturday, January 28, 9:00-10:00am
Puppy Preschool, Castro Valley, Saturday, January 28, 10:00-10:45am
Fun with Canine Freestyle, Castro Valley, Saturday, January 28, 11:00am-12:00pm

Please let me know if you are interested in registering for any of these classes!

Drop In Conformation Class Schedule

There will be no more drop in conformation classes on Wednesdays for the rest of the year.  Wednesday, 12:00pm conformation classes will start up again on January 11. 

There will be no more drop in conformation classes on Tuesday nights after the class next Tuesday, December 6, 7:00pm. Tuesday, 7:00pm classes will start up again on January 17.

No Conformation Class on Wednesday, November 23

There will be no drop in conformation class on Wednesday, November 23.  There will be class on Tuesday, November 22.

November Newsletter

I love Fall!!  I love the cool weather, the color of the trees and the leaves everywhere.  I am so excited about this time of year and that Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday is right around the corner.  Of course, classes will slow down a bit until after the first of the year, but then we will be taking off with a lot of fun, new cool stuff!

DOG OF THE MONTH

 Sisters Maggie Mae and Winnie

 

 

 Maggie Mae (the brown one) and Winnie (the white one) are sisters belonging to a family of dog lovers!  The Whelans, Carl Smith and his niece Kathie are all involved in the love, care and attention of these girls!  Both have attended our puppy classes, beginning class and are small dog play group regulars!  We love these girls and are so happy to have them in the Braveheart family!

Upcoming Classes
Introduction to Odor
Fridays, San Leandro, 11/11/11, 6-7:30pm, $150 + $10 supply fee
This class is for dogs who have completed Introduction to K9 Nose Work and are doing well on their foundation box work.  Dogs will be introduced to the first target odor which is birch in this class.    

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Castro Valley, 1/14/12, 9-10am, $150
Our Beginning class.

Puppy Preschool, Castro Valley, 1/14/12, 10-10:50am, $150
Our puppy class.

Fun with Freestyle, Castro Valley, 1/14/12, 11-11:50am, $150
This class will introduce students and their dogs to the fun sport of canine freestyle.  Canine Freestyle is heelwork, tricks and movements to music.  Very fun for dogs and people!

Small Dog Beginning Obedience/Manners, Castro Valley, 1/16/12, 6:30-7:30pm, $150
Our beginning class just for dogs 30 pounds and under.

Intermediate Obedience, Castro Valley, 1/16/12, 7:30-8:15pm, $120
Next level basic obedience.

Introduction to K9 Nose Work, San Lorenzo, 1/12/12, 6:00-7:30pm, $150

Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. This class focuses on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dog's natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. It's a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy and to find out just how good is your dog's nose. High food or toy motivation is beneficial for this class.  Dogs must be able to handle confinement in a crate away from handlers.

Note: Castro Valley January class schedule is tentative, but will be confirmed soon.

Another Successful Howl-o-Ween Party!

We had a great turnout for our annual Howl-o-Ween party!  Thank you to all of you who made it out!  Check out the pictures from the party here!  

Howl-O-Ween Party

Thank you to everyone who came to our Howl-o-Ween Party!  Check out the pictures on our facebook page here

October Newsletter

Welcome Autumn!  I love the fall, it is my favorite time of year.  I love the weather, I love Halloween and knowing the holidays are just around the corner!  Of course, around the holidays, the classes I offer slow down, but check out the schedule, I will be offering quite a bit this year, including a new Winter Games class that has been on my mind for a couple of years now.  So, if you are looking for a great class with ideas for inside training and fun, check it out!

DOG OF THE MONTH

 Kendall is a French Bulldog who belongs to Cindy Grant.  Kendall, along with many of Cindy's other lovely Frenchheads has been coming to Braveheart comformation classes since she was a little puppy.  She just recently finished our Skill Building for the Show Ring class and is a regular in our small dog playgroup.  Kendall is a ball of fun and a there is a party whenever she enters the room (or class!) and we love having her in class!

Upcoming Classes
Puppy Preschool, Castro Valley, Saturday, October 22, 10am, 6 weeks
Beginning Obedience/Manners, Castro Valley, Saturday, October 22, 9am, 6 weeks
Three's Company, San Leandro, Tuesday, October 25, 6pm, 5 weeks
Intro to Odor, San Leandro, Friday, November 11, 6pm, 6 weeks
Winter Games, San Leandro, Monday, November 14, 6pm, 3 weeks 

Halloween Safety!
Remember with Halloween coming up to keep your animals safe!

~Chocolate is toxic to dogs.  Be sure to keep all candy, especially chocolate put away so your dog can't get to it.

~Xylitol, found in chewing gum and some candies is also toxic to dogs.  Keep it out of reach so your dog can't ingest it.

~Keep your dog secured when trick or treaters come to the house.  Dogs can get spooked (no pun intended) and run off by the costumes and high volume of visitors.  Make sure your dog doesn't have access to the front door and be sure he is wearing his collar and tags on Halloween.

~Please keep your black cats safe.  As awful as this is, some people are unkind to black cats around Halloween.  If you have an outdoor black cat, please make sure he is safe and secure around Halloween.

Howl-o-Ween Party
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 21 at 6:30 for Braveheart Dog Training's annual Howl-o-Ween party.  The party will be held at Braveheart Dog Training located at 2123 Marina Blvd. in San Leandro.  There will be a costume contest, trick contest and more!  Treats and prizes!  Dog and people friendly dogs welcome to attend!  Please remember to think of your dogs comfort when choosing a Halloween costume for them.

September Newsletter

Summer is already gone and it doesn't even feel like it ever really came!  This weather is so strange but I have to say that I am not sorry that we had a fairly cool Summer since my dogs clearly prefer it that way.  And, Fall is my favorite time of year, so Autumn, Welcome!

DOG OF THE MONTH
Dylan Duncan

Dylan is a Beagle who lives with longtime Braveheart student Tracy Duncan.  Dylan started with Braveheart in puppy class and recently graduated his beginning class!  He is already active in nose work and we will see if he follows in big brother Dax's footsteps in trying out agility as well!


Upcoming Classes
Introduction  to K9 Nose Work, Thursdays, 6-7:30pm, 9/27/11, 6 weeks, $150, San Lorenzo
K9 Nose Work is a new dog sport where dogs are trained to detect target odors much like professional detection dog work. This sport is fun for dogs and people.  Dogs are worked individually so this class is great for fearful or reactive dogs.

Introduction to Odor, Thursdays, 7:30-9pm, 9/27/11, 6 weeks, $150, San Lorenzo
This class is the next level of K9 Nose Work where dogs are introduced to the target odors.  Dogs must have completed an Introduction to K9 Nose Work class and must have instructor approval to take this class.

Howl-O-Ween Pawty!
This years annual Howl-O-Ween Pawty will be held on Friday, October 21 from 6:30-8pm.  Join us for a canine costume contest, trick contest, prizes and treats!  Dog and people friendly dogs welcome!
Only comfortable, safe, dog friendly dog costumes please. 

Drop In Conformation Class Canceled Tonight and Tomorrow

My co owned/co bred puppies are coming early, one is already born, so I am leaving to go help with the deliver of the other puppies.  Sorry for the short notice, but drop in conformation classes are canceled for tonight and tomorrow.

August Newsletter

Summer is practically over and seems like it just started!  I guess we should be grateful for the weather not being too hot, but a happy medium would have been nice.  I hope everyone is having a nice Summer.  I have been enjoying my Summer but very busy raising a new puppy!  Venom, our 14 week old standard Dachshund puppy is doing GREAT!  We are having a blast with him.  If you are interested in following his blog please visit www.teachingvenom.blogspot.com. Please take a look at the schedule as we have a lot of classes coming up that I think you will all enjoy!

DOG OF THE MONTH
Lily Morse

Lily has been taking classes with Braveheart for a while now.  After completing our Beginning Obedience/Manners class her mom Barbara decided to give agility a try.  I am so glad that they did because Lily is a natural!  You never saw a more eager and happy agility beginner!  She loves it and we love her!



Upcoming Classes
Rally On!, Wednesday, 8/10, San Leandro, 7:30pm, 6 weeks, $150
Rally is a fun, relatively new dog sport that emphasizes teamwork and communication as dogs and handlers navigate a course of varied and interesting obedience exercises.  This class will teach you and your dog how to perform a wide variety of Rally exercises, how to read the Rally signs, and how to string the signs together into full Rally courses.  You will learn Rally exercises from both APDT and AKC, as well as the similarities and differences in rules and scoring between these two venues.  Rally is great fun whether you are interested in competing or just looking for a new and challenging activity to try with your dog.  Dogs must have completed at least a Beginning Obedience/Manners class or have the fundamentals of sit, down, stay, and loose-leash walking.  Due to space constraints, dogs must be dog and people friendly and able to handle confinement in a crate or car away from handlers.
 

Confidence Building for Marshmallows, Monday, 8/15, Dublin, 6pm, 3 weeks, $75
This class is designed specifically to help shy, fearful or insecure dogs gain more confidence and to help owners of these dogs learn how to read and help their dogs.

Skills for the Show Ring, Thursday, 8/25, Dublin, 7:30pm, 5 weeks, $120
This class will combine show ring run throughs with skill building exercises to help owners learn to better present their show dogs.

Puppy Preschool, Saturday, 8/27, Dublin, 11am, 6 weeks, $150
This class is the first step in getting your puppy headed in the right direction!  We work on socializing to people and other puppies, puppy raising issues and getting started on training some basic behaviors such as sit, down, come here and more.

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Saturday, 8/27, Dublin, 10am 6 weeks, $150
This class is designed to teach owners how dogs learn.  Students will be taught how to train their dogs to heel, sit, come, lie down, stand, stay as well as others. 

Fun with Agility, Saturday, 8/27, Dublin, 9am, 6 weeks, $150
This class allows clients and their dogs to experience agility.  Dogs will learn how to complete several different obstacles including jumps, tire, weave poles and tunnels.

Introduction to K9 Nose Work, Thursday, 9/29, San Lorenzo, 6pm, 6 weeks, $150
Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. This class focuses on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dog's natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. It's a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy and to find out just how good is your dog's nose. High food or toy motivation is beneficial for this class.
Dogs must be able to handle confinement in a crate away from handlers.
Introduction to Odor, Thursday, 9/29, San Lorenzo, 7:30pm, 6 weeks, $150
This class advances the dog's scent discrimination skills taught in the Introduction to Nose Work Class. All dogs are taught to identify the first target odor, a natural essential oil. Additionally, we introduce techniques and tactics for building better dog/handler teamwork.
Dogs must be able to handle confinement in a crate away from handlers.

Please visit the website to see our complete schedule!

Tomorrows Lecture on the Lawn has been canceled.

No Play Group on July 13

There will be no play group next Wednesday, July 13.

July Newsletter

I hope that everyone had a nice 4th of July.  Generally, I stay home on the 4th to make sure the dogs are okay with the fireworks that always go on.  Fireworks are illegal in my area but people still set bombs off all through the night.  With this being Jenny's first 4th with us and with this being Venom's first one, I wanted to be here with them.  As soon as the fireworks started I would give them treats after every crack or boom.  Pretty soon they were running to me every time they heard a noise.  Venom played and slept through everything and couldn't have cared less.  Jenny got more and more worried as the night went on, even not wanting to go outside to potty before bed, which I, of course, didn't make her do.  The biggest surprise was Winnie, my 11 year old Dachshund who has never been firework sensitive or noise sensitive in general.  She actually seemed stressed and I was up several times through the night sitting with her and petting her.  Eventually, she settled down and went to sleep.

Summer Heat

I can't stress enough how important it is for us to take the heat seriously when it comes to our dogs.  Please do not walk your dogs during the hottest times of the day, instead walk early in the morning or in the evening when it is cooled down.  Keep in mind that the pavement gets hot, I actually see dogs lifting up their feet because of the hot pavement and their owners not even noticing!  Make sure your dog always has plenty of cool water.  Most importantly, please do not leave your dog in the car even on warm days.  Dogs can overheat quickly and die even when it doesn't seem like it's that hot out.  These things are important to keep in mind for all dogs but particularly important for brachycephalic (flat faced) dogs like French Bulldogs, Boxers, Bostons, Shih Tzus, etc.  I know of a dog that overheated recently and unfortunately didn't survive.  It's serious stuff which is why I keep trying to hammer the importance into everyone.

DOG OF THE MONTH

 DEXTER DEGUARA

Dexter has been coming to Braveheart since he was a tiny puppy.  He and his mom Robin have gone through several of our classes from Puppy Preschool through Fun with Agility.  Dexter is a super fun and friendly dog.  We love having him in class!

More K9 Nose Work Classes Added

As many of you know, Yvonne and myself are currently going through the K9 Nose Work Instructor Certification course.  We are now offering a variety of Nose Work classes including Intro to Nose Work, Intro to Odor, Ridiculous Boxes and a drop in Nose Work class for those who have completed either Intro to Nose Work or Fun with Scentwork class.  Nose Work is a great sport in that it is fun and easy to do and the dogs really love it.  We hope you will give Nose Work a shot!

Upcoming Classes

Ridiculous Boxes!, San Leandro, Fridays, 7/22, 6-7 and 7-8pm, 5 weeks, $120 - Yvonne Chohan

This class is being offered to clients who have taken either Intro to Nose Work class or our Fun with Scentwork class.  We will be continue with our box work which is the foundation of nose work by being very creative with boxes.

Rally On!, San Leandro, Wednesdays, 8/10,7:30-8:45pm, 6 weeks, $150 - Dawn Bushong

Rally is a fun, relatively new dog sport that emphasizes teamwork and communication as dogs and handlers navigate a  course of varied and interesting obedience exercises.  This class will teach you and your dog how to perform a wide variety of Rally exercises, how to read the Rally signs, and how to string the signs together into full Rally courses.  You will learn Rally exercises from both APDT and AKC, as well as the similarities and differences in rules and scoring between these two venues.  Rally is great fun whether you are interested in competing or just looking for a new and challenging activity to try with your dog.Dogs must have completed at least a Beginning Obedience/Manners class or have the fundamentals of sit, down, stay, and loose-leash walking.  Due to space constraints, dogs must be dog and people friendly and able to handle confinement in a crate or car away from handlers.

Skill Building for the Show Ring, Dublin, 8/25, 7-7:45pm,  5 weeks, $120 - Vicki Ronchette

This brand new class will include practice run throughs as in our drop in classes but will also include group class drills and skill building exercises to give students more practice on the individual show ring behaviors.  It should be a lot of fun!

Fun with Agility, Dublin, 8/27, 9-9:50am, 6 weeks, $150 - Vicki Ronchette

This class allows clients and their dogs to experience agility.  Dogs will learn how to complete several different obstacles including jumps, tire, weave poles and tunnels.

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Dublin, 8/27, 10-11am, 6 weeks, $150 - Vicki Ronchette

Beginning Obedience is recommended for dogs 5 months of age and older.  This class is designed to teach owners how dogs learn.  Students will be taught how to train their dogs to heel, sit, come, lie down, stand, stay as well as others.  

Puppy Preschool, Dublin, 8/27, 11-11:50am, 6 weeks, $150 - Vicki Ronchette

Puppy socialization class is for puppies between the ages of 2 and 5 months old.  This class is designed to socialize puppies with other puppies as well as new people and to help owners deal with puppy issues such as potty training, biting, jumping up and more.  We also get the puppies started on learning the fundamental obedience behaviors such as sit, down, come and loose leash walking.

Intro to K9 Nose Work, San Lorenzo, 9/29, 6-7:30pm, 6 weeks, $150 - Vicki Ronchette 

This class will introduce you to the sport of K9 Nose Work.  You will learn how to teach your dog the fundamentals of searching for odor.  Dogs must be able to handle being crated away from owners.  Owners must bring their own crates to class.

Intro to Odor, San Lorenzo, 9/29, 7:30-9pm, 6 weeks, $150 - Vicki Ronchette

This is the next level of Nose Work where odor is added.  Students interested in this class must have completed at least one session Intro to Nose Work or Fun with Scentwork and must have instructor approval to register for this class.  Dogs must be able to handle being crated away from owners.  Owners must bring their own crates to class.

The New Tuesday Nights!

Effective August 2 we will be alternating our 7pm time slot each week between Drop In Conformation class and Drop in K9 Nose Work class.  August 2 will be Conformation,  August 9 will be Nose Work, August 16 will be Conformation, and so on.  This is listed on our Google calendar on the website too so people can always check what class will be held on a particular day.   

No drop in conformation class on Tuesday, July 5 OR Wednesday, July 6!

Change of plans, there will be no drop in conformation class next Tuesday OR Wednesday!

Fostering a Dog

I foster dogs.  Over the years I have fostered a slew of different dogs, mostly Dachshunds and Pekingese but also several mixed breeds, some Chihuahuas, a few Rottweilers and even a Boxer, a Doberman and a Belgian Sheepdog along the way.  I find my rescue work to be among the most rewarding in my life.  I have stepped back several times and taken breaks, but I always find my way back to it.

People sometimes ask me, "How do you do it?  I could never do that".  The truth is, they could do it!  Rescue work can be difficult, but believe it or not, it's not the fostering that is difficult, it is the having to say "no" that is so hard.  The reason most groups have to say "no" is because there are simply not enough foster homes.  I know that for every dog that I foster a second chance at life is offered to a homeless dog.  This is a huge deal to me and more important than almost anything else I can offer to someone.  Saving a life, that's a biggie.

People often feel that they wouldn't be able to handle giving the dog up.  The truth is that several of my dogs are "foster failures" which means that they came here to be fostered and I ended up adopting them myself.  Part of the beauty of fostering dogs is that you generally have the option of adopting your foster dog yourself!  Of course, it is great if you can continue fostering, but if you can't, you have still saved a dog.  For me, I have mostly ended up adopting dogs that for whatever reason were not highly adoptable.  Of course, the plan is that your foster dog is coming to you so that you can care for him or her while an appropriate home is found.  When the perfect home is found, the dog will move on with his or her life and go into their new, permanent, loving, forever home.  This isn't sad, it's wonderful!  Are there ever tears?  Yes, sometimes there are, but they are generally tears of joy because you get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped that dog and that family to find one another.  You have made it possible for this dog to live.  Until you have done it, you have no idea how rewarding this feeling is.

There is a big misconception that all rescue dogs have either health or behavioral problems, but this just isn't the case.  Many of the dogs are misplaced because their owners lost their home, or their elderly caretakers passed away.  The majority of dogs that I have fostered have been well adjusted, social dogs that had no issues.  Most of them came into my home and lived side by side with my own group of dogs easily and without issue.  Sometimes we do get rescue dogs that require some veterinary care and those dogs need foster homes too, it's just a matter of finding the right dog for your situation.

I work with multiple rescue groups and generally the rescue group pays for all the dogs veterinary care and anything else you would need to care for the dog.  Typically you work with a Foster Coordinator or some other person within the group who will match you with the appropriate dog for your family and lifestyle.  In my experience, there is a lot of support offered to the fosters so you don't have to feel on your own.  With some groups you may be asked and in some cases required to bring your foster dog to events or "showcases" where foster dogs go to meet the public and potential adopters.

Contrary to popular belief, you can foster just a certain breed of dog.  There are many purebred rescue dog groups that rescue specific breeds of dogs, so if you already have a breed you love, you may want to work with a breed rescue group.  Or, do you feel like you would like to foster but you need a less active or dog that is set in his or her ways?  There are rescue groups that rescue only senior dogs.  If you like puppies, there are rescue groups that only work with puppies.  There are also rescue groups that work with only small dogs or only giant dogs.  Whatever type of dog you want to help, there is a rescue group out there for you.

Hospice care is also an option.  Offering hospice care to a terminally ill animal can be emotionally challenging, but I have done it and still consider it one of the most rewarding fostering experiences I have had.  To be able to offer a home to a sweet, friendly, outgoing terminally ill senior dog and allowing her to live out the end of her life treated like a princess instead of dying in a shelter was extremely rewarding to me.  And, my short time with her in no way minimized the experience for me.  She needed us and we were there and we would do it again in a heartbeat.  However, admittedly, hospice care is certainly not for everyone.

So, are you cut out for this work?  Check below to see if you you meet some of the criteria below:

You you love dogs

You own a home or rent where you can have dogs

You have no dogs of your own or you have one or multiple of your own dog friendly dogs

You have the time to care for a dog

You are thinking about adopting a dog, but not sure if you are ready for a long term commitment

You want to save a life

Fostering a dog is a commitment, but it is easier than you may think.  Please consider fostering a dog.  Most of my foster dogs stay with me for an average of two weeks.  The seniors can be slightly longer, but generally under a month.

Finally, if you want to help, but really feel like fostering is not for you, please know that most rescue groups have many other volunteer positions available.  I took on the position of a Foster Coordinator for a rescue group so that I could still be involved but not with fostering.  There is always a need for people to transport dogs, come to events, walk rescue dogs, work on fundraisers, work on the website, work on mailings, take pictures of dogs and so much more.  There is a job out there!  Please consider helping out.

Classes Scheduled to Start June 4 Postponed

Due to the weather and high likelihood of rain the classes scheduled to start tomorrow; Fun with Agility, Beginning Obedience/Manners and Puppy Preschool will be postponed to start next Saturday, June 11.

June Newsletter

Well, this doesn't feel like June!  Having to worry about possibly postponing the start of class due to rain, doesn't seem like something I should have to worry about in June, but it's a reality right now!  I can't figure out this weather.  Classes may start late, but they will go on!

I also wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your patience and understanding this past month with cancelled classes, etc.  I lost my mother in law, and just three days later my Sensei, my Pekingese Fooey.  Both were sudden, unexpected and horrible losses for which I am still feeling a huge amount of sadness and pain.  Again, I thank you all for understanding when I couldn't be there or when I wasn't quite myself.

Fooey

DOG OF THE MONTH

The Jensen Dogs

 The Jensens have been attending classes with Braveheart since last year and have had their wonderful crew of dogs in a variety of classes including Puppy Preschool, Beginning Obedience/Manners, Fun with Scentwork, Intermediate Obedience, Rally and Canine Good Citizen!  Mac (Bulldog) and Damian (Golden Retriever) are pictured above at our Easter egg hunt, but their clan also includes Scooby (mixed breed), Snookie (Bulldog) and Martini (French Bulldog).  I hope I am not forgetting anyone!  Mac and Snookie are competing in Rally.  Damian has his CGC and is a Paws to Read dog!  We love these guys!

Upcoming Classes

Please contact me if you are interested in joining any of these classes!

Rally On!, San Leandro, Wednesdays, 7:30-8:45pm, June 15, $150

Fun with Scentwork, Dublin, Thursdays, 7:00-8:30pm, June 16, $150

Confidence Building for Marshmallows, Dublin, Thursdays, 6-7pm, June 16, $150

Three's Company, San Leandro, Tuesdays, 6:00-6:50pm, June 21, $200

Fundraiser for Military Dogs

Dublin Creek Kennel is doing a fundraiser to raise money for http://www.supportmilitaryworkingdogs.org/.  This wonderful organization raises money to purchase cooling vests for the military dogs. Some of these dogs work in 100+ degree weather.  Cooling vests and doggles make their jobs safer and easier for them.  Braveheart will have a booth as well as many other dog businesses.  The fundraiser will be held on July 2 from 11:30 to 4:00pm.  Please come by and check it out!

Positive Training for Show Dogs Seminar

I will be doing a seminar on Positive Training for Show Dogs in Chico, California at the Canine Connection.  

Upcoming Classes

I have a few classes starting soon that still have some openings:

Three's Company, Tuesdays, 6-6:45pm, San Leandro, 5/31
Puppy Preschool, Saturdays, 11-11:50am, Dublin, 6/4
Beginning Obedience/Manners, Saturdays, 10-11am, Dublin, 6/4
Fun with Scentwork (An introduction into scent detection for fun), Thursdays, 7-8:30pm, Dublin, 6/16
Confidence Building for Marshmallows, Thursdays, 6-7pm, Dublin, 6/16

Drop in conformation class canceled for tomorrow

Tomorrow nights 7pm drop in conformation class is canceled.  Wednesdays 12 and 12:30 class is on!

No Conformation Classes this week

Due to a family emergency there will be no drop in conformation class this Tuesday night or Wednesday at noon.

May Newsletter

At last the weather is getting nicer!  I am so happy for that, but do want to remind everyone that as the weather gets warmer and then hotter that it is critical to take care to keep your dogs safe in the heat.  Cars can get hot very quickly so don't leave your dog in your car even on a warm day.  As the days get hotter make sure that your dogs have access inside the house where it is generally cooler. 

DOG OF THE MONTH
Schnuffi Zocher

Schnuffi is a one year old, Basset Hound/American Eskimo mix who belongs to Vendy and Marcel Zocher.  He was adopted from Golden Gate Basset Rescue (a group I volunteer with) and is the littermate to my Jenny.  I began working with Vendy and Marcel to help them with Schnuffi's shyness and he has continued through our Beginning class, Confidence Building and is now in our Canine Good Citizen class.  He is a wonderfully sweet and loveable dog who was so lucky to fall into the hands of devoted owners.



Suzanne Clothier
I spent last Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Suzanne Clothier seminar.  For those of you who may not know, Suzanne Clothier is a world famous dog trainer and author.  Her book Bones Would Rain from the Sky, on dog/human relationships was a life changing read for me and helped me to look at my relationships with my dogs and other people's dogs on a much deeper level.  This presentation in particular was on CARAT (Clothier Animal Response Assessment Test) which is Suzanne's method of assessing dogs.  Since it has been being used with the guide group she works with their success rate has shot up to over 87% which is basically unheard of.  What this means is that when they make their decisions on which dogs to accept based on this protocol, they have a 87% chance of choosing the right dogs.  It was a great seminar and has given me so much to think about in terms of how we access and choose dogs. 

Suzanne is so incredibly knowledgeable and skilled.  If you haven't read Bones, I highly recommend you do.  I don't think you will be disappointed.

Nosework Certification
I recently made the decision to pursue Nosework Instructor Certification which I am really excited about.  The process takes about a year but I am excited to begin teaching Nosework and pursuing this new goal.  Yvonne Chohan, who runs the small dog playgroups and assists me in classes is also pursuing certification so it's fun to be taking this on together.  I have been doing nosework with my own dog for over a year and decided that I definitely enjoy not only the sport, but the spirit in which is was created as well.  The goal of nosework truly is to have fun and build a cooperative, working relationship with your dog.  While you can compete it should still be done with the dog's well being and enjoyment in mind.  Yvonne and I have started offering a Fun with Scentwork class and in July we will officially be able to start offering K9 Nosework classes, so keep your eye open for those!

Easter Egg Hunt
Our first ever Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success!  I was so happy with how many of you showed up to have fun with your dogs and support the One Pup at a Time rescue that is run by Dublin Creek Kennel.  They always have a few dogs being fostered and this egg hunt helped us raise some money and awareness for them which is excellent!  Please see the picture below of Lilith Anne who was adopted at the Easter Egg Hunt!

Lectures on the Lawn
The Lectures on the Lawn are one hour, informal lectures on different dog related topics that are offered monthly at Dublin Creek Kennel.  This month's lecture will be offered on Friday, May 6, 6:30-7:30 pm and will be an Introduction to Canine Body Language.  Please join us for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks and a great discussion on body language.  Cost $20.  No dogs, people only please.
Upcoming Classes
Three's Company, San Leandro, Tuesday, May 17, 6-6:45pm

Fun with Agility, Dublin, Saturday, June 4, 9-9:50am

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Dublin, Saturday, June 4, 10-11am

Puppy Preschool, Dublin, Saturday, June 4, 11-11:50am

Fun with Scentwork, Dublin, Thursdays, June 16, 6-7:30pm

Confidence Building for Marshmallows, Dublin, Thursdays, 7:30-8:30pm

Tuesday night conformation class canceled this week

There will be no conformation class this Tuesday at 7pm. 

Tuesday Night 7:30pm Drop In Conformation Class Canceled

At this time there will no longer be a Tuesday night, 7:30pm drop in conformation class.  There will continue to be Tuesday night at 7:00pm and Wednesdays at 12:00 and 12:30pm.

Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs!

Remember to mark your calendars for Saturday, April 23 at 2pm for the Easter Egg Hunt to benefit rescue dogs!  Your dogs will get to hunt for Easter eggs full of prizes for them and you!!  Hunt will be held at Dublin Creek Kennel! Dogs will hunt individually or with members of their own family, so even reactive dogs are welcome!  $1 donation to benefit rescue dogs!

Uh oh, my dog looks guilty!

The other day my cattle dog Bill ate a cupcake off of the counter.  He licked the icing off another one.  My husband found the crumbs of the first cupcake and the frosting missing off of the other and said, "Oh man, someone ate a cupcake off the counter.  Hey, they licked the frosting off of this one!"  There are only two dogs big enough to do this but I was pretty sure which dog it was.  I didn't say anything but looked for Bill and found him lying down behind the couch looking very "guilty".  He looked the exact same way he looks when my husband raises his voice because his football team is losing, when something he is working on around the house isn't going his way and when he is losing at his video game.  Do you see where this is going?  Bill didn't feel "guilty" because he ate a cupcake, in fact, he didn't realize Rick was vocalizing about cupcakes, he responds that way anytime Rick is upset about anything.  Bill is very close and attached to Rick and freakishly in tune with Rick's emotions.  He is so sensitive to Rick's tone of voice in fact, that every time Rick raises his voice he slinks away regardless of what Rick is talking about or who Rick is talking to.  In fact, Rick has taken to saying, "It's okay Bill, it's not you" nearly every time he raises his voice to stop Bill from worrying. 


People are always saying that their dogs feel "guilty".  They say this because this is how they perceive their dog's body language, usually just after they have found something that the dog has done that they don't like.  What they don't understand is that the dog is not responding this way because he feels "guilt" or "remorse" over something he has done, in fact, the dog usually has not clue that he did something "wrong".  The dog is simply responding to the owner's tone of voice and body language.  If a person comes home from work, finds poop in the house, then has an anger meltdown because they have to clean it up, the dog will begin to look worried and afraid when the owner comes home.  It isn't because of what he did, it is because of his past experiences of his owner coming home and then getting angry.  By the way, a dog can find our reactions punishing regardless of how benign they may seem.  To some very sensitive dogs, something has subtle as a heavy sigh or look of disgust can be punishing to the dog.  It is so interesting to me how people are can be completely resistant to the fact that dogs have emotions (which they do) or they believe that they have emotions and because they do, they must be exactly like human emotions (which they aren't).

Dogs repeat behaviors that are reinforcing.  They also live in the moment.  I had a very hard time resisting those cupcakes, even though I had already eaten one!  Bill saw them on the counter and wanted one, so he took one.  I believe he saw it, wanted it, took it, ate it and then it was over.  He probably forgot about the cupcake the moment he was finished eating it (even though there was still frosting on his lip when I found him behind the couch!).  When Rick started to complain that a cupcake was eaten, Bill heard his tone and got worried like he always does.  There was no cupcake-guilt about it.  By the way, we didn't care too much that he ate a cupcake and Bill didn't get in "trouble" for it, we just felt stupid for leaving the cupcake container open on the edge of the counter.  STUPID!


There has been a video circulating on the internet of a "guilty dog".  The owner comes to the dog with a ripped bag of cat treats and says to the dog "Did you do this?  Did you rip open these cat treats?".  The dogs starts to do a series of appeasement behaviors including pinning his ears back, yawning, lip licking, squinting his eyes, and finally offering a full, submissive grin with all of his teeth showing.  People watch it and laugh and say that the dog is guilty, but the dog is not feeling "guilty" the dog is simply responding to the owner's tone of voice.  It's sad to watch actually if you know what is going on.  If you tested it (which I don't recommend you do since it's stressful to your dog) you would see that your dog will respond the same way if your tone and body language worries him.

The take away message here is "please don't assume your dog is feeling guilty", he is likely just responding to you.  Oh, and remember to put the lid back on the cupcake container before leaving it on the counter!

Uh oh, my dog looks guilty!

The other day my cattle dog Bill ate a cupcake off of the counter.  He licked the icing off another one.  My husband found the crumbs of the first cupcake and the frosting missing off of the other and said, "Oh man, someone ate a cupcake off the counter.  Hey, they licked the frosting off of this one".  There are only two dogs big enough to do this but I was pretty sure which dog it was.  I didn't say anything but looked for Bill and found him lying down behind the couch looking very "guilty".  He looked the exact same way when my husband raises his voice because his football team is losing, when something he is working on around the house isn't going his way and when he is losing at his video game.  Do you see where this is going?  Bill didn't feel "guilty" because he ate a cupcake, in fact, he didn't realize Rick was vocalizing about cupcakes, he responds that way anytime Rick is upset about anything.  Bill is very close and attach to Rick and freakishly in tune with Rick's emotions.  He is so sensitive to Rick's tone of voice in fact, that every time Rick raises his voice he slinks away regardless of what Rick is talking about or who Rick is talking to.  In fact, Rick has taken to saying, "It's okay Bill, it's not you" nearly every time he raises his voice to stop Bill from worrying. 


People are always saying that their dogs feel "guilty".  They say this because this is how they perceive their dog's body language, usually just after they have found something that the dog has done that they don't like.  What they don't understand is that the dog is not responding this way because he feels "guilt" or "remorse" over something he has done, in fact, the dog usually has not clue that he did something "wrong".  The dog is simply responding to the owner's tone of voice and body language.  If a person comes home from work, finds poop in the house, then has an anger meltdown because they have to clean it up, the dog will begin to look worried and afraid when the owner comes home.  It isn't because of what he did, it is because of his past experiences of his owner coming home and then getting angry.  By the way, a dog can find our reactions punishing regardless of how benign they may seem.  To some very sensitive dogs, something has subtle as a heavy sigh or look of discuss can be punishing to the dog.  It is so interesting to me how people are can be completely resistant to the fact that dogs have emotions (which they do) or they believe that they have emotions and because they do, they must be exactly like human emotions (which they aren't). 

Dogs repeat behaviors that are reinforcing.  They also live in the moment.  I had a very hard time resisting those cupcakes, even though I had already eaten one!  Bill saw them on the counter and wanted one, so he took one.  I believe he saw it, wanted it, took it, ate it and then it was over.  He probably forgot about the cupcake the moment he was finished eating it (even though there was still frosting on his lip when I found him behind the couch!).  When Rick started to complain that a cupcake was eaten, Bill heard his tone and got worried like he always does.  There was no cupcake-guilt about it.  By the way, we didn't care too much that he ate a cupcake and Bill didn't get in "trouble" for it, we just felt stupid for leaving the cupcake container open on the edge of the counter.  STUPID!


There has been a video circulating on the internet of a "guilty dog".  The owner comes to the dog with a ripped bag of cat treats and says to the dog "Did you do this?  Did you rip open these cat treats?".  The dogs starts to do a series of appeasement behaviors including pinning his ears back, yawning, lip licking, squinting his eyes, and finally offering a full, submissive grin with all of his teeth showing.  People watch it and laugh and say that the dog is guilty, but the dog is not feeling "guilty" the dog is simply responding to the owner's tone of voice.  It's sad to watch actually if you know what is going on.  If you tested it (which I don't recommend you do since it's stressful to your dog) you would see that your dog will respond the same way if your tone and body language worries him.

The take away message here is "please don't assume your dog is feeling guilty", he is likely just responding to you.  Oh, and remember to put the lid back on the cupcake container before leaving it on the counter!

No Confidence Building Class Tonight

I am canceling Confidence Building class tonight.  The weather forecast says rain/wind which I don't want to expose these dogs to.  Stay safe and stay dry.  See you next week.  By the way, this weather gives us another wonderful reason to practice our confidence building games.  So, get out your towels and novel items (not scary though) and hide treats in a few, reward your dog for investigating and exploring the new things.  Have fun!

Lecture on the Lawn, April 1, 6:30pm

On April 1 at 6:30pm, I will doing a Lecture on the Lawn at Dublin Creek Kennel.  The topic will be Why Do Dogs Do That?  We will discuss some of the different puzzling things that dogs do and why they do them and what they mean.

These one hour lectures are informal, affordable and informative.  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks will be offered.  Cost is $20.  Please let me know if you are interested.

No Playgroup on March 23

There will be no playgroup on Wednesday, March 23 as Yvonne and Vicki are attending a dog training meeting.  Playgroup will resume next week on March 30.  Thank you for your understanding!

Saturday classes WILL be held in Dublin today!

Weather report is looking like it won't rain.  Reports from Dublin are that it's very clear.  So, Saturday classes in Dublin WILL happen today.  See you then!

Still Room In Our March 17 Marshmallow Class!

There is still room in the Marshmallow class for shy or fearful dogs starting on March 17 in Dublin!  Contact me to register.

March Newsletter

DOG OF THE MONTH

  

Haley is a beautiful, outgoing, Pit Bull mix that has been coming to Braveheart classes since she was a small puppy!  She has done our puppy, beginning, Canine Good Citizen classes, even our board and train refresher course and now she is rocking the Nosework classes!  Her parents Joanie and Dennis have done a wonderful job training this girl and keeping her busy!  We love having Haley in classes!

UPCOMING CLASSES

We have a lot of great classes starting soon that I would like to tell you about.  As time goes on, I try to add new classes to the schedule to keep everything challenging, fun and fresh for my clients and their dogs.  Take a look at what we have coming up and please let me know if you would like to register for anything.

Marshmallows Class, Dublin, Thursday, March 17, 6:00-6:50pm, 5 weeks, $150

Is your dog shy or uncomfortable around certain things?  Is he or she nervous of new people and you are not sure how to deal with it?  Then this class is for you! This class is designed especially for shy dogs.  The goal will be to teach owners of shy or fearful dogs to understand their dogs behavior and body language and how to help their dogs become more comfortable with different things.  We will work on some manners and obedience behaviors while also learning to help dogs cope in a new environment.

Confidence Building Class, Dublin, Thursday, March 17, 7:00-8:15pm, 5 weeks, $150

This class is all about building confidence in dogs through choice.  Using the seeking system in dogs (searching, investigating, exploring and experimenting) we build confidence by setting up situations that encourage seeking that the dog learns is rewarding and reinforcing which encourages more confidence and seeking.  This class is a great next step for many of our "Marshmallows" graduates looking for the next step in their dogs journey to confidence and security.  This class is limited to 5 dogs per session and to dogs that can be safely left in the car during the other dog's runs as dogs are worked individually (one at a time), which makes it a great choice for dog reactive dogs as well.

Three's Company, San Leandro, Tuesday, March 22, 6:00-6:50pm, 5 weeks, $200 

This class is identical to the Beginning Obedience/Manners Class listed above but is limited to only 3 dogs and owners.  This allows clients who need more one on one time.  Somewhere in between private lessons and a group class, our Three's Company class allows clients to afford more one on one training at an affordable cost.

Clicker Conformation, Dublin, Friday, April 8,  12:00-12:50pm, 5 weeks, $150

This course will help people wanting to get started with clicker training their show dogs.  We will work on teaching the dogs to stack, gait and accept examination.  While this is a class to teach conformation or show ring behaviors, dogs need not be show dogs to enroll.  This class will help dogs learn to accept handling and everything worked on is appropriate for pet dogs as well. 

Intro to K9 Nosework, San Leandro, Friday, April 8, 7:30-9:00pm, 6 weeks, $150

Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. This class focuses on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dog's natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. It's a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy and to find out just how good is your dog's nose. High food or toy motivation is beneficial for this class.Dogs must be able to handle confinement in a crate away from handlers.

Intro to Odor, San Leandro, Friday, April 8, 6:00-7:30pm, 6 weeks, $150 

This class advances the dog's scent discrimination skills taught in the Introduction to Nose Work Class. All dogs are taught to identify the first target odor, a natural essential oil. Additionally, we introduce techniques and tactics for building better dog/handler teamwork.Dogs must be able to handle confinement in a crate away from handlers.

Lectures on the Lawn, Friday, March 4, 6:30-7:30pm

As a crossover trainer, I will explain the differences between traditional, correction based training and positive reinforcement training.  I will talk about how they both work, how they are different and why I prefer positive reinforcement methods after having done both.

Drop In Conformation

San Leandro, Tuesdays, 7:00-7:30pm - All Dogs

San Leandro, Tuesdays, 7:30-8:00pm - Small Dogs

San Leandro, Wednesdays, 12:00-12:30 - All Dogs

San Leandro, Wednesdays, 12:30-1:00 - All Dogs

 

There WILL be class today!

There will be class today in Dublin.  It is sunny and dry but pretty cold, so be sure to layer:)  See you soon!

Beginning Obedience and Manners class starts Monday!

There is still space in the Monday, 5pm Beginning Obedience and Manners class that starts this Monday, February 28 in Dublin.  Please contact me if you are interested.

Lecture on the Lawn at Dublin Creek Kennel, March 4 at 6:30pm

On March 4 at 6:30pm, I will be doing a Lecture on the Lawn at Dublin Creek Kennel.  This will be a one hour talk on Crossing Over from Traditional Training to Positive Reinforcement Training.  The cost is $20 and will include the talk as well as coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks.  Please contact me if you would like to attend.

Marshmallows Class and Confidence Building Class Start March 19

We have both a Marshmallows Class and a Confidence Building class starting on Thursday, March 19 in Dublin. 

The Marshmallows class was designed specifically for shy or fearful dogs.  Owners will learn to understand fear or shyness and ways to help their dog cope with it.  Every exercise and lesson is designed to meet the needs of shy and fearful dogs.  There is less pressure and all the exercises are modified with shy dogs in mind.  Because there are so many shy and fearful dogs out there this class has been very successful and because I have a soft spot for Marshmallow dogs I really enjoy teaching it.  Please contact me if you are interested in registering.

The Confidence Building class is designed to allow dogs to use their seeking system (hunting, exploring, playing, investigating) to find them reinforcement and build confidence.  Dogs are worked one at a time in this class, which makes it perfect for dogs that are uncomfortable with other dogs.  Dogs who have issues with people are also welcome in this class as it is designed in a way that allows us to keep dogs with issues safe and protected.  This class is a perfect next step from Marshmallows class or can be done in conjunction with Marshmallows.  Please contact me if you are interested in registering.

The Marshmallows class and the Confidence Building class are both 5 weeks and $150. 

Reliable Recall Workshop this Wednesday!

I still have openings in The Dog Who Came When Called - Reliable Recall workshop to be held in Dublin this Wednesday at 6:30pm.  Cost is $45 and includes a booklet!  Please contact me at braveheartdogs@gmail.com if you would like to register!

Drop In Conformation Classes!

Since many of you travel quite a ways to attend my conformation classes, I have decided to add a Wednesday 12:30pm class.  So, we will have a Wednesday, 12:00pm class and a 12:30pm class. You may still use your discount cards and the same offer will apply to people staying for the second half hour. Whether you pay cash or use a discount card for the first class, the second class will be just $5 cash if you wish to stay with your dog or switch dogs. I will try this for a bit and see how it goes. If there is interest, I will continue it. If not, I will drop it at some point.

Also, there will be NO classes on Tuesday, February 22 or Wednesday, February 23 following the four days of shows in Santa Clara.

The Dog Who Came When Called - Emergency Recall Class Scheduled!

We just scheduled an Emergency Recall class for Wednesday, February 23, 6:30-8:00pm.  This one time workshop will be held at Dublin Creek Kennels.  The cost is $45 and includes a booklet.  Please contact me to register.

February BraveHeart to Heart

Can you believe it's already February?  I know, me neither!  Time flies!  There is a lot going on with Braveheart and I hope that you will all find some new exciting activities to do with your dogs through our classes!  Take a look at the class offerings and see what fits best for you and your dog!

As for me, I spent three days in Long Beach in January to attend Clicker Expo.  Clicker Expo is a huge, clicker training conference.  There are many quality speakers offering lectures throughout the three days.  I saw some great speakers including Kay Laurence (great dog trainer from England), Ken Ramirez (multi species animal trainer very well known for his marine mammal work), Michelle Pouliot (champion canine freestyle trainer).  Since one of my goals is to teach canine freestyle, and I am taking Michelle's online course it was great to meet her in person.  I also met Victoria Stillwell from it's me or the dog which was a lot of fun.  In this business, continued education is so important and I take every opportunity to see this talented people and improve my skills and knowledge.

DOG OF THE MONTH
Mimi Krist

 
  Mimi is a sweetheart of a girl who has taken our beginning class and also our Canine Good Citizen class!  Mimi belongs to Pat and as a team they both just passed the certification test so that Mimi can do therapy dog work!  Great job!



UPCOMING CLASSES

Rally On!, Wednesday, February 9, 7:30pm,6 weeks,$150,Instructor Dawn Bushong

Rally is a fun, relatively new dog sport that emphasizes teamwork and communication as dogs and handlers navigate a course of varied and interesting obedience exercises.  This class will teach you and your dog how to perform a wide variety of Rally exercises, how to read the Rally signs, and how to string the signs together into full Rally courses.  You will learn Rally exercises from both APDT and AKC, as well as the similarities and differences in rules and scoring between these two venues.  Rally is great fun whether you are interested in competing or just looking for a new and challenging activity to try with your dog.

Clicker Conformation, Friday, February 4, 12:00pm, 5 weeks, $150, Instructor Vicki Ronchette

This course will help people wanting to get started with clicker training their show dogs.  We will work on teaching the dogs to stack, gait and accept examination.  While this is a class to teach conformation or show ring behaviors, dogs need not be show dogs to enroll.  This class will help dogs learn to accept handling and everything worked on is appropriate for pet dogs as well.  

Marshmallows, Thursdays, March 17, 6:00pm, 5 weeks, $150, Instructor Vicki Ronchette

Is your dog shy or uncomfortable around certain things?  Is he or she nervous of new people?  Then this class is for you! This class is designed especially for shy dogs.  The goal will be to teach owners of shy or fearful dogs to understand their dogs behavior and body language and how to help their dogs become more comfortable with different things.  We will work on some manners and obedience behaviors while also learning to help dogs cope in a new environment.

Confidence Building Class, Thursdays, March 17, 7:00pm, 5 weeks, $150, Instructor Vicki Ronchette

This class is all about building confidence in dogs through choice.  Using the seeking system in dogs (searching, investigating, exploring and experimenting) we build confidence by setting up situations that encourage seeking that the dog learns is rewarding and reinforcing which encourages more confidence and seeking.  This class is a great next step for many of our "Marshmallows" graduates looking for the next step in their dogs journey to confidence and security.  This class is limited to 5 dogs per session and to dogs that can be safely left in the car during the other dog's runs as dogs are worked individually (one at a time), which makes it a great choice for dog reactive dogs as well.

Lectures on the Lawn

These informative one hour lectures are held at Dublin Creek Kennels in the training yard. Chairs, blankets (in case it's chilly), hot chocolate, tea or coffee are all served.  The Lectures on the Lawn are designed to be informative, affordable and relaxing. The cost is $20 per person, people only please, no dogs.  Please see the following Lecture on the Lawn schedule.  Contact Vicki to register.

Friday, March 4, 6:30-7:30pm, Crossing Over from Traditional Training to Positive Reinforcement

As a crossover trainer, I will explain the differences between traditional, correction based training and positive reinforcement training.  I will talk about how they both work, how they are different and why I prefer positive reinforcement methods after having done both.  

Friday, April 1, 6:30-7:30, Why do dogs do that?

Do you ever wonder why dogs do some of the puzzling things that they do?  This lecture will address some of those things and give you insight into why dogs do those things.

Friday, May 6, 6:30-7:30, An Introduction to Canine Body Language 

Dogs communicate with body language.  In this lecture, we will take a look at canine body language to give you an idea of what your dog is trying to communicate with his or her body language.  

Drop In Conformation

Tuesdays, 7:00pm, All Breeds

Tuesdays, 7:30pm, Small Breeds

Wednesdays, 12:00pm, All Breeds

The Wednesday evening drop in conformation has been canceled until further notice.

BRAGS!

Congratulations to Mimi Krist who became a therapy dog!  Yay Mimi!

Congrats to Beckham Pitchford (an English Cocker, who is owner handled by mom Debbie) who has picked up several points including a win at San Mateo and one day at Cow Palace!  Go Beckham! 

Congrats to Splash Bay (a beagle, who is owner handled by mom Jessica Bay) who picked up several RWB to majors awards!  Good going Splashie!

Congrats to Allie Copen (a French Bulldog, owner handled by mom Michele) already a Grand Champion who got BOB and a group pull in January!

Please remember to let me know about your brags so that I can put them in the newsletter!