Ready, Set, Go - ADT 2011 Scavenger Hunt

Let the games begin! 

The Applewoods dogs are begging for you to play! 

We came up with a total of 12 questions for the scavenger hunt. Lets get started! 

Example 

The list of questions looks something like this...

Name at least one distraction used in class this year that can be caught. 

You have to e-mail us at office@applewoodsdogtraining.com with an answer like... 

Dead Frozen Mice, seen in this post 

http://applewoodsdogtraining.blogspot.com/2011/05/dead-frozen-mice.html

Sounds easy right? Remember that first person to find all the answers wins a copy of Mud Heaven and a Back to Work DVD. There is a second place prize too, a 2012 Applewoods Dog Training Calendar. You can read more about the prizes in our contest announcement post. 

ADT 2011 Scavenger Hunt

1) In one of the river pictures, something besides dogs, people and vegetation can be seen on the bank. It is right by the edge of the water. What is it? 

2) Name two dogs that have shown in the Obedience ring this year, and provide links to the post that features their accomplishments. 

3) There is cat in the mirror of one of our pictures. Which post is that picture in? Send us the link. 

4) What is the phone number of the company that took away Margot's favorite Catawba tree?

5) Tell us the name and breed of two puppies that are new to Applewoods this year. 

6) In one video, ring boundaries are defined by something else besides baby gates. What was it? 

7) Our big wading pool has fish, and what else printed on it? 

8) What did the dogs help to clean up after Hurricane Irene? 

9) Tell me what our blue, "Applewoods Dog Training" vests say on at least one side (not the top). 

10) There is a dog holding a trashcan lid in one of our photos. What color is it? 

11) One picture has a sign in the background that reads, "Best With Expert Advice." Where was that photo taken (type of place is fine)? 

12) How many dogs took the Canine Good Citizen test at Applewoods this summer and how many passed? 

Winners and the correct answers will be posted on January 7th.

We look forward to receiving your entries at office@ApplewoodsDogTraining.com.

 Good luck!! 

ADT 2011 Contest

We have had a blast this year at Applewoods! 2011 blew by, bringing with it a host of new Obedience titles, lots of new students and an overwhelming amount of dog training opportunities with our Day Care and Boarding dogs. Wow!

To wrap up the year, we are having our first ADT Scavenger Hunt!!

Mark your calendars! On December 31st, we will post a list of questions (we don't know how many yet... expect 10-20). The answers to each of the questions can be found in the 'Applewoods Today' blog posts from the past year. It's your job to answer them, and answer them before anyone else. E-mail all entries to Office@ApplewoodsDogTraining.com with the answer to each question, and the post that you found the answer in.

Whats in it for you? Well, besides reliving the great year at Applewoods, there will also be prizes offered to the first two people who can answer all the questions correctly.


FIRST PLACE PRIZE: 

1) A copy of Mud Heaven, by Margot Woods.

Mud Heaven is a collection of short stories. There are stories to make you laugh, to make you cry, to entertain you and to inform you. If you enjoy having a dog around, you are bound to enjoy this collection. More information on Mud Heaven can be found HERE. 


2) The Back to Work DVD


The Back to Work DVD is a 90 minute instructional DVD that walks you through the first five weeks of the Bedrock Training Method. If you are a student at Applewoods, you probably already have this resource. 


SECOND PLACE PRIZE:


The second place winner will win a 2012 Applewoods Dog Training Calendar. The cover of the calendar is shown below.

Get Ready! Scavenger Hunt is coming on December 31st!!

From The Pack

The Applewoods Pack came together after a wonderful holiday weekend to celebrate with a party of their own. For all of you heading back to work this week, we hope this photo brings a smile to your face and makes the transition a little easier! 

Merry Christmas! 

Tis the season...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night:)

email address

For those of you who really like a link to click here is the same address as an easy one click away:

office@applewoodsdogtraining.com

Looking Back, Going Forward - 2012 Calendars

It has been a fun year at Applewoods. We are celebrating this year full of dog training with a 2012 Applewoods Dog Training Calendar. Each month features one photo from the corresponding 2011 month. If you have spent any time at Applewoods this past year, odds are you will recognize a dog or two as you make your way through the 2012 calendar. 

The news about 2012 Applewoods Calendar availability slipped a little early and 37 are already spoken for.

If you are interested in having a calendar of your own, e-mail us at the following address... 

office AT applewoodsdogtraining DOT com

Replace the AT with @ and the DOT with a period, remove the spaces and your good! 

Let us know how many calendars you would like (they make great gifts) in the e-mail. 

Each calendar is $12.

Outdoorsy Type

Burly and Rugby took a training/shopping trip to Bass Pro Shop for some new and unique distractions last weekend. The distractions start as soon as you walk through the door, and continue as you make your way around the store. 

The giant moose that is on the other side of the rock climbing wall didn't make either of these boys blink. I don't think they noticed it at all. 

Burly stood out among the bright yellow kayaks. We had to go "fishing" to get his ears up. We had just the tools to do it while standing there too.  

I have no idea if people actually use these little oars. If there was a Rugby-sized boat, this small paddle would be perfect for him to row along with. 

From boats to bears, they saw it all. Their favorite part wasn't the distractions, or the shopping. It was all the attention they got from the other shoppers and employees. It was a successful trip!

If you have never been to a Bass Pro Shop before, go! You are missing out!

Fall Field Trip for Samson with his Applewoods trainer...Roxanne

Field Trip # 4 for Handsome Samson...here we go...


Oh...the legs belong to Roxanne!


Another golden training moment to practice good manners with wee'wittle peoples!


Kisses from dogs..Yuck!


Samson..it's water and you ARE A WATER DOG, don't you know that yet:)


Time to rest and relax before the long jaunt back home.


All in all, twas a lovely fall field trip!

Roxanne

This Month at Applewoods

November 11th - 13th 

Applewoods Students to compete in Obedience Trial in Salisbury, MD

November 12th 

Elementary Class Graduation and Distraction Test from 9:30-10:30 AM

November 16th 

Middle School Classes begins from 7-8 and 8-9 PM

November 24th 

Happy Thanksgiving! There will be NO Continuing Education Class for this week.

Halloween Party

Happy Halloween!!

The Applewoods dogs had a great time at our Halloween Party last Thursday night. 

We have all the pictures posted on Facebook. Click on the list to the right to find them. There were some great costumes, including a horse and rider team as well as the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood! 

Calm, Quiet Puppies

We couldn't have fit any more cuteness into today's schedule if we tried. I love sitting in on the Preschool Private Consultations and there were TWO this morning. One of the things covered in the consultation is the Long Down exercise. This is the single most important thing we teach dogs at Applewoods, and it is the first thing covered in all of our training programs. Everyone wants to teach their puppies to settle, right? 

This Great Pyreness puppy, and a Bulldog puppy both got a good head start with this exercise. We used to call this the Sit-On-Your-Dog exercise, and it still slips out every once in a while. What's the problem with that name? We didn't want people to think they should literally sit ON their dogs. 

You can read more about the process here:

http://sanityshome.blogspot.com/2010/01/sit-on-dog-aka-long-down.html

And pictures to match: 

http://sanityshome.blogspot.com/2010/01/sit-on-dog-pictorial.html

A New Title For This Canine Partner

Steve and Sasi put their training to the test in the Obedience ring this month. Sasi was entered in Novice A at four trials. The first two in Beltsville, Maryland, and the second two in Point of Rocks, Maryland.

September 24th was her first show, her first (of three) leg towards her Companion Dog Title (CD), and her first ribbons. Sasi earned herself a green qualifying ribbon, and a lovely second place ribbon!

On September 25th, Sasi clearly got the hang of the Obedience ring because not only did she qualify for her second leg, but she went home with the first place ribbon!

Two weeks later on October 8th in Point of Rocks, Sasi finished the title and earned an insurance leg with a second place and a first place, respectively!


We hope these two will have a long Obedience career ahead of them. Sasi certainly enjoyed the experience and has discovered the excitement of having an audience! Congratulations on the new title and wins, Steve and Sasi!

What to do on a rainy, dreary day? The Stick Game!

So what do the Applewoods dogs do after their workouts and I'm still working a dog in the Summer Office - where it's a misty, rainy, dreary day?

They play The Stick Game, of course!












Then, it's time for everyone to snooze. This is the 'yellow lab dog cluster' group on Downs.



And who is this under my chair? Samson, the 5-month old Newfie puppy snoozing away.



And that's what you do on a rainy, dreary day at Applewoods Dog Training:)

Roxanne

Congrats to Roxanne and Diego!

Roxanne and Diego entered the Poodle Speciality here in MD today. This was Diego's first entrance into the AKC Obedience Ring Trials. Diego received a 191.5/200 score and 3rd place.

Way to go Roxanne & Diego! Now onward to complete the next two competitions before the end of 2011 so Diego can earn the coveted AKC CD (Companion Dog) title:)

This Month at Applewoods

October 8th 
Elementary Class starts at 10-11 AM for six weeks

October 15th 
Canine Good Citizen Test from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

October 26th 
Elementary Class Graduation and Distraction Test from 7-8 PM

October 27th 
Halloween Party during the Thursday Continuing Education Class. Come with your costumes on!

Best Trick

The dog that won it all... Sugar! Roxanne and Sugar put their Applewoods training to good use for the show. Take a look at their performance below.

Some commands that were used during the skit...
Heel: The foundation of teamwork. Being able to move fluidly with your dog to and from any destination. Place: A go-to-your-spot command that can be generalized to send the dog to their crate, mat, the car or the couch. 
Fetch: The working retrieve was used to have Sugar hold the bag, bring back the bowls and carry the place mat out. Mark: When there are multiple items to retrieve, being able to indicate one over the other is a great help to the dog and the handler.
Come: A reliable recall is the most important thing you can teach your dog. The recall was modified and used to call the dog to heel, and is included in the working retrieve. 
Sit: And automatic sit has been taught so that every time Roxanne stops the dog is sitting, waiting for instruction. 
Stay: When the bowls are put out, Sugar was put on a stay. This way he is ready to do any number of things next. 

Three of these commands are introduced as early as the Elementary Class, and in the first four weeks of the Boot Camp program at Applewoods. Check out the Training Programs page to find out when you can get started teaching your dog the above commands.

Novice Demonstration

The Applewoods students did more than just compete at the Laurel Dog Show this past weekend. We also took a moment or two to practice some of our Novice obedience skills. We had a total of eight dogs in the demo - Rugby, Caesar, Diego, Sandy, Ellie, Coco, Ben and Sugar. 

We started off with a group Sit/Stay. Then we did a recall exercise, before we lost some of our demo dogs so they could compete in the show. We finished up by taking turns weaving in and out of the different sized dogs. We got some of the highlights of the demo on camera, the video is below. 

Good job, Team Applewoods! 

Laurel Dog Show

Applewoods was well represented at Laurel's Third Annual Dog Show this morning. We had a table set up with information on our next Canine Good Citizen test on October 15th and our upcoming group classes. We also had a drawing for a copy of Margot's book, Mud Heaven. Rugby was the unofficial table mascot, and wagged his tail at all our visitors, with the occasional kiss.

Several of our students entered the competition and brought home some ribbons! Retha and Shadow, the toy poodle, entered in Best Puppy and took the the blue ribbon. He is one cute puppy!

Next was Jan and Ben, who entered in Most Obedient. A drop-on-recall and retrieve on the flat got him first place in that class!

 Roxanne went last with Sugar in the final class of the day, Best Trick. They had a whole skit that included directed retrieving of food bowls, fetching and placing on a cushion, and carrying the bowls away. Not only did they take Best Trick, but they went onto win Best In Show too!

Applewoods also did a demonstration at the event. More pictures and videos to come! We met lots of new people, and cute dogs too! Thanks to the City of Laurel's Department of Parks and Rec for a great dog-filled afternoon.

Class cancelled tonight at Fidos

Roads are being closed, more rain is expected tonight..and the traffic is nuts. Class tonight at Fidos for Freedom is cancelled.


Roxanne Lee...speaking for Margot Woods

We've Got Trouble

Two puppies that are both such dare devils that they leap off stumps on their first day at Applewoods?! These two are going to keep us busy!

We had a lot of fun playing with Burly, the Rottweiler, and Mozart, the Giant Schnauzer, after this morning's private lessons and group classes were over.

Harvest

There are a few straggler walnuts, but most of them ended up in the wheelbarrow. Rugby and Cabot talked it over, and they decided the best place for them would be in the strip of woods just outside the Applewoods fence. Nice team work, boys! 

Irene Clean Up

Applewoods got through Irene with just some fallen leaves and walnuts. "Some" might not be very accurate. I don't think there are any walnuts left on the trees. That means that the squirrels  have less bombs to throw at us, but it also means that the yard has become a great place to sprain your ankle.

We got to work right away picking them up, and the dogs even volunteered to help. Diesel came out first to do his share in the parking lot. He thought the walnuts tasted nasty.



Sandy cleaned up the drive way. I think she really liked them too, because she kept trying to take them back out of the bag.



Ben acted like he did this every day, and did his share of clean up quickly.



Sanity gets points for speed. She did drive-by's and scooped the walnuts up to bring them back faster than the other dogs.



And Rugby, he was the bag holder. He could only fit the smallest walnuts in his mouth and there were not many of them.



It is now safe to walk at Applewoods. The clean-up inside the yard included a lot more than a bag of walnuts. Pictures of our new walnut collection coming up!

Applewoods is prepared

I hope everyone stays safe and dry this weekend. The Applewoods dogs are taking a couple of precautions of their own as they wait for the storm to roll through.

Jewels, the Cane Corso, is a true working dog and she found herself a bucket to help bail water in the case of a flood. She even has her camo gear on!

Rugby on the other hand, isn't much interested in helping out. Expecting the worst, he made sure his PFD was close by so he wouldn't get washed away.  

No matter how they prepare for the storm, one this will be try for ALL the Applewoods Dogs. They will have plenty of MUD to play in on Monday!

How are your dogs preparing hurricane Irene? 

Irene

Due to the nasty weather headed this way and the need for everyone to get their yards/homes ready, all classes have been cancelled for tomorrow.  Stay home.  Stay safe.  See you next week.

Margot Woods, CDT
Applewoods Dog Training, LLC

Thursday class?

Some of us made it to class tonight and others chickened out.  This is what it looked like in the parking lot at about 7 p.m.  Yes, the hail really was punching holes in the canvas roof.

Those of us who managed to make it to class had a great time.  Sorry the rest of you missed out.

Most recent grads

Here's a hat tip to Applewoods' most recent graduates.  Having just finished the EC class, I know at least one has already signed up for the next Middle School class.  I'm sure you are all looking forward to the next step in a wonderful life journey learning all sorts of new things over then next few months.


If you are a graduate of one of our previous EC classes and haven't as yet taken the Middle School Class, sign up now.  This new class (Starts Aug13 at 10 a.m.) is one you really don't want to miss. The outside classes are always the best.  Forget the bugs and enjoy the feeling of space.  Forget the heat for now, cause it sure won't be hot by the time this newest class is over. 

Join us for another exciting 6 weeks of fun, work, learning, companionship as you and your dog become a real TEAM.

Compare and Contrast

The similarities between these dogs are few. Size, type, color, and temperament are very different. One thing that they do have in common is their call name. The Italian Greyhound goes be the name of Czar and the Doberman Pinscher goes by Caesar. 

I'm not sure why these boys were so infatuated with each other, but it wasn't a fluke! They hung out together long enough for me to come into the yard, get settled and get my camera out! Considering the number of dogs, and the number of different things going on throughout the yard lately, it is amazing that these two Caesars/Czars found each other and that both chose their bonding time over the retrieve game that was starting with the rest of the pack. 

The Wind-Up

The wind-up = that moment *just* before those treasured jolly balls are thrown.