Cat 3 tropical cyclone is heading this way so we are all on lockdown for at least 24h. Quick Gunoil search for the old boy to make sure he’s still enriched and happy. Need to work on him trying to eat the hide and the little look at me but at the same time we are doing it for fun. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUhIcrnDNfj/?igsh=MTVjbmdnMGRyZ3A4MA==

Two opportunities today to practise our "look at me" training for reactivity whilst on a local walk this morning. Aster was just on a flexi and I was nonchalantly leaving a voice note for a friend when we rounded the corner and Aster exploded into her long-dog howling bark at a lady with her very old and completely harmless golden retriever Luna. I quickly interrupted with leash pressure and we spent some time having her focus on me, look at luna, then look back at me etc. She was great and Luna's owner was so helpful just staying quietly at the side of the road whilst we worked. Then we met her again on the way back so i put Aster in a sit front whilst Luna passed us and she was great! Then we met another tied up dog down the road that goes nuts when we pass normally Aster looks to run at it barking but i interrupted very quickly and we did some focussed heel past it. Really pleased with that!

I got inspired by Darwin's key finding abilities of my mantrailing instructor's dog and I started to train my dogs to find my key. I'm training the indication ATM and it's going very well, especially for Dougal. I assume that's because they did scent work before. Now my dilemma is the cue - shall I try the same one as they had in scent work (search)? Or should I introduce another one? (You could argue that instead of starting from scratch I should have just introduced it as a new scent but I really want a solid and sticky indicaton.) The problem is that they have so many cues, scent and track for trailing, the Hungarian form of find it for finding food... I think I's get confused if I'd introduced a new one. And Dougal is going deaf anyway. What do you guys think? In the video you'll see Dougal trying different things like mouthing and pawing the object. It's quite normal for him, I'm going to use extinction. With him I want to go for duration now anyway The trickier thing is that Dee is too quick, she looks away before the food hits the ground so I'm a but stuck as I can't add duration just yet... Or who knows, I might give it a go and see what happens

It’s so hot here so back to scent detection. He was bit stiff and worried about searching around the door but this is what we are training for. I love how he was tired after 3 searches. Walks are so important but also scentwork is amazing on days we can’t get out. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUT36s1kdhT/?igsh=aXk5dzFraXk1OHpx I also have a dilemma I would love your opinion as dog people. I found a small lump on Frank’s back leg. It’s maybe a size of pea and not bothering him. Old Vet nurse in me would have rushed him to the vet for surgery today but I’m gravitating towards just leaving it for few weeks and seeing how it goes. He’s getting older and I hate putting him under for surgery plus with his skin the recovery is long and terrible often needing sutures to be in 3 weeks. I guess I’m just looking to hear I’m not a terrible dog mum 🙈😆

I just realized that I haven’t posted for few days but here is what we been up to. I’m trying to schedule 3 conditioning sessions, 2 beach jogs for at least 3km and 3 lead walks to Franks week to really work on that fitness. We have been also working on some scent searches. Trying to get creative here and incorporating some behavioral stuff to see how scentwork can help. Setting hides in slightly uncomfortable places like in the dark garage, under stuff or high so he has to climb up to build up confidence. I also signed up to Dr Melanie’s Move program, when sharing that on insta I got a message from a trainer friend and she said the program is terrible. Now I’m so worried I blew my dog course allowance for something that’s no good. Has anyone else done any of her courses? She seems awesome and full of knowledge but I’ve been burnt before 🙈