A Film Called 'Fetch'

Dinky my Leonberger was in a short film called 'Fetch' where she had to carry a severed arm around a farm!
The film directed by Jack Davies has been selected for the best of boroughs film awards, which is in September. I get to go to BAFTA with the rest of the film crew to watch them!


http://filmlondon.org.uk/best_of_boroughs/fetch/

There are lots more photos and screen grabs on the 'Fetch' facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Fetch-Movie/164983960227239

Training Workshops and Quick update

I have updated the training workshop page with all confirmed dates for September and October



Ive finished my first year of the BSc at Bishop Burton, its has been a bit of a rollercoaster and hoping next year will be better.

I'm part way through my CAP Assessors Course and have completed 3 supervised CAP1 Assessments. On Monday Im off to Worcester to the Learning About Dogs Teaching Diploma Course for a week and then back the following week to Helen Phillips Advanced Gundog Week. Tommorow is CAP3 training at WaggaWuffins. I think Helen might be sick of the sight of me by the end of the month!!!

Waggawuffins is Closed From Monday the 15th to Friday the 19 August and reopens on the Saturday as myself and Matt are on the Advanced Gundog Week.

Ive been mad busy trying to fit everyone in for home vists etc before i go and feel I need the break now! Puppy Classes are busy as ever and we only have a couple of places left in August! We have had some very very sweet pups come to classes :-)

Thats all for now I need to chop treats for tommorow!

Blackrod Scarecrow Festival 2nd and 3rd July 2011

The annual Blackrod Scarecrow Festival in Bolton is run over a weekend with each day being at one of the two schools in the village. Saturday I was asked to do something and due to us working Saturday morning I agreed to go and do a clicker training demonstration in the afternoon so I took Dinky with me and Carole and Tess met us there.
Sunday we had arranged for all of us to be there all day. Carole thankfully brought all the gear in her trailer for us. We did several displays through the day, Agility, Canine Freestyle, Gundog, Triebball and Clicker Training

We took Samson and Tess the Border Collies, Teal and Cara the Springer Spaniels, Dinky the Leonberger, Pickles the Working Cocker and Diesel the Rottie.

The weather was beautiful and we had already picked a spot prior that would have shade! So the doggies were fine. The dogs met lots of people and this was Diesel and Dinkys favourite part as they got lots of fuss!

Sarah and Samson did a Freestyle demo



Matt and Teal did a Gundog Display

The others helped with Triebball and Agility Demos

There are lots more photos on the WaggaWuffins Facebook page

New Spring Summer Workshops

I have updated the Training Workshops dates on the website

http://www.waggawuffins.com/Courses%20and%20Workshops.htm"

We have Agility, Shaping, Puppy, Treibball, mixed Activites and Hetty van Hassel is coming to do a Heelwork to Music Workshop of the 26th June 2011

Here is a video of Hetty doing a Heelwork to Music Demonstration at Discover Dogs in London

Wagga Wuffins Launch Puppy Life Skills Sessions - 'Training and Socialisation in the Real World'

We have had many discussions about what pet owners really need to help them turn their puppies into well behaved sociable adult dogs.
We run very successful puppy classes at Waggawuffins where we include controlled socialisation, basic training and education of owners.

We have found that some people find it hard to transfer these skills outside into their day to day environment and some people don’t have the confidence to allow their dogs to got off lead or socialise with other dogs without our supervision.
We always train dogs and puppies in controlled environments such as fields, halls and centres and although they are safe and controlled having many advantages, we should also be out there in the real world supporting the training and socialisation there too!
So we have designed WaggaWuffins Puppy Life Skills Sessions!
These sessions have been developed by our behaviourist Jane Ardern with the support of one of our trainers Matthew Phair and are training sessions of small groups in public places. One is a visit to Bury Town Centre and the others are Local Parks (Heaton, Phillips, Burrs)
If you think you might be interested in these sessions please visit our website for more information
http://www.waggawuffins.com/lifeskills.htm

Irresponsible Dog Owner!

Today I met up with my Brother, his wife, my nephew and their chocolate lab for a nice Easter Sunday Stroll round Phillips Park. I took Pickles with me.

We were having a lovely walk and stopped by the Hall in the Gardens while Charlie my nephew who is 2 was blowing bubbles. Suddenly two very large black Labradors came charging over towards us off lead with their owner calling them and they totally ignored her.

The largest lab spotted my sister in laws bag and made a bee line for it, went straight in and dragged out little Charlie’s body warmer running around with its new trophy, then the other lab ran up trying to get it and the two dogs started to play tug quite aggressively with it tearing itand slobbering all over it!

I picked Charlie up in my arms quickly not happy that these dogs where having a great time tearing something apart that was covered in my little nephews scent!

The dogs then dropped the body warmer and pummelled Pickles into the Pond who then couldn’t get out as the Labs were all round where she was trying to get out. The owner went to the pond where my sister in law was trying to get Pickles, asked was Pickles her dog, put hers on lead and just walked off!!!

My sister in law came back to us with a torn slobbered jacket and I asked if she apologised, she said no she just asked if Pickles was her dog.

Very angry I shouted that an apology would be nice and she just looked at us and walked off!


Her friend who was with her had a Lab on lead all the time, maybe she should take a leaf out her friend’s book and be more responsible and keep her out of control dogs on a lead, or maybe get them trained!!!!

Clicker Training Days At Waggawuffins

Clicker Pre Sports Puppy 8th May 2011
10am till 4pm £30 per handler - Max 8 dogs
A day for anyone that is planning to do sports with their puppy or if you just want some fun training ideas! The day consists of self awareness through shaping, targeting and object interaction, finding your puppy’s motivators and reinforcers and training games to build a stronger bond and focus

Clicker Free-Shaping Day 22nd May 2011
10am till 4pm £30 per handler - Max 8 dogs
A full day of learning about Free-Shaping
Free-Shaping builds stronger more reliable behaviours.
The day focuses on teaching object interaction to help with directional and distance control, agility and assistance dogs support, physical movements from paw lifts and head turns to tail wags and lips licks, directional movement’s like spins, turns and backwards circles

Foundation Agility Workshop 12th June 2011
10am till 4pm £35 per handler - Max 6 dogs
For Pet Dogs! The day involves introducing your dog safely to all the equipment using clicker shaping and capturing. We teach the dogs to work the equipment independently, confidently and safely. Our methods enable your dog to be calm and focused while having loads of fun!

Treibball Training Workshop 19th June 2011
10am till 4pm £35 per handler - Max 6 dogs
Learn Treibball with your dog. It’s not just for Collies, ball herding suitable for any breed. We teach the foundation exercises with clicker training. During the day we will teach the outrun to the dogs, then introduce the dogs to the gym balls where eventually we look at teaching the push/drive and directional control

All workshops instructed by Jane Ardern FdSc CBT, DipCABT, CAP2, CAPBT, MAPDT1058

Contact: Jane@waggawuffins.com or call 0161 762 0174 to book

www.waggawuffins.com www.youtube.com/waggawuffins