Sandusky Bay Hunter Retriever Club - Started Hunt Test

Dave had been working hard training Tank for hunt tests.  Tank already has his junior hunt title with AKC but he had that prior to us owing him.  Dave decided to try his hand a training Tank for the UKC tests. They are structured slightly different and more like true hunting environments. In order to pass the hunt test the dogs have to do 2 land retrieves and 2 water retrieves. The dogs are held steady by the handlers and then the duck is launched and the dogs are sent on the birds. Once they find the bird they retrieve it back to the handler and hold the bird until the handlers releases it. 

 Our first experience with a hunt test was this past weekend at Sandusky Bay Hunter Retriever Club.  The event was Saturday and Sunday and the dogs ran 4 passes both days (2 land and 2 water ). Dave took Tank up on Saturday by himself and the passed with no problems.  On Saturday night Dave drove home so that I could attend on Sunday.  On Sunday we left bright and early and took Cash along as well. Avery got left behind again.  Once we got to the event grounds with met with the other handlers and owners. They were all great and took the time to explain stuff to a beginner like me.

I got to watch Tank run and was so impressed with my boy. You could just tell he lives for hunting up dead birds. Just watching the thrill in his movements is so cool.   He has a lot more drive than a lot of the other dogs there.  The other dogs running were mostly labs and golden retrievers but we also saw and Airedale run as well.

Tank come out of the weekend with two passes and two ribbons. I can't wait until the next test in September. Good job boys!!

Cash just passed out !! Lots of loving for her, Tank came out the biggest winner in my heart.

Training for a 5K

So I got the bright idea that I wanted to try and run/jog a 5K. I did some web surfing and found one that allows dogs to run with you and its held at Alum Creek.  Sounds like a winner, plus its not until the end of September so it gives me time to practice. So far my time sucks but there is plenty of time to improve that. Cash on the other hand looks at me like I am crazy when I am bent over trying to catch my breath, she want to keep going. I tell her she has 4 legs and I only have 2 so bare with me. 

Wish us luck!!

Darree Fields Dog Park - Dublin, OH

Through some friends I found out about a new dog park in Dublin about 20 minutes from our house. Of course I had to check it out. It was fabulous. Cash and I had the place to ourselves except for two other black lab mixes. It was several acres fenced in with several agility obstacles to play with.  They had a tire jump , teeter totter , jump , and tunnel. Cash loved the tunnel. She kept running back and forth inside of it. The other two dogs that were running around were scared to enter the tunnel so Cash quickly figured out that she could run through the tunnel with a toy to hide from the other dogs.

What a perfect day, I just wish I would have had Tank and Avery with me.

Beginner Rally Obedience Class

Cash and I got involved with a training facility (Anything Goes for Dogs) through her Therapy dog testing and because of the facility's information we also were able to find out about The Dog Scouts of America. Now we are on to our next adventure... Rally.

I had heard of rally obedience but really had no idea what it involved. Cash is a great dog, but she lacks speed and motivation sometimes so I didn't peg her as an agility dog. Rally is a nice step for us. It is basically obedience but a lot more fun. In the competitions you have different stations you go to and each station has a task to complete. We took a workshop on it a few weeks ago and Cash seemed to really like it so I signed her up for some classes.

Today was her first formal training class and she loved it. I have never seen her get so excited about anything. We did a few off leash exercises and she had a blast. We practiced healing of leash and weaving around a pole the drill was called "fly" . She really picked it up fast and had fun doing it. We also did off leash drills of walking in large circles and then small circles. It doesn't sound like much but I broke up the routine of basic healing and I think she really responded to the change. I don't' always realize that dogs get board doing the same basic commands over and over again.

We have homework with this class to keep practicing on what we learned so I better keep up. I really want to keep my dogs happy and keep life fun for them. After all that is why we have dogs.

Rally workshop

Cash and I had our first experience today with Rally. We took a workshop today at Anything Goes for Dogs with trainer Kym Jarvis and it was fantastic. I wasn't sure what I was getting us into but it was so much fun.  We did several different healing exercises and worked on exposer  to new things like mats and tables. Cash had a great time and was willing to try anything new. We both enjoyed that class so much that we are going to sign up for a class session next time one is available.

After having a good training session we went over to a friends house. At Kelley and Franks house Cash got to swim in there pond and play with some kids that were running around. In dog terms it was a great day. Play time and swimming. 

Columbus Dog Scouts - hike at Prairie Oaks

Today Cash and I had an exciting outing. It was our first event as a dog scout. Cash passed her dog scout test last week and today we went on a hike outing with the club.  We are currently having a hike-a-thon fundraiser for the month of May to raise money for the national dog scouts of America club.

The club met at Prairie Oaks Metro Park in Plain City. We were met by Andrea and her husband and there two dachshund as well as Denise and her mixed breed Mugsy.  We started off the hike at the picnic area and followed a trail around a lake. Lots of goose poop ( one of Cash's favorite treats ) so I had to watch her close so she didn't spoil her dinner with dessert first.  After a trip around the lake we went into the woods and over a bridge to a second trail.  There is no tiring out Cash, she loves to go go go on her walks.

Over all we had a great time and met some nice people and dogs.We look forward to doing more activities with the Columbus Dog Scout troop.