dogs

Crafty Dogs

/ Sturmfalken
While I was away on a night search with the Team, my dogs figured out how to open the fridge. 
We were searching all night long and around 0600 the Subject was located by the Bloodhound Team. It’s a great feeling, being out there, searching and then getting the good news that the Subject is located alive and well. A lost shoe, a couple of scratches but otherwise in good condition. 
Anyhow, I got home around 0745, since I stopped twice to take a short nap, went through the Sunroom and was like “What the…how did they get to that?”. The Sunroom was covered in lunch meat and string cheese packets as well as the watermelon box.
So I let the dogs out and went to the kitchen only to find an open fridge. 
So while I was gone, the dogs had a party and at least they went for the healthy stuff… one packet of lunch meat was left. Oskar Mayer! Now I am not sure if that is supposed to tell us something.
Now I have to figure out how they were able to open the fridge. Maybe it didn’t close right. 
I do suspect Yukon, he’s the one who figured out how to open the food bin and he can close it too. So I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it was him. 

I guess it’s time to childproof the fridge and to protect the beer and car keys.
Barking cats and partying dogs… slowly but thoroughly they are taking over the world. Who knows what else they are up to.

Busy with the Dogs

/ Sturmfalken

It’s been quite busy with the dogs.


We have taken a foster Shepherd in, next week he will be transfered to the Mid Atlantic Rescue where he is going to his new family. He is a gorgeous boy and I would love to keep him. Oh my god, I so want to keep him but we have four dogs already, plus Audie to watch so I can’t keep another dog. It’s impossible. Even though he is the sweetest boy ever. Since Mid-Atlantic already adopted a dog out to the family and they are approved and qualified, I have no doubt that he’ll have a great life over at Maryland. 
Yesterday I went to a Greg Doud Workshop in Glenmont. He is the most awesome Helper I have ever met. The way he worked the dogs was amazing. I don’t think there are many helpers like him out there, Most helper don’t even come close to his expertise. It was quite a drive to get there and on the way back I ran into a white-out. Believe me when I say that I don’t EVER want to run into a white-out again. It’s scary. Very scary. The white-out itself is not so bad, what makes it so scary is that people still drive like idiots. Seriously, you can’t see shit and still go 65 MPH? 
At one point somebody almost ran into me and I was happy and lucky to get home safely and alive!

The workshop is once a month and I definitely plan to attend each and every workshop I can take with him. Other than that I plan to go out there every Wednesday for the obedience classes and possibly go to Debbie Zappia to take obedience classes with her as well. We do need to do something about obedience, there is a lot of things that need to be corrected and I still have a lot to learn. 
Let’s face it. Training on your own only brings you so far and not any further. You can only learn if there is somebody that kicks your butt on a regular basis. 
Judge is being a good boy, especially the housebreaking part works perfect. We’ve only had very few accidents so far. I let him outside almost hourly and that makes it very easy for him not to potty in the house. 

He’s such a goofball, isn’t he? 🙂

The snow-search was an interesting experience, it’s been quite an experience to be buried in snow. It is not as scary as I thought it would be but we were safe. We had a kennel cover the upper body and laid on a plastic-sheet and had a radio with us so we were not in real danger after-all.

Anyhow, I am hoping the weather will hold up for Wednesdays & Saturdays training. I missed to much training due to the crazy weather conditions. I wished I could have went to the Greg Doud Seminar today but better safe than sorry. I don’t need to be the next fatal accident on the news.

Preparing for Training

/ Sturmfalken
It doesn’t matter if I go to Agility, Obedience, Puppy Class, Tracking or to Schutzhund Training there are a few things that I always take with me.

The reflection vest is for my dogs and my safety. I have a couple of different leashes so I can pick the appropriate leash. The treats should be something that your dog only gets when he is in training. It is supposed to be something special. Mine love mozarella stick cheese and they only get it in training. What ever you use, make sure that it is small enough so they can eat and swallow it quickly.
I NEVER leave the house without a clicker! I also carry the vaccination pass of all three dogs with me at all time. Never leave the house without water for you and your dogs. It’s vital, especially on hot days. I usually have five + gallons in the car and make sure that I never run out of water. Even on remote training days it is so very important that you keep your dogs and yourself hydrated.

If you use sausage or cheese keep the treats cool so that they don’t go bad on hot days.
The toys you see in the picture are only used on training days.

Dogs are not stupid. They watch and study you 24/7 and when you pack your bag they will know that’s it’s time to work!
As soon as I cut up the cheese mine get all excited and can’t wait to get to the club.