Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds

Blanco Qualified!
Dainty's Cashmere Fedora's first Rally Novice entry, and scored a qualifying score of 75.
We got a nice comment from the Judge, "Creditable run, team!"

RNV1 Blanco 010826 Blanco Qualified! Dainty's Cashmere Fedora, Class Level: Rally Novice BCourse #: RNV1 Judge: Pamela Regan-2 "Creditable...

I am always looking for ways to improve my training. I've added some puzzle bowls and stall dividers to my mealtime routine. My goal at mealtime is for my dogs to be more relaxed and slow down the gobbling. The stall dividers are see-through plexiglass, I use these alot to help me with my dog's body position in the training studio. Here I am using them to ensure privacy in a small feeding area when I feed the dogs as a group. I am working most days with just 2 dogs at a time, but here in this video we stepped out into the world of 4 dogs eating at one time.

I call each dog by name and I am using an agility sign with my hand, where I wave the path in the air. There are soo many lessons that can be incorporated into meal time. They learn and dont even realize it is a training exercise! I make them wait at every threshold. At the door, at the gate and at their bowl. Waiting is good for so many reasons, it relaxes the pups, It gives me time to open doors safely, it is a much safer way to cross through a door or gate. And, all this helps me establish my leadership role. In the wild, pack leaders make the rest of the pack wait at mealtime. I am mimicking that behavior.

Once they are in their bowl position we also practice "stay", "watch-it" and "back-back-back" as I ask them to wait and watch their food. This helps me train for expression and a nice free-stack for the conformation show ring.
In this video I am starting with my alpha male and alpha female first, then Blanco and Celeste. The puppy is last. This routine has helped me slow the gobbling and keeps them from stealing food or fighting. The food bowls I am setting down have a mixture of my homemade blend and the Purina One classic ground. I am also throwing a few kibbles into puzzle bowls to give them a sense of abundance. Routines are great for dogs and re-wiring behaviors. This routine has helped to slow down my speed eaters and relax my older dogs from having to prove their rank in the pack. And I've gotten some valuable training in!

Dinner time for the Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds 010926 Dinner time for the Dainty Acres Italian GreyhoundsI am always looking for ways to improve my training. I've added some puzzle bowls and stall divide...

Stone Desert's Dainty Celestial Color got to show at the Nolan River Kennel Club dog show last weekend with both her parents watching. Proud moment for us humans and GCH Dainty's Big Red (dad) and GCH Spur Creek's Golden Rea of Sunshine (mom!) This pairing has an amazing brain for perfermance, this pup of theirs is already showing interest in learning and performing Obedience signs. And ask us about future breedings for either of these parents. Both can be viewed on the the OFA website for CHIC certification.

Celeste the Italian Greyhound pup and her parents enjoying a little family reunion! Stone Desert's Dainty Celestial Color got to show at the Nolan River Kennel Club dog show today with both her parents watching. Proud moment for us humans an...