Monday, June 24, 2024
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Friday, June 21, 2024
Thursday, June 20, 2024
6-20-2024 The WILD LL warmup and the rest of this morning's videos
And here are this morning's videos.
The wild LL warmup....
Watch carefully what actually happens. Look frame by frame, then you will see.
Then I worked Riley on LL against the planted distractions, my Pack on Downs.
Warmup on leash in tight space
Part of Karen/Cosmos Week 3 EXAM #1, the Sit/Stay and Stand video
Finally, Roxanne demo's the Week 3 EXAM off -leash with Ruth.
You all will do your Week 3 EXAM ON-LEASH.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
An experience I wanted to share.
“Train hard, test easy.” This statement from Roxanne kept echoing in my mind as I prepared to take Zoey for her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test. I knew I had trained hard and was hoping the second part of the statement would come true. I wanted to share my experience with everyone just for fun. Recently, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and have Zoey tested for her CGC. I was nervous, apprehensive, and quite frankly worried. How would she perform? What if she didn’t come when called or broke her stays? Mentally, I worked hard to prepare myself, reminding myself that I wouldn’t know how she would do unless I tried. So, I scheduled an appointment for the following Monday, which only gave me one day to prepare. This helped me to not overthink or overtrain due to worry. I solely had to rely on the training we had done.
When the time came, I walked into the testing facility, trying to project confidence, though inside I was terrified. The tester asked if I wanted to practice, I said no, we were ready. She then asked if I cared about the order of the 10 test areas. Again, confidently, I said no, Zoey and I would be fine with whatever order she chose.
The test began with a sit/stay and then a down stay. (sorry, I wasn’t in the video frame for this part). For each skill, I followed our training routine with an exercise finish, probably seeming a bit odd to the tester, but consistency was key for Zoey. During her down stay, I wanted to demonstrate how well she could hold it, so I stomped my feet and ran around a bit. Zoey did not break her stay. I did a return to dog correctly, and we proceeded. We moved on to the heeling patterns, where the tester had set up cones. I politely asked if we could just go in an L shape instead of turning around the cones, and she said that was just fine. She said that the only reasons she puts cones out is to help the dogs. Confident from our week 9 and 10 heeling patterns, I knew we would succeed without the cones, and we did.
Next was the recall. The requirement is to have the dog stay, the handler walk 10 feet away, turn, and recall. Ten feet seemed too easy, so I went about 30 feet. I wanted to showcase the effectiveness of Roxanne’s program and how well-trained Zoey was. I gave the recall command, and Zoey immediately ran to me, sitting with a straight sit in front. Then, I gave the Heel command, and Zoey stood, walked around me, and sat right to my side. I was so worried she might fail this part, but she nailed it. Yay! Both of our confidence just increased tremendously. For the next test she said she needed to create distractions of throwing things and running past to see how she would react. Well, all the times of stomping around her, throwing toys in her direction, placing food that she loved around her, as we practiced “place” and “stays” paid off. She didn’t move but looked at the lady and thought “really, you’re not even giving me a challenge”.
The last area we tested was having Zoey Walk past other dogs without reacting or lunging. Zoey had no problems with this, which I strongly believe is due to the long line training and all the times we practiced on Roxanne’s driveway, walking our dog’s past and around each other. Wow! Who would have known how valuable that piece of the training was? One interesting part of this test was when the tester told her group that they could practice without treats if they wanted to. One lady immediately spoke up, saying, “I just don’t think I can do that,” and I could hear the panic in her voice. This tells me she has no confidence that her dog would do what was expected without a treat. I don’t know about you guys, but I sure don’t want to carry a treat bag around my waist all the time to ensure my dog listens. And what about the times you forget the treat bag? Then what? Dogs are smart; the first time they don’t get that treat, they are done minding.
Watching the video, I noticed the other ladies giving treats to their dogs every time they even came close to something they didn’t want them to look at or sniff. The dogs weren’t looking at the handlers but to the treat bags. I am so thankful that Zoey looks to me for guidance and direction, not to a treat bag.
I share this not to brag, as Zoey and I are far from perfect and still have many issues to work on, but to emphasize that the training we receive from Roxanne is top-notch. It builds a belief in the dog to follow commands without treats, based on trust in the handler. The dog is truly working for you! I am so grateful I followed Roxanne’s motto of “train hard, test easy.” Yesterday was a true testament to that. Despite all the hard tests, difficult weeks, tears, and frustration, experiencing the payoff of our hard work in even a small way was incredibly rewarding. To everyone, stick with it, rely on the help and support of Roxanne, Jessi, and Mary. They are all phenomenal and want you to succeed. I know from experience the Foundation course is not easy, and most days you may feel defeated. But by finishing the class and seeing the outcome it has all been well worth it.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Monday, June 17, 2024
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Saturday, June 15, 2024
6-15-2024 TS (Tech Savvy) Day 2, Riley gets introduced to being WITH my Pack
___________________________________________________________________________________And then, there was a readymade PERFECT training opportunity for Buck/Riley & Kat/Niko
SUCCESS
Friday, June 14, 2024
Tech Savvy
Morning Buck,
The new section entitled 'Tech Savvy' is up and there are 3 pages for you to review.
See you soon,
Roxanne
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Monday, June 10, 2024
Week 6 HOMEWORK
Week 6 HOMEWORK is uploaded. Not sure if Riley can do the Active Sit exercises with her back just yet? Also, Week 6 EXAMS are uploaded.
Roxanne
What a Difference a TC makes!!
Yesterday, before the TC
Today, after the TC
We all need a bit of magic!
6-9-2024 The 'warm-up LL' before Jessi does Riley's Week 5 EXAMS
Proofing the "Place" command
The WILD LL warm-up
Success at last, whew!
Saturday, June 8, 2024
Friday, June 7, 2024
More LL work with Riley, 6/7/24
Look at this dog. She’s beautiful!
On to LL - The set up
Warm up with Roxanne
Then my turn
By the time we were done, Riley was a whole different dog.
❤️
String Test Trina
Not the prettiest string test and she needed help on the down. But here is an idea of how she did tonight.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Wow! Victers Test
Well here it is. Not perfect by any means but we somehow made it through. She really struggled on AS tonight. I had to help her a few times. She is doing really good on her downs. We will attempt the string test tomorrow. Oh, just for fun, a video of Riley playing in the water before we started. It was hilarious 😂
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6-6-2024 Week 5 EXAM # 2. And the intense LL warmup vidoe's before the String Test.
Riley's Week 5 Pop Quiz
 |
| 6-3-24 Roxanne/Riley |
Warm up (1)
Warm up (2)
Warm up (3)
Warm up (4)
Warm up (5)
Warm up (6)
Finally, success!
AND TA-DA, the Week 5 EXAM # 2, the infamous String Test
Mary & Riley LL and String Test, 6/6/24, 7:45 am
Ha! It only took a little over a mile of LL work to get Riley to say no this morning. Roxanne is going to post the LL session from today. If you compare this post to that session a few weeks ago, where we attempted the tunnel of love with insanely high distractions to this morning’s post, you’ll see Riley is a whole different dog. We had the same distractions (the Lee pack) but we were much more successful today. She has improved so much and makes good choices more often now. This morning was hard work but it was worth it! Yay, Riley!
After the LL, Riley stayed on a place command while Roxanne loaded her dogs. Riley wanted to get in that truck so badly but she stayed on her place board. Good dog!
Then for the grand finale…
The Week 5 string test…
It was a little rough. Riley and I were both exhausted but we got through it.
I am rather fond of that dog!!!
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Buck and Riley
Hi Buck. This welcome letter is long overdo. I should have posted this on your blog page when you started the foundation course.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Koehler method of dog training, Buck. I'm so excited for you and Riley to start on this new adventure!! My name is Mary. I was born, raised and lived in Southern California up until 3 years ago. As a retired couple, my husband and I were looking for a place to live with a slower pace, less congestion and more affordability than California. Through a friend, we discovered this little gem of a city. We absolutely love living in Richfield. It is so beautiful here. We have the valley, the mountains, the sky, wide open spaces and actually experience four seasons, something we did not have living in California. Every day I wake up, I am so thankful to be here.
I met Roxanne Lee at the church we attend shortly after we moved here. She asked if I wanted to go hiking with her. Hiking is something I had not done very often up to that point, but I figured I could handle it so I agreed to go with her. We met up and went up a trail called Kiln-It. It was more like I dragged myself up this not so easy trail. I survived and decided I needed to hike more often to build up stamina. Anyway, on that day I was introduced to her pack who went up the trail with us. I was so impressed at the way they ran off leash, ventured out but came back when Roxanne called them. I appreciated how well trained they were but I had no intention of getting a dog....ever! I thought I'd just enjoy going out with her and her dogs and that would be that.
Then it happened. About 2 1/2 years ago, Roxanne asked if I'd be available to help her with a Puppy Aptitude and Temperament Testing (PATT) on a litter of Mini Aussie doodle pups, a female and 2 males. I told her I'd be happy to help out. I'd get to be around some cute little puppies for awhile then go home. After the test, there was playtime with the puppies. I was drawn to the female, at that time known as "Fat Amy". She was adorable, social, friendly and energetic. That little dog changed my heart. A week later my husband and I brought her home and renamed her Molly. We are so happy we did.
Shortly after we took Molly in, I began the Mannerly Puppy Training course with Roxanne and Jessi (Molly's dam and sire are her dogs) to work Molly through some basic obedience exercises. When we graduated from that course, we moved on to the Dog Obedience 1st Foundation Course. It was a challenge to say the least but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Through the course of the training, a bond of trust was built between Molly and I. Molly knows obedience is an expectation and she has been trained to respond to commands. She is a joy because of her obedience training.,, not a source of frustration as so many untrained dogs can be for their owners. When we visit relatives who have untrained dogs, they are impressed with Molly and turn to their dogs and say, "Why can't you be more like her?"
After the Foundation Course, we moved on to the Retrieve Course that builds on the Foundation Course and deepens the bond of trust between the dog and its owner. Then we went on to PPP (Polish, Precision, Poise) to finesse the skills previously learned with obedience as the firm foundation. With all the training under my belt, I decided to do something I NEVER dreamed I'd do. I entered a few AKC obedience trials last year. I had built up some confidence through the year of working with Roxanne and Jessi, but moreover I had more confidence in the training than in myself!! That's one of Roxanne's mantras, "trust the training." Last year Molly earned her Beginner Novice, Novice, Rally Novice, Intermediate Novice and her CD (Companion Dog). It's also a lot of fun. I'm not in it to win it but to demonstrate how Molly and I work as team.
I hope you get as much out of this training as I did. I have to be honest. There were times I wanted to give up and quit, I got frustrated, I cried, but Roxanne and Jessi helped me work through those times of breakdown. They are not just trainers, but friends who support and encourage with patience. They are also your dog's champions. They help you so you can help your dog. You will also find there is a wonderful "dog community". There will be other people at your lessons who have gone through the training. I'll be a part of that. We are here to help. If you need help with taking a video of one of your lessons or an exam, if you need a distraction or if you just need some encouragement, please let me know.
Once again, WELCOME! Enjoy the ride!! Glad to have you with us!
Molly and the Lee pack
She loves the beach
and the snow!
Hello Buck,
Hello,
Welcome Buck so excited to have you in the program. My name is Trina Swalberg. I live in Central Valley, just down the street from Roxanne . I grew up in Gunnison and lived there until I graduated. I moved to Cedar City to pursue a career in education. It was there I met my husband of 30 years now. We have two kids. My daughter is 26 and currently lives in the UK with her husband who is in the Airforce. My son is 24 and lives in Las Vegas with his wife. No grandkids yet. My husband and I both work in Marysvale at a private school for teens that have behavioral and mental health issues. My role in the school is the principal / teacher, and my husband is the owner / director. We also have a farm that keeps us busy in the summer. We don’t get a lot of time off due to either working at our program or working on the farm, but when we do get a day off, we love to go to Lake Powell, go camping, or go out riding our side by side.
In October of ’23, I decided my husband and I needed a small dog for companionship. After looking online, I found a toy poodle that I fell in love with. I made arrangements, went and picked her (Zoey) up, and the process began. I knew that I wanted to train her so that she was obedient and well-mannered I just didn’t know how. I searched online looking at many different curriculums, but none of them felt right. They all seemed like a “one program fits all”. I didn’t like that because I knew each dog has their own set of behavior problems, and having a small dog was different than a large dog. One day I was driving by Roxanne’s house and decided to give her a call. After talking to her, I felt like it was the right way to go. Best decision I have ever made in terms of dog training. Roxanne started us immediately in the puppy course. After completing the puppy course, I thought I would be done. However, Roxanne encouraged me to enroll in the Foundation course to better help Zoey be successful in real life situations. After seeing how obedient her dogs were, I decided to continue with my dog training journey. This course kept me busy and even some weeks I asked myself what I had gotten into. I am not a person who quits so I sucked it up and worked hard every day to be as successful as I could. My husband was so much support during this process. Often making dinner while I trained.
Working with Zoey became part of my daily routine, (work, home, train, sleep, repeat). Any down time I had I watched the awesome videos that Roxanne posted on the blog. I would study, take notes, and practice, practice, practice. For me the videos were a life saver. I learned so much by watching them over and over. Each time I watched, I learned something new. I loved how the videos didn’t just show the perfect dog, but dogs that struggled and how to correct. Roxanne and Jessi were so much help and support through the process. They were always there to answer questions, watch what was specifically going on with me and Zoey, and guiding me to become successful. Anytime I became frustrated they would remind me to relax and breath, it would all work out in time. They both kept me grounded and focused.
I finished the foundation course the end of March. Throughout this course Zoey and I have really bonded. We have gained a deeper understanding and respect for each other. We are not perfect by any means and still have a long way to go, but for a 9-month-old dog she is doing pretty good. She is gaining more confidence in the world around her and not so scared of everything like she was when we began. The foundation course has not only made Zoey a better dog, but it has made me a better owner. I would never be to the spot I am today without Roxanne and her program.
Some of the things that I learned during the Foundation course that I loved the most was the sit stay, the recall, and place. Wow, those three things have made so much of a difference. It has given me peace of mind knowing that I can put Zoey on a stay while I move a vehicle around and she is safe. Or being able to recall her from a situation and knowing she will respond.
I am currently planning on joining the retrieve course in June. I am eager to continue learning and bonding with Zoey.
I hope that you enjoy and learn as much from this class as I have. You will find, as I did, that you will build friendships and gain a support system that will cheer you on as you and your dog learn together.
I’m excited to get to know you and Riley and watch you two learn and grow together.
String Test Attempt, 6/5, 5pm
Riley was quite hot and bothered today. I don’t blame her. It was so hot! She was squirming on her sit/stays and at one point she stopped doing auto sits. I had to use the verbal and shape her. After a few tries I took her to the shade near my car, got her some water and let her cool off. She was DONE!
Attempt #1 SNAP goes the string!!
#2 I used her flat buckle collar to save the string ðŸ¤
We’ll try again tomorrow morning when it’s cooler.
Hot dog!
Mary & Riley 6/5, 7:30am, Week 5
Week 5, Exam 1…The Vickster’s Test
I thought the test was going to be super stressful and disastrous but Riley surprised me. As Roxanne said, it wasn't perfect but better than I expected. Yay, Riley!!! She did so well!
It went like this:
Gotta love how I backed myself into the corner with the first sit/stay attempt🤣
Then we did some serpentine work with the pipes. Fun!!!
And Riley was done!
The string test is next…
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
6-4-24. Practice for Victors test
Wow. What a training session. I have to say the batting cage worked perfect. Riley and I started out with longe line. This is probably the best one she has done for me. We then went to batting cage and worked on heads up against food. Boy she doesn’t like that correction at all. In fact after the correction she fights to stay as far away from the food as possible. I worked her on leash doing the Victors test pattern. Then we went to the leash around neck.(Victers test). It wasn’t the prettiest but for just starting she did fairly well. I felt like her biggest struggle was starting to heel from a sit and the AS. I think she is so use to the leash giving her a little correction to start that without that she is not sure quite what to do. You will see in the video that she also struggled stopping to sit on the halt. I had to take a few extra steps to make sure she was successful. We did sit stays, even getting brave and dropping the leash for a bit. Whew, 😰 She did it. We worked on the down. I have to say once Riley goes into the down from the down correction, she does not get up. Good girl Riley! So proud of that dog today. It was hot and we took lots of water breaks. By the end she was done. In fact Buck showed up a little early and we called it.
Week 4 exams
This was only take 2 of this exam and she did well. Considering the stranger some dogs get really nervous around different skin color/ silhouette. I forgot to video SSIF will do when I work her next and add to this post. She did well. A lot of distraction today !!!! I worked her here to finish week 4. Sorry for the mix up Buck.
Monday, June 3, 2024
Week 5 HOMEWORK is uploaded
Link to Week 5, "KMODT, Why it works" article. Sure hope you are reading these articles, Buck, they explain so much of WHY/HOW this KMODT changes the dog's mindset.
Week 5 HW is uploaded. There are two EXAMS this week and one Pop Quiz. There is also new material to complete so Jessi, Trina, Mary and I will be busy indeed.
Next Monday, June 10th, please bring Riley to class at 9:45 - 3. Her Week 6 'magic' lesson will occur at 11:30. We will do our Week 6 EXAMS that week and post. After that, Buck, you are welcome to come on Mondays, with Riley, to observe classes, learn, practice and get ready for Retrieve Class. I highly recommend attending these Monday classes, with Riley, would be beneficial for the both of you as she's going to have withdrawals from the 4 of us working her consistently.
Our Tech Savvy, ecollar classes, I will set up with you separately.
Onward...
Roxanne
6-3-2024 Week 5...what a day.
We did some 'extra's today', but started with a demo of the Week 5 EXAM # 1, Vickster's Test. We cleaned up the batting cage at the Annabella Park (by the cemetery) and then had Trina demo, with Ruth, the heeling pattern of this Week 5 EXAM # 1.
Then we did some "Flooding" with Riley, AKA "Hell on Wheels" (she was today!) which desensitizes a dog to distractions in a new way.
Group LL, whew Riley and Nova were JACKED UP FOOLISH dogs, both of them today.
Later, after QT and Kennel Cool Down, for both dogs, Jessi worked Riley against food.
And then, still later again in the day, Jessi demo's the Week 5 Down Correction, with Riley, in Slo-Mo
6-3/6-10 Schedule
All trainings this week will be done at the Annabella batting cage by ball fields
Tuesday 4th. 11:30 Am Jessi
? pm TBD Trina
Wednesday 5th. 7:30-8:30am. Roxanne
5-6pm. Mary
Thursday 6th. 8-9am Mary
5-6pm. Trina
Friday 7th. 7:30-8:30am. Roxanne
5-6pm. Trina
Saturday 8th. 8-9am Jessi
6:30-8:00 pm Annabella community center (everyone)
We will complete the Victers test, string test, and the pop quiz this week.
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