Canicross event in Monaghan

Have you ever run with your dog?
Have you ever tried CaniCross?

Last weekend I went with Jago to a Canicross event in Monaghan.

Canicross can be defined as "running with your dog attached to a belt".

But it is much more than that. At the event there was bikejoring (dog attached to the bike) and also scooter.

I was supposed to run as Jago and I went for a bit of training in the last few months, but unfortunately I am injured at the moment.. so we went only to check the event!

I have to admit that usually I prefer to run with Jago off lead... well he prefers that way.
There is a lot of polemic about off lead dogs and less places where it is possible to let your dog run free.. but I am not entering in that discussion now.

So we got used also to run together with a belt.. I don't have serious harness and belt but just a cheap one bought on ZooPlus.

When we arrived at the event Jago was seriously scared and stressed. He could hear dogs barking and howling in the vans (a lot of huskies, so a lot of talking there :D ). He felt the excitement I guess and didn't really understand what was going on.
But he has been a great dog.. on the lead for hours, just being around, watching other dogs+people running and being friendly with everyone.
Unfortunately he wanted to play with some dogs and he couldn't, because they were "working".

I posted some pictures of the weekend on the other blog but you will find more info about CaniCross on their website

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dog training: sit

***Please note that I am NOT a dog trainer, so I am just sharing my experience with my own dogs.. 
I may be doing wrong things and I am open to suggestions :) ***

 Let's start the training series with a basic command: SIT

With Jago has been very easy to teach him sit, but maybe not for all the dogs is so easy.

First thing to remember is that the dog should have fun during the training and should be able to concentrate.
So it's easier to start in a quiet environment, if he is a puppy maybe not when he is hyper excited.
Slowly you can trying moving to more busy places trying to capture his attention.

Sit was the first command we learnt at the puppy classes.
We have been taught to give the command sit as verbal command without body signals.
He should be able to "understand the word" even if we are giving our back to him.

How to begin?
The easiest thing is to use the natural moments when your dog are going to sit down to tell him the word and praise him.
He will start the association and you are not forcing him but gently using his natural movements to teach something.
Then you can start with the training.

Stand up and show to your dog a treat.
Move the treat near his nose.
If the dog sit give him the command "sit" straight away and praise him.
The timing is very important.

Why we shouldn't give the command before?

When we start with a new command the dog wouldn't understand the word.
So it's better to say the command at the same time with his action.
When the association between movement and word will be better you can give the command in advance and expect a reaction.
You should avoid giving 100 times the command expecting a reaction.
If he doesn't get it he will not understand better if you repeat and the command will loose intensity.

When he will be able to execute the sit following your hand with the treat you can start to training him to only follow your command and giving the treat as praise later.

To reinforce the command you can ask him to sit before opening the door, or before letting him play or before giving him his meal.

Training is an important part of the relationship with your dog, will keep him entertained and you will feel more confident if you are able to control him!

Let me know if you have any issues, advice or experiences to share.

I am not a dog trainer and I am only sharing my experience with my dogs.

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is it possible to train two dogs together?

***Please note that I am NOT a dog trainer, so I am just sharing my experience with my own dogs.. 
I may be doing wrong things and I am open to suggestions :) ***


Well I am trying, just for fun :D
I've read that is not possible because they are too distracted or for other reasons.
I am not really trying to train them, but yesterday when they started to be bored / too much tennisball obsessed I started with Sit - Down command and it works really good!

Now, Buddy doesn't give paw and I saw he doesn't like to be touched on the paws.

I will progress with some "stay" maybe in the following days and then let's see :D
It's just because I don't want to stop Jago training and these first days I don't want to exclude Buddy from our activities.

Aren't they cute???

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Puppy classes - video :)

I found this "old" video today of Jago puppy classes last January.
They were all less than 5 months old and this was the play and recall training

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Training: recall!

***Please note that I am NOT a dog trainer, so I am just sharing my experience with my own dogs.. 
I may be doing wrong things and I am open to suggestions :) ***

Well, we all know that one of the most important things is to be able to control our dogs.
And especially... to make them come back when called!

I thought it was kind of impossible... I've never been able!
So with Jago I started early.
I got Jago when he was 10 weeks old, a scared tiny puppy.
Since his 1st walk outside I started the recall training.
I was bringing with me treats and toys.
Obviously EVERYTHING was more interesting than me.. but, as he was very young and still unsure of himself,  he wanted to stay next to me and I used this moment to make him believe that coming back to me was GOOD!

Maybe your dog is not so young, so things can be different.

Obviously you should start in a safe place, like your garden, a dog area in a park or a place where it would not be dangerous for him to be off leash.
It's better to start in a place with not too many distractions.
I started in a green area in front of my house, very quiet.
If you are not confident enough you should buy a long lead, in the pet shops they sell also these kind of equipment.
Choose a command and always use the same.
Every time that your dog comes back to you praise him a lot and give him always very special treats or reward.
He needs to associate the idea that coming back to you is something very good.
It is very important to call him "often" and release him to go play again.
He should not think that coming back means the end of the games and going back home.

We attended puppy classes.
We were letting the puppy playing all together and then trying the recall.
Every few minutes.
It was sooo difficult as the puppies were all excited to play together!
Obviously Jago and me were the Worse of the class!
:)

But now I must say that he is quite good.
He is always coming back when I call him and stopping if I need to stop him.

Do you have any special suggestion you want to share?
Which is your experience with your dog?

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