This is an ad libbed routine that we created on the spot during one of our training sessions. We were preparing for a video competition event with the Musical Dog Sport Association. Terra has her Novice and Standard Freestyle titles through MDSA, and her Freestyle Master title through Rally-Free. In 2015 we will be working toward longer and tougher routines in the Advanced and Premier categories. Happy New Year!
Wow, these puppies have been BUSY!! Check out everyone's awesome adventures:
Brody has photos with 35 strangers!
Evie is dutifully checking off the things on her list: flags, metal grates, stairs, slide, swings, and playground equipment. She even went fishing!
Cheyenne met a new kitty friend, proved she was not afraid of a lion statue, and went to a dog park.
Jeter explored lots of new places and had his own puppy party, complete with Pass-the-Puppy games and a doggie friend!
Monty experienced his first snowfall and played with his golden friend.
Skye went to the gas station!
Emmy played on the beach, watched someone play tennis, and went to the pet store.
Monty explored a barber shop, a leaf blower, the river, a construction site, a train station, a bridge, and made new doggie friends at the vet's office.
Evie made new dog and human friends at an agility trial.
Brody met tons of new people at the bank, the gas station, the dry cleaners, and the vet's office.
Skye met new dog friends, big and small, checked out some ducks, and visited with a crossing guard.
Terra and I are competing through the Musical Dog Sport Association (www.musicaldogsport.org), and working toward our Standard Freestyle Dog title. To earn the title, she and I must submit three different freestyle routines. If a routine earns a high enough score, then we earn a leg toward our title. This routine is the last leg, so if we qualify with this routine we will earn our Standard title and move up to the Premier competition level.
Musical freestyle is an emerging canine sport, combining tricks, heeling, and music. I teach three levels of canine musical freestyle classes at Port Chester Obedience Training club. To learn more, please send us a message on our Facebook page or use the contact form to drop me a line!
Terra, Ringo and I were lucky enough to spend this past weekend in beautiful dog-friendly Newport, Rhode Island at the 2014 International SPARCS conference. It was 72 degrees and sunny everyday, filled with the lectures and discussions of the greatest minds at the forefront of canine science.
The lectures covered everything from the science of olfaction, canine origins, and the affect of owner behavior on dog personalities. But perhaps the most interesting research for pet owners was presented by James Serpell, with his canine behavioral assessment and research questionnaire, called the C-BARQ.
http://vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/index.cfm
To learn more about the Society for Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science, or to see the entire archive of lectures and videos: http://caninescience.info/
Terra and I submitted this routine toward our second leg for our Standard Freestyle Dog title with MDSA last month. Live competition events are few and far between, so we are lucky to have three opportunities a year to submit a video routine.
In standard division, throughout the two-and-a-half minute routine the handler's cues should be very subtle and the dog's attention rock-solid. The routine must show changes of pace, distance work, the ability to heel on the left and right side of the handler's body, and creative elements choreographed to the music.
If you'd like to learn more about training your dog in the exciting sport of musical freestyle, I teach three levels of freestyle classes for dogs of all ability levels at Port Chester Obedience Training Club. www.teachrover.com
I'm happy to report that on March 16th, Terra passed her Odor Recognition Test for Birch!
She had three minutes to identify which of the twelve identical boxes held birch odor, and she found it in less than ten seconds! There are no special prizes for speed, but she was certain about her decision without even sniffing all 12 boxes.
Once a dog passes an ORT, they are eligible to compete in K9 Nosework trials, where they will hunt for the same odor (birch) in four elements: interior searches, exterior searches, vehicle searches, and container searches.
To learn more: www.nacsw.net
Last fall Ringo and I were selected to film the first instructional video for AKC's Woofipedia website. We had a blast, and Ringo loved showing off!!
Learn how to teach your dog to high-five in a few easy steps! Thanks to Jenn Michaelis and "Ringo" the Chinese Crested from Port Chester Obedience Training Club.
Terra just received her qualifying score (42/50) and a leg toward her Standard Freestyle Dog Title!
We spent all of 2013 rehabbing and trying to avoid having surgery on her torn CCL (the human equivalent is an ACL). Ultimately surgery was the best option, and 6 months later we were able to get back to doing what we love most: canine musical freestyle!!
In 2012 Terra earned her Novice Freestyle Dog title with three qualifying routines, so now we are after our Standard title. Next routine is due in April!
