Talisman & Totem SportDogs

"So there is no point in teaching them obstacles, if they lack the basics. So instead of training them, I started to get to know them better, and most of all – we started to play. Just play, no strings attached. And pretty soon, things started to change…" Motivation Puzzle ~~~ I love to be inspired. In training dogs, there are so many who are giving advice, but some "speak" to us, so well! Little nuances of underlying approach and respect for who a dog is, comes through to me in what I see in training. I want the shining eyes and heathen pup, with not so much perfect self-control...not having any issues with motivation in my dogs, but always looking for new ideas to improve our bond and fun in training. Polona Bonac is brilliant and I am glad to be in her newest running "Let's Play" online class.  If we like to have fun, why wouldn't our dogs? WE see them do silly things like tossing a toy into the air to catch it, a game! That joy and g...

Started this thought 2 months ago and never finished it...life has been busy! Dog injuries, illness, work, general craziness in life-all can eat up your time. Now that things are quieting down a bit, even with dark coming earlier each day-getting a bit more time to train the dogs, enjoy a gorgeous New England Fall and filter out unnecessary things.  Try! is about keeping going and focusing ahead to joy, even as roadblocks are thrown in your way...adversity and criticism can be motivators to build more Try!, unless you let them get you down... ~~ One of the qualities I love most in a dog, is Try! A dog who has Try! will often keep working towards completing one of the tasks we ask of them, or they are the pup who doesn't quit trying to get a rolled ball or treat out from behind a cabinet...the relentless ones. Some Try! very calmly, others are very obvious and overt. Sort of like the difference in introverts and extroverts in people-there are the boisterously loud "look at...

It's that time of year again. July 4th is days away and summer storms are kicking in, here in the NE US. I have an 18 year old cat who is terrified of both. I find myself with a young dog who is showing some signs of noise worry, so knowing this is not one of those things that just passes-we are working on it. In the past I have had an older dog start to show storm/fireworks worry and found a few things that helped.  There is a thought that there is a genetic predisposition to sound sensitivity, yet this pup has parents, siblings, 1/2 siblings, etc who show no such worry. Hers was likely a traumatic event, at a key developmental period and while hitting another age of maturing, is at an insecure time right now in general. We can't be with them all the time, even if we wish we could. I am sure it does follow genetics in some cases, but then have also seen sound worry dogs produce pups with no such worry...so that is interesting too! Some dogs as they get older will start to ...

The simple things in life, are I think the best. Walking on the beach after a long hot day, feet grounded in sand and water, watching your dogs play-simple joys! Simple wisdoms are also inspiring. None of us are perfect, but the basic simple wisdoms of the Four Agreements are words to live up to, and to live by.  ☮ “1. Be Impeccable With Your Word Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.  2. Don't Take Anything Personally Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.  3. Don't Make Assumptions Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadn...

Analysis Paralysis I think that I think too often, to the point where sometimes it feels as if my brain is in an endless spiral of thoughts. I spend a ton of time looking at pedigrees and trying to analyze & predict (guess) what risk factors are, and will be for a cross. It is sometimes hard to feel OK with a decision. In this case about dogs, of course! Border Collies are generally a super healthy breed and longer lived. They do have some genetic issues, both predictable and those that can pop up when not expected. I miss having my Mentor, that I could talk this stuff through with, so try to reach out to others who I know have experience, when I have questions. The saying “you don’t know, what you don’t know” applies to so many things, including being a breeder. You can try to know, but the info isn’t always there. After-the-fact analysis of temperament and genetics in a cross is also just as, if not more important-some people I respect share that info too. It is ...

Listen to this tune...while you read...Unicorns do exist! All I want is the PERFECT puppy. Is that too much to ask for? Only half serious, or is that half kidding? What may be perfect for me, could drastically be different than what you consider perfect (collective literary "you", not YOU personally...although I am sure some might take that personally too 😉). No secret that I love dogs, love all my pups-the imperfect ones as well. Always looking for the special Unicorn. If I am looking for the pot o' gold, think I may just have created it in this little one. We shall see! I have a house half full of aging and retired dogs, who I honor with the couch and daily runs, but not really formally "training" anymore. I looked at Ggrail last night and I know she misses agility, but she has always been more of a homebody and at almost 10 maybe we will go back and run some UKI performance jumpers or steeplechase, but she is happy just hanging out. Since she retir...

12/21 UPDATES: Luckily nothing new to add to genetic issues, other than the newer, yet unpublished EOD (Early Onset Deafness) study/test that I and many Border Collie breeders have utilized since it became available. As part of a panel, it meant going back and re-testing many of my dogs, and as a result of discovering that Two Carriers had unfortunately been bred prior to the availability of this screening test-so far, so good! The test study and data has yet to be published, so until that is the case-it is another useful tool to use in planning breedings, but I am skeptical of why the Data has not been published, peer reviewed and publicly shared?? I am sure with so many testing their BC's, it is providing a greater sample base for helping try to identify more than the 4 markers currently in use. Hopefully, within this next year Wisdom/Mars will share that info, after buying out the original company. Right now, I wait. Careful, to use a clear/normal, but "show me your data...