tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627613649305509482024-03-05T09:51:50.180-08:00The Dogs Of Aquinna
A blog dedicated to the training, showing and breeding of Golden Retrievers.The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-20474433820927149322014-02-14T06:54:00.000-08:002014-02-14T06:58:27.244-08:00Better Than Chocolate!!Introducing the "Q" Litter!<br />
Quinn's pups are now 13 days old today. They are all sweetness and love.<br />
Guaranteed to warm your heart on this cold winter morning!<br />
Happy Valentine's Day!!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.aquinnagoldens.com/">Aquinna Goldens</a></b><br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-76351339763915185672013-12-15T07:31:00.000-08:002013-12-17T06:08:58.562-08:00Journey of the Mini-Mes<br />
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The Mini-Mes are ready for take-off. Safe in their tiny tube, they float like underwater astronauts, sound asleep in a state of chilly hibernation. Insulated in their cooler, bouncing and swaying all the way from Tennessee to Indiana, they move onward from Indiana to Connecticut. Along the way they are scanned and tracked, dropped at a sorting facility and zipped away again on a conveyor belt to their next destination.</div>
These are single-minded creatures on a mission and the clock is ticking!<br />
The mini-mes are Hudson’s; a handsome & masculine stud dog and our Quinn’s amant. She was bred by AI in the beginning of December, with hopes that love would bloom.<br />
However, science and technology can only do so much. Mother nature can be capricious and willful. So we sit and wait.<br />
I pull out the fertility statue, long since packed away and given to me sometime between baby #2 and #4. I rub her belly eight times for the eight puppies I hope Quinn will have. Then one more time for good luck. Superstitions die hard. I close my eyes and try to come up with other options to appease the deities. Maybe Anahit, the Armenian goddess of fertility, birth, beauty and water can help. It is especially cold here, so perhaps Haumea, mother of Pele and the Hawaiian goddess of fertility and birth, will heat things up. A little fire & ice couldn’t hurt!<br />
December is a magical time of year; full of darkness and dreams. Sometimes in life you have no choice but to believe.<br />
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<b>Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to All!</b></div>
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-58374586041636901122013-07-20T15:10:00.000-07:002013-07-20T15:10:15.233-07:00Wings To Fly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is often said that the most important thing we can give our children is roots to grow and wings to fly. Nature teaches us this lesson everyday. Born under our deck are three baby birds getting ready to leave the nest. They have their game faces on. They are quiet and stoic as they wait patiently for just the right time to make their solo flight. They have grown plump over the past few weeks and now barely fit in the nest. Mama bird scolds me when I get too close or turn on the outdoor silcock to fill up the watering can. The heat from the sun is oppressive this time of year, but she was smart and picked the perfect home under the deck. Every year she returns, ( I like to believe it is really her!) back to her summer cottage to start a new family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, in the midst of this idyllic place lurks danger. Her nest lies in the middle of the dog enclosure. These are not just any dogs but RETRIEVERS! Dogs trained on pheasant wings & bumpers. The first time one of my male goldens caught a mourning dove mid-flight, my jaw dropped. What precision! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am torn between admiration for my dog’s instinct and empathy for a mother’s devotion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So here the story ends. In my dreams, I see them spread their wings and fly free but I know I cannot control the future. Some things are better left to chance</span>.<br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-67648598780412840332013-07-02T10:35:00.001-07:002013-07-02T12:45:22.131-07:00The Secret Garden"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace."<br />
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-Milan Kundera<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In July, the gardens at Aquinna are in full bloom. The black & white of winter is replaced with a brilliant, intense color. When the thunder clouds roll across the ridge, the yellow mass of Stella De Oro daylilies, Gold Barberry & Purple Plum tree look photoshopped on a carpet of green grass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have finally reclaimed the northwest corner of our property. Gone are the bramble bushes that made it impassable. The June 2011 tornado took away several large oaks, and in exchange gave us dappled light & sun. Hidden behind a rainforest canopy of crab apples I could see possibilities, where before there were none. At the base where the thorny bushes once stood, I planted soft kentucky bluegrass. To anchor the steep sections of land, I planted Blue Star, Blue Rug & Dwarf Procumbens juniper. I chose a pastel palette of pink, purple and blue; Hydrangea, Perfect Pink Glory & Stephanie Returns daylilies, Astilbe, Wine & Roses weigela, PJM , Purple Gem & Olga Mezitt rhododendron, Veronica Speedwell & Nathan Hale mountain laurel. For tranquility, I planted Elijah Blue fescue and Gracillimus maiden grass. For the open gaps and gentle breeze the tornado left behind, I hung a Bali wind chime on a low branch of crab apples. At the top of the hill, overlooking a canopy of ancient oaks, I will put a teak bench someday. Then, I will sit with my dogs up there on the hill and for a brief moment in time, we will be back in Eden.</span><br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-15086592322656092013-04-19T12:14:00.000-07:002013-04-19T12:14:45.480-07:00Boston Strong<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">April 15, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">United Together</span></div>
The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-44190288293205195522013-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:002013-04-14T13:12:03.133-07:00The Nose KnowsA dog makes sense of the world around him, through his nose. Inside his nose are 125 to 300 million olfactory receptors. The nerves in the nasal membrane travel to a specialized olfactory lobe in the brain. In addition to that, in his nasal cavity, above the roof of his mouth behind the top incisors, is Jacobson’s organ. This is a vomeronasal organ that communicates to the hypothalamus and can detect pheromones.<br />
One of my male goldens, Beckham possess scent discrimination that is impeccable and acute. He is the one that find treats in my pockets, where I thought there were none. He can detect a female in season, 5 days before there is any evidence. The resident doctor, he examines every dog in our home, looking for the most obscure hot spot. He can detect the tiniest tick under the thickest golden coat- I have finally learned to stop doubting his abilities. Anything out of the ordinary-- a small cut or skin rash-- he will find and "tend" to. He would be a great dermatologist! Other times, I envision him as a parfumeur createur; blending citron with bay rum & bergamot. Better yet, as an enologist with a glass of chardonnay that has,"pineapple and citrus notes-- buttery with toasted oak bouquet." He has turned perfect sniffing into an art form!<br />
If you have never had the opportunity to watch the scent discrimination exercise in Utility, make it a point to do at your next show. How amazing is it, that the dog can find that one article with the owner’s scent on it, in a pile of metal & leather?<br />
Like a pilot learning to trust the instruments, we as dog owners need to trust the dog. After all, the nose knows best!<br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-12556448333337511082013-04-08T08:10:00.000-07:002013-04-08T09:09:30.510-07:00Pay It Forward"In the order of nature we cannot render benefits to those for whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, cent for cent, to somebody."<br />
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-Ralph Waldo Emerson <br />
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Scotland is the ancestral home of the Golden Retriever and Sir Dudley Marjoribanks (Lord Tweedmouth) is the gentleman credited with creating the breed. From the stud book & notes he kept to record each breeding, we know that in 1868, he initially bred <i><a href="http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=17142">Belle</a>,</i> a tweed water spaniel to <i><a href="http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=6042">Nous,</a> </i>a yellow wavy-coated retriever. His goal was to create a versatile hunting dog and 145 years later his dream still lives on. What would he think of today’s Golden? More importantly, how can we ever thank him? We can start by ensuring that this sporting breed endures. We can preserve and protect the golden legacy by giving to organizations that foster this. <u><a href="http://www.goldenretrieverfoundation.org/">The Golden Retriever Foundation</a></u> & the Gala-Top Twenty Competition at the annual National Specialty, raise precious funds for canine research.<br />
Other notable organizations include the <u><a href="http://www.offa.org/chicdnabank.html">CHIC DNA Repository</a></u> & <u><a href="http://www.dogdna.org/">The Broad Institute at Harvard & MIT</a></u>. My girl Quinn, has generously donated her blood to both groups. As the owner, I am responsible for updating them with any new health problems.<br />
This is a win-win situation for all, since both dogs and human share many of the same illnesses (cancer, diabetes, eye & thyroid disease). What we learn from one, helps the other. For our goldens, the goal is to reduce the incidence of inherited disease in dogs through research & new genetic tests. <br />
Each generation of humans and dogs pays it forward. Most certainly, Lord Tweedmouth could never have imagined a future like this, for his beloved "yellow retrievers!" To learn more and find out what you can do to help, please click each organization.<br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-39212926287256518562013-03-10T09:32:00.000-07:002013-03-11T06:03:54.366-07:00Spring ForwardDaylight savings time begins today. The vernal equinox is right around the corner. We still have a foot and a half of snow on the ground here at Aquinna, but the longer daylight in the evening, brings more opportunity to train outdoors. Just wanted to share one of our indoor, winter training drills that works great at keeping our goldens primed for Spring.<br />
Find the biggest room in your house. We have a 56 ft. long space that runs from the great room to the kitchen. Gather together the following: 1 or 2 bumpers, pheasant wings, a dumbbell & a thick winter glove. You will also need a clicker and a plastic container of sliced hot dogs or Jones Braunschweiger. If you have more than one dog, you will put the other dogs in a down-stay while you work the first one. Have the dog set up in heel position and give the stay/wait command. Start with the dumbbell and walk as far away as you can. Place the dumbbell on the floor. Walk back to the dog and return to heel position. Wait 5 seconds or so and then send your dog to retrieve it. When he returns, click and treat. You won’t be throwing any of the objects. Instead, you can hide them or move them to different parts of the room. Keep it fun! Repeat the exercise with all of the objects. Rotate the dogs from honor position to working dog.<br />
Your goal should be to reinforce good manners- try adding more distractions as your dog improves. You also want to make sure that your dog understands that he cannot return to you unless he has found the object and then must deliver it to hand. <br />
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The next session, try using a large wooden spoon or a Dokken dead fowl dummy as one of the objects. Be creative! By the end of the winter, your dog should be able retrieve just about anything.</div>
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-3030223616189142192013-01-25T08:15:00.000-08:002013-03-10T09:38:01.419-07:00Nature vrs. Nurture<span style="font-family: inherit;">What plays a bigger role in the success & well-being of a dog? Is it nature or nurture? When choosing a puppy, do you focus on pedigree or environment? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The golden retriever world has long pondered this question and the result is a landscape that is exquisitely diverse. Conformation breeders focus on the health and genetics of their lines. Temperament, longevity, bone, coat and hips are all viewed through a genetics lens. Popular sires become popular because they possess highly desired attributes, that will hopefully be passed on to their get. The breeder must hone the traits that will help them succeed in the conformation ring, while balancing health & well-being. A juggling act extraordinaire!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the flip side in obedience, there is a focus on behavior. What is the best way to train a puppy? We concentrate on shaping the behaviors we want and debate the merits of positive vrs. negative training methods. We view puppies on a level playing field with the same amazing potential. The puppy is a<i> tabula rasa </i>waiting for us to mold him! When you get to the national level, we consistently see the same kennel names show up. The obedience breeder knows the importance of genetics. She selects the qualities that embody a good obedience prospect over many generations. Drive, biddableness and intelligence take center stage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How does this all relate to field bred goldens? What may phenotypically look great on a conformation golden, may seem like a burden to the field breeder. Open flowing coats & an overdone appearance lack purpose for a dog that must hunt in thick cover & navigate cold water. Form follows function. Drive, endurance, and tractability-the "willingness to work," are essential elements to a good field dog. The genetic traits found in the field pedigree are what make a golden a good hunting dog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lastly, we see the role that environment plays in Rescue work. All dogs rescued from shelters, puppy mills or family circumstance, have the potential for rehabilitation. With the right nurturing, veterinary treatment and proper training the golden puppy can be a happy and loving companion. The rescue worker focuses on finding the right home for the adopted puppy. Family dynamics and training move to the forefront, as genetics fades to the background. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Golden Retriever <i><a href="http://www.grca.org/history_breed/breed_standard.html">Breed Standard</a>, </i>contains all the elements of the ideal golden. So how did they come up with this blueprint? By balancing both genetics <b>and</b> environment! Best of luck finding your perfect puppy. </span><br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-59370232715703494812013-01-01T04:35:00.000-08:002013-01-01T14:37:58.769-08:00Time Is RelativeHappy New Year! Three hundred & sixty-six days have passed in what seems like a week. The new golden puppy that was born in Jan. 2012, is now a gangly teenager. Your 7 year old can now compete in the Veteran class in the breed ring. Your 10 year old is entering his twilight years. In human years, it would be unthinkable to lose a 10 year old but for those who love dogs, life is compressed. The clock starts ticking from the moment the puppy is whelped. There is so little time to teach, to love, to share. As dog owners we are willing to risk that heartache, for the gift of joy and devotion. I got to thinking about the many ways that time is relative in the world of dogs.<br />
To name a few: <strong>Adolescence-</strong> imagine if your golden were human. He would be a trash eating, counter-surfing, recall avoiding teenager until the day he was old enough to leave home. That would be a very, very long time!<br />
<strong>Puppyhood</strong>- the stuff we complain about, passes in what seems like the blink of an eye. Imagine if as a parent, you only had to change diapers for a few weeks or months? Housebreaking doesn't seem so bad now, does it?<br />
<strong>Long Stays</strong>- Why does the one minute sit-stay in the Novice A ring feel like an hour's detention in the principal's office?<br />
<strong>Daylight Savings Time Ends</strong>- time stands still for a dog on this day. Nothing is worse than this- not even the out-of-sight stays in Open. The one hour wait seems like an eternity. If your dog could talk he would say," take me to the vet, take away my bumpers but never, ever mess with my feeding schedule!"<br />
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Wishing you the gift of time in the coming new year. Make every moment count!<br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-3514475152449636532012-12-18T17:07:00.001-08:002012-12-18T17:44:15.746-08:00Christmas MagicMerry Christmas!<br />
Wishing Everyone a Season of Peace and Joy.<br />
-From the Good Dogs of Aquinna<br />
(No Bad Dogs Here;-)<br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-18498088265702590772012-12-01T06:43:00.000-08:002012-12-01T06:47:39.214-08:00On The RoadLiving in the northeast, we are lucky to have an abundance of dog shows to choose from. However, for those going after that elusive major, looking for a tracking event or showing in a specialty, you may find that you have to travel out of state. If you don't have an RV with all the creature comforts, some advanced planning will make your trip go more smoothly. On my Droid DNA phone, I have bookmarked a few sites to prevent any last minute surprises.<br />
* Infodog.com- on the home page you can search for shows within a specified mileage from your zip code & then book a "pet-friendly" hotel room from your phone. If your dog gets sick while you travel, you can do a search for vets by entering the closest zip code. You can also read the judging program on-line for ring times & directions to the show site. Check the catalog for results after the show or with membership you can get real-time results.<br />
* K9data.com- a golden & lab only database. Remember to keep the info on your dog's page updated! If your dog is lost, a microchip or tattoo # on your dog's page would be invaluable. Furthermore, if you attend one of the health clinics at the larger shows, the info on that page can be used to fill out the paperwork.<br />
* AKC.org- sign up for the "My AKC" feature to manage your dogs & plan events or get directions to a show. If your dog is lost and enrolled with AKC CAR recovery, you can contact them for assistance.<br />
* Apps- there are plenty of travel apps you can download to your smartphone. Visit the itunes or google play store to start your search. One of my favorite games is the Android app, "Granny Smith"- great for down time at the hotel & looks amazing on a hi-def 1920 x 1080 screen.<br />
Start planning now and before you know it, you will have the road trip to remember!<br />
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<em>Jet-Setting Baby Quinn</em></div>
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-35176389700003906842012-11-20T06:47:00.000-08:002012-11-20T07:58:24.309-08:00Happy Birthday!<div style="text-align: left;">
Whenever I look at Bear, I don't just see the dog, I see the events that mark his life and mine. From companion to my Novice A dog- we have climbed the learning curve together. The greatest compliment I ever got was when a fellow exhibitor told me, "you make it look so easy." Of course, we had our failures--the times I thought I wasn't cut out for this--but we persevered.</div>
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So, I wish for my boy, many more happy dog years enjoying simple pleasures; a slice of watermelon, a piece of Cabot cheese, a leisure walk. Though retirement calls and we may never step in the competition ring together again, I will keep those memories close to my heart.</div>
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Happy 10th Birthday to my special boy! What an amazing journey it has been, my friend.</div>
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-6019104824989711382012-11-05T05:59:00.000-08:002012-11-21T17:32:51.928-08:00Mental ToughnessWith the buzz about <em>Mental Toughness</em> and its role in success in both business and sports, I wondered how it could be applicable to the world of competitive dog sports. After all, we are a unique group, but there are principles that foster mental toughness in the show ring that we can practice now, before we fill out the next entry form.<br />
1. <u>Adapt to Change</u>- Rules & Regulations change constantly in each venue; obedience, rally, field, breed and agility have all undergone change. Embrace the new! Face major life changes head on- view your training sessions as a safe haven where you will grow mentally & spiritually.<br />
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2. <u>The Art of Failing</u>- I have failed and live to tell about it. Picture yourself five years from now and still competing. Repeat the mantra," I am not going anywhere- I am here for the long haul. I belong here."</div>
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3. <u>Physical Fitness</u>- You can't deny the mind/body connection. A toned, fit body exudes confidence and lowers the resting heart rate. Although easier said than done, just take one step at a time. You will get there!</div>
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4. <u>Ring Zen</u>- Ever wonder how a mother can carry on a conversation with a friend, but still see her child standing in back of her? This is what you will do in the ring with the judge, but you will do it in a Zen state. You will have the vision of an owl, but you will be in a meditative state with your dog. Practice learning to read your dog's cues and communicate using energy & body language. </div>
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5. <u>Train Hard & Consistent</u>- You cannot short change or circumvent this step. Be willing to put in the hard work and do whatever it takes to succeed as a team.</div>
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6. <u>Live in the Present</u>- This is a lesson you have already learned from your dog. Now fake it until you make it! Imagine all previous NQ's have been erased from the record books. Today, both you and your dog have a fresh start. Make the most of the unique talents you & your dog have been given.</div>
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Whatever your passion, find your niche. Live each day with determination, resiliency and purpose.</div>
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-59273484979351425182012-10-15T09:17:00.000-07:002012-10-16T07:44:06.524-07:00Peer PressureWhen you are training dogs, at some point you will get stuck. Sometimes the solution is right in front of your nose the whole time......though not exactly <em>your</em> nose.<br />
First, the back-story: I was taking a walk with an acquaintance and her dog in a lovely arboretum one day. With me at the time, was my adolescent male, Bear. He had about a 90% recall- having done quite a bit of off-leash work with him already. The arboretum unfortunately, was full of very adorable, inquisitive but fast bunnies. As my friend and I came to a fork in the path, Bear shot out in full gallop, down the path we had no intention of taking. My friend calmly looked at her dog and told him to go find Bear and bring him back. We waited patiently for a few minutes. Sure enough, Bear and his friend came running back and joined us on the correct path- no attempts to bolt occurred the rest of the walk. Since then I have used <em>peer pressure</em> to reinvigorate a much older Bear, who was bored with certain drills. If I put another dog in the crate next to him and had him train after the first dog, it created a friendly rivalry. He would shoot out of the crate like a cannonball when it was his turn to go in the ring.<br />
Fast forward to a nearly 10 year old Bear. When I was training my new girl Quinn on bumpers, she insisted on doing a victory lap before returning to me. It was the canvas bumpers with the pheasant wings attached, that she had the most trouble with. All other bumpers were returned promptly. I remembered my friend and thought, now is the time for Bear to pay it forward. The next time Quinn went to retrieve the pheasant wing bumper and before she had time to stall, I told Bear to go get Quinn and have her bring back the bumper. They both came back promptly with Quinn in the lead. She rather smartly, swung her rear around and dropped into heel position, ready to deliver the bumper to hand. Good girl!<br />
Remember that training is a partnership- an older, wiser dog can be a wonderful resource.<br />
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The Dogs Of Aquinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220189881826165883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262761364930550948.post-60712391880781936402012-10-14T08:17:00.000-07:002013-03-12T08:04:59.799-07:00Autumn At Aquinna<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Situated in south-central Massachusetts in an area known as "The Last Green Valley," we are lucky to experience all that fall has to offer. The wild turkey hens with their young poults that we saw in spring, are now magnificent young adults. On our daily walks on the trails around Westville Dam, one of the dogs and I spot a red fox with a full, scarlet coat running through a field. The reds, golds and yellows of the maple trees are a wonderful compliment to the pumpkins and mums that sit on the front steps. At night, the temperature dips down into the 30's and frost magically appears when you wake up. The <em>Euonymus alatus</em> or "burning bush" is turning a bright, fiery red. At night after a long day, the dogs curl up on the sofa. We share the last of the early fall apples and start to plan our winter training sessions. Autumn in New England is a prelude to the coming, long winter. Is there a better way to spend it than with a warm golden?</div>
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