I am pretty stoked and just had to share. Most of you know that I am a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant. I teach classes, give lectures and do a lot of writing about behavior and training. I get referred to by most vets in the area and so I do a lot of behavior consulting, but have been a little bit burned out on it and have been referring a lot of cases to behaviorist friends of mine.
Anyway, I also do board and train at a really beautiful upscale kennel in the area. It is the only board and train that is all science based and positive reinforcement training in the area. Most of the board and train around here is all outdated pack theory training and heavily punishment based. Well, I love the facility and the owners and staff there so decided that maybe I would do some classes there. When I told them that they built me the most beautiful huge fully fenced in and complete with synthetic grass (not like astroturf but like real grass) to do classes and my board and train at. I was so grateful that they would do that for me.
A few weeks ago I proposed enrichment activities for the dogs who are boarding and actually started them this week! People can order from an activities menu one or more activities for their dogs including agility for fun, find it (where they search and hunt for treats and toys), water games and trick training. I even added play groups with multiple dogs that are kept small in number and safe, unlike most of the ones around here that throw a bunch of dogs together (including dogs who are fearful and not enjoying themselves) with supervisors who know nothing about behavior or body language (grrrrrrrr............horrible for dogs). All the dogs are auditioned for their dog/dog behavior to be sure they are appropriate to be loose with other dogs so that everyone feels safe and comfortable.
I'm really excited as it is going great and the clients and dogs are loving it.
Anyway, I also do board and train at a really beautiful upscale kennel in the area. It is the only board and train that is all science based and positive reinforcement training in the area. Most of the board and train around here is all outdated pack theory training and heavily punishment based. Well, I love the facility and the owners and staff there so decided that maybe I would do some classes there. When I told them that they built me the most beautiful huge fully fenced in and complete with synthetic grass (not like astroturf but like real grass) to do classes and my board and train at. I was so grateful that they would do that for me.
A few weeks ago I proposed enrichment activities for the dogs who are boarding and actually started them this week! People can order from an activities menu one or more activities for their dogs including agility for fun, find it (where they search and hunt for treats and toys), water games and trick training. I even added play groups with multiple dogs that are kept small in number and safe, unlike most of the ones around here that throw a bunch of dogs together (including dogs who are fearful and not enjoying themselves) with supervisors who know nothing about behavior or body language (grrrrrrrr............horrible for dogs). All the dogs are auditioned for their dog/dog behavior to be sure they are appropriate to be loose with other dogs so that everyone feels safe and comfortable.
I'm really excited as it is going great and the clients and dogs are loving it.
think of all the people you are educating.
It is never aggressive though, as in, if he were out with the vehicles, it's not like he's a tire biter or anything. It's like he loves to run, and wants them to challenge him and he wins! We have a trough that he has run across the front fence, with what I call his 'shortstop mound'. It's a huge pile where the sand has built up at the end, from where he comes to an abrupt stop. Every few weeks I take a shovel and level it back out. It gets so high he could almost step right over the fence..lol.
