A To Z Challenge - D Is For Decisions

Children learn from making decisions. A parent aims to teach their child the fundaments of right and wrong, about choices, consequences, and rewards for desired behaviour. It is quite the same for our canine companions. We allow our dogs to make decisions and choices for themselves. Making a wrong decision leads to learning, in the hope that, over time, the dog will make the right decision when he exercises his new knowledge again. Just like the human children that we nurture, dogs learn from their mistakes. Dogs are intelligent animals, and will, over time, learn what is right wrong through making decisions for themselves, with us by their sides to help guide them through the learning process. If a dog goes down on the command to do so, he receives a reward. If a dog does not go down on the command to do so, he receives no reward. Over time, he will learn that doing as he is asked brings exciting rewards, and will therefore continue to do as he is asked. Life is full of decisions, and, just because our dogs are dogs, does not mean that they are incapable of learning through experience of right and wrong. As the owner and a trainer of your dog, it is your responsibility to do nothing or say nothing unless you see the right decision being made! And, over time, your dog will learn what brings him rewards!

Ethel

We are joining the Blogging From A To Z April Challenge 2016!

Join in on social media - #AToZChallenge

A To Z Challenge - C Is For Competition - Agility Nuts KC 02/04/16

You compete when you feel as though you have trained enough to become competition ready. Competitions include many exhilarating, adrenaline-rushing, incredible, proud and unfortunately, sometimes disappointing moments. However, the real thrill of competing should be to spend quality time having fun with your dog, whatever your sport may be.

At Agility Nuts on the 02/04/16, we saw more success!

Earl

Earl came 2nd/18 in Grade 5 Jumping and 9th/35 in Combined 1-7 Agility! I was really pleased with how he ran, especially considering he ran a couple of his runs while it was drizzling and he dislikes the rain!

As for Ethel. her courses involved things that she hadn't come across a lot before or trained for, but I was amazed once again with how she ran! She sped around her courses, and only made small mistakes that are typical for such an inexperienced, young Agility dog and will improve with time, training and experience! Time wise, I have no doubt she would have once again placed high - probably won - if she had ran clear, which shows how much she has to give!

I am going to train the spread/double jump, snakes (jumps in a line) and continue going over the weaves with Ethel. She has already started to unleash her inner champion, and I'm incredibly excited about helping her unleash even more!

I am really pleased with both Earl and Ethel. The show consisted of many large classes and many classes had many grades combined, meaning it was more difficult to succeed.

We are joining the Blogging From A To Z April Challenge 2016!

Join in on social media - #AToZChallenge

Swinging Soundly On A Sunny Sunday

What better way to spend a sunny Sunday than swinging soundly?

Earl

We are joining Dachshund Nola and Sugar The Golden Retriever in the Black And White Sunday Blog Hop. Thank you!

SS - A To Z Challenge - B Is For Bond

When training your dog, it is important that you have a good bond between you. You and your dog make a special partnership, and should have a connection that enables you to communicate and achieve by working as a team.

Earl

There are many ways to build your bond. Playing, cuddling, walking, grooming, feeding and spending time training and trying new things together are all brilliant and enjoyable ways to strengthen your bond and increase your chances of success in training. Training requires both of you to put your all in and ensure your efforts are high.

We are joining the Blogging From A To Z April Challenge 2016!

Join in on social media - #AToZChallenge

We cohost the Sepia Saturday Blog Hop alongside Ruckus The Eskie. Please join us!

Pinch Punch Post - April 2016 & Blogging From A To Z April Challenge - A Is For Agility & Our FitDog Favourites

We have an incredibly busy day for you! This is NOT an April fool! We have our monthly Pinch Punch Post Blog Hop for April 2016, the first day of the Blogging From A To Z April Challenge of 2016 including our late theme reveal and official post, and finally, our tribute to the FitDog Friday Blog Hop which is holding it's final week of the hop after three years, hosted by SlimDoggy, To Dog With Love and My GBGV Life.

Happy new month! This month, we'll be participating in the first Kennel Club Agility Nuts Agility Show of 2016. There are only four days (two separate two day shows) of this competition each year, making it even more exciting! We are also participating in a local Agility Enthusiasts Show later on in the month, which only happens once a year. Although we aren't doing as much as we sometimes do during a month this month, we have some less frequent Agility shows that we simply cannot wait to go to! As you my have realised by now, Agility competitions are what make our months full!

Ethel

March was also a brilliant month. We went to Crufts, came 2nd in the overall ABL Senior League of the Agility Nuts Winter Series, and participated in the first outdoor show of the year and Agility Summer Series! Ethel also won into Grade 4 at Dog Vegas, winning three classes! Earl also achieved four 2nd places and two 3rd places! It was an incredibly successful and exciting month! Earl and Ethel also got an Instagram account for our blog which, so far, is doing really well!

We host the Pinch Punch Post Blog Hop alongside My Mutt Riley. Please join us!

We are also in the process of searching for new/additional cohosts! Please email borderterriersruleOK@gmail.com if you would like to cohost with us.

Now for our Blogging From A To Z April Challenge 2016 theme reveal!

Our Blogging From A To Z April Challenge 2016 theme is...

DOG TRAINING!

Following this theme, A is for Agility. Agility is our hobby and passion; we simply cannot do it enough! Agility is an amazing way to train your dog to do something impressive, give them the exercise required and work their minds, giving them mental stimulation, a job to do and a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

Ethel

We are joining the Blogging From A To Z April Challenge 2016!

Join in on social media - #AToZChallenge

The FitDog Friday Blog Hop is coming to a close. We have absolutely loved participating each week for what seems like an age and have really enjoyed and benefited from reading the contributions of others.

In 2015, we were given the Best International FitDog Friday Participant award as part of the Fall FitDog Challenge 2015. We were delighted to have been chosen!

One of my most popular FitDog Friday posts was Top 10 Ball-Winning Strategies For Dogs, where I explored how Earl and Ethel play through photographs.

Another of my most popular FitDog Friday posts was Improvising Your Home Dog Sport Training, where I explored how you can continue your training at home without spending a fortune on equipment or taking up valuable space in your house if your situation is not practical.

Another of my most popular FitDog Friday posts was Training Tales - Practice, Practice, Practice - By Linda, where our guest post, Linda from 2 Brown Dawgs Blog, wrote an article and shared her photographs of her own Training Tales with her hunting Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Thank you to SlimDoggy, To Dog With Love and My GBGV Life for hosting such a fantastic hop for three years. We will definitely miss participating!

Wow, what a busy day we have had! We hope you all have a brilliant weekend!

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