Ten years ago, on a breezy spring afternoon, Esther opened the doors to Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa, CA. “I asked myself, ‘Why was I sent to a dog place?’” she amusingly recalled. “I was referred to CCI by a placement agency,” she explained. “I had expressed interest in returning to the real estate field.” Turns out, the qualities CCI was looking for in prospective employees were a good personality coupled with a tenacious work ethic. She was hired on the spot.

Esther has a comprehensive history at CCI beginning in 1995, when she started working in administration. “I was able to see, firsthand, all of the work that goes into preparing a dog for a person with a disability.” Frequently stopping in her tracks to watch training sessions across the campus became her modus operandi. “It was then I knew I had to be involved on another level,” she said.

In 1997, Esther entered a 10-week apprentice instructor course. She completed the program and was instantaneously ushered in as Interim Breeding Program Assistant. A few months later, Esther rejoined the Training Department to continue the instructor program. At the same time, Esther decided to take on another project in raising a puppy for CCI. This would be her first puppy, Valentina.

Over the next two years, Esther created and taught puppy obedience classes, said good-bye to Valentina (who was ready to start training at CCI), and quickly welcomed a new puppy named Hilton. In January 2000, Esther completed all of the necessary requirements for promotion to CCI Instructor. Shortly thereafter Esther would advance to Northwest Puppy Program Manager, her first managerial position at CCI.

During the past six years, Esther has served as the National Breeding and Puppy Program Manager. Hers is, irrefutably, a big job, “but one that I enjoy doing each and every day,” she says. “CCI is about helping people. If every American lived by that motto, our country would be a better place.”

In addition to her professional responsibilities Esther continues to devote volunteer time to CCI. Esther is a breeder caretaker for CCI’s infamous stud dog, Baumann, and an active puppy raiser for her fourth puppy, Journey. When reflecting back to that serendipitous spring day, over a decade ago, when she cracked open the doors, Esther remarks: “Actually, I feel like my life began when I started my career at CCI.”

Stay tuned for more stories and tips from Esther!  Let us know if there is a particular training topic that you would like to learn more about.

Shannon Nardi – Owner of Super Retriever Series

We had a chance to catch up with Shannon to find out more details about Dock Jumping. What a fun sport to watch! These dogs are amazing how far they can jump and the level of training that is required. In our interview, you will find highlights about how you can get involved in this sport with your dog, learn more about popular breeds that participate, and find out what is different about this year’s AKC/Eukanuba National Championship event.

Q: What is Dock Jumping?
• The best way to explain dock jumping is to compare it to track and field – there is a long jump competition and a high jump competition. The dogs start on a 40-foot dock and jump either lengthwise or vertically, in attempt to retrieve a bumper as it is thrown into a 40-foot pool. A team consists of one dog and one handler.

Q: What’s the most common breed for dock jumping?
• Although Labrador Retrievers are the most popular breed for dock jumping, any dog that has a retriever instinct will most likely be interested in the sport and excel at it. I have seen quite a few different breeds compete – Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and even a Dalmatian at the last competition I attended!

Q: How can I get involved in the sport?
• There are a lot of different groups around the country that participate in dock jumping and hold training sessions, amateur competitions, trials and championships. I recommend you Google dock jumping groups in your area to get started. The events that we attend specifically consist of three separate events: Retriever Trials, Super Fly and Super V. Any interested participant should read the rules and regulations, register for the event, pay the fee and then compete to qualify for the championship competition and for prize money.

Q: What is your favorite part of the sport?
• Personally, I think the vertical dock jumping is by far the most interesting event to watch. It is an extremely challenging event and the dog really has to want the bumper – this isn’t something the dog can train for, they just really have to have a desire and passion for the sport.

Q: What’s the furthest jump you’ve seen?
• The highest vertical jump I’ve seen was 7 feet 6 inches high; the longest distance I’ve seen a dog jump was nearly 26 feet.

Q: I’d imagine with dogs (especially Labradors) around water you’ve had some funny and interesting moments in competition or training – can you share some of them?
• One of funniest things to see is when a dog comes prepared to do the jump but then gets “stage fright” and won’t perform the jump. It’s funny because you know how hard they’ve trained and how many times they’ve completed the jump, but when it comes down to the wire they won’t budge off the dock!

Q: What are you looking forward to at AENC?
• Since this year’s show is an open format, we are going to be holding an amateur competition – that means any dog that is interested in trying the event can pay to enter and compete for a chance to be invited to the championship competition.

What is your favorite activity/sport with your dog?

Kris & Clark Osojnicki (Kiva and Roxy)

Bernese Mountain Dog Handlers

Agility is such a great sport for dogs and their handlers. They always make it look so easy out on the course. I’m so excited to be featuring an agility professional on the blog for you today. Learn more about MACH speed, how different breeds compare in agility, and what it takes to train an agility dog, whether you are striving to be a champion or simply want a fun hobby to enjoy with your furry family member. Enjoy!

Q: I believe you handle your own dogs, can you tell me about them? Their breed, names, ages, personalities?
• Yes we do handle our own dogs. I run a Bernese Mountain Dog named Kiva. Kiva turned 4 years old in June. She is incredibly sweet, incredibly willing and incredibly athletic. If in the house, she loves to chew bones and hang out with me. If training treats and toys come out, she starts barking and is ready to go do ANYTHING! She has a great on and off switch. This is very nice for a performance dog, as it means she is always ready to train when an opportunity arises, but very easy to live within day- to-day life. She LOVES training activities of any kind.

Q: What age do dogs start with agility?
• We start our dogs when they arrive in our home. Kiva arrived at 6 months of age and Roxy at 8 weeks of age, so, they started at slightly different ages, but both of them got started with things that would contribute to future agility training from day one. We start shaping behaviors that will help with training later in life, and they start with safe little puppy work right away.

Q: What’s the first step with agility – if I wanted to get my dog into agility? What do I do at home to get started?
• We start with the dog getting used to various surfaces and walking along planks slightly elevated off the ground. This allows you to start the puppy off early with a tiny teeter that will move under her feet, and that the movement is not a big deal. This can help immensely when they get older and are introduced to a larger teeter totter so they’re comfortable with a moving object under their paws.
• Teaching them to go through tunnels at a young age is also helpful, especially with a larger breed dog so they see going through the tunnel as a fun activity! Teaching them that learning is fun is a very good first step towards any future competitive activity.

Q: What’s involved for training a champion agility dog?
• A champion agility dog needs to be part of a champion agility “team.” Much of the success of a canine/human agility team is handling on the part of the human. The clearer the human is with the information they give to the dog, the more successful the team will be.
• A champion agility dog generally needs to be consistent AND fast, not Border Collie fast, but fast enough that they are running through the courses, with a clear understanding of the handler’s intentions. Most dogs are faster if the handler is good about giving early information to the dog of what is coming next. Seeing we (as the humans) are the ones that know where the course goes next, it is our job to successfully and SAFELY help the dog maneuver her way through the correct course on an efficient path.

Q: Usually you see smaller, compact dogs in agility but you handle Bernese – tell us about that. How is the course and sport different for a larger dog than smaller?
• Agility is a sport that can be played by all breeds. AKC agility is designed to offer success to all sizes of dogs. This is one of the really neat aspects of the Eukanuba Invitational, as it allows all breeds to succeed. Unlike other agility championships, where the Border Collies and Shelties excel, the Eukanuba Invitational only allows one of each breed per jump height to make it to the final round. This allows all breeds to have a much more equal chance at succeeding at this event. Truly, a Bernese Mountain Dog cannot typically beat a Border Collie. Each dog and handler team is always competing against the clock and their personal goals.

Q: What is MACH speed?
• A MACH is awarded to a dog that earns 750 speed points (MACH speed). A speed point is obtained for every second below standard course time that your dog completes a course in. So, if standard course time for a course is 65 seconds, and your dog completes the course in 58 seconds, your dog would earn eight MACH points for that performance.
• Standard Course Time is determined by the judge when they measure each course. Dogs of different heights are expected to run different yards per second throughout the course. So, each height has a different “time to beat” for that heights Standard Course Time, in obtaining MACH points.

Q: What is your favorite part of agility? What do you think is the dog’s favorite aspect?
• My favorite part is the teamwork and bond that develops between my dog and me from all of the time spent training and traveling together. My second favorite would be the social aspects of an agility trial. You develop wonderful friendships with people due to all of the time spent at agility trials together. Everyone is always rooting for everyone else; a beautiful run is appreciated by everyone who witnesses it.
• My dog’s favorite part? Probably the food rewards that they get for a job well done! And, the praise and connection that they get from me throughout the course.

Q: How do you reward your dogs?
• With whatever the dog finds rewarding! This is different from dog to dog. It is the job of the trainer to learn what is most rewarding to the dog, and then to use that reward wisely! My puppy goes nuts for a tennis ball. Kiva prefers string cheese! However having a large tool chest of things a dog finds rewarding is most helpful in your long range training. Nobody wants the same thing all the time! So, a “higher” value treat or toy is best used when asking for a tougher behavior.

We would love to hear your comments!

Dogs, like people, start learning the minute they are born.  Although at that age, your new puppy won’t be winning any obedience competitions or fetching the daily newspaper!

The best time to start training your new pup is the minute you bring them home. From the minute you bring your new bundle of fur home he/she is starting to learn the ropes of the house.  Typically the first thing new owners teach a puppy is potty training.  From there you move to more of the traditional commands like sit, down, come, stay, etc. 

Puppies as young as 5 to 6 weeks of age can be taught to sit or down on command using gentle positive methods.

When should you enroll your puppy in “school”?

Puppies typically start classes between 10 to 16 weeks of age dependent on vaccination history.

The earlier you can safely start them in school, the better.  Twenty years ago it was common practice to keep puppies at home and not start school until your puppy was 6 months old.  This would be like keeping your child at home with no schooling until they were in 6^th grade!  Think how much they didn’t learn and how many interactions with other students they would have missed. 

Bailey-6 yr old Great Dane Lexi-10 week old Bedlington Terrier

Think about how much mischief you can prevent just be enrolling Spot early!

Most reputable puppy classes require prospective students to have at least their first two series of DHLPP vaccination (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvo Virus) to keep your puppy and the other puppies in class safe from illness.  Once they meet the vaccination requirements of the class and your veterinarian gives your pup a clean bill of health, you and Spot are ready to start! 

Why is it so important to start them early?

Socialization is a crucial to your puppy developing into a loving, confident and well mannered member of your home and society.  The more positive interactions your puppy has with other dogs, people and new places the better he/she’ll be at accepting them later in life. Many fearful dogs in shelters and rescues are fearful because they are under socialized.  This is a shame since socializing a puppy is fun and easy! 

Make sure to socialize your puppy with friendly dogs both large and small!

Stories from a trainer-

Two people enroll their puppies in my puppy class–a 6 month old yellow lab and a 12 week old black lab.  The first night of class the 6 month old lab drags his owner in, knocks over a container of treats and looks like he’s on speed.  The 12 week old puppy walks in at his owner’s side and makes it to the training area incident free. 

The owners of the 6 month dog entered him in class because he has: eaten their couch, chewed their table, runs away, still has accidents in the house, won’t stop jumping and has pulled his owner down during walks in the neighborhood

The owners of the 12 week old puppy want to learn basic obedience and work on potty training.  He likes to play with his toys and still spends a lot of his day napping. 

Moral of the story: Your furniture and family will thank you for taking Spot to classes earlier rather than later.  Your neighborhood will certainly find someone else to laugh at while they are pulled down the street by their dog.