Know Before You Show
I had a hiatus from obedience for over 15 years. If I ever knew the tips and tricks I’ve discovered over the past few years of showing Lackey and now Arya, I must have forgotten them. Competing is stressful enough if everything goes smoothly, and it becomes more stressful if…
When can I wean off of treats?
That’s the question most people—especially those not already primarily using positive reinforcement (R+) to train—constantly ask. Often the answer they often get from R+ trainers, while correct in many instances, just doesn’t feel emotionally satisfying. This answer will be some variant of “Why would you want to—you don’t work for…
The Drop on Recall is in the Details
I’m a bit superstitious about the AKC Obedience title CD (Companion Dog, if Obedience isn’t your thing). Every dog I have ever put one on has had a debilitating health problem that meant they couldn’t continue in Obedience, or worse, died, before they could get more than one leg into…