As I have been travelling around North American over the past two weeks, my now 19 week old puppy has gotten lots of great experiences. First he travelled with Lynda and I on an 18 hour car trip down to Perry Georgia. He was a model of perfection. Never once making a peep while crated all that time. After his first 9 hours in the car (with 2 brief breaks) we stopped at a hotel at 11 PM. I was a bit concerned as he had never stayed in a hotel and he was w-o-u-n-d up!
Happily for me after a short 30 minute romp around the hotel room he happily settled down in his crate without complaint and did more of the same the next day as we headed into Perry.
With the relaxed schedule of the agility trial in Perry allowed me to get him out and train him a ton in between runs. It was well worth taking him all that way as he socialized with many puppies and dogs and got lots of great rehearsals of how to behave at agility.
Immediately after Perry I hopped on a plane for a business trip to Denver while Swagger and my girls headed home with Lynda. Swagger got to go to work with Lynda (who is a government truck inspector in her “real” life). Lots of new “firsts” for the baby boy. The rumbling of big trucks, the constant squawk of big rig air brakes — he heard it all as he relaxed in his crate outside in the midst of all of the hub-bub!
This weekend was a bit of a relaxing one for John and I. We took a dinner river cruise last night and today decided to stop by a flyball tournament to visit with some friends. I decided to really put Swagger’s distraction training to the ultimate test and bring him along. John called it his first and last flyball experience :).
Enjoy.
Today I am grateful for “Critical Elements” workshop upcoming at home this weekend. Swagger gets to work with all of the puppies, I will be “priming the pump” this week:). Anyone with some free time and wants to come out and watch, I will trade off free auditing to the first person that wants to come and video Swagger and I over the weekend (Sunday 19th and Monday June 20th).
Hi Susan
Did you say inner circle people will get the webinar on line? I am teaching Thursday 🙁 and everyday or would surely be flying to audit 🙂 HA!
Love the video – Swagger is such a handsome boy!
I will definitely be taking my next puppy to agility, flyball, whatever to desensitize them to distractions (especially other dogs running) early on! I did not realize that would be an issue for my current BC until we started agility classes! We had to backtrack and work on ignoring distractions instead of more “fun” skills. (although being able to go to agility class without my dog going nuts now counts as fun for me!)
Susan, I also wanted to tell you how awesome Swagger looks and the training, well, what can I say? So enjoying seeing you train him, helps me so much, even though my pup is 13 months now, she already has benefited so much from Recaller 2.0. No only her, but especially moi!!! :o}
What is his new toy? A bottle with sand in it? Funny what babies find interesting 🙂
So wish I could get another week off of work to come to AiDT but alas coming to vidoe seminar instead (have a mandatory meeting at work during AiDT).
Have fun Swag man, can’t wait to meet you!!!!
I sure wish I could do it! My son is getting married on June 22 in California. I don’t know that he would understand if I said I’m going to Canada to video a class for Susan Garrett.
Certainly looks like Swagger had a lot of fun on his adventure, and sounds like he was a very good boy about it the whole time too! It does make me sad though to see anyone say first and last flyball tournament, wondering why it was that bad?
woohoo…although I think that may be 1.30am in the UK!
Great to see Swagger with those giant legs!
Swagger is amazing!!! (Susan actually! 🙂 I am crazy excited for puppy class. I get a new puppy in two weeks. I hope the class starts soon!!!!
Shhhh, I can’t say much right now . . . I will announce more later– but if you have a puppy, will ever own a puppy at some point in the future or have some things you would like to change with your current dog; mark your calendars for Thursday June 23 at 8:30 PM (EST – ie New York Time). It will take about an hour of your time and I promise it will be amazing:)!
I wish I could come and video you! But it’s Father’s Day and I just can’t ditch dear old dad!
My husband will video for you on Sun/Mon. We will be driving (with our dog) to Say Yes for AIDT and Critical Elements. I registered husband to audit AIDT with us, but not CE, because he’s a big distraction. However, baby Swagger in your video reminds me that distractions are a training opportunity, not something to avoid … not that I avoid my husband 😉
OMG such “Garrett” withdrawl! I can’t get over how much his legs have grown! Thank you for catching us all up. Even your quick snaps shots are inspiring and energize me to continually step up my interactions with my young dog and training plan. I have just begun trialing my young 2y/o. Our first full day of a trial did not go so well. He worked but slowly and nervously. I was initially panic stricken, but your voice came through Susan…Embrace the holes. I came home with a new training plan and our next trial I was blessed with a happier and faster puppy. We came home with 2 novice standard legs with 1st places and 1 jumpers leg and a second. The lesson…Be open to the learning, continually re-evaluate your plan, and I am so thankful for your willingness to share your positive outlook and training with the rest of the world. Your recallers class really made such a difference in my ability to train a dog. Thank you again for all you share.
Would that include flights?
Great to have a new post, he’s looking good!
I would absolutely love to come and video you and Swagger. What a brilliant opportunity. I very sadly have to work on the Monday. If however, your very generous offers still stands for just one of the two days, then I would be on Cloud Nine!!!
Keeping my fingers crossed
If I was closer to Canada, I would definitely take yu up on that offer, Susan! I happily envy all who will be there. Maybe one day….