WOw that is neat to live on a small horse farm. Your dogs probably get plenty of exercise running around.
What does your dog dexter like the most? Perhaps that could be the lure to engage him. Or maybe he has ran around already and is tired. Maybe have to limit his activity to playing with you, or maybe limit his food intake so that when you have food rewards (if you use food rewards and not toy rewards) he will be more willing. I know how frustrating it can be. My Terra can get so excited that she can't sit still and of course that makes it hard for her to engage with me sometimes.
Today my pups are going to do the treadmill, and work out in the back yard this morning. Heeling around my (ghetto) cones, recall, the dog walk, practicing Bindi's push, Cody's "in" and Terra's "look". have a very busy day so will have to see what else unfolds. No walks today. Sometimes it is hard getting three dogs walked. I walk them separately so I can work on issues with each of them. So today is our treadmill day.

Hope all your training is very fruitful. I have thought of training Terra in tracking, she has her nose to the ground a lot and is sniffing the air and searching for those poor lizards all day. She may really enjoy that.
Sharon

Taught Helga to "take a bow" with marker training. You can see the gears turning in her head, in her eyes. The way she learns puts a smile on my face.

Dexter went for a nice bike ride, just him and I. Good pace but bearly made it for 30 min.

Harley did a very good track. He realy had to think as I tryed to chanllange him going under fences and over some cross country jumps. He did figure thing out easily smart boy.

One reason that I love this thread is that I'm able to visualize people who own multiple dogs taking the time to make sure each dog gets what he needs. I'm happiest with one dog, and all of my energy focused on that one, partly because I've seen far too many examples of people overtaxing themselves with more dogs than they can properly care for, even though said individual may not recognize or admit it. It's refreshing to know that all pack owners are not just hoarding dogs; that some of them do understand how to properly meet the needs of every member of the pack.

Me too, Duane.


It's a huge commitment, but aside from all the obvious requirements and benefits around providing each dog one-on-one training with me, I admit that it's pure pleasure to see each one's excitement and happiness when it's his turn.

When the pointy-ear dog sees me getting ready to take him off for a FST session, he is so obviously thrilled (with maybe just a soupcon of "Haha, just me this time! You guys stay here! Hahaha!") that it all once more clicks into place for me how individual they are.

Meeting the needs of more than one dog, and certainly more than two, is a major commitment.

And we see that commitment being honored here in many many cases. You are right: This thread in particular really highlights this.

Life with more then one dog can be fun if you are not over doged.
I would never have two Harley at once I don't hve the time or energy for that much plus the horses and teaching.

I would not be happy with just a Dexter. He is not realy want I was looking for but the BF loves him and I would not re home him. He seem happy with a nice bike ride or a run in the wood but the sport stuff is not his thing. He will do it but does not have the drive for what I like.

I would not one more dog at the moment even if some one begged me because I don't have the time and I am looking for a 3rd horse.

I have 3 dogs too and it is work. But I so enjoy it! Sometimes when they are all barking at once I wish I had only one dog. That was my original plan and it was not a rescue dog but a purebred, but my husband didn't want that. He wanted all three dogs. BUt now that they are mine, I love them!
TOnight my Bindi did not do as well in training class. She was just off. SHe was nervous or something and even things she knew she did not do that well at. There was no other dog bugging her or anything. She just had an off day. So we did our best.
Was not feeling well today, so didn't do any training except taking bindi to training class. Still looking for a competition obedience/RallyO trainer. Haven't found one in my area yet. My trainer I have now is for basically pet obedience. She is very nice and has helped me tremendously, she is giving me books to read and helping me learn by allowing me to go to yappy hour and watch the dog interaction.
Tomorrow will be another day and we will begin again.
Loved hearing about all your guys are doing. Practicing basics and perfecting them with all the dogs. They are all very sweet.
Thanks for sharing all your experiences. I just love to read them.
Sharon

I worked on teaching "speak", he's getting it...then some heeling on the street, strait fronts, hold...etc.

Woe is me... Sadie's BH is in five weeks, and she just started her heat. I thought (fingers crossed) it would come about six weeks ago, but she was late, so it now falls plop in the middle of our finishing work. Today we're getting broken positions and whining when required to hold a position.
She started the morning by urinating while tracking (at least she fought through the hormones and the ants to finish a 250m track), and she got distracted by a scent, causing her to blow a turn badly. OB started out okay, but her endurance wasn't there, and it started going downhill after a couple of out-of-motion exercises. When she started going to the truck when released, I knew it was over, got one last good rep, had alittle party, and brought her home. She's been stretched out on the tile for the past two hours, and is showing no signs of doing anything else for a while.

Poor Sadie. She feels like crud. She is blessed to have an understanding master.
Today is very hot again. I am getting really stir crazy. Anyway, when the pups get up from their nap I plan on working on recalls. I have asked my husband to help me by doing the restraining. This week I hope to work on recall while we camp. We will be gone from tues to friday. So today I want to work on recalls, Bindi on heels with obstacles to heel around. And I want to take her to somewhere where people are passing by and have her remain in sit position. Cody-going to petsmart early for fear issues.
Go through what he knows: place, sit, down, heel, retrieving basics, close it, dog walk, thru (tunnel) and hula hoop. Terra-heel, recall, down, sit, wait.
That's it for today, and will do the same, sunday and monday, then off to camping!
Sharon