Monday 30 November 2009

Search Dog Training




Of course it was raining as usual when we train on Sundays!!!! But unfortunately people do not get lost on a nice Sunday afternoon in the warm sunshine........ Indy done an outstanding job. The only confusion was, that there where no foot path in the woods we were allowed to use. It was more an area than a hasty search. Indy was spot on. I think I have to slow my pace down, to make him slow down. He searches 100 p/h and find the mispers in such a fast time it is nearly unreal. This weekend I found out that he alerts different on human scent only than on a find of a actual person. After he did not got his toy of me, he decided to do self praise and gripped Dave's woolly hat.It will be interesting to see what he will do one day, when we start training for Human Remains and Blood.


Yukon done me proud as well. He is not barking for a toy, therefore I bought him a "Bringsel" which is a leather attachment for his collar, just long enough not to bother but able to be picked up by him. We are using his Bringsel now for two weeks and I attached it yesterday for the first time to his collar. When he found Jess she only tipped the Bringsel and he picked it up straight away and came back to me, only to run off back to Jess for his other toy. This is brilliant. He is so clever. He also been officially assessed to become a Lowland Search Dog. I am so proud on my boys. Next Saturday is my assessment to become official operational with Indy. Fingers crossed.


Agility on Saturday was good. Yukon is a little bit naughty to other dogs, but in a funny kind of way so I don't mind(only towards Collies, and there hardly any around on the Agility Circuit ;-))


Indy is getting better, because of me maybe having a different approach toward Agility.


Wednesday 25 November 2009

Animal Distraction




On Friday I did meet up with Jess and we took Indy to a field with cows to take some pictures for my Lowland Search Dogs Records. He was not bothered at all, in a matter of fact he started to round them up after a while( maybe he is a natural Herding Dog as well ???). After that we went to our field and done some Search training with Scollie, Indy and Yukon. Scollie reminds me so of Marlon in his Temperament. He is a hughe Rodesian Ridgeback and has all the time in the world for his job. We started the run a way game with Yukon and using the "Bringsel" I got him from Germany. He really likes running after people and picking it up. I think we will be going soon to the next stage where it is actually attached to his collar. Indy was total in his element again. He is brilliant, but never understand how the same person can go lost twice in a matter of 10 minutes. He looked at Jess like he almost want to tell how darft she must be to get lost twice in such a short time. I think he is to smart for fake training!!!



On Saturday was Agility Training and we think the "Chamber of Horror" is open with Yukon. Wait and touch points are for wimps and he knows it all. I started nipping it in the bud straight away by training everyday that he has to stay no matter how many toys fly pass him. Indy was as good as usual, I was to slow as usual. I have not found our equal speed yet and doubt I ever will.
On Sunday we went to Trosley Country Park in Kent for Search Training. We have been donated a Flat Coated Puppy from a member of the American Forces. His name will be Pedro and he is going to live with Mel and little Andre. Dave decided he would like to have a proper dog and would love to be adopted by a Malinos. I brought him in touch with Helen from Stonedragon Kennel who has Sady looking for a home. Dave is going to see them on Saturday. The training went not bad. I have to remind myself to make notes on the map when Indy give me a none verbal indication. He picked up scent of the last Misper up hill before he found the first misper and if I had realised that we would have found the third misper much earlier. It is a big learning session for me every time.
On Friday and next Monday I have another Job Interview, fingers crossed.

Monday 16 November 2009

Discover Dogs







What a weekend this was. I was asked by my friend Jan Ralph from the Bonvivant Kennel to take part in the display for the Malinois at Discover Dogs this year. My friend Iris came over from Germany to help me with the enjoyment. It was a great day and I was so proud, my boys where so good with the public. The booth looked great and it was never to packed to walk the dogs around. I made nice contact with some dog handlers from the Met Police. We had a real good chat about the ways Malinois learn.



Caroline with Otto where in the Final of the Starter cup. They ended in the over all 4th Place.

It took us ages to get out of London, because my braindamaged SatNav decided that Iris should have a guided sight seeing tour. We only did not see Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, all the other typical Tourist Places where included. How nice of him!!! Serious thought a couple of times to throw that thing out of the window.



Sunday 8 November 2009

Search and Rescue Mock Assessment


Today we had our Mock Assessment carried out. The Kent Unit joined us today, because Lesley had her Mock Assessment as well. Indy and me searched the 2 km long area in 13 Minutes!!!! He found both Mispers and the places they where hiding for Lesley before as well a jumper somebody lost. I think that is very hard to beat...... Our real Assessment is on the 5th December. Fingers crossed. Lesley and Bentley passed as well today and we are thinking to become a joint Essex/Kent unit. I think that would be really good.

Yesterday we had Agility Training and Yukon is really coming along nicely, he has really good touch points and knows the Flat Tunnel now. Thanks to liver cake...

Sunday 1 November 2009

Agility and Search Dog Training


Yesterday we had Agility Training. Indy was really good. I am concentrating on my signals to give him the information for the next part of the course as quick as I possibly can...... but this is where the problem is.


Yukon was really good. After leaving his toy behind last week by accident, he don't like it anymore. Missy, Ian's Border Collie played with it. Igitt!!!!! We had to come out with something new: Sandra's Liver cake. She is his best friend now. I have to do some Liver Cake tomorrow. He loves the equipment and is such a good boy. He is very much into work, but very layed back.


Today was Search Dog Training. I know now what parts of my equipment is not water proof. Indy done two great searches. He did find every Misper, but there is still place for improvement. His alert is still dependent on cues I give him and also is his re-find. Never mind still some weeks to go to work on it. Now we all crashed out on the bean bag. LOOOOVLLLLY