Art of Dog

Agility Fun Day 2011

2011-10-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

What a great time we all had this year! Thank you so much to Dave Geall for taking such wonderful photos of all the dogs! Sorry the audio won't go on the slideshow.

Summer Demo

2011-07-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month Art of Dog was asked to do a demo for all the kids at the local school/summer camp. Thank you to all my friends that were able to come out and help!

Young Sophie and Zephyr!

Congrats!!

2011-07-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a shout out to Brandon and Susie who entered their first trial last weekend. They also went clean in all three runs that they ran!! Way to go! It can very hard to take the plunge and go in that first trial but clearly they were ready!

Always Learning

2011-06-20T10:36:00.001-07:00

I just went to and enjoyed my fourth behavioural seminar with Joan Weston. We can never stop learning and improving our own skills and knowledge. Several of my agility students went to a number of them as well.
If you have never seen Joan speak, you really must. Not only is her work based in science but in so much experience.

Bad Blogger

2011-06-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry, too busy to keep up with my blog!!

I just wanted to give a shout out to Shannon and Tumbleweed who have started trialing in AAC agility and have earned some Q's!!

The same shout out to Audrey and Mosie who have also started to trial and Q. They also braved the Ontario Regionals this spring!! First time competing outside and on master level courses!! They even had clean rounds!!! Way to go for a green dog!!

Dog Agility is Rocket Science

2011-02-21T03:35:00.000-08:00

I really think this is a cute video! New students quickly find out just how much goes into a trial ready dog!

Congrats!

2011-02-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

Just a shout out to Audrey and Mosaic who have started to trial and are racking up the Q's!! Always fun to start off a dogs competitive career. Way to go guys!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-20T17:51:00.001-08:00

Agility Fun Day

2010-09-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

What a great time everyone had last week at the Agility Fun Day for all the students! The dogs did wonderful, the food was great and the company fantastic. Thank you to Dave Geall who came and took photos of many of the dogs running and offered copies to all!!! Check out the shots here

Thank you!!

2010-06-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to send out a big Thank You to Dave Geall who came out to the Ontario Regionals this past weekend and shot some AMAZING photos of Zephyr (and other dogs). He does such great work, he really has captured the intensity that many of these dogs have when they are competing! Please have a look at his website!!

Suzanne Clothier Seminar

2010-04-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

I just spent the last two days attending a Suzanne Clothier behavioral seminar in Guelph! I have always really respected her ideals and teachings and was thrilled to listen to her and watch her work with dogs and their handlers. All in all I would go and see her again and encourage anyone else to as well!
If you haven't read her book "Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships with Dogs" I highly recommend it! She is an advocate of dog training based in empathy, respect and balance to put it simply.
What a great seminar! It was also nice to know that the school I teach for and the way I have trained my own dogs is right on board with her teachings!

Outdoor Agility Classes Starting in May

2010-04-06T05:48:00.000-07:00

If the weather holds out as planned agility classes will start outdoors in Carlisle starting in May! I think everyone is looking forward to being outside after a long winter.
One big change that we are planning on this year as we get ready for the season....we are adding safety fence to our existing fence so that all our little dogs will be able to play in the agility yard this year as well!
Hoping to see some new faces out this summer!

Congratulations!!

2010-02-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say congrats to Pam and Cruise (see earlier in this blog to read about them) for taking the plunge and entering their first CPE agility trial! They managed 2 first place finishes with 2 clean rounds!! Way to go!! Check out their runs on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9FHMdnPEfI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBl3Rossdo8

Season's Greetings

2009-12-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to wish all my students and clients a wonderful holiday season, and new year!!

Cruise

2009-11-10T10:18:00.000-08:00

I have really enjoyed using this blog as a place to let people tell the world about their wonderful dogs! Here is Cruise another dog who is called a once in a lifetime by owner Pam.

Cruise was born in Stouffville, Ontario and is one of six puppies in a litter of Longhaired Whippets. He was born March 9th, 2004. His registered name is Renaissance Mystic Cruise. Funny how he got his name; Pam wanted a second dog, her husband said "No" but he wanted a boat, so a deal was struck and together they got a boat cruise!

He has earned his Rare Breed Championship and is only 1 point away from getting his Rare Breed Grand Championship with the Rare Breed Club of South Western Ontario. He is a Multiple Best in Specialty winner and only needs two more points to get his LWA (Longhaired Whippet Association) Championship. He also has his TT (Temperament Test), HIC (Herding Instinct Certificate), and his CGN (Canine Good Neighbour).

Cruise also has a few racing titles to his name. He runs tracks in 200 yrd. Straight and 350 yrd. Oval races and enjoys this very much!

Cruise is an intact male and has 8 puppies on the ground. Five are longhaired whippets,and 3 were from an oops with a friends standard poodle!!

Pam and Cruise have been doing agility for 2 years but just started with me this summer. They are hoping to trial next year, and I will be rooting for them!! They are a great team!

Here Comes Tumbleweed!!

2009-10-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

I have to start this post by saying that it's true that you should never judge a book by it's cover. Meet Tumbleweed or when he wants to get technical Amonvhar's Yosemite Sam, a Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen or better known as PBGV. They are a variation of the Bassett Hound, bred to be more agile and with a dense coat for working in the underbrush.

Tumbleweed has come up to do some agility even though he and his three housemates (Bentley, Whimzee and Sass) are all members of the Superdog performance team. Tumbleweed has also done obedience and trick classes, but agility is his favorite!

He came to live with his owner Shannon when he was 8 weeks old back in March 2007. He flew in from his breeders in Calgary on the red eye. His father was a Finnish and American Champion.

Well I have to admit I had my preconceived ideas about Tumbleweed being an agility dog as he is a very long bodied, short legged hound. Serves me right because you should see him fly!! He has tons of drive, is remarkably athletic for his build and is so happy working!! Look for him at the Superdog shows!!

Youu should also check out Shannon's website!! She is a local artist, well known in the dog world for her custom portraits, logos and book illustrations!!

Agility Fun Day

2009-09-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Art of Dog Agility Fun Day for the agility students!! A fair number were able to make it out for a great day to play!! Thank you all for coming out this season and soon we start the indoor winter classes!! Unfortunately I only managed to get a few photos!!! Sorry! Send me pics of your dogs and I will add them!!!

Say Hello to Ranger

2009-08-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

Meet Ranger, and Jocelyn. Ranger is a 2 year old Brittany Spaniel from a litter of 10 puppies. He is an extremely happy, spirited dog full of personality.
He is also a very athletic dog that will soon make a great agility dog! Ranger is also training in field work and completed many different obedience and clicker courses as a younger dog. He also loves to go hiking, canoeing and swimming. Chasing deer and small game is also something Ranger likes to get the chance to do!!
Jocelyn has taught Ranger how to ring a bell with his nose to go outside, as well how to play Nintendo wii!!!
What else does Jocelyn say about Ranger? Apparently he is a great fly catcher and rids the house of any unwanted insects. He is also the fastest dog at the dog park, coaxing other dogs to chase him and then leaving them in the dust. It is my guess that he will one day be able to leave the other dogs at the trials in his dust as well!! Hope to see them out there soon!

Meet Lance

2009-07-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

And of course to meet Lance is to meet his owner Stephanie!! I know them from teaching them at Scholars in Collars and now they are doing agility classes with me at my house. They are a great pair!

Lance is a four year old, fearless German Shepherd that is keen to work and has been doing some sort of training with Stephanie since she got him as a puppy. He also enjoys hiking, swimming, learning tricks and playing with his dog friends. He was apparently the lowest drive puppy in his litter (of twelve!) but I certainly can not imagine that!! He wants to work and loudly lets us all know about it when he shows up for class!

Lance is also a blood donor, a "universal" donor. Lance is allergic to cats, but it doesn't stop him from chasing them. He also has other allergies that he receives shots for.

According to Stephanie, Lance has been very trustworthy and quiet, uncrated in the house from a young age. The only thing he will get into is removing (but not breaking) dirty dishes from the sink and "washing" them until they sparkle. He has taught Stephanie to do all the dishes before going to work!

Lance is a fun dog with a very devoted owner that I enjoy teaching. I think he and Stephanie could have a lot of fun on the trial field as well. Hopefully we see them out there soon!!

Shout out!

2009-07-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

So everyone seems to be a bit shy about telling the world how wonderful their dogs are, so I'm going to start the ball rolling. I normally wouldn't advertise so to speak for a specific breeder, but I have to give a shout out to one whose dog I had the great pleasure of grooming recently. I don't claim to know about the particulars of Scottish Terriers, but I do know a good tempered dog when I meet one, or meet the whole clan! Wow how nice it is to meet a whole group of dogs all with great temperment, and personality!

Iris comes from Mucklewags Scottish Terriers here in Ontario. Big dogs in little dog packages she calls them! All of her dogs are just fantastic!!

I want to hear from YOU!!

2009-06-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, so for the students that are checking in here, just to let you know, next week I would like to take some agility photos before or after your class for the website.I hope you don't mind!

Also I would love to do some student bios (this would apply to grooming clients as well), for this blog. Email me a bio and some photos!

Have fun Suzie!!

2009-05-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Okay time to get this blog started!!
I just wanted to say "Have fun" to Suzie and her owner as they head off to Tennessee to a weekend get together of fellow Logotto Romagnolo enthusiasts.
Suzie is a rare Italian breed, called the Logotto Romagnolo. She has been my first introduction to the breed. Suzie is a shy dog, but due to all the great socialization and work her owners have done with her she is a treat to groom and I feel she is quite comfortable with me now!
I hope they have a great time!

New Blog-Welcome

2009-04-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new Art of Dog Blog. With the new website, I thought a blog to go with it was a must! Here new work, agility lesson info or clients dogs pictures will be posted. Check out the website!! Art of Dog!