So sorry guys! Here are the rest of the lessons!
Day 3-
Lesson 1
Today we are going to introduce your pet to different types of surfaces and start learning some games! Let's start off with the surfaces! Dogs & puppies should get used to walking on all sorts of things, being up on stuff, and even on unstable ground for doing things like search & rescue. To start off, take your pet to as many playscenes as you have. How does your pet act in the scene? Energetic? Scared? Adventurous? Pick your pet up and set them on any ledges there might be, how do they react? Note them down and take pics!
Give them a Break!
Lesson 2
Take your pet to a place with a lot of room to run. Bring out a frisbee and just set it down on the ground. Does your pet ignore it? Paw it? Sniff it? Pick it up? Want to play with it? Note it down! If your pet shows interest in playing with it, pick it up and set it down a little ways away from your pet. What does your dog do? Do they run and retreive it? Do they care? If they show no interest, pick it up and wiggle it. How does your pet interact with it? If they keep showing interest, go ahead and give it a small toss. Let your pet chase after it and see if they can catch it. Do they try to catch it? Do they succeed? Do they wait till it lands then go and get it? Note it down and take pics! If your pet is able to catch it and catch it well, perhaps you have a Frisbee dog on your hands! Certainly note that down and keep your eye out for any open Frisbee or Disc Dog competitions!
BREAK TIME!
Lesson3
How about some jumping? If you have a puppy, be sure to use only a small jump or a hoop you can keep low to the ground. Puppies shouldn't be jumping too high when they are young, right now you just want them to get used to the idea of going over an obstacle. Bring out a jump and set it down. What do they think of it? After they've fully investigated it, hold it in your hand, real still and see what they do. Do they come and paw it out of your hand? Do they instantly jump it? If they paw it out of your hand, ignore it, pick it up and hold it again. Repeat. If they jump it, be sure to pet them a lot, maybe give them a treat if you have one handy and how about a game with one of their favorite toys you found on the first day? Try again, do they do it faster this time or not want to at all? Note it all down and take pics!
Wow, another long day you guys are doing great! Be sure to post pics and how things went! What did you learn today?
Day 4-
Lesson1
We are going to start off today with some Retrieving! By now, your pet should already be retrieving with all those toys we played with on the first day. Pick out some toys, even if they aren't your pet's favorite, maybe even grab some awkward ones that would be weird for your pet to carry around. Go to a non-distracting scene and take out one at a time. Set it down, see how your pet reacts. Do they want to play right away? Are they unsure? Give the toy a toss, what happens? Do they go pick it up? Do they bring it right back or run off and chew on it? Note it down. If they run off, try calling them to you. Do they come right over? Do they listen at all? Have fun with this one and practice!
BREAK!
Lesson2
Time for some flyball! We've already taught your pet how to jump 'hopefully', and we've already taught them how to retrieve. How about we put the two together? Get out the tennis ball if you have one or another small sized ball and give it a toss. Have the jump ready, pick up the jump and see what your pet does. Do they just bring the ball back and drop it? Or do they jump over the jump? If they drop the ball, toss it again. This time after they pick it up, call them, then pick up the jump. What happens? If they dropped it again, this time after they pick it up, give them a quick pet, call them, then pick up the jump. What happens? If they don't do anything because they want more attention, trying picking them up and setting them back down. Pick up the jump again. Work with this and see what works for you and your pet to get them to hold on to the ball while they jump. Be sure to take notes and take pics!
BREAK
Lesson3
Time for some Agility! One obstacle at a time, take out any obstacle that you have and work on getting your dog to perform the tasks. Take notes and observe how they react to the obstacles, what works best for you to get your pet to do the obstacle. Take pics!
We're really trucking along! Post your pics and notes!
Day5-
Lesson1
Even if you never plan to do Schutzhund type stuff with your pet, it can be a lot of fun and rewarding for you and your pet! Bring out any tug type items you have and see if you can get your pet to tug! How do they react to the toys? Do they enjoy it?
Take your pet to a non-distrating scene and see how long it takes them to sniff around. Note it down. How long do they sniff for? Do they sniff in one spot or follow a trail?
These are very basic, yet a huge part of schutzhund training! Perhaps you have a protection dog on your hands!
Lesson2
Remember those livestock your pet met a while back? Let's take one out and see what your pet can do! Just let them be and take pics of your pet interacting with it. Do they look like they are herding at all? Do they go out and around the livestock? Bite at the livestock? Play with them? Bark at them? Take notes! What happens when you call your pet and move your hand around? Does the dog respond to you? Are you able to move around and get your pet positioned where they should be around the livestock? Take out a post, can you get your dog to herd the sheep around the pole by using whistles and moving your hand? This can take some practice, have fun with it and try to take pics where it looks like your dog is actually herding
Perhaps you have a natural born herder!
WOW I hope you learned a LOT about your pet and got some ideas on futrue careers to focus on with your pet! Keep an eye out for shows to enter your pet in, I bet with more practice they'll bring you home some ribbons!
Please post a normal pic of your pet with out a background either sitting or in a down - doesn't have to be straight on to the camera.