How I'm Training My Rescued Border Collie, Izzy, to Do Agility Tricks

People say Border Collies change your life, and they do -- for the better.

I never wanted a dog at all. In fact, it was the last thing I wanted, but when my fiancée (now my wife), Julie-Ann, and I bought a house together, she wanted one, as she had always lived with dogs. I wasn't convinced and thought a cat would be better. We compromised by deciding to have a look at a cat and a dog rescue -- looking wouldn't do any harm, right?

The day came and we set off to the rescue. I immediately fell in love with a one-eyed cat with liver problems; the kitty was so affectionate, but we learned she couldn't be rehomed. Julie-Ann suggested we visit a Greyhound rescue, as Greyhounds are very docile, easy to look after, don't need much exercise, and make ideal first dogs. We ended up with a six-year-old retired Greyhound called Patch. Patch, now 12 years old, is a wonderful chap. He's looking old now, and like all old men, he's started dribbling lots and groaning.

Three years ago, we were walking Patch when we saw a couple coming toward us with two Border Terriers and a young Border Collie pup. The Collie was bouncing everywhere and would throw herself belly-up onto the ground for a tickle when anyone walked past. "What a lovely dog," I said to Julie-Ann.

We stopped and talked to the couple. They told us that they were three-month-old Izzy's fourth home. They had gotten her from the dog warden, who had said that if Izzy didn't find a forever home soon, she would have to be put down. The couple had had her about five weeks, but during that time their circumstances had changed dramatically, as the wife had become pregnant. Moreover, one of their terriers wasn't getting on with Izzy. They felt they could not give this energetic puppy the time and attention she deserved, and knew it would be cruel to keep her with a family who couldn't care for her sufficiently, as Collies can develop mental health issues if they are not worked or given a job to do. They can destroy everything if they became bored. The couple was heartbroken.

I immediately shouted, "I'll have her!"
"You will not," said Julie-Ann, quick as a flash, but I'd already made up my mind.
Over the next few days, I spoke to lots of people about my intention to rehome the Collie. Everyone tried to warn me of the work and dedication such dogs need. "She will change your life." "You won't be able to just go away; it's like having a baby."
It is true that these dogs need a lot of work, and they do change your life, but no one told me it would be for the better.

I went straight to obedience lessons. Unfortunately, the first trainer was very old-school, only telling the dogs when they were doing something wrong rather than when they were doing something right. I didn't realize the difference until I read a book by Karen Pryor. "I'm doing this all wrong," I said to myself.

I immediately stopped tugging on the lead, and Izzy started walking by my side, and also became more passive toward other dogs. I also noticed that dogs are like antennas to your mood. If you stay calm, so does the dog. More often than not, you can anticipate how the dog might react to various situations, which helps you prepare for what might happen and avoid bad situations before they arise. I realized that dogs, like humans, prefer to be asked instead of shouted at. I have also learned about being consistent with cues and the values of rewards and praise.

Izzy is now three years old, and since having her I have become more patient. I have become an outdoor kind of person, as she taught me to love walking, and I've lost three stone in weight. I now go to a dog-training club in Sandbach called Dig It Dogs, where it's all about positive reinforcement. Izzy and I train together every day on our own. We also compete in agility, and have started working trials training. I love training her so much that I've enrolled in a distance-learning program to earn a degree in canine training. I have also started teaching agility classes as a Dig It Instructor.

 Winter 2012, Izzy had to have her dew claws removed, and we were advised not to get the dressing wet. It rained for about two weeks nonstop after that, so to keep her from getting bored, we learned loads of tricks, and I ended up making a little video that I put on YouTube.

I hope you enjoy watching it, and I hope it makes people feel differently about rescue dogs. All dogs want to please, and all you've got to do is ask nicely and make it fun. 

Teaching tricks helps develop a strong bond -- and it's also useful when you can't be bothered to get off the sofa and you want the remote passed, the living room door shut, or your slippers and the post. It also helps when you and your partner just want to pass notes to each other between rooms, like, "Put the kettle on while you're in the kitchen."

Izzy is the best companion. She is always happy to see me. She knows when I'm upset and rests her head on my lap. She's never grumpy and always wants to go out and explore the world.

This summer, Izzy and I are going to walk the Pennine Way for charity. It's 268 miles and should take about 16 days. We are both really excited. Keep an eye on my YouTube, as I will be uploading new videos about the walk and more tricks as we learn them. At the moment, Izzy is learning to tightrope walk, and she's also working on a handstand.

As for the nice couple we got Izzy from, they live near us and see Izzy regularly. Izzy makes these weird excited squeaks when she sees them. She only makes the noises for them; I think it's her way of saying, "I love you, and thanks for saving my life."

~ Gaz Hughes, Dig It Instructor

Amazing April: Winter Series Show

Ahh. April is here! Daffodils. Lambs. And the last of our Winter Series Shows!

It was a mostly dry day throughout with one or two short spells of heavy downpour. Ruth kicked things off with a fast, flowing Beginners Jumping that rocketed out some sub 30 seconds times. Over in Ring 1 Matt's Intermediate Agility tested the handlers ability and in Ring 3 the Veterans and Anysize plodded around a comfortable Agility course.

The day ran quickly, although help was surprisingly scares at times, and everyone was itching to hear the overall series results!

Gill Vann from K9 Skool was running a Rescue League throughout the Winter Series and she was busy scurrying around collecting results, while also running her dogs and doing a spot of scribing.

Onto Steeplechase and everyone cheered as Deb and Beanie managed a great clear run! 3rd place! Hurrah Deb, all of that patience is starting to pay off.

Everyone was in great spirits as the day started to come to a close and jokes and laughter were wafting across the radios from ring parties to scorers box.

The Rescue League was announced and up in 1st place, our very own Sue with Rosie! Not only that but they also took Winter Series Medium Advanced 1st place! Two very pretty rosettes for them.

More instructor success came as Lou and Poppy took 1st place in Small Advanced Winter Series and Bex and Gemma 1st place Small Intermediate Winter Series! 

Back to Dig It and both trailers were unloaded onto the field and the rings were erected for our outdoor training rings and our summer shows! It is so exciting to see the field set up in all its glory. Summer is definitely close by!

Thank you to all for making our Winter Series the enjoyable, friendly and fun atmosphere that we all love!

Katie's Story

Katie is one of our Obedience Instructors. She is very experienced and has been instructing for 10 years! Katie has always owned rescue dogs who were looking for a second, third or even forth home for various reasons.

We asked Katie if there was a dog who she had learnt the most from and she said yes, Bayley.

Here's Katie's story about owning Bayley. 

I don't remember not having a dog as we always had a family Cocker Spaniel and had had two show cockers before we got Poppy, a working cocker. Poppy got us into flyball and agility and then through my flyball contacts I was told about a working cocker that was looking for a new home. At this point I was still living with my parents so it wasn't the right time, but he was from the same place as Poppy so therefore I had a look at his pedigree and lo and behold he was a full brother to Poppy - clearly meant to be!

I went to meet Bayley and fell in love immediately and then got told about his behaviour issues. He had lived with the same family since a puppy and had been spoilt rotten and treated like a baby. But when the family had a baby the attention he was getting was dwindling so his behaviour escalated to get attention and included guarding items, refusing to come in from the garden, snarling, growling and if pushed he would bite. After biting the baby they had made an appointment at the vets for him to be PTS after an appointment with Bark Busters had not worked out well. 

Now I will admit that at the time I was a bit arrogant, I had always had dogs from puppies and had helped at classes for a while and thought that I could handle everything thrown at me, however Bayley proved me wrong - at least at first. He didn't conform to any rules my other dogs did and I remember about a week after we got him thinking what the hell have I done and thinking that I had made a huge mistake!  

Therefore after a couple of sleepless nights I stopped trying to apply people logic and started to think like a dog to get to the bottom of why he was doing those things. Fundamentally it all came down to attention and him trying to get attention in a way that had proven effective in the past. At first we had been giving him attention or talking to him and this was just escalating the behaviour. So instead we ignored him and as his behaviour was that bad at first, he got ignored for a large proportion of the time! After a few times of him parading round the house with my underwear in his mouth he gradually got the idea that none of these tricks work anymore. Gradually through rewarding the behaviours we liked we got the sweet Bayley that was hiding underneath the angry exterior! Sure he would still have the odd tantrum but over all we had a lovely dog that was a lot more relaxed.

Bayley was 5 when we got him and we owned him until he was found to have splenic cancer at the age of 11. As much as it was hard work and tough at times, he taught me more about dogs than any of the dogs I had had before or have had since!
I have so much to thank him for, he taught me about dogs body language, calming signals, warning signs and how rewarding it is to take a dog that has got mixed up and set them back on the right track.

Bayley & his sister Poppy