Tomorrow (Saturday) is the Keeshond Karnival and Symposium hosted by the Keeshond Club of Delaware Valley and as our last dog trick video leading up to it, I’m going to share one of Clancy and I’s first stage acts at a dog talent show from last year.
We hope to share even more tricks that Clancy has learned since this performance tomorrow around 1pm (it will be a challenge with how hot it is going to be) and please look for more trick videos in the near future. Clancy still has many more tricks up his furry sleeve! I have to count up how many milestones we have hit on the www.KeesRescue.com petition to make sure I have posted that amount of dog tricks. I still have a couple of other stage acts I need to publish (still having technical difficulties and need more time.)
We hope to see many of you tomorrow at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, NJ! As a reminder, bring your own picnic lunch! I hear there is water on site and baby pools will be available for your Keesies to cool off in. The event is approximately from 10 am – 3pm and the order of events should be as follows:
Smelly Dog Treat Hunt
Agility Demo and Walkthrough
Best Dutchman’s Trousers
Best Dutchmen’s Grin
Longest Tail
Musical Squares
Lunch
Trick Show (starring Fancy Clancy!)
Raffle
Name that Body Part
Recall Competition
Fastest Eater in the Park
Presenting Your Keeshond to the Public
Grooming
Clancy wins 1st place at the 2014 Maryland DogFest talent show… he also won it in 2013 and for the third strait time in 2015! Here he is holding a gift bag with his 1st Place certificate next to two of his famous trick props.
Sorry for the late post! Been a busy day with work and family stuff!
Yesterday you saw the video of Clancy going to get his leash and harness so he could go for a walk, today you get to see him “take a doggie for a walk”. These dog trick videos are dedicated to helping to bring attention to #FreeTheKees, telling New York to strengthen and enforce their puppy mill laws so that over 50 Keeshonden being neglected at Marjorie’s Kennel in Harpursville, NY will have a chance to be rescued like the 51 of them that already have been who are now living a quality life in the hands of caring people. Clancy’s “Dog Trick of the Day” has also been to promote the Keeshond Karnival and Symposium that will be held this Saturday! Enjoy!
There’s not many things cuter than a Keeshond walking a toy dog! Come see him do it in person this Saturday!
A young spectator at Clancy’s dog trick show at a children’s birthday party takes his “playing dead” trick too seriously.
Enjoy this quick, cute and funny video as we work on more of Clancy’s trick videos to be posted soon. (I’ve learned my lesson on promising time frames, so let’s just say “soon.”)
Remember to please keep spreading the word to #FreeTheKees being neglected in Marjorie’s Kennel in Harpursville, NY. Visit http://www.KeesRescue.com for more information. Thank you!
Finally, what you have been waiting for… it’s Clancy playing the Bongos with a finale of him playing both the bongos and the “piano”! This is just the beginning of what we have in store for everyone! When we have time, OR when the #FreeTheKees petition on www.KeesRescue.com reaches 15,000 signatures, we will post a new trick video! Once 20,000 signatures have been reached, you’ll get to see Clancy do something really unique and cool! (Hint, this video is a preview of what’s to come!)
We have surpassed 10,000 signatures on the petition to help put an end to the suffering of the Keeshonden at Marjorie’s Kennel, a large puppy mill in upstate New York, who had promised to turn over her dogs to Keeshond rescue, and now is going back on that promise to continue to breed her unhealthy and neglected dogs. Thank you to everyone that have already signed. As promised, here is that video of Clancy playing the bongos in return for the petition reaching 10,000 signatures! Keep spreading the word! Clancy wants to keep showing off his tricks!
PLEASE do not support puppy mills by purchasing a puppy from a pet store or unknown person from the Internet… you will be dooming that puppy’s parents to a horrible life. Either adopt, rescue, foster OR buy from a reputable breeder. Please do your research before taking that cute puppy home. You will be happier and the poor dogs suffering at places like Marjorie’s Kennel will be happier that there may be a day that puppy mills are put out of business.
Wow, what an incredible and productive two months that Clancy and I have had! I have so much to write about, so stay tuned to Kees Of Dog’s Delight this summer! For now, to keep my promise to the FUNanimal Pet Services Facebook fans, here is Clancy and I’s first dog trick training video demonstration. This is how to teach your dog to sit up on their hind legs like a bunny… often called the “sit pretty” or “beg” trick! It’s a very cute trick that you can build on to do other fun and more complicated tricks.
Trick training is one of the best things you can do with your dog. It stimulates their mind, builds a stronger bond between the two of you, and gives them a “job” to do (not to mention how much fun it is to hear the “oohs and ahhs” from spectators). Trick training should always be a fun time with your dog! You must never get frustrated (just quit that session if you start to feel any change in your demeanor) and always set realistic goals in a training session. It does take patience, a lot of positive reinforcement and time. However, before you know it, your dog will catch on and be happy to have learned something that pleases you. Soon, I will write a full article on dog tricks, the benefits of training, some tips and more videos of other tricks that Clancy knows. For now, enjoy seeing some of the things that your dog may be capable of!
I’d like to share with you the video I submitted as part of Clancy’s Trick Dog Champion title application… I had to keep to a certain format for the application’s sake, so Clancy does have many more tricks up his furry sleeve! Before you watch, please keep this in mind:
Clancy had to demonstrate in this lengthy video that he could perform the foundation of many dog tricks: Coordination, Mouth Targets, Paw Targets, Finding the Scent (this section is kind of long because you had to do this multiple times in a row without being edited), Being able to work at a Distance from you, using only Silent cues, and then you finally get to the really fun tricks… demonstrating a behavior Chain and Expert level Tricks (which some were also performed to demonstrate other categories of the application.) I will eventually compose highlight videos of Clancy’s best tricks… many of which didn’t fit in this trick dog champion title application video. Check out our FUNanimal Twitter and/or Facebook page to be alerted when one is posted on YouTube!
While I am proud to brag that Clancy is the first titled “Trick Dog Champion” Keeshond (and was the first Intermediate, Advanced and Expert titled Kees 😉 ), I’d like to give a shout out to A*Starz Through the Looking Glass, aka “Allison”, for being the first ever titled Trick Dog (novice) Keeshond. Thank you, Donna Stekli, for introducing me to the sport of dog tricks. Congrats to the other titled Keeshond Trick Dogs out there and everyone that “does more with their dog”.
Keeshonden are super smart and may test your patience with their bad behavior they are capable of when they are bored… teaching them tricks is the perfect way to stimulate them and to distract them while having FUN (Keesies are all about FUN!)
So please have fun watching (I hope to get some “oohs and ahhs” out of you) and check back here occasionally for more information and to see more videos and posts of Clancy’s tricks and other going on’s. Please be sure to watch the last few minutes of the video for the best tricks. Enjoy!
(I do offer trick training classes in my new pet services business, FUNanimal Pet Services, LLC. If you’re interested and in the DC area, please let me know! Clancy and I are also available to do trick shows… so if you want to liven up your party, get-together, workplace or any event with the fluffiest, cutest (IMO), and smartest dog around, let me know!)
Heel. Sit. Stay. Come. “Boring…” may be what your dog is thinking as it mechanically completes the requested actions from their master. While an obedient dog is to be respected in the community, especially in competition, it may not be very fun for many dogs. Fortunately, there is an alternative (or just a fun extra dog sport to be involved in!)
It’s RALLY Obedience! Watch Clancy and I in a Rally trial here:
What is Rally Obedience? Imagine being in the competition ring and being able to talk as much as you want to your dog, even in your puppy-wuppy voice if you wish! Pat your leg to encourage your dog to stay with you, repeat the commands to your dog if you need to and just be as silly as you want, to RALLY your dog as you follow a course of signs indicating what you’re supposed to do. It’s so much better than trying to remember an obedience course and listening to a judge telling you what you should do. You can even say “re-do!” when you know you’ve messed up and want to re-do the station.
Rally should be fun and encouraging! Clancy and I working as a team in our first AKC Rally trial.
That’s what makes Rally Obedience fun and a great way to either start in or enhance your teamwork skills to improve in any dog sport. Rally is a relatively new dog sport focused on success in obedience in a more relaxed setting than regular Obedience. It is offered by various governing bodies. Clancy and I compete in both the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club since that’s what’s offered in our area.
In Rally, there is a course composed of signed stations that tell you what to do. Your dog heels beside you as you approach the signs that range in telling you to turn in a specific direction, circle, or giving your dog a command or series of commands. Clancy loves that we can have fun together through the excitement of my voice and the encouragement in moving my arms. I enjoy the challenge of having to quickly read the signs and remember what they said… having to ensure I complete all parts of the station while being mindful of my positioning… and being sure to sound upbeat and positive to keep Clancy motivated!
It’s also fun that any dog over 6 months of age is welcome to compete, you just need to register with the organization (mixed breed dogs can do this too!)
In Rally trial competitions, you will be given a map of the course when you check in. Before your class level starts, you will have at least 10 minutes to be able to walk the course and should practice with an “imaginary dog”. (Your real dog should either be crated or held by someone outside of the ring at this time.)
You get to walk through the course before your competition level begins and ask the judge any questions!
RALLYCOMPETITIONS (Trials)
The ring steward will call you “on deck” when you are next to enter the ring to be sure you are ready to approach the “Start” sign as the previous dog exits the ring.
A Rally exhibitor on deck to go in the ring next.
When you approach the “Start” sign, you have your dog sitting (or standing) to your left in heel position. The judge will ask “Are you ready?” (now take a deep breath and make sure your dog is focused on you), and when you reply, “Yes”, they are able to start judging you and you can no longer touch your dog. The judge will say “Forward” and you then tell your dog to heel as you head to the first station. A timer begins as soon as you pass the “Start” sign.
In both the AKC and the UKC, you begin the course with the perfect score of 100 points. Points are deducted throughout the time you are in the ring anytime you and your dog are not exhibiting the ideal vision of a Rally run. These could include if your dog is lagging behind while heeling (though it is nice that unlike traditional Obedience, they aren’t looking for “perfect heel position”), not responding to a command or taking an excessive amount of time to obey your command, or handler errors such as having a tight lead, slowing to the dog’s pace, performing part or all of a station incorrectly, touching your dog, etc.
The judge is looking for you and your dog to walk briskly and most importantly, work together as a positive team. Harsh corrections (such as jerking the leash or yelling at your dog) will be severely penalized and may “NQ” you (Non-Qualify). Be sure to read and to understand the Rally regulations of the organization that you are competing in (they do vary slightly, along with the signs) AKC Rally Regulations and Description of Signs
Scores are posted next to your armband number after your run. Times are not disclosed until after placements have been announced.
A qualifying score in the AKC and UKC is 70 points. At any point during the course your deductions put you lower than the 70 points qualifying score, you are then marked “NQ” and are excused from the ring. Sometimes, depending on the judge and how busy the schedule is, they may let you complete the course as a training opportunity. At the end of each Rally level, the judge will ask all those that received a qualifying score back into the ring to award them all a Qualifying Score ribbon, which also means you earned a “leg” towards that level’s Rally title. They will also award those that received their third “leg” a ribbon for receiving a new title. The judge will then announce the 1st place, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners based on the highest scores.
If there is a tied score, the tie is broken by whoever had the fastest time (which is the only reason they time you.) Only twice has time been a factor for Clancy and I… which is suspenseful because while you can see what everyone’s score is ahead of time, you don’t know the times and just have to wait to hear the placements from the judge. If the judge isn’t too busy, you may approach them after the awards presentation for your class and ask them what stations did you lose points on so you know what you need to work on for next time.
Clancy and Stacie earn their AKC Rally Novice title and 1st place!
MORE RALLY SPECIFICS AND TIPS
Rally Obedience is a fun way to train your dog obedience and a variety of additional listening skills, for there are a large variety of exercises and many of them defy the set traditional Obedience exercises. For example, the “Call Front, Finish Left, Forward” exercise. While you are heeling, you tell your dog to “come front” where they walk past you and do a U-turn to sit directly in front of you. You then tell your dog to return to heel position by doing another U-turn on your left, HOWEVER, unlike traditional obedience where the dog should immediately sit on your left automatically, you start moving forward as soon as your dog clears your path before they had a chance to get into the heel position, which makes the dog have to catch up to you to heel by your side.
Some of the signs can be difficult to understand which is why it’s always good to either take a Rally Obedience class or participate in “run-thru’s” which are often held by local dog training or kennel clubs (often you don’t even have to be a member, you just pay a fee to do a run-thru and instructors or knowledgeable volunteers will answer any questions you have and correct you if you make a mistake.) Join Clancy and I for Rally Run-thrus! Check out our FUNanimal Meet-up Group.
Well, I could go on and on and on about Rally Obedience (and I will), but the goal of this article was to introduce you to this fast growing sport that serves not only as a wonderful foundation to get you ready to compete in other dog sports, but it is a fun way to train your dog to want to listen to you and strengthens your bond. I also find that Rally Obedience offers new challenges you don’t see in other dog sports. Having to focus on the signs and remember exactly what they said (it’s an entirely different experience in the competition ring… you and/or your dog may suddenly seem like you’ve never done it before… the sign says do a circle to your left and you circle to your right, or the dog doesn’t seem to remember what “sit” means).
Clancy tied for 1st place in Rally Advanced, however we had the slower time so we took the 2nd place honors.
Not to mention all the distractions you could encounter in the competition ring that you don’t see in practice runs or at home. Such as a wooly caterpillar crossing your path so your dog stops heeling to investigate and finds it more interesting than listening to you… (ahem, Clancy!) Or new smells draw your dog’s attention away from you, or loud noises, or just other dogs. That’s why it is best to practice random exercises during your travels with your dog. While you’re shopping at the pet store together, suddenly do a “come front, finish” exercise… while you’re taking a walk past a barking dog behind a fence, suddenly do a 360 degree turn while telling your dog to look at you instead of the barking dog.
Repetition, repetition, repetition in a variety of settings with a treat that you can give your dog quickly (and that they can consume quickly) as soon as you get the desired behavior from your dog, will eventually get you to where you want to be. The more you do it, the better you’ll both get! Do not give up on your dog!
Even spending just a couple minutes every day practicing a move or two will make you a better team!
Being owned by a Keeshond, I have learned you also need to share in the sense of humor they have. They are fun-loving dogs that want to please you, but also just want to have fun. Especially with emotional breeds such as the Keeshond, Rally Obedience is a wonderful way to increase your dog’s focus, your trust and bond, and enhance your training while meeting lots of great people!
(Live in the DC area? I have just started a Meet-up group through Meetup.com to practice Rally Obedience and traditional Obedience (with other fun dog stuff in the works). Learn more at www.Meetup.com/FUNanimal or on my business website: www.FUNanimalPet.com)
Rally Obedience… Another way of being your dog’s best friend! ~ SSB
P.S. Look for future blogs targeting the different levels of Rally Obedience. ALSO, Coming Soon: I will share my experience of competing in the AKC Rally Nationals Competition in Harrisburg, PA with Clancy that was on Friday, March 28th! Thanks for reading!
Trick training is one of the best things you can do with your dog. It stimulates their mind, builds a stronger bond between the two of you, and gives them a “job” to do (not to mention how much fun it is to hear the “oohs and ahhs” from spectators). Trick training should always be […]
Heel. Sit. Stay. Come. “Boring…” may be what your dog is thinking as it mechanically completes the requested actions from their master. While an obedient dog is to be respected in the community, especially in competition, it may not be very fun for many dogs. Fortunately, there is an alternative (or just a fun extra […]
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While the point of Conformation events (Dog Shows) is to define the best breeding stock of pure-bred dogs, many responsible dog owners would like to compete in the show ring with their pet dog whom they had altered. When I got my keeshond puppy, Clancy, I decided I wanted to try every dog sport I […]
Heel. Sit. Stay. Come. “Boring…” may be what your dog is thinking as it mechanically completes the requested actions from their master. While an obedient dog is to be respected in the community, especially in competition, it may not be very fun for many dogs. Fortunately, there is an alternative (or just a fun extra dog sport to be involved in!)
which is why it’s always good to either take a Rally Obedience class or participate in “run-thru’s” which are often held by local dog training or kennel clubs (often you don’t even have to be a member, you just pay a fee to do a run-thru and instructors or knowledgeable volunteers will answer any questions you have and correct you if you make a mistake.) 
Kees of Dog's Delight 