#training goals

[mesacollie]

And while I"m setting goals, I have a few for Mesa as well...

First: Get him barn broke.

I've been exposing him to the ranch in small doses. Letting him ride along in the Jeep when I'm just stopping in to change blankets or check on quick things. He stays in the Jeep for those, but I leave the windows cracked so he can get exposed to the smells, sounds, and sights of the ranch. And I've taken him out on quieter, emptier days to do some focused training on lead near the horses.

But I NEED him to be barn-safe. I want him to be able to sit quietly at ringside without barking or chasing horses in the ring.

I think it's going to be a challenge, because he's so motion-reactive at times. But I'm gonna try.

Second: Break his reactivity to trucks.

This one is going to be even harder, but he's steadily grown worse and worse about reacting when trucks go by. Not just big rigs or trucks towing trailers now, but even just regular pickup trucks and occasionally larger SUVs. It's annoying and potentially dangerous.

So, we're really going to try and get over it this year.

Part of my 2026 plan is to look for a used truck and horse trailer to buy, so I have complete freedom to go ride wherever I want. And I want him to ride with him sometimes.

I'm actually hoping once I have a truck of my own, it'll be a little easier to start getting him to relax around pickups, at least. But we'll see.

Either way, it's gotta stop. So, we're going to put in the work. For his safety and my sanity.

So that's Mesa's training goals for the year!

[mandana-the-service-pup]

Training Goals for 2022

Airplane Ready // Next year I need to be able to take a plane ride to Denver (Spring/Summer) to see my specialist and a trip to Texas (Fall) to visit family. They aren’t particularly long flights, but she needs to be very reliable. Solid HR alert, forward momentum pull, good in crowds and being handled by strangers, comfortable in new environments and maneuvering tight places, extended tuck under seat and comfortable with the feeling of flying.

Doctor Appointments // She needs to be able to hold a down stay for about two hours. Ignore people coming in and out. Be ok with me being in different positions and having tests done to me.

Festivals // There are some events I want to be able to attend with her. She needs to be able to ignore food and be comfortable in crowds, around loud noises, dancing, kids, other animals and unexpected activities.

Home Visits // Be polite and ignore door knocks, people entering, seated greetings, waiting on place during visit, waiting in crate during visit

Skills Needed For 2022

HR alert

Forward Momentum pull

Brace for standing

Extended Down or Tuck

Off Leash Recall

Default Leave-It (when encountering food on the ground she needs to be able to ignore it without a command incase I don’t see it first)

Kids (screaming, running, talking to her, approaching her, touching her, approaching from behind)

Dogs (barking, lunging or staring at her, walking the same direction, walking towards her, groups of dogs playing without her)

Adults (talking to her, touching her, conversing with me for an extended time, coming into the house)

Me / Hubbins (one of us leaving the car, leaving her with a stranger in public for a couple minutes, lifting / carrying / restraining for emergencies)

[handypolymath]

Went to a yoga class at a little nonprofit studio nearby. Observations:

Adding muscle to the body and iron to the blood makes yoga possible without falling into a sweating shaking mess. Without pain and nausea, I can now see where flexibility comes in.

I will provisionally add a couple drop in classes to the mix this winter, see where that goes.

My yoga mat was not in fact destroyed by being left in my car for a couple years, but I do need to roll it the other way for a bit.

The practice intention I chose this time worked far better than others I've tried like "flexibility" or "calm" or "the only way out is through". So I'll keep using "gentle connection to the meat sack" to bring me back into focus on what I'm trying to do.

[the-disreputable-service-dog]

Dog Goals for 2020:

Kibeth: CGC, TKN, TKI.

Stitch: CGC, TKN, TKI.

Jasper: CH (miscalculated, she’s still 95 points), GCh, Top CO in the US, CGC, TKN, BH, Something rally.

These are only training goals. I’m so bad at about titles

[twobigears]

2019 Goals

Before the year gets too far away from us, let’s look at the things I’m aiming for. Interestingly I think I have more goals for myself than the dogs this year, but the dogs are affected by my personal goals.

myself

Hike more, worry less! Always a good goal. Might be slightly more difficult to hike with a new puppy that physically won’t be able to hike as much (plus same for Ryker getting older) but we’ll do as much as we can and bother people to dogsit when necessary.

Less procrastination. Continuing this goal from last year. I did do a lot better, some slipping, and I want to keep improving.

Start expanding into online training. I’ve got some plans for this with the new puppy!

Improve time management. I’m definitely one of those people who “doesn’t have time” for things when really I waste a lot of time on useless shit. I did start working on this the last few months and am getting better but still a work in progress.

Similarly, more thoughtful use of social media/computer time. This was something I also worked on throughout 2018. I focused on reducing time on social media, leaving/unfollowing groups and people that contributed to a poor mental state. This year as my adulting computer responsibilities increase and I look to do more online business, I’ll have to work even harder to be thoughtful about this and use my computer time wisely.

Chandra

Move up to Masters levels! This will be a bit ambitious since we barely finished a fraction of our Novice/Starters titles last year. But knock on wood we’ll have no issues with injuries and heat cycles and will be able to trial more.

Attend GSDCA nationals in October, since they will be local. I’d love to have her in Masters for this so we at least have a shot at some awards, buuut I doubt that will happen.

Consistent. dogwalk. performance. in. trials. We are getting there, I think we are sooo close!

Establish a semi-regular training plan to rotate through the things we need to work on. Courses, sequences, obstacle skills, jump class homework, etc.

And most of all, stay happy, healthy, not be upset at the new sister haha

Ryker

Continue being a decent pasture pony and hike when he’s able

not be a dickhead to the new puppy (aaand this mostly falls on me in terms of management because Ryker will be a dickhead)

[miraaauwtch]

[adogandfish]

Apparently Archbishop Fulton Sheen trained his dog to “pray” and used “It’s Lent. Mortify yourself” for leave it and “Easter!” for a release word. Training goals

[theravenofwynter]

I’m officially changing my goals from the intangible ‘I wanna lose weight’ to a more realistic (for me) ‘I wanna be able to do a 20km run.’

I saw that I’m able to run, at a steady pace, for 5km, so now to up the training so I can get to 20!

If weight loss happens on the way, awesome. If it doesn’t I won’t be too torn up about it! Still keeping a notebook with all the training done, and the Weight Of The Day though, for posterity.