Agility introduces your dog to many new tools, toys and exercises — some of which may be intimidating at first. But, as the dog learns to cope with them, the dog’s confidence grows.
So does their trust in your to explore new things and to comply with your direction. On top of all that, agility is fun and can be great exercise for both dog and human.
In this video, two, quite shy German Shepherd Dogs took to agility and their confidence grew remarkably in a short time.
Czopen seems as eager for a holiday as you may be. This ‘suitcase’ exercise is one of those in our tricks classes. Join us. https://dogschooling.com/training/what-we-teach/
Tricks engage the dog’s brain and give the dog a job while having fun for both you and your dog.
Housebreaking & Potty Training for Your Dog
by Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
No matter what you call it – housebreaking, puppy potty training, toilet training, house training, Number One or Two, Want to go out – we all want our dogs to learn to pee and poop outside.. We can help.
Your task is to teach your dog where the dog’s toilet is. Simple as that.
If the dog pees or poops in the house, you have not yet taught the dog where the toilet is. Follow these steps for help with housebreaking. Also, register for training classes with us. How to teach housebreaking and other important lessons is a central part of our curriculum. See Puppy Kindergarten or Level 1 for older dogs.
leash but not farther.
Miste welcomed by our German Shepherd Dogs on her first day in the US – January 1, 2010
Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
We said goodbye to our Miste yesterday. She was the star of our canine family. Here is a link to her backstory: https://dogschooling.com/about-us/our-border-collies/
During her 11 years with us wowed elementary school talent show audiences for granddaughters Lauren and Amanda. Miste was a favorite to read to in her more than 150 therapy dog assignments and was always eager to show off for a crowd. She was a TV commercial model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M89s_7iDZzI And she was a comfort to us all.
She would have celebrated her 12th birthday next week. Now she’s across the rainbow bridge and no doubt chasing the rabbits, squirrels and birds that she loved in our front yard.
Miste jumps girl in backbend during 2014 holiday program.
Miste was a favorite to read to at the monthly Reading to Rover programs at the Daniel Boone Regional Library
Miste lies in front of fireplace to greet visitors from Missouri in July 2009.
Lauren takes Miste through some of her canine tricks in 2012 elementary talent show.
Amanda takes Miste through some of her canine tricks in 2017 elementary talent show.
Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
The scent discrimination work at our school begins in Levels 3 and 4 with dog’s finding treats inside identical metal boxes. Later the dogs identify boxes their owners have touched among the other boxes. Later the training moves to metal, wood, leather and cotton items.
Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
To find the hard-to-find, dogs are increasingly assigned that task in conservation projects around the world. That is the conclusion of a study published in the Methods in Ecology and Evolution – by the British Ecological Society. https://bit.ly/3sd2Y6h
While you and your dog may never be asked to search for an elusive lizard or the like, you can have fun putting your dog’s nose to work in the search exercises we teach. https://bit.ly/3sbS14T
Researchers examined reports of 2,464 search cases, most of them (1,840) scientific projects.
They found “WDD (wildlife detection dogs) usually worked more effectively than other monitoring methods. For each species group, regardless of breed, detection dogs were better than other methods in 88.71% of all cases and only worse in 0.98%.”
Canine tasks vary widely from locating seedlings of invasive plants, the scat of endangered species or animal parts the product of poaching. See Working Dogs for Conservation, a non-profit organization with headquarters in Missoula, MT https://wd4c.org/about-us
Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
This round up of research identifies dog breeds more susceptible bone cancer. UK researchers found that “larger, heavier dogs and those with longer legs and skulls are typically at a greater risk of developing osteosarcoma.” http://bit.ly/3tMagOR
Our connections to this report are the exercises we teach about the dog’s health and wellbeing. Here are two.
The team analyzed health data on 906,967 dogs for this study. This Daily Mail report includes an impressive list of dog breeds and their likelihood of the bone cancer.
Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
There are at least five reasons why the ‘daily exam’ exercise is essential in early dog training and periodically for the dog’s well being there after.
Place you dog on his/her back between you legs belly-up. In this position, you and your dog will be telling each other who is in charge and that the dog trusts you as the leader. Of course, if the dog resists assuming this position, the dog may be telling you the dog does not accept you as leader and does not yet fully trust you.
After your dog lies quietly, exam the dogs parts — ears, teeth and gums, legs, feet and toenails, belly coat. This is part grooming introduction and part physical exam. In this process, you will be reducing the probability of a dog bite by getting the dog used to human hands in the dog’s mouth and handling the dog’s other primary tool — the feet. Finally, the exercise teaches the dog to remain on task — in this case lying between your legs.
Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
How about a bred-in compass? This story from the American Kennel Club describes what researchers know of the ‘find home’ options including an internal compass. https://bit.ly/3r9K0fC
Of course, first on the list would be the dog’s tracking capabilities. The dog ‘simply’ retraces the dog’s own scent. In an experiment described in this article, researchers reported dogs that appeared to use compass-like abilities returned faster to home than the sniffer dogs.
The researchers point out that other species – fish, birds among them – appear to use compass navigation. The article also includes reminders of several famous return to home dog stories.
Regardless of your dog’s capabilities, we can help you build a bond with your dog so the dog will want to be home with you. https://dogschooling.com/virtual-dog-training/
Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
Register Online
A must exercise for early in training is the ‘individual daily exam.’ Do it if you had time for no other training activity. When the dog wiggles in this position, correct. When the dog is quiet, praise. The exercise teaches your dog who is in charge, demonstrates the dog’s trust in you, enables you to examine the dog for health issues, introduces your dog to grooming, reduces the probability of a dog bite by handling the dog’s mouth and feet, teaches your dog time-on-task behavior. After you complete the daily exam, put your dog in the position we call ‘relax’. Examine the dogs parts in this position, too. These exercises lay the foundation for excellent visits to the vet. Your dog becomes accepting of having its parts examined.
From this position, the handler can conduct a physical exam of the dog and begin the grooming and hygiene processes.
With the dog at rest on its side, you can conduct a physical exam.