Canine Coaching Recap & 2022 Objectives!

Canine Coaching Recap & 2022 Objectives!

It is a canine coaching recap of the 12 months for my weimaraner, Remy, and my yellow Lab pet, Rip!

I love to put in writing those coaching updates every year so I will be able to glance again on our development or struggles.

Within the feedback, please let me know what you’re running on with your individual canine or one thing you’ve achieved along with your canine within the ultimate 12 months.

For every canine, I’m writing about:

  • What we achieved in 2021
  • Plans for 2022

Coaching my weimaraner – 2021 canine coaching recap

Remy will flip 6 years outdated in February! We had a just right 12 months with lots of stories and adventures in combination.

However, we additionally had some demanding situations because of the noise phobias he’s advanced in agility. I think like we took a large step backwards in agility.

Some other problem is I didn’t run with him the more or less distances we find irresistible to do. I scale back on my mileage considerably whilst pregnant (child boy coming in April 2022!!).

I’ve nonetheless been operating with Remy, but it surely’s a lot decrease mileage and it’s stroll/run durations. We’re each happier when we will do longer runs so I’m taking a look ahead to getting again into lengthy distance once more this summer time.

We nonetheless did so much in combination in 2021. Listed below are 5 of our accomplishments:

1. We entered 6 NADAC agility trials.

We entered 4 native agility trials and traveled to Crimson Hotel, MT, for 2 different trials.

Remy were given a “Prime in Trial” trophy in January, that means we had probably the most issues out of the entire Intro-level canines on the trial.

We additionally loved our two street journeys to Crimson Hotel the place we competed in June and October. Remy likes touring, and he’s well-behaved and at ease after we keep in lodges.

In 2021, we were given 12 qualifying runs for 120 issues and 3 titles (Intro Tunnelers, Intro Contact n Move & Newbie Tunnelers).

Right here’s considered one of our Intro “Contact N Move” runs: hyperlink

Sadly, Remy were given spooked through wind in opposition to the world partitions within the spring and he’s struggled with severe noise phobias in agility ever since. This makes each working towards and competing tricky.

I’ve regarded as retiring him all in combination from agility as a result of I by no means need to drive a canine to do any game.

However for now, I’m making an attempt to paintings thru his fears with sizzling canines, squeaky toys and loads of time simply placing out within the agility surroundings with little force. He enjoys the presence of alternative canines and folks. It’s simply the sounds of wind and melting/falling ice at the roof that he’s fascinated by.

2022 goes to should be about taking a step again and that specialize in development his self belief and having amusing with out a force.

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2. We ran our first legitimate race in combination!

In June, we ran in our first actual legitimate race in combination! It used to be a canine pleasant path 10K race in Lolo Cross at the border of Montana and Idaho.

Racing in combination made us each, so, so satisfied.

Canine pleasant Mountain to Meadow 10K

It used to be no doubt one of the vital highlights of my entire 12 months and I do know Remy beloved it too. He used to be very at ease within the busy racing environment, even if this used to be a relatively small match with perhaps round 250 runners. I want there have been extra canine pleasant races in our house.

Even supposing I used to be seeking to run at a at ease tempo, Remy helped me get twenty third position general and second position feminine in my age crew. This may’ve by no means came about with out him “encouraging” me to pick out up my tempo.

3. My canine’s first pheasant hunt!

This used to be any other spotlight of my 12 months as a result of I actually loved the time being out with my canine, my husband and my dad.

Remy with my dad

Whilst he’s in nice bodily situation, Remy does no longer have numerous coaching for looking, so I used to be very pleased with how he did on his first hunt, taking into account our restricted revel in.

We went to an area recreation farm and this helped Remy achieve success as a result of there have been numerous pheasants. He did an excellent task the use of his nostril, running with us and discovering a number of birds. He retrieved them relatively properly, and I used to be so pleased with him when he tracked down a crippled chicken we by no means would’ve situated with out him.

4. We joined a canicross crew.

Remy and I joined the new North American Canicross group. In canicross, you run along with your canine in a harness, pulling you. The leash is connected in your waist. You must run cross-country genre on a path or gravel street, no longer on pavement.

Canicross
Remy and I operating canicross

We logged 34 legitimate canicross miles in opposition to our 50-mile lifetime miles name. We ran about 400 miles general, however simplest 34 have been legitimate canicross miles with the correct tools and path terrain.

We each actually like canicross, so I plan to make some degree to do extra of this in 2022.

5. Letting cross of the issues I will be able to’t regulate.

An unplanned shift I skilled in 2021 used to be letting cross of the issues I’m not able or unwilling to regulate.

For instance, I settle for Remy will pull at the leash (that’s why he’s nice at canicross!), so I simply use a no-pull harness once I want extra regulate. I settle for he’s going to be loopy on the door when folks discuss with, so I simply put him on a leash or in my bed room with a Kong.

Sure, those are definitely issues I may spend numerous time running on, however for me, it’s simply no longer well worth the effort.

This acceptance is if truth be told a large reduction. It lets in me extra power to concentrate on the issues I do care about like operating lengthy distance in combination, having amusing in agility, climbing and discovering far off spaces for off-leash time.

Different notes:

Remy realized the best way to trot at the treadmill in 2021 and turns out to revel in it for brief classes. I simplest have him opt for about 5 mins at a time as a psychological exercise on actually chilly days.

Plans for Remy and I in 2022:

I in the beginning had a few agility targets written right here, however we attended a tribulation in January and my canine used to be so desperately telling me he does no longer need to do agility anymore.

So, this 12 months we’re that specialize in operating and spending time in combination. If we do agility, it is going to be outdoor in the summertime for amusing and no longer for pageant.

Canicross miles – April 2021

1. Run and hike on extra trails with my canine.

That is to inspire me to get out extra with Remy as he completely LOVES operating on trails! I like it too, however I actually fight to make the time for it. I’m taking pictures for a minimum of 20 path runs with him in 2022.

Off leash is perfect, however leashed runs or walks also are amusing for him.

Concepts I’ve about operating with Remy this 12 months:

Attend crew runs. There’s a native operating membership that meets each Saturday morning and incessantly runs trails, so I’ll plan to take him to a couple of of the ones when I will be able to. He loves the social operating environment.

Canicross name. We will be able to additionally do extra canicross operating because it’s one thing we each revel in. We will be able to most likely earn our “50 Lifetime Miles” name from North American Canicross this 12 months. Since we received’t be incomes any agility titles, I’m satisfied we will paintings in opposition to canicross titles as an alternative.

Part marathon. We will be able to most likely run a part marathon in combination on our personal, no longer an legitimate race. I plan to begin coaching for a 12-hour ultramarathon race, and I’ll have loads of lengthy runs to finish. Remy loves to tag alongside for my 10 to 13-mile lengthy runs.

Off leash when imaginable. I want to give Remy extra off leash time, however I don’t consider him. He doesn’t run off, however he likes to run as much as folks and others canines. So I want to search out extra far off spaces for him and to paintings extra on his recall. All the time a piece in development. He wears a Garmin GPS collar which provides me some peace of thoughts.

2. Take my canine looking at a recreation farm once more.

Remy completely beloved looking ultimate 12 months, and I need to be sure to take him out once more within the fall. The sport farm is one of the best ways to head for us, since we’re so green.

I’ve 0 expectancies when looking with him as I don’t put numerous time into his coaching. We will be able to simply have amusing.

Pheasant hunting with my dog

3. Join an obedience elegance.

Sure, we’ve taken a number of obedience categories prior to but it surely’s been about 4 years!

Remy can at all times use the apply however the principle factor is we each revel in spending time in combination in this sort of coaching atmosphere. I actually like crew categories and Remy loves the social environment.

There are two utterly other native running shoes that I love. One is precisely “all sure” and one is extra “conventional” with numerous formal heelwork and AKC-style obedience. I recognize each for various causes.

I plan to take Remy to the extra conventional elegance first as a result of as soon as you’re taking a category with them you’ll attend their weekly “pack walks.” I feel we’d each actually revel in those structured walks.

OK, and now for pet Rip!

Coaching my yellow Labrador – 2021 canine coaching recap

Rip is a smart pet and he has strengthened what I already knew – I worth and enhance just right breeders.

Seven-month-old Rip is easygoing however up for the rest. He’s delicate and does no longer problem Remy. He’s assured with out being careless.

Dog training recap
Me, Rip (10 weeks outdated) & Remy!

I feel he’s going to make an excellent agility canine, operating friend, hunter and naturally he’s already a just right good friend and circle of relatives member.

Listed below are 4 of the large issues we’ve carried out since I were given him in July 2021:

1. He graduated from “pet manners elegance” in September.

We didn’t paintings on any formal obedience cues on this elegance but it surely used to be nice for socialization and enjoying with the opposite domestic dogs. Rip used to be very centered all through the category after we labored on manners like no longer leaping.

Pet manners elegance Sept 2021

2. We took our pet tenting in September.

I’m so satisfied we went tenting whilst Rip used to be nonetheless little. This used to be an excellent revel in for him and he did so properly sticking on the subject of us off leash, drowsing within the tent and simply enjoyable at our campsite. He’s an excellent tenting canine!

September 2021 (3.5 months outdated)

We additionally went on a 3-mile hike which used to be his longest hike ever at the moment, and he went swimming within the creek.

See our article: Pointers for tenting along with your canine

3. He took a 3-week chicken and gun intro direction.

Rip attended a 3-week board and educate direction along with his breeder the place he used to be uncovered to numerous birdwork and numerous are living gunfire.

On the finish of the learning he used to be retrieving are living birds and used to be appearing numerous possible along with his herbal retrieve, comfortable mouth and eagerness to thrill.

I took this video of him the day we picked him up from coaching:

He’s completely no longer fearful of weapons in any respect, and naturally he has an enormous passion to find birds. Just right boy!

4. Lots of socialization for my pet!

Socialization has been my primary focal point with Rip. I’ve spent little or no time running on such things as heel, come and keep. As an alternative, we’ve been doing numerous socialization.

He’s long past to a number of trails and parks, met numerous folks and canines, attended agility, long past looking, tenting, climbing, stayed in lodges, long past on street journeys, spent 3 weeks at my folks’ area and rode in several automobiles.

He even flew from Wisconsin to Montana with me at 8 weeks outdated. See my article: fly with a pet.

On the Minneapolis airport – July 2021

Objectives for my yellow Lab Rip in 2022:

This shall be a large 12 months for the little man!

Me and Rip – Dec 2021 (7 months outdated)

1. 12-week intermediate gun canine coaching.

In overdue March, Rip will head again to his breeder and teacher for 12 weeks for extra intense gun canine coaching.

He’s going to paintings on retrieving at hand, marking downed recreation and trailing birds. They’re going to additionally paintings on obedience and regulate and start the use of an e-collar.

Through the tip of this coaching he’s going to be greater than in a position for his first hunt. I’ll wish to step up my recreation!

2. Move looking this autumn.

I plan to head looking with Rip this autumn. We’ll cross to the native recreation farm with him evidently and with a bit of luck we will do a little looking on public land. If it really works out, we’ll cross duck looking with my dad, too.

Further looking coaching:

Sign up for an area retriever membership. I will be able to do that if it really works out, however I don’t need to put an excessive amount of force on myself to do too many stuff. The membership meets each Sunday morning in the summertime to coach.

AKC hunt take a look at. I would really like to go into Rip into an AKC Junior Hunt take a look at for retrievers. There are some regional occasions overdue July so perhaps we can input. If his breeder and teacher believes he isn’t in a position, then I want to nonetheless attend the development and practice.

I’ve by no means attended a hunt take a look at, however they’re a good way to provide canines looking apply. On the Junior Hunter point, the canine should retrieve 4 birds – two on land and two in water at distances as much as 100 yards on every retrieve.

The canine is evaluated on: marking the downed chicken, genre (eagerness & enthusiasm), perseverance to keep on with the task and trainability.

3. Input an Intro point agility trial.

We’re signed up for a elementary agility elegance this month. Coming into a tribulation within the fall can be an enormous step but when I apply with him so much alone I feel we will pull off a NADAC Tunnelers or Contact N Move direction at our native September trial.

I need to ensure to not rush him, despite the fact that. I plan to take him to a couple of occasions simply to take a seat and watch and learn how to wait lightly in his crate.

For the September trial, I plan to only input him in two runs and convey a toy with us into the hoop to make it a amusing recreation for him. (Toys are allowed however you get an automated Removing.)

Rip at 6 months outdated!

And ultimate however no longer least, Rip will naturally get started operating with me this 12 months. We’ve been doing loads of strolling to this point since I’m no longer actually operating a lot at 7 months pregnant.

I’m hoping to get again into operating in June or July and Rip shall be over a 12 months outdated and greater than in a position!

See my submit: When to begin operating with a pet.

So, that’s it from us! Thank you for following together with us this 12 months!

Within the feedback, let me know what you’re running on along with your canine!

-Lindsay

Comparable articles:

Get all of our canine coaching pointers right here.

Lindsay Stordahl is the founding father of That Mutt. She writes about canine coaching, canine workout and feeding a wholesome uncooked nutrition.

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