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WINTER 2024 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

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NAIL CARE

The importance of regular nail care.

BRAIN GAMES

Stay busy this winter with brain games for you and your dog.

LIFESTYLE SPORTS GROOMING AND MORE

BARN HUNT

A fun and exciting sport using your dog's natural instincts.

SCENT 101

An introduction to the main components of scent work.

POISONED PRAISE

I'm doing everything right, so what gives?

My TFSA saved the day! Maximise your Tax Free Savings Account for those unexpected emergencies.

306.721.7140 4830 Gordon Road, Regina, SK | erin_associates_insurance@cooperators.ca

ESTEVAN

•

WEYBURN

•

REGINA

Editor Rob Caleval

PAW

Cheers to a new year of learning and growth!

Quarterly

bring you four issues full of entertainment and information

PAWQuarterly WINTER 2024 Volume 2 | Issue 1

(let’s be honest) adore dogs.

COVER PHOTO Lianne Matieshen Photography

Hello, and welcome to the second season of Paw Quarterly! Over the last year, it has been our pleasure and privilege to designed specifically for people who own, care for, and

A new year means different things to different people, but for most of us, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the

past year, and to consider where we’re headed. As an editor,

and more importantly, as a dog lover, this past year has been incredibly fulfilling. Being involved with Paw Quarterly has

allowed me access to so much information that has enriched

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Rob Caleval Editorial Enquiries publish@pawquarterly.com

my life with my two furry little boys. From training tips which

DESIGN & PUBLISHING Tracy Hahn

exercise instructions that have helped enhance their health,

CONTRIBUTORS

have allowed us to get along even better, to diet and PQ has improved our lives together with every issue.

So what will the second year bring? Let’s take a look. In

Emily Garland, Nicole Vaughn, Carly Patryluk, May Fischer, and Cassandra Zdanowski.

the following pages you’ll find articles on nail care from our

ADVERTISING & SALES sales@pawquarterly.com

blues, information on the exciting sport of Barn Hunt, and,

SOCIAL

grooming professional, brain games to help beat the winter since February is Dental Health Awareness Month, tips on how to keep your dog’s teeth healthy. We’ve also got

information on Poisoned Praise, Scent Skills and our Q & A section where you can get answers to your important

questions from our panel of experienced professionals, and much more.

So why wait? Dive right in, and from all of us at Paw Quarterly, have a happy and fulfilling 2024!

Rob PAWQuarterly

PAWQuarterly.com PAWQuarterly is independently owned and published in Regina, Saskatchewan. Opinions and advice expressed in PAWQuarterly are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers. PAWQuarterly does not assume liability for content. Articles and information are published for information purposes only. For training, health, or nutritional advice specific to your pet, consult with a trained professional. All rights reserved ©PAWQuarterly. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. For reproduction requests, please contact publish@pawquarterly.com.

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ISSUE WINTER 2024

IN THIS

Brain Games for You and Your Dog

Scent 101

The importance of regular nail care.

Poisoned Praise

12 16

Dental Awareness 5 Ways to Keep your Pet's Teeth Healthy

18 20 26 28

Q&A Barn Hunt Treats Events Calendar

19 Lianne Matieshen Photography

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12 5

PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS Rob Klinger Financial Advisor

MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING

1014 Winnipeg Street, Regina, SK p. 306.565.6774 e. rob.klinger@edwardjones.com edwardjones.ca/rob-klinger

Publish with us We are always on the look out for great content. Interested in contributing?

Email us at: publish@pawquarterly.com

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

2.1

CONTRIBUTORS ROB CALEVAL Rob’s poetry and short stories have been published in print and on line. He has a BA in English Literature, and has worked for 17+ years as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. He spends a significant portion of his free time impersonating a dog bed.

TRACY HAHN Tracy is a multimedia designer and desktop publisher by day, and a dog sport and training enthusiast by night. Her Olde English Bulldogge, Jack Russell Sport Mix and Mini Heeler Mix keep her busy doing flyball, nosework, agility, and tricks.

EMILY GARLAND Emily is a Dog Trainer and Behaviour Specialist with over 10 years of experience in SK and BC. She enjoys hanging with her pack and participates in flyball, agility, rally-o, and stunt. Emily and her rescued Border Collie Jinks became the first titled Canadian Stunt Dog Team.

NICOLE VAUGHN Nicole is a veteran dog groomer, trainer, and partner of the Good2Go Dog Sports Club. When she’s not busy making dogs beautiful, you can find her playing flyball, disc, tricks, and agility with one or more of her pack.

CARLY PATRYLUK Carly is the owner of House of Paws Pet Boutique and is certified in a variety of pet nutrition areas. Carly believes in continuous learning and when she’s not working with pet parents at her store, she spends her time developing new and engaging methods to empower pet parents to make the best choices for their pet’s nutrition.

CASSANDRA ZDANOWSKI Cassandra has been involved in dogsports for 17 years. She started playing flyball with the neighbour’s dog, and is now part of one of the province’s biggest clubs based in Saskatoon. When not playing flyball, she is often doing barnhunt, agility, lure sports, herding, teaching classes, or performing with SuperDogs!

MAY FISCHER May is an owner/instructor at

GABBY, MAZIKEEN & HAHN SOLO

for over 14 years. She Co-Captains

managers. Gabby is an Olde English

titles and awards in barn hunt,

long as you pay the cheese tax. Mazi

is a certified trick dog instructor,

to go fast, and Solo, the newest

is a therapy dog, CGN, and animal

Mix with endless enthusiasm.

4 Limb Gym, competitively training

Gabby, Mazi & Solo – the office

her own flyball team and has many

Bulldogge who will do anything as

rally-O, flyball, and obedience. She

is a Jack Russell Mix who just needs

stunt dog judge, fitness coach, and

member of the pack is a Mini Heeler

actors evaluator.

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NO MORE WINTER BLUES WITH

BRAIN GAMES FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG

Brain games are a great way to provide mental stimulation, encourage curiosity, develop problem-solving skills, and build confidence. They challenge your dog mentally, and are just as exhausting as any physical exercise you do. As an added bonus, brain games can also help curb behaviour issues that boredom can bring on. All this by spending a little time with your dog and having some fun! 8

Pick up your Toys What better way to help yourself out then to train your dog to do chores! A dog that already knows how to fetch will have an easier time learning this game. With toys scattered around the room, ask your dog to fetch one. Wait by the toy box and when he returns have a treat over the toy box. When he opens his mouth for the treat, the toy falls into the box. Mark it by saying "YES" as soon as the toy is dropping and then give your dog a treat. Through repetition and reward, eventually you should be able to give the cue or point to the box and your dog will be more than willing to put his toys away for a tasty treat. Which hand is it? This human guessing game is a great way to introduce a search game to

your dogs. Hide a favourite treat in one of your hands and tell your dog to pick a hand. When your dog noses or paws the correct hand say "YES" and open your hand with the treat to reward the correct choice. If your dog chooses the wrong hand, just encourage them to continue searching and reward extra when they guess right. Once your dog gets used to the game you can increase the difficulty by moving on to the Shell Game. Shell Game This popular human slight of hand game can easily be adapted to a fun brain game. Line up three identical objects and hide a treat under one of them. Show your dog where the treat is, shuffle the objects and get your dog to choose the correct object for the reward inside. You can make this game easier by training the "find it" and "alert" on one object to start. Once they know what they are doing, you can increase the difficulty by adding objects or moving the objects more quickly. Get ready to WOW all of your friends.

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

Keep your training sessions fun, short and finish up with something they love like a game of tug. This will help your dog retain what they have learned.

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Scatter and Search This is a great activity for small and large areas. It also encourages natural instincts by using their sense of smell to search out the reward.

For advertising opportunities with PQ email us at publish@pawquarterly.com

To begin use a handful of kibble or small treats and toss them out onto the floor. Ask your dog to search and release them. As your dog becomes familiar with the game, you can increase the search area and make the treats harder to find. For more difficult search locations you can make them a "jackpot" zone to make the harder search more rewarding. There can be multiple variations of this game by increasing the size of the search area, adding obstacles, creating mazes, and making the reward less accessible, or search for items rather than treats. If you play this game often you may want to consider using their regular meal rations as a reward to avoid overfeeding.

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SCENT A lot of brain power goes into how a dog interprets all the smells in the world around them. A dog has more than 100 million sensory receptors in the nose, even higher in some dog breeds, compared to around 5 million in humans, and it is estimated about a third of the dog's brain is dedicated to interpreting and analyzing odour, about 40 times greater than humans. There is no wonder to why dogs are so good at scent sports. Dogs use sniffing as a coping mechanism. It helps them focus, navigate their environment, satisfy their hunt instincts, burn mental energy, and relieve stress. Sniffing and searching are great ways to build confidence in your dog too.

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THREE MAIN COMPONENTS TO SCENT WORK THE HUNT (Scent Puzzle)

THE ODOUR (The Source)

THE HUNT (Scent Puzzle)

For a lot of dogs the thrill of the hunt is enough to get them going, especially if they know what they are looking for. Prior to introducing odour or objects, you can play food scatter games or hide treats to start reinforcing the hunting instincts. This will build on problem solving skills to figure out the puzzle to the reward, and to search independently. The movement of odour is referred to as a puzzle. Air flow is required to create the puzzle for our dogs to hunt, that only they can detect. There are many factors that affect the puzzle and how the odour circulates. Hot environments make the odour stronger, and be more distributed, where cold environments sink the odour covering a smaller area, the odour is more contained. This will effect how detailed a dog will need to search to pinpoint the source.

Air flow plays a large role in the search. When air particles are disturbed by flowing into objects, fans, windows, doors, etc. the odour will move differently. One way you can look at air flow is to relate it to water. When water moves over small and smooth objects it flows freely around them with little disturbance. When water hits a hard larger surface, the water will splash in all different directions, up, over, out, and back down. Think of air in the same way but moving slower.

THE ODOUR

The odour can be anything from essential oils like wintergreen, pine and thyme (SDDA – Sporting Detection Dogs Association), the

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THE ALERT

(End Behaviour)

scent of an article, human, critter, a toy, or anything you would like to train your dog to search for. Objects can hold odour in different ways too. A plush toy, fabric, or something porous will hold more scent than something with a harder or smooth surface like glass, metal or plastic. Whatever you practice with, change the objects you use often. Your dog may end up relying on sight and choose the familiar object rather than using their nose to search for the odour. Keep the odour separate and in an air tight container, (if not a living thing,) to avoid contamination, especially essential oils. The oils can easily contaminate an entire room if forgotten about.

THE ALERT

The end behaviour is "The Alert". Alerts can be very subtle, or very obvious. As a beginner you will need to look for subtle changes in body language like slowing down as they get closer to the source, or wagging their tail faster. You can reinforce natural alert behaviours like bumping their nose to the source and looking back at you. Some dogs will naturally offer a paw, sit, or a down when they have found something. You can build on what comes naturally, or train more obvious behaviours like a freeze once they have pinpointed where the source of the odour is. Whatever you choose to do, nosework to search for scents, barn hunt to search for critters, scent hurdles or search and rescue to search out human scent or articles – these are good foundations to start with and you can tailor them to your chosen sport.

REGULAR NAIL CARE Some owners prefer to take on this task themselves, and may even perform nail care weekly, while others enlist the help of a professional groomer or veterinary staff. Most dogs will need to have their nails cared for at least once per month.

EARLY CONDITIONING

Puppy nails tend to grow fast and it is important to get pups used to the idea of nail trimming or filing early. Ensuring youngsters get their nails

done at least biweekly, while practicing positive foot handling sessions is the key to having an adult dog who tolerates or even enjoys nail care!

Mature dogs can even learn new tricks if you spend time desensitizing and counter conditioning them

to nail care. These sessions should happen at your dog’s pace and might look like feeding your dog

their favourite treats when the clippers come out,

then immediately after you touch the clipper to one

of their nails, and so on. Some dogs might prefer

being trained to accept a dremel tool, or even being

trained to use a scratcher board to help make nail care more hands off.

PRO TIP:

Dogs who walk, work, or play on abrasive surfaces tend to file their own nails down. Dewclaws, do not make as much contact with the ground so they need to be trimmed more frequently.

TRAINING IN ADVANCE

If your dog only goes to the groomer or vet for procedures, try

incorporating going for happy visits just to say hi, do tricks, and eat delicious treats. If nail care tools only come out at home when you

feel you must get things done post-haste, dogs will quickly come to

anticipate and dread this, and may start behaving worse to make it stop. With this in mind, having someone available to help calmly lift and hold your dog for nail care can be extremely beneficial.

Many dogs find three legged stands challenging on their own, not to

mention when nail care is happening, and without proper support they may seem to be acting up when really they are just unsteady. If you

have to work alone with your dog, standing them next to a wall they can lean on, or training them to lie down for procedures might be good options. You can research low stress handling techniques and cooperative care for more information.

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

KNOW WHEN TO QUIT

If a nail care session isn’t going well for whatever reason, don’t be afraid to call it quits, even if you aren’t able to end on a good note. We all have bad days, including our dogs! It will take time and patience to establish good nail care rituals. If your dog’s nails haven’t been kept up regularly, they may need weekly care for a while to get them shortened up again. Dogs who simply cannot cope with routine nail care, especially those who get to the point of being dangerous to themselves or others, may benefit from the use of situational anti-anxiety medication, which is something to discuss with their vet. Separate muzzle training sessions can help keep everyone comfortable and safe, too.

SENIOR DOGS

As your dog ages, their activity level will likely go down and they may not use their body as much, or as symmetrically.

Paying attention to grow out patterns in nails can help pinpoint gait abnormalities for treatment. Older dogs or dogs with health conditions or impairments may even benefit from toe or paw grips, and nonslip mats around the home as part of their regular nail care. Also be sure to check for irregularities in nail growth as time goes on. Brittle nails, thickening individual nails, or other changes should be brought up to your dog’s vet.

DID YOU KNOW... A dog with long nails will be more susceptible to nail breakage and even orthopedic issues.

Occasionally you might find a nail that has cracked or even broken off during activity, or maybe your dog has been quicked (a nail cut too short, into the blood supply, or “quick”). It’s a good idea to have a styptic powder, such as Kwik Stop, on hand should these injuries start bleeding as your dog moves around about their day. The powder is easy to apply and shouldn’t be needed for more than a day or two. Restricting your dog’s activity level for a few days while they heal is

also wise. Nails broken at or near their base can be soaked in lukewarm water with a small amount of Epsom salt for a few minutes, several times a day to help soothe and keep the area clean while healing. The nail may need to be trimmed if it is sharp or jutting out, and the area will need to be monitored for infection (heat, swelling and/or discharge) that would need to be addressed by a vet ASAP. Once treated, and as long as the nail matrix the nail grows from wasn’t damaged, most broken nails will grow back normally over time.

Outer Shell

Nicole Vaughn, Grooming Manager at Pawsitively Perfect

DAMAGED NAILS

Bone

With over twenty years of professional

Inner Shell

grooming experience, Nicole is always happy to help people keep their dogs clean and happy.

Live Tissue/Quick

Straight Cut Line Angled Cut Line

WHERE TO CUT

Another thing to consider for nail care is how much to take off and the angle at which you clip or dremel your dog’s nails. If you finish up at an angle instead of straight across, you’ll be able to remove more nail per session. Before you get to that step, you can start to look for a telltale dot in the center of each nail to help indicate when you have gone far enough. This helps make nail care on dark coloured nails as easy as light ones! In the end, the ultimate goal shouldn’t necessarily be getting nails as short as possible, as dogs use their nails for locomotion and need them for grip, but nails that don’t click on the floor when your dog moves are nice for everyone!

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POISONED PRAISE I've often pondered why experienced handlers who seem to be doing all the right things – enthusiastic markers, good technical personal play concepts, no obvious or heavy-handed corrections, good core training techniques – yet have dogs having a hard time. From dogs who shut down to dogs who look bored to dogs that start to view the games we play with them as chores to slog through. I'm not a stranger to this myself. So what gives? A large factor (if not the largest factor) is poisoned praise. That although we've done all the right technical mumbo jumbo, that our dog doesn't believe our praise. Somewhere along the line we've poisoned it. Poisoned praise can come in many forms, but these are the most common versions I see – and almost always there is a large combination of elements at play.

Factors at play:

• Frustration; • too much focus too early; • lack of investment; • pressure on the dog and the handler; • high expectations; • too much work and no play; • unrealistic timelines; • perfection that can sacrifice enjoyment.

Frustrated Handlers

Frustrated handlers giving frustrated praise. We are trying to pass off a lie and they know it. If our praise feels like cloaked frustration, that's the end emotional result.

Drilling Skills

For all but a few dogs repetition kills enjoyment yet many of us continue to train and train and train to get something "right".

Focusing on Specific Skills too Early

Before we can truly get skill we need attitude, teamwork and communication. Many experienced handlers want to rush into skills. If you don't allow the dog to cultivate desire first, you're gonna have a heck of a time getting a great performance.

Obligatory Praise

As handlers we know we should reward our dogs. However if praise, treats or tug feels like a chore to the handler, the dog feels that in the communication. Just another chore on the training front today. Thanks.

Praise is Pressure

As we advance skill sets praise comes with a level of pressure. When we earn an A on a paper we feel we should be able to earn similar again. Less than an A can make us feel defeated, even if we weren't prepared adequately. If we keep pushing the envelope on skills, sooner or later you are going to find a dog who has some level of pressure stress. Where pressure lives desire and joy get worn away. Couple this with the fact that there is handler pressure too

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

and the dog praises us with the wanted behavior, the team can quickly be dealing with a heck of a lot of pressure.

End Goals are Prioritized Over the Process

As handlers into dog sports, there is a conscious or unconscious push towards the end goal – getting on that competition floor. It motivates you, but it often also takes you out of the moment when you train your dog. Plan away, but not being present with your dog is a very, very good way to create disconnect and make your praise seem hollow and fake. Don't go through the motions.

Making Mountains out of Molehills

People – experienced or not – have the very odd ability to find a single great session amazing while completely unravelling with one off session. We all have set-backs, but I promise just like a few great repetitions isn't actually as amazing as you think it is, nor is a couple of bad repetitions as detrimental as you may believe. What we communicate is what's going to hold water long term. You don't need to be super duper happy about the set-backs, but save your mental breakdowns for when you're not playing with your dog. Honestly, it's just dog sports. You're not curing cancer.

Not Taking Time to Play

Interact like you mean it. Play for the sake of playing. Quit training and have fun (a lot of handlers truly don't know how to mentally entwine the two). Build muscle memory for joy, desire, messy speed. You can refine it later. You obviously have the skills to teach "stuff". Now teach yourself to have enough fun that your dog believes you.

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The Quest for Perfection

We all want our dogs to do it right, but I promise the quickest way to strip desire in a dog is to make them go back and fix their work. Like a teacher over your shoulder telling you the moment you get something wrong. What a nag! Keep flow. Keep momentum. Keep speed. Keep desire. Those are way the heck harder to train anyway. Don't worry at some point you'll have enough steam in the tank to fix things, but until you actually have that, keep moving. Poor finish – keep moving! Missed a jump – keep running! You do not need to make it "right" all in the same session.

When they have some fire in their soul, then you are ready to try again, going slow, relishing each session as two teammates who at the end of the day really enjoy time spent together.

Time Lines

Deadlines create pressure. If we want X by Friday, unless it's already close to ready, I will need to strip desire in favor of simply "getting it done". There are times we need to do this, but if more than 10% of training is rushed, that rushed feeling is going to start to poison things. Rushing kills the process, which kills joy. If you think you may have poisoned your praise I encourage you to take a training break. A couple of weeks or even a couple of months. Enjoy your dog. Begin to grow a new praise system – one they believe and buy into. Allow them to show you how brilliant they are and have them believe it. Let them be cheeky.

Happy ng! Traini EMILY GARLAND, CPDT‑KA, MFA Trainer and

Behavioural Specialist

NATIONAL DENTAL AWARENESS MONTH

Did you know 80% of pets risk dental disease by the age of two.

One of the biggest myths out there is that our pets need to eat dry kibble to keep their teeth clean. Aside from crunchy things NOT keeping teeth clean, our cats and dogs don't really chew their food when they eat. Their mouths are designed to rip and swallow, not chew. It should come as no surprise that sugar is the culprit for dental disease in our pets! Unfortunately, typical dry diets cause the same effect on our furry friend's teeth when they're high in carbs! When our pets eat a biologically appropriate diet, it can do wonders for their teeth among other things! Raw meat has the necessary enzymes to prevent tartar build up on the teeth. Aside from the enzymes, the bone added to raw food diets also works to "scale" the teeth as the meal is enjoyed! Feeding our pets a less processed, more whole food diet will not only provide health benefits to their bodies, it will also help their teeth! Even ground raw diets help prevent tartar build up, as the meat contains natural enzymes and raw diets do not stick to the teeth, unlike diets that are high in starch. There are some rules to offering raw bones (not for pets with pancreatitis, diseases of the mouth, weak or fractured teeth, resource guarders, “gulpers,” etc.) In combination with chews, brushing their teeth daily is a great way to help keep their chompers nice and healthy. There are even toothpaste and brushes just for pets. Dental health is important all year round, but February is the month we really want to shine a light on it! We can help our furry guys keep those chompers pearly white! Sometimes, it's as easy as diet!

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

Five ways to keep your pet's teeth healthy! Raw diets help keep teeth clean.

The enzymes required to break down plaque and debris are only found in raw meat! Carnivores lack the enzyme necessary for breaking down carbs and don't spend much time chewing.

Raw meaty bones are Mother Nature's toothbrush! Chewing on a raw meaty bone will eliminate up to 70% of plaque in

one day and 90% in one week! Choose the correct size bone for your pet to chew in order to prevent any choking hazards. When selecting a raw meaty bone, never a cooked bone, find a knuckle bone about the size of your pet's head.

Brushing!

Brushing may take a little repetition if your pet is not used to it, but it's a great habit to get into to remove plaque build up. Plaque builds up quickly, so it is important to brush daily. Get a toothbrush the appropriate

size for your pet's mouth and a pet safe toothpaste. (Human toothpaste may contain ingredients harmful to our pets.)

Water additives can help with plaque reduction.

Water additives are more to "freshen breath" however, before we can work to freshen breath, we need to understand what's causing the bad breath. If it's a dirty mouth then additives will help.

If it's an imbalanced gut, then we need to address the root

problem and rebalance the gut to freshen the breath.

Dental chews!

This is a tricky one because we

want to be sure we're feeding a

healthy dental chew. If you use them, you know they don't last that long so they're not really scraping as much plaque off as we'd like.

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CARLY PATRYLUK House of Paws Pet Boutique

s U

ASK

Q&A

Have questions? Let us help you find the answers.

For a chance to have your questions answered by a professional in the next issue of PQ, email askus@pawquarterly.com.

My dog listens great at home, but how do I get them to listen once we leave the house? This can be a tricky one!

Once you leave the house, you

need to make sure yourself and your rewards are more exciting than the

environment around you. This means you may need to be more exciting,

have higher value, smellier or more

uncomfortable. Some dogs also just don't like other dogs - similar to

humans, not every person loves every person they come in contact with!

The best thing to do is to help teach

if you don't plan to use it often!

slowly and calmly - only if the other

There may be an emergency or stressful

every dog's face and to greet them owner is ok with it.

your dog - but just makes it easier for

If you want your dog to stop

mean you are taking a step back with them to be successful!

The more successful they are, the

jumping on people, you can try

a few different things.

The first thing, is the person needs to

tip is to make sure you're getting out of

down (otherwise it'll be really hard for

the house frequently. If you don't do it often, then it is a novel thing for your

pup and they will be so excited to go out every single time!

ignore your dog until they have calmed your dog!).

There are a few reasons that your dog may not like every

other dog!

Their type of breed may not be overly

friendly with other dogs. The other dog may be giving off an energy or body language that makes your dog

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clinic, an emergency boarding situation

(some facilities require dogs to be crate trained), and others.

To get started with crate training,

pick a style of crate that is also size

open and when training, toss treats

and/or toys in the crate and allow your

dog to exit whenever they like. You can feed your dog in the crate too. This will

give your dog positive correlations with

You can ask your dog to sit or down before getting attention. Make sure

their crate - being in their crate is

rewarding and comfortable for them.

your dog is getting rewarded with their favourite reward for making good

How come my dog doesn't like every other dog?

weather or fire events, a stay at the vet

appropriate. Leave the door to the crate

quicker they will focus on you - which

means you can progress faster. The last

situation that might require your dog to be crated. These include emergency

is to lower your criteria. This does not

they love. The other thing that will help

Crate training is a very

important training tool - even

your dog that they don't need to be in

How do I get my dog to stop jumping on people?

delicious treats, or a super fun toy that

Why should I crate train my dog and how do I get started?

choices!

CASSANDRA ZDANOWSKI, CCBW, CCFT High 5 Dog Training Academy

You can also try a cookie scatter; this is where you take a handful of treats and toss them on the ground for your dog to eat.

Once they get over the excitement of greeting people, the jumping will stop!

Find what works for you and your dog. Always remember, every dog is unique. What works for one dog may not work for another. Any information contained in this section are suggestions on different training techniques to try. For advice specific to your dog consult a trained professional.

BARN?

HUNT? You search for what? Not REAL rats? By May Fischer Photos by Lianne Matieshin Photography These are often the first questions I hear when I tell someone about this fun and exciting sport my dogs play. Whether a seasoned athlete or brand new to dog sports, Barn Hunt is an extremely welcoming sport that you should check out! Started in 2013, Barn Hunt Association (BHA) was founded by Robin Nuttall and continues under her leadership, to be the largest rat finding organization in North America. Once you’ve obtained a competition number for your dog, you can play anywhere that BHA trials are held. The rules remain the same, apart from places like Alberta that don’t allow rats, so they find gerbils instead.

A lot of people, including myself when I started, are extremely concerned about the safety and welfare of the rats, but BHA has very strict rules on rat care and is of utmost importance. After all, they are the stars of the show! Most rats that participate in barn hunt are extremely well cared for and beloved pets. They enjoy high quality diets, large cages, and are regularly rotated out during a trial so their time in the tube is limited. Each rat must be able to easily turn around inside the tube, which has multiple air holes for proper ventilation. Owners also prepare the rats for dogs and tubes with proper introductions and exposure, so they aren’t scared and often willingly go in.

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

The Game

Barn Hunt is a game where your dog searches for live rats, that are securely housed inside solid core schedule 40 PVC tubes which are then hidden beneath loose piles of straw. Dogs will use a variety of senses to locate and differentiate the tubes that contain rats, versus litter or are empty. There are five main levels, called classes, of this game: Novice, Open, Senior, Masters, Champion. Each level requires the dog to complete three components: 1) find between 1-5 rats,

2) complete an increasingly dark and challenging tunnel, and 3) climb on a bale.

Novice (RATN) – one empty, one litter and one rat tube are hidden on the course. Dogs need to locate the rat tube, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 2 minutes. Three Q's (qualifying runs) are required for this title. Open (RATO) - one empty, two litter and two rat tubes are hidden on the course. Dogs need to locate both rat tubes, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 2.5 minutes. Three Q's are required for this title. Senior (RATS) - one empty, three litter and four rat tubes are hidden on the course. Dogs need to locate both rat tubes, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 3.5 minutes. Three Q's are required for this title. Master (RATM) – eight tubes are hidden on the course containing one to five rats and litter. Unlike other levels, the handler does not how many rats are hidden, and they must “clear” the course with their dog. Dogs need to locate the accurate number of rat tubes, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 4.5 minutes. Five Q's are required for this title under two different judges.

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

Champion (RATCH) – Same criteria as the Master class, except 10 Q's under two judges are required for this title. All regular classes and Line Drive also include height divisions: small, medium, and large. Dogs can place 1st-4th within each of these height categories based on the speed of their completion time. An overall High In Class may also be awarded to the dog who completes each class the fastest.

Auxiliary Titles

There are three auxiliary titles you can compete for: Instinct, Crazy 8's and Line Drive. These non-regular titles can be obtained outside of the regular classes and have no bearing on your progression through the main levels. Instinct (RATI) – three tubes are secured to a board and covered lightly with straw. One has litter, one is empty, and one contains a rat. The dog has one minute to determine which tube contains the rat. No other components like a tunnel or climb are required. One successful Q is all that’s needed for this title, but it must be obtained prior to completing your Novice title.

Crazy 8s (C8Bronze, C8Silver, C8Gold, C8Platinum) – is a cumulative class that carries from trial to trial. Eight rat tubes are hidden on the course and the dog has 2 minutes to find as many as they can. Each rat tube is 10 points, a tunnel is 10 points, and a climb also counts for 10 points. If your dog does not complete a tunnel or climb, 20 points for each will be deducted from their final total. There are also bonus points if you find all 8. And unlike other levels, you are allowed one “fault” by calling an incorrect tube and may continue to play. However, it too, comes with a 20-point deduction. Line Drive – (LD) – dogs will have 1 minute to locate four rat tubes. Unlike other classes, dogs can be on leash, be touched at any time and be blind. You need 10 Q's to receive this title. All titles earned will be listed under your BHA profile and certificates can be printed off directly from there. Titles can also be recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club, as they have been for many years. You can easily submit your title to CKC and have it added to your dog’s list accomplishments and registered name.

Training for barn hunt can also be fun, but it's important to find trainers who have been playing and instructing for many years as they will have the experience needed to trouble shoot any issues. While all dogs will rely on their natural instincts to varying degrees, most will need help at some point working through a hurdle or two. Just like any other dog sport you practice to help improve performance. All physically fit dogs no matter the breed, mix, or age can learn to play this sport happily and safely. Barn Hunt continues to grow at a rapid pace and is one of the most supportive dog sports I’ve ever played. By surrounding yourself with people who want to see you succeed, you will ensure a fun time for both you and your dog, even in times you don’t perform as expected. Not every run will be amazing, but if you keep realistic expectations and continue to work on improving, you will have an extremely rewarding and fun journey with one of the best partners you could ask for.

Now go find a rat! MAY FISCHER Owner, Instructor and Certified Evaluator at 4 Lymb Gym.

Barn Hunt photos by Lianne Matieshin Photography

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SENIOR

TITLES

IN THIS ISSUE

BARNHUNT

OPEN

BOREDOM

QUALIFY

BEHAVIOUR BRAIN

CHAMPION CLASS

CONDITION DENTAL GAMES

INSTINCT

NAILCARE NOVICE

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PQ2.1

PRAISE QUEST RATS

RIBBONS SCATTER SKILLS

TUBES

WINTERBLUES

BARNHUNT BRAIN CONDITION INSTINCT

BEHAVIOUR CHAMPION DENTAL NAILCARE

BOREDOM CLASS GAMES NOVICE

s t a e Tr

CRUNCHY

Cheese BISCUITS

INGREDIENTS

• 1½ cups of Oat Flour • 1 tsp Baking Powder • Dash of salt • ¾ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese • 3 Tbsp cooking oil (Canola, Camelina, or Coconut oil can be used.) • 1 tsp of Honey • ⅓ cup of water (1 Tbsp at a time.)

The way to the heart is through the stomach!

TIP

You can make your own oat flour by blending quick oats in a food processor until they are a consistency comparable to flour.

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 2. In a food processor, blend the flour, baking powder, salt and cheddar cheese together. 3. Add the cooking oil and honey, and pulse to blend. Add the water 1 Tbsp at a time until the mixture starts to form a ball. 4. Roll out to¼-inch thick and cut the biscuits. 5. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 10 - 15 minutes checking often and enjoy when cooled.

Recipes are intended to be a treat. If your pet has any health issues, or if you have any concerns, consult your pet’s veterinarian before offering this treat to your dog.

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

YOUR PET’S HEALTH AND BEST INTEREST IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. At Fido & Felix Foods, we are dedicated to educating and supporting pet owners in making healthy and informed choices for their pets. Based on your pet’s needs and nutritional requirements, we will provide you with high-quality, all-natural products at great prices.

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Events calendar JANUARY

JAN 13/14, 2024 AB AAC - Agility Trial Performance Agility Club of Edmonton Neitak Equestrian Centre 50416 RGE RD 10, Stony Plain, AB president@paceagility.org www.paceagility.org JAN 19 - 21, 2024 SK AAC - Agility Trial Standsure Agility Club 3D Distributors (Indoor) 395 - 38 St E, Prince Albert, SK standsure@sasktel.net https://www.facebook.com/groups/ www.bordercollie.ca/ JAN 27, 2024 AB AAC - Agility Trial Rocky Mountain Agility Club Okotoks Agricultural Society- Indoor facility Okotoks, AB carolle.sutter@gamil.com www.rockymountainagility.com JAN 27, 2024 SK SDDA Nosework Trial HD – Scent Detection Eastview Community Center 615 6th Ave, Regina, SK hdscentdetectiontrials@gmail.com sdda.ca

JAN 20, 2024 Flyball (NAFA) Dynamo Dogsports 9419 49 ST, Edmonton, AB o_neill17@hotmail.com www.dogsport.org

JAN 26 - 28, 2024 AB Conformation, Rally, & Obedience Evelyn Kenny Kennel & Obedience Club AG Building, Stampede Park, 1410 Olympic Way, Calgary, AB events@verwey.ca

FEBRUARY FEB 3, 2024 SK AAC - Agility Trial Standsure Agility Club 3D Distributors (Indoor) 395 - 38 St E, Prince Albert, SK standsure@sasktel.net https://www.facebook.com/groups/ www.bordercollie.ca/ FEB 3/4, 2024 AB AAC - Agility Trial OC Agility Sturgeon County Agriplex - Indoors 25021 Twn Rd, 554, Morinville, AB trials@ocagility.net www.ocagility.com

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH 28

WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

FEB 3/4, 2024 AAC - Agility Trial Keystone Centre- Barn 3 1175 18th Street, Brandon, MB trial@cardogs.ca www.cardogs.ca

FEB 4, 2024 SDDA Nosework Trial Archie Anderson Paviillion Prince Albert, SK kingfisher@sasktel.net sdda.ca

FEB 9 - 11, 2024 SK Barn Hunt - Westman Rat Wranglers The Playground Dog Daycare & Kennels 4Limb Gym – Gym Rats Building South Service Road East Range road 2185, Regina, SK May Fischer: mayleefischer@hotmail.com Ramona Schreiber: ramonas@wcgwave.ca FEB 15, 2023 AB Barn Hunt - Cultured Canines Flatlands Kennels 5107 65 St., Lloydminster, AB info@culturedcanines.ca www.culturedcanines.ca FEB 17 - 19, 2024 SK Conformation, Rally & Obedience Crocus Obedience & Kennel Club Canada Room, Keystone Centre 1175 18th St #1, Brandon, MB canddshowservices@gmail.com www.crocusdogs.com

FEB 18, 2024 AB SDDA Nosework Trial The Little Nose that Knows Wheels On LTD. 7897 48 Ave., Red Deer, AB littlenosethatknows@gmail.com sdda.ca

MAR 16/17, 2024 SK Rally Obedience Saskatoon Kennel & Obedience Club 813 - 51st Street East, Unit G Saskatoon, SK kayla.vanhouwe@outlook.com www.saskatoonkennelobedienceclub.com

FEB 23 - 25, 2024 SK AAC - Agility Trial Furever Fun Dog Training Over The Top Riding Arena Moose Jaw, SK dsweekes@shaw.ca www.dsweekes.wixsite.com/furever-fun

MAR 16/17, 2024 MB AAC - Agility Trial Crocus Obedience and Kennel Club Keystone Centre (Ace Arena) 1175-18th Street, Brandon, MB kintyre@wcgwave.ca www.crocusdogs.com

MAR 22 -24, 2024 AB Conformation, Rally & Obedience Battle River Canine Association Camrose Regional Exhibition 4250 Exhibition Drive, Camrose, AB kat_mclaugh@yahoo.ca www.battlerivercanine.ca

FEB 24, 2024 SDDA Nosework Trial Mojave Dog Sports Elite Promotional Marketing 14703-118 Ave, Edmonton, AB mojavedogsports@gmail.com sdda.ca

MARCH MAR 9, 2023 AB Barn Hunt Medicine Hat Canine Sport Association 13430 Box Springs Road 50.1199897, -110.7286299, Redcliff, AB Dlaurent@live.ca www.medicinehatcaninedogsport.com MAR 15 - 17, 2023 AB Barn Hunt - Prairie Dog Sports Lacombe and District Agricultural Society Show Barn 4210 58 Street, Lacombe, AB prairiedogsports@outlook.com www.prairiedogsports.ca

MAR 29 - 31, 2024 SK AAC - Agility Trial Furever Fun Dog Training Over The Top Riding Arena Moose Jaw, SK dsweekes@shaw.ca www.dsweekes.wixsite.com/furever-fun MAR 29 - APR 1, 2024 SK Barn Hunt - Westman Rat Wranglers The Playground Dog Daycare & Kennels 4Limb Gym – Gym Rats Building South Service Road East Range road 2185, Regina, SK May Fischer: mayleefischer@hotmail.com Ramona Schreiber: ramonas@wcgwave.ca

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Positive, reward-based training for everyday life! At High 5 Dog Training Acaademy we offer classes, handler information workshops, and dog sport sampler classes. See our website for a full list of classes.

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WINTER 2024 | PQ 2.1

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What will you be dreaming about in the new year?

True Freedom prairieharleydavidson.com

PAW Quarterly • Winter 2024