Day 4: Canine Wilderness Companion

Today Margaret had a very big day!

We started with our usual morning routine, including Breakfast School, using her food and then toys as rewards for practicing the basics.

When she wasn't hungry any more, she was very interested in a stuffed lion, which I used as a reward for lying down, not jumping up, coming when called, etc.

When the first round of Breakfast School was over we went on our usual morning walk to the chickens, where Margaret practiced Stay (on a tether) and calm greetings when I came to release her.  

She also did lots of work with calm greetings when she first met  Debbie and The Moose for the day, followed by some chasing play with The Moose all over the meadow.

Then it was time for a nap to get ready for the main activity of the day - my monthly Canine Wilderness Companion Class. 

This class teaches dogs and their handlers useful things for hiking on trails and being out in nature responsibly and safely. Each month the group focuses on training for some of the test items below  - and then we go on a hike to practice. 

You  can't really do too much socialization with a young dog, as long as the experiences she has with other dogs are positive. Margaret was quite the social butterfly and enjoyed meeting the 12 dogs who came to class.    

Margaret meets Kate - they are the same age. 

Black Pearl gives Margaret an enthusiastic hug!

And they race off to play together.

Not everyone was quite so exuberant - like Gidget. 

 Margaret was wonderful with all the other dogs, playing nicely and adapting herself to the play styles and energy level of each individual.

Margaret had an amusing tendency to steal other dog's toys (very sweetly, but with some determination and stealth!)

Making off with Betty's toy

After the dogs had let off some steam racing around the meadow, playing chase and wrestling with each other, we got down to some Wilderness Companion training.

Margaret was demo dog for much of the class since she was with me - and she did a really good job!

Demonstrating coming when called (short distance)

Excellent focus

Calmly waiting for further instructions

In anticipation of mushroom season, we practiced Leave It - starting with teaching the dogs the concept of Leave It to Get It. In order to get the treat in their person's hand, they had to pull their noses away and give up on getting the treat. This immediately released the treat straight into their mouths. This was just the first step in a series of practice steps, in which we looked at how to gradually increase the degree of difficulty until a dog will "Leave It" (whatever "it" may be)  on cue. 

Next we focused on trail etiquette and did lots of practice with the dogs walking nicely on leash past other people or dogs, and focusing on their handlers all the time. 

 Next we worked on Drop It (good for Margaret any time of the year, not just mushroom season, with her penchant for pebbles!) 

To teach this, we allowed the dogs to choose a favorite toy from the toy box, and then worked in pairs. The dogs learned that if they dropped the toy they had, they got a better toy, a treat, and the original toy as well.    

Which one shall I choose?

This one!

Margaret holds a nice Sit Stay while I explain something to the group 

Teacher's pet!

Playing with a crinkle bottle toy as a reward for a good Sit-Stay

The second part of  the class is always an adventure hike. Today I split the group into two, so we could role play meeting people and dogs on the trail as we walked along. We hiked two trails that join up  and become one trail down to the river. We had a lot of fun practicing "real life" hiking scenarios on the way.

Margaret was allowed off leash much of the time, without even a long line. She stayed with the group and did quite well with recalls, given she had only been practicing intensively for a couple of days. 

At the river, Margaret swam and ran and swam and ran, fetching sticks in the river and having a great time.
 

When play began to get a bit too exciting , we all leashed our dogs and had them sit or lie down until they were calm, then released them to play again. This teaches young dogs how to self-calm, and play well with other dogs.  

Back in the meadow, we finished up the class with ice cream for dogs and people, and a raffle. I decided not to give Margaret any Frosty Paws (ice cream for dogs).  I wanted to be sure not to upset her tummy with something that might be new for her, since diarrhea might be a sign of a stuck river rock! She didn't seem to mind, and preferred having just one more play -- even after the end of the class, she was able to find a bit more energy to play with the Moose and Tresi after everyone else left.

Ever the thief, as a last game, Margaret stole one of the cones that we were using to mark a hole where yellow jackets were nesting!

Finally, it was time to rest. I put Margaret in her crate in my car with the tailgate open, and she fell fast asleep and stayed that way until I had cleaned out the chicken coop, at least an hour later.

She woke up long enough to eat dinner and then flopped back to sleep again, next to her pal, The Moose. 

What a great day with a great dog and her new friends! Margaret was an excellent student and a super fun playmate! Sweet dreams, beautiful girl!  More fun tomorrow!