Dexter - Tunnel

Yesterday my mom, Andy, and I took Dexter and Fada to the BRAG building.  Dexter did get to go to the BRAG building on Monday for Neat's class, however that was a bad decision since that class is probably the loudest, highest drive, barkiest class I could have taken him too.  It was a little overwhelming.  However in an empty building with Fada there, it was no problem!  Lots to check out.  He was *very* adventurous, even climbed a mountain of sandbags and walked across some wobbly broad jump boards (mini dog-walk or teeter?).  We introduced the tunnel to him.  We didn't want to shrink it too much, because as mom learned with Fada, for dogs that small, the ridges in the tunnel become obstacles themselves!  He wsn't into taking treats down there, but very into getting pets, so we just did it for praise and play.  Fada helped out by making it a game.

After the tunnel, we attempted to walk Dexter back and forth to get a shot of his gait.  We kind of did - then Fada intervened!

And one last clip of them playing.

Dexter - Video Diary - 101 things to do with a box

I tried to do 101 things to do with a Box on Tuesday, but he was too distracted (as I mentioned in yesterday's post).  We did it again yesterday when I got home from work.  Fancy was outside, and Panic got put in a crate in the van.  It went much better!  My training session was too long - something I am often guilty of.  Watch the video!  Oh, and we had a lucky thing happen.  Our cat is also clicker trained (somewhat), and I had the dogs put away but forgot about the cat.  Well she heard the clicking and came running!  Luckily she was on the other side of the crate, and lured him right in it!  I should have jackpotted there.  Learning experience I guess!

And Panic felt left out that she doesn't have a blog, and she is a Faux-Po after all so after we trained Dexter, we worked on shaping Panic to put four feet in a tupperware container. We got two pretty well! We'll work on that third or fourth foot today.

First training post

Last night, I introduced Dexter to the clicker. I started out by charging the clicker - clicking when I said his name and he looked, and rewarding. That went well (boy do those treats have to be small though!). Then, decided to do "101 things with a box" - which was a milk crate on it's side. However then we started having distraction issues. I had shut Fancy and Panic in the bedroom so Dexter would be left alone during our training session. However, our house is a ranch, and he could easily hear them in there. Panic was crying and scratching at the door - upset that it was not *her* I was training. He kept going over to the gate which was blocking our living room from the hallway, and whining wanting to see what she was going on about. My 101 things to do with a box game quickly turned into me clicking for him coming back to me or staying with me. I'm not sure he knew what he was being rewarded for.

I think for future sessions I will have to have him around less distractions. I'm not sure what to do with the girls... Put them outside? It's cold! Maybe I can put them in crates in the van, or take Dexter over to my mom's basement... we'll have to figure it out!

New blog!

Hello, myself and my mom (Lisa Baird) are creating this blog to chronicle the agility training and competing of our Podengos - Dexter and Fada. I will introduce myself and Dexter.  We are hoping other Podengo owners will also contribute!

Dexter is a 4.5 month old PPPs (Portugese Podengo Pequeno Smooth), born 7/7/08. He just came to live with me and my husband, Andy, this past weekend. He is doing great so far! I am a clicker trainer, and have just begun to introduce the clicker to him.

I got my first dog in 1993, a Border Terrier named Peanut, and began training and showing her in both agility and conformation (Jr Showmanship). She was a difficult dog who did not have a lot of motivation, and sniffed a *lot*. Looking back on it, I am surprised I had the patience to get through the issues we faced, but it helped me to become a better trainer. My second dog, Fancy a Sheltie, I got in 1997. She was a big change from the Border Terrier! Fancy is a very fast and motivated dog, so she really helped me to become a better handler, and also helped me learn a lot about clicker training and shaping. My husband and I now have Fancy, and a mixed-breed who we got in 2006, named Panic. Panic is a fast, motivated, intelligent dog who has been a joy to train and run. We have had our issues (contacts and table in the agility ring!) but working with her has always been a lot of fun.

I am looking forward to the new challenges which Dexter will bring. I have never trained a dog as small as he is - even my Border Terrier was big for a BT, about 14". I have also never trained a hound before. I am hoping my training with the sniffy terrier will come in handy here!

I would like to start a video diary of Dexter's training, so look for some youtube posts coming up! We will likely start with tricks to teach him about learning and to build a relationship between him and me.