It has been way too long ....

Okay, it has been ages. In fact way too long, I don't know where the time flies....... We are back in Canada, again, we can't stay away, I love the Say Yes programme and spending time with susan, Lynda and her students. It is just so much fun out here and even though we are manic busy we can't resist another family trip out here! The weather is just lovely - torrential rain, snow and winds .....but the food and company is great and we are very lucky to be here, really! The next few days are manic and I have loads of new and challenging courses to work with as well as loads of questions to ask - it is all good. Fiji has been raised with two of the best instructors influences - both Susan and Greg are phenomenal and we are lucky enough to be able to work closely alongside both. I have to say being able to live in the house with susan and swagger makes you realise how important relationship is. We are very lucky to be able to spend the time here with friends, share ideas and learn from the best at the same time - that rocks!!!!! Anyway for those of you who are coming to our camps in Devon this year your schedules will be with you soon if you have not yet seen them?? We can't wait - and for those who didn't make it on to the camp then there is a new camp in Aug - just a two day foundation, skills and core work for all ages of dogs including puppies, please don't miss out on this one, I think it is crucial to your dog training - don't miss out. We also have a two day jump weekend - again it is core to your learning - email carole@devondogs.co.uk. Hope to see you all soon, Lauren

What a great day at Training In The Ring, fantastic weather, people, dogs and environment and some EXCELLENT training runs. The winners of our training runs were Di and Lily, Helen and Maisie and Manda and Wookie. Congrats - your vouchers are in the post to you and what a fantastic job you did well done! More photos to come.........

I am so manic right now I cannot think and where have the last 5 weeks gone. We are off to Canada tomorrow Pm and our feet have barely hit the floor. If you are planning on coming to training over the next few weeks you are in for a treat, new ideas, new lessons and some better weather it seems. We have some great new dogs coming on and fantastic instructors coming through the LLAAI programme. If you would like to chat to me about any of this you are more than welcome.

I hope to write a much fuller blog soon, we are very busy yet still excited, Oh Canada here we come......:)

“Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything.”

Eliza Langman-Rouse was born at 2.59am on Thursday 9th February. I can honestly say it is the most painful yet amazing experience I have ever imagined. Seeing her looking at me with her big brown eyes, exquisite and inquisitive all at the same time melted both of our hearts and healed so much in less than a second. She has already changed our lives and yet made everything so complete. Very surreal!

We are completely touched with the generosity and kindness of our customers, friends and family. Eliza now has not only her first bank account but bouquets of clothing, see above, the most beautiful flowers from Greg and Laura who are currently in Oz, beautiful clothing, a portrait of Reef for her nursery, a beautiful picture frame, teddies, bouncers and more. We feel overwhelmed by your cards and kindness in welcoming this little treasure in to the world.

Below notice the card collection around the beams, we shall keep these in her box of things to look at when she is older. There is so much we want to give her, the best life, gorgeous mementoes and to do our very best by her.

Below: Eliza meeting my best friend Lois and Popi. The dogs have been great, curious yet very accepting of our new baby girl, I don't think they know she is staying yet!

And then we jump back to reality, training is all running as usual. I have to be massively thankful to the awesome team I have behind me - you all know who you are.

What do we have coming up?

Mark Laker - 10th March Course Running Day - This looks like an excellent day where we will be running a number of courses and trying to find the fastest and most efficient lines and testing the value of some of our behaviours under a bit more pressure. This day is aimed at the competitive handler only and really is looking to push you to the next level!

25th March Mark and Karen Laker - this day is really aimed to push you to the next level of your agility training. Karen is covering

Rewarding key positions (any level)

Tunnel turns (any level)

Movement, attention drive (any level, incl foundation) Jump Grids (any level)

She will, as usual, work with all different abilities and we currently have one or two spaces in each group available. Dont miss out on this with your youngsters, dogs that you are improving jump work with and all levels of dogs in the tunnel workshop. Last time I attended this workshop it was awesome and Karen insists there is more to come. As we all know placement of reward is VITAL so dont miss out on any of these. These could be combined so that you attend more than one session.

Mark is working on

Pre season circuit training (G3-4)

Pre season circuit training (G5-7)

Warm up for 2012 courses to get you in the mood (G3-7)

This is aimed at the competitive handler and will really push you individually with some great groups available. The pre season circuits work all of the drills and challenge both you and your dog. Dont miss out on this opportunity to get ready for the competition season and achieve your potential with these top class trainers on your doorstep

9.00 – 11.00 Grade 1-3 handling 11.30-12.30 YD Contacts/Weaves 1.30-3.30 Grade 4-7 handling 4.00 – 5.00 Young Dogs

These workshops are not to be missed. Jo has been working regularly with DD and we will continue to ask her to come and work with us whilst you are enjoying working within the GD system.

Lastly Jans Canine Development Day - this is one not to be missed!

These have been going down a storm and helping people to work with different types of dogs. On the 4th March we will be covering how do dogs learn?

·         Classical and Operant Conditioning

·         Aversive and Rewarding Reinforcement

·         Stress, Anxiety & Depression

·         Counter Conditioning & Extinction 

This day is aimed to refresh and renew your understanding of dog behaviour, both for professionals and those who are interested in their own dogs learning.  It is a day not to be missed with invaluable learning opportunities.

Also we now have our new, 'recommend a friend scheme.' We have new DD cards where you can write your name on the back, each time a customer books we will ask them if there is a name on the back of their card, if they make a booking you will recieve a £5 money off your next booking voucher and we will also add you to our list for our Christmas draw. We want to improve positive dog training and you can help us to access the people that need it most! If you need any cards please see Fern, Lauren, Kim, Mandy, Vivienne, Sian, Jon, Kelly, Fran, Carole or Matt.

Wishing you all much happiness in your training and hope you take up these days if you haven't done so already!

Lauren, Matt and baby Eliza xxxxxx

"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, rarely an opportunity."

I haven't written in such a long time, there is always so much to do, and it seems it will get busier! Today is my due day, it is odd as you can be early, late or on time, now which one would you predict for me, those that know me too well, my friends will know! Matt is on call, marigolds and all.......;)
My friends, I have really appreciated you, all of you, I have certainly been a responsibility, and I hope not too difficult a responsibility but you have all looked after me so well, sweet gifts, hot food at training, drinks, gorgeous baby things - it is really funny how you suddenly realise how many lovely people there are in your life at times like these, a real transitional time. Thankyou all......:)

I am lucky, my body has looked after me incredibly well, if the baby is not here by Thursday I will still hope to be working, I have not had to take any time off, just had to adjust my hours, call in the DD LLAAI to help with some of my regular commitments and ask other people to be as flexible as possible. Everything has gone so well and I can't believe that 40 weeks can pass so quickly.

Attending the midwife appointments has been interesting, they think we are barmy, yet dedicated - probably a fairly accurate interpretation. We have enjoyed it and it is certainly informative, we are complete newbies like those pet owners asking about food/crates/beds/routines - it is no different - we are clueless, but getting more knowledgable all of the time!

In the mean time we have been walking ALOT and training regularly. We live in the most beautiful area - we are very lucky....Below is Glen Free x Reef and Fiji my Darleyfalls baby :)

Training is going really well even though it has been cold people are still arriving - well done to you all!! We have just let people know of some last minute spaces available, here is what we sent out;

Canine Behaviour day – for all of you who have a want to understand more about your own dogs, we have an excellent day on 18^th February which will cover relationship building for both puppies and adult dogs, with our excellent Dog Behaviourist Jan Windsor. This day should be full of variety as well as great for those of you that want to add it to your CPD. Her Day 2 on 4^th March – How do dogs learn? This will cover Classical and Operant Conditioning, Aversive and Rewarding Reinforcement, Stress, Anxiety & Depression, Counter Conditioning & Extinction. This day is aimed to refresh and renew your understanding of dog behaviour, both for professionals and those who are interested in their own dogs learning. It is a day not to be missed with invaluable learning opportunities.

Life Skills dates – the next one we have available is on 12^th February, we currently have 2 spaces available. This is invaluable for all young dogs, and dogs currently in obedience/foundation training. The next date is 14^th April and we cannot recommend these days highly enough.

Walk the Course – our February DD membership offer is a great one. We are offering you the opportunity to buy one – get one free. The Walk the Course workshops are paramount to your learning of how a course works, and being able to talk through the various exercises in a comfortable atmosphere.

Kamal Fernandez Obedience Maestro – we have one working space left on 12^th February, this is a must for all of you who are developing attitude with your agility dogs. The day is aimed to cover lots of motivational and control games to add to your box of tricks. He is not only an entertaining trainer, but a vastly knowledgeable one and we are very fortunate that he has travelled down to the South West especially for Devon Dogs. We also have unlimited spectator spaces on both 11^th and 12^th February.

Sian’s next workshop is on 31^st March. The Young Dogs group is completely full, however there is currently one space on the Grade 3+4, one space on the Foundation, and 2 spaces on the Grade 5-7. If you or anyone you know of that would benefit from Sian’s championship and international level expertise, please come back to me.

Her partner Anthony Clarke is also visiting on 3^rd March and he currently has one space on Young Dogs, and 2 spaces on Flatwork. Again if you are interested contact me asap as we expect these spaces will go quickly now that we have let people know of their availability.

Training on the Ring day is on 17^th March, this day is invaluable to all customers and we thoroughly recommend it. The day is not only of huge value to your learning but also an opportunity to meet and talk to lots of other like minded folk.

We also have the Lakers visiting on 10^th March for the day, Karen working with Relationship Building, and Mark working with Pushing Your Course Work, we currently have one space available on Karen’s day and 2 spaces available on Mark’s day. They are also visiting us on 25^th March where Mark currently has space in his G3-4, G5-7 and G3-7 and Karen currently has some space on all of her workshops.

Lastly Jo Tristram is with us on 8^th March, here G4-7 group is full, however she currently has space on her Contacts and Weaves, G1-3 and Young Dog sessions.

If you havent already joined www.ultimateagility.com keep an eye out and do join for free newsletters and tips - we have recently submitted an 'Ultimate Instructors' article which should make interesting reading for you all.

We really hope to see you all very, very soon. Takecare, please contact us if you would like to come along and join in the fun, you will be made more than welcome here.

Lauren
www.devondogs.co.uk
carole@devondogs.co.uk for enquiries