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nearby, they might say “close” or “with me.” This could refer to either right or left side.
Another essential element to success in training is to be consistent with the language used. By this, I mean that a dog who understands what “stay” is and whose handler maintains the same criteria in herding, obedi- ence, and agility is better equipped to succeed with that skill in all venues.
By far, the most intriguing issues faced by trainers in multiple venues have to do with maintaining focus and motivation. In the case of the trainers I spoke to, they found their dogs had plenty of interest and stamina to practice and compete in a variety of venues. In fact, most trainers say they have chosen certain venues as a result of their dog’s interest. The key to their success is based on the handler keeping it fun. If the trainer can enjoy the game for each sport with each dog, the dog can catch this spirit as well. If it becomes drudgery, best to stay away from training and re-think the plan. Trainers will try another day, experiment with alterna- tive motivators, take a hike, or reconsider if they are
confusing or misdirecting their dog. Handlers who come to their training practice with focus seem to get more out of it. Training might be fifteen minutes in the backyard or an hour of club practice. For them, training sessions were not always formal but take place through- out the time they spend with their dogs.
What I learned from discussions with these trainers was that they felt training and showing in multiple venues created difficulties in balancing time and focus. Best successes were found when some plan was orga- nized, plotted out and implemented with each particu- lar dog’s goals in mind. Difficulties arose when they did not have enough time to work on particular skill sets. Rushing through foundation work came back to haunt them later in their dog’s training. Most believed both they and their dogs benefited from the variety found in cross-training. They felt they stayed “fresh” and kept their training motivational and fun. In fact, fun was the key element in making their training plan work. I hope their experiences encourage you to look at your training plans critically, enjoy the process, and make it fun!
AKC SEEKS SUPPORT OF FANCY TO SPREAD RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP MESSAGE
Clubs Invited to Hold Educational Events For AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to announce that the third annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day will be held on Saturday, September 17th (the day the AKC was founded in 1884).The goal of the initiative is to educate first- time dog owners about the responsibilities of dog ownership and help current owners enhance their relationships with their pets.
All AKC-affiliated dog clubs are encouraged to participate by holding public events in their communities anytime during the month of September. All clubs and organizations wishing to hold an AKC RDO Day event are asked to fill out the online response form (http://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/response_form.cfm) by August 1, 2005.The first 500 who confirm the details of their event will receive a resource-filled packet including posters, brochures, sample press releases and many more materials that will assist them in putting together an entertaining and informative event.All events will be listed on the AKC web site, searchable by state, beginning on July 1.
On Saturday, September 17th the AKC will hold flagship events in both New York City and Raleigh, North Carolina, where their offices are located. Included will be activities such as AKC Canine Good Citizen tests, Obedience/Agility/Rally demonstrations, ID clinics, breeder referral and rescue information, raffles, games and many more entertaining and educational events.
“Holding an AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day event is a great way for fanciers to reach out and demonstrate what dogs and the people who love them bring to a community. Hosting an event can help a club raise their visibility with local legislators and news media as well as establish themselves as a resource for the public to learn about training, locating reputable breeders, AKC dog shows and so much more,” said AKC spokesperson Gail Miller.“We hope that our clubs will join us and help demonstrate all the ways that the purebred dog fancy positively impacts the public.”
To learn more about AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day, sign-up to hold an event or view photos and information about previous years’ events, please visit http://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/index.cfm.
40 The Australian Shepherd Journal May/June 2005