dogs don't pretend

This morning Penny completed a set of six training sessions with Jill at A Perfect Spot (great fun and we're going to enrol for the next six sessions). Penny, like the other dogs, was a 'winner' in the last activity and she was allowed to choose a toy from the box.

Well, she took so long selecting that I kind of pushed her in the direction of one I thought she would like. I waved it around a bit and of course she thought it was the most exciting one.

When we got home I put it in her toy box, wondering if she really liked it. If she'd been a human she might have pretended to prefer it, just to make me happy. But dogs aren't into pretence.

But she does like it and here's the evidence. I've picked it up and put it away in the box three times this afternoon and every time I see Penny she has it once more. Here she is guarding the house from possible intruders,  her toy at her side.

clicker training for dogs - video

Here's a lovely clicker training video that was a finalist at the Canis film Festival, It's by Peta Clarke, an Aussie. It's called "the Rules of Love".

Jenny Pearce from A Perfect Spot training sent me the link. I've had lots of fun doing classes with Jenny, including agility, tricks and tracking. I'm hoping she'll be doing trackingagain this winter!

The Canis film festival

is designed to showcase innovative, highly–communicative, short videos on animal training. These videos help educate pet owners and professionals who work with animals—dogs, cats, horses, rats, birds, llamas, and more.

Here's a link to the winners.

By the way, did you notice the free e-book, Basic Manners for the Family Dog, on the site of the Peta Clarke video? I downloaded it and it looks good.