The following are simple instructions on how to create a French Ring style hurdle. For exact measurements for an FR hurdle check the rulebook or this graphic and adjust these plans accordingly. These directions require only the basic tools, a saw to cut the PVC and drill to make some holes. You can adjust these…
Focus for Heeling
This is how I start it with all dogs, pup or adult, trained or untrained. I do modify it as I progress and see either strong progress or issues. Each step is started in a neutral environment, as the dog progresses in that step distractions are slowly added. I hold my hands away from my…
Retrieve with Scent Discrimination
I wrote this article in 2007 in response to a question on Belg-L. Someone was having problems teaching their dog the AKC Utility retrieve exercise. This is not some breakthrough concept, I was just playing fetch with Enzo a number of years ago on a riverbank. I think it was back in 1996 or 97…
Diary of a Cruciate Injury
This is a diary of Kita's cruciate/stifle injury, and the various stages she went through during recovery. I had to say goodbye to Kita at 15 years old, about 12 years after her injury. She had lost a lot of flexibility in her knees at that point, but still ran around with the other dogs,…
Food Aggression – Changing the Attitude, Not Just the Behavior
While this article is titled “Food Aggression …” the concepts in the article can be applied to any sort of resource guarding. NOTE: dealing with aggression issues, especially if the dog has already bitten someone, is best done under the "hands on" guidance of a professional. Aggression issues can not, and should not, be diagnosed or…
Understanding Hip Evaluations
The following information and graphics was compiled from various WWW sources including the OFA website, discussion lists, and other sites. During an OFA evaluation, there are 9 different anatomic areas of the hip that are evaluated (Figure 1). 1. Craniolateral acetabular rim : This should be sharp and clearly defined with no irregularities or spurring…
