I have had a dog for 12 years but am very new to the dog world. My old dog has been to puppy classes and young dog training, then she was on a treat hunt and hide and seek in the woods. All of which she loved and thought was fun, she ran around with stars in her eyes and her tail held high.
When dog number two in the line arrived, things were going to be different.
Partly I had more time and partly I had a dream of making a difference together with my dog. Parallel to puppy training and young dog training, training as a reading dog began.
It was fun for me to environmental train her, and she also seemed quite happy to go to new places, which triggered delicious treats. Just as the social training in my 2nd grade brought happiness to me and her and the children.
Since then, something more was going to happen, she is an active breed that can't just lie on the couch. I signed up for Advent snuff (Nose Work), and I have to promise that the little girl got the bellows going.
It became our new passion, and I quickly found like-minded people – we drove all over Zealand to find good places to explore with our noses. The dogs loved it, they couldn't wait to jump out of the car and get going. We ladies were just as crazy about it, and suddenly a pile of scrap metal turned into an exciting treasure.
Later dog number 3 was added and she was also introduced to Nose Work, just like her sister she loves it. I got so hooked on it that I started competing in it. Stop it, it was a whole new world that opened up to me. Suddenly my dogs had to perform at the same time as they had to have fun, I just had to practice that.
In a competition, you can't help but be disappointed, because you can't win every time. After a few years in the game, I've finally realized that the dog thinks it's fun whether he wins or loses. And if it's going to stay fun, it all depends on me.
I am responsible for ensuring that the dog goes home with the feeling of having done a good job.
So how do you do that?
The code word is "mental management", you have to be in the right mental mood and radiate joy to your dog. Everything I feel goes directly down through the leash to my dog. Easier said than done, it means that you dare to admit that you are wrong.
If the dog does something different than expected, it is me who has not taught the dog well enough.
Have fun with your dog :-)
Behind the blog
Ea has 3 female dogs, Honey, 11 years old, Luna, 2 years old and Maggie, 9 weeks old. Her oldest dog is a dachshund mix that she brought home from her time in Greenland. The other two are cocker mixes with duracell batteries. Ea trains Nose Work with all her dogs, it is a fantastic activity/sport. Luna is environmentally trained and socially trained from an early age, as she will hopefully one day be used as a pedagogical "tool".
Remember dog activities should be fun for both parties
I have had a dog for 12 years but am very new to the dog world. My old dog has been to puppy classes and young dog training, then she was on a treat hunt and hide and seek in the woods. All of which she loved and thought was fun, she ran around with stars in her eyes and her tail held high.
When dog number two in the line arrived, things were going to be different.
Partly I had more time and partly I had a dream of making a difference together with my dog. Parallel to puppy training and young dog training, training as a reading dog began.
It was fun for me to environmental train her, and she also seemed quite happy to go to new places, which triggered delicious treats. Just as the social training in my 2nd grade brought happiness to me and her and the children.
Since then, something more was going to happen, she is an active breed that can't just lie on the couch. I signed up for Advent snuff (Nose Work), and I have to promise that the little girl got the bellows going.
It became our new passion, and I quickly found like-minded people – we drove all over Zealand to find good places to explore with our noses. The dogs loved it, they couldn't wait to jump out of the car and get going. We ladies were just as crazy about it, and suddenly a pile of scrap metal turned into an exciting treasure.
Later dog number 3 was added and she was also introduced to Nose Work, just like her sister she loves it. I got so hooked on it that I started competing in it. Stop it, it was a whole new world that opened up to me. Suddenly my dogs had to perform at the same time as they had to have fun, I just had to practice that.
In a competition, you can't help but be disappointed, because you can't win every time. After a few years in the game, I've finally realized that the dog thinks it's fun whether he wins or loses. And if it's going to stay fun, it all depends on me.
I am responsible for ensuring that the dog goes home with the feeling of having done a good job.
So how do you do that?
The code word is "mental management", you have to be in the right mental mood and radiate joy to your dog. Everything I feel goes directly down through the leash to my dog. Easier said than done, it means that you dare to admit that you are wrong.
If the dog does something different than expected, it is me who has not taught the dog well enough.
Have fun with your dog :-)
Behind the blog
Ea has 3 female dogs, Honey, 11 years old, Luna, 2 years old and Maggie, 9 weeks old. Her oldest dog is a dachshund mix that she brought home from her time in Greenland. The other two are cocker mixes with duracell batteries. Ea trains Nose Work with all her dogs, it is a fantastic activity/sport. Luna is environmentally trained and socially trained from an early age, as she will hopefully one day be used as a pedagogical "tool".