Dog Academy

Charity Dog Show - Hearing Dogs for Deaf

noreply@blogger.com (dogacademy) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:10:00 +0000

Hello all, I have just received the below information :
Charity Fun Dog Show, in aid of the Charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Sunday 12 September from 1:30 held at Parish Field, Station Road, Bricket Wood, AL2 3PJ
Entries from 11:30, rosettes from 1st to 6th place, Waggiest Tail, Best child Handler, Handsomest Dog and many more classes.
Display by Hearing Dog Demo Team.
Sorry but i don't have any contact details, further details may be available from their head office.

Tracking and Search Training

noreply@blogger.com (dogacademy) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:14:00 +0000

Here are the new dates for the introduction to tracking and Searching lessons, plus weekly classes.
You must have been on an introduction lesson before attending the weekly classes.
You will learn a new and exciting skill and challenge both your dog and yoursef.
Places are limited to 5 dogs for each introduction course and 8 dogs per weekly class.
Classes are taking place in Codicote Hertfordshire.

Dates:
16/9 from 5-7pm Introduction Course
23/9 from 4-6pm Introduction Course and Tracking Class
26/9 from 3-5pm Introduction Course and search class
7/10 from 4-6pm Tracking Class
14/10 from 4-6pm Search Class
21/10 from 4-6pm Tracking Class
24/10 from 1-3pm Introduction Course
24/10 from 3-5pm Search Class
28/10 from 4-6pm Tracking Class

Costs:
Introduction Course £28
Course of 5 weekly classes 2 hour £90
Course of 5 weekly classes 1 hour £60
Weekly classes single lesson 2 hours £25
Weekly classes single lesson 1 hour £16.50

Please note due to restricted numbers in each class, no refunds or credits will be given for any reason unless your place is filled by another dog.
Please call 07904 371705 to book your place or for further information or email us on martsk@aol.com

Liver Cake

noreply@blogger.com (dogacademy) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:09:00 +0000

LIVER CAKE RECIPE
Dogs love liver cake - I haven't found a dog that wouldn't do anything for a piece of liver cake. NOT YET ANYWAY!
8oz of Liver4 oz of self raising flour, 2 eggs, 2 cloves of garlic. Blend the liver, garlic and eggs together, slowly blend in the flour until the mixture becomes a thick paste. You may not need to use all the flour. Spread the mixture into a baking tray, dont forget to grease the tray or it will stick. Pop it in a preheated oven on gas mark 4, leave for 25-30 mins. When cool, you can cut the cake into small easy to swallow pieces. Use a pizza cutter to make it quick and easy. This mixture can make several bags and you can freeze what you don't need and take it out on the morning of your training sessions. Don't forget to put any that you don't use back in the fridge. For electric ovens, I believe the conversion is: 180 c or 350 f

Exessive Play Biting

noreply@blogger.com (dogacademy) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:29:00 +0000

When a puppy is born it is totally dependant on its mother for everything from milk, to being kept warm and clean and being stimulated by the mother’s licking to defecate.

As the puppy grows and gets older it becomes more independent and also more curious of its surroundings. The puppy will start to investigate not only surroundings but also other litter mates. The puppy will sniff at an object and other litter mates and also investigate by taking items in its mouth and biting them. A puppy will gain knowledge of an item this way, it will be able to smell the item, taste the item and feel the texture of the item.

A puppy will naturally use its mouth to explore, as it can not pick items up with its paws. This will include using its mouth on another litter mate, if a puppy uses its mouth to bite a litter mate and bites too hard, it will cause the litter mate to yelp or to not want to play with the instigator of the rough play. This is how the puppy learns to control how hard it bites down on another litter mate. Puppies learn to control biting from their litter mates, if a puppy is removed from the litter too early, the puppy may not have learned to control its bite or the consequences of its actions and therefore will still need to learn bite inhibit. This will also result in the puppy mouthing and biting harder with its owner than a puppy that has spent the full time with its mother and litter mates.

Teething is another reason why a puppy may excessively bite or mouth, the new teeth coming through will cause pain in the puppy’s mouth and in a similar way to human children, this is often relieved by biting down on something. That can quite often be the nearest hand or arm available.

When an owner acquires a new puppy, the puppy will be entering another new environment in which to explore. The puppy will naturally be curious and investigate its new home and pack members using its teeth.

A puppy will bite for several reasons which include, playing, hunger, exploring, over-stimulated and excited, scared or angry, herding tendencies and teething.It is natural for a new owner to want to play with their puppy and puppies love to play. It is the type of play that causes most owners problems.

Children often over excite puppies when playing with them or near them, children have high pitch exciting voices and tend to scream and wave their arms around, this is exciting to a puppy and resembles the high pitched noises that litter mates make. If a puppy gets excited and gives a playful nip, this will often result in a child running away or screaming and making the puppy more excited, the puppy may give chase only to give another nip. If the puppy has herding tendencies it will chase and nip in an attempt to herd the children in its new pack.

Children sometimes have a tendency to be rough with a puppy without realising. They may pet the puppy to hard or pull on its ears and tail and on occasions lift the puppy up by its collar. If a puppy becomes scared it can not tell the child by speaking and any warning growl may be ignored by a child, resulting in a bite.

It is not just children who over excite puppies, adults can also encourage a puppy to play a game that will result in over excitement. Tug of war and rough play with a puppy will cause it to mouth and bite and if this behaviour is continued the puppy will also continue as it will not have learned that this is unacceptable behaviour.

A puppy needs to be taught that rough play biting is not acceptable and results in the game ending. Any failure to do this will result in the puppy continuing with the mouthing and biting and pushing its luck further and further. This can continue into adulthood with some people who have never stopped the behaviour. The person then becomes the trigger for the puppy to indulge in mouthing and play biting.

Sue - Dog Academy Trainer- Dip.dog.psy

Tracking and Search Dates

noreply@blogger.com (dogacademy) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:13:00 +0000

Hello all, the last Introduction to tracking class went very well with all dogs achieving and indeed surpassing the goal set out at the beginning of the day, which was a straight leg laid out of sight of the dog, approx 100yrds long.

Tracking
I have booked the next session for:

Sundays : 10-2pm : 26th July, 20th September
August, 30th 8 am-12

The above Tracking days are now fixed. The cost is £53 per 4 hour session. You may book one or more session as you wish. The Venue is in Codicote. During your first session you will be taught the correct way to start your dog tracking ( following a human scent) or if you have been on a previous course, your skill level will be consolidated and built upon.

Search class-Person and property.

Friday 17th July 3:30 to 5:30
Sunday 20th September 2:30 to 4:40
The above courses, introduction to Search, property scent and people will take place on the above dates. The cost is £30 for two hours. Venue in Codicote. In this class you will be taught the correct way to start your dog off in this new and exciting skill. Challege your self and your dog and learn a new skill, ask for more details about either the tracking or search dates.

All these classes are limited to 6 people, if you wish to book your place please let me have your full payment asap.

Once I have received your payment your place will be booked. You must be aware that not all dogs will either track or locate and find hidden property. You will know by the end of either session if your dogs has this ability, which you can then build upon to make your partnership much more enjoyable for the pair of you. All payments are non-refundable unless we can replace you on the course.

Recall class.
The next one to one recall class is being held on Saturday July 25th, and Saturday 29th August at the dog club , we are taking booking for these dates . The cost is £16.50. The format is as follows, upon receiving your booking request you will be allocated a 15min time slot. These will run from 3pm until 5pm your time will be given to you upon booking. The session will be on a one to one basis, the gates will be closed and we will work with you and your dog on the recall.
If you are waiting please keep your dog in your car until called forward for your session, during hot weather please ensure that no dogs are left unattended, always ensure that plenty of fresh water is available for your dog.