Summer Break Training

[leopuppy04]

Just wondering what people do with their dogs in the summer months while most of the training clubs have closed until Feb and their aren't many trials around. Do you have a break and not do anything? Do you still keep up your training? Do you teach things that you usually don't during the year?

Me? I pretty much take a break. We do a bit of training and do some tricks and free-shaping.... stuff that takes the back burner during the year. So far - in a few short sessions, i've been teaching Leo how to operate the 'old school' flyball box (where they push down the lever and the ball shoots out.... homemade). We've also been doing some free shaping and teaching the 'out' command for agility.

[Kavik]

We had a short break when I went away for Xmas. Lucky Kaos got to come with us, go to the beach and river and have his first encounters with WATER! Which he loved but was still unsure about going deep enough to swim.

Now we are back to our normal routine, my club starts back next Tuesday (9 January).

[wheres my rock]

we keep trianing my dogs would die if i didnt work them they love it too much lol

gee your lcky we dot go back till february

[dogdayz]

I take a break for as long as the dogs will let me, after having had 6 weeks of nothing, i have a collie who is demanding to be worked so she restarted today , and a weimaraner who is quite content to sunbake all day, which is probably fair enough as he does get quite stressed by hot weather. So collie resumed work today, just light obedience and introducing a new exercise or two, prior to needing them, at the weekend she will resume herding.

For myself i enjoy this point of the year going through the schedules for 2007 and deciding the main focus trials for each dog.

[Arya]

I keep training or my dog would go nuts!!! We get out early in the morning before it gets hot but also, doing stuff like introducing UD exercises and lots of tricks, just to do different stuff. Good fun

[helen]

I most definately have a break. The dogs really enjoy a holiday just like people do IMO

[Working_Setters]

I mostly train by myself or with a small group of friends, so clubs closing for the summer doesn't really effect me.

This summer I'm doing plenty of swimming, some heeling and force fetch, plus plently of hard free running exercise (the dogs, not me) cause they love it and would go nuts without it.

[Pippi]

I keep up the agility training - mainly because I just got most of my equipment now and I can . But our training is

no hardship I always try to keep it fun, if its hot then we train early in the morning or late in the evening. Pippi is the one who drags me out to the equipment.

[Sayreovi]

I do nothing at all over the break....well actually we did flyball training yesterday just to work out running order and teams, however that was the first "training" i have done for a month.

The dogs are quite content as long as they can go for a run, i will need to start up again soon as Darcy is becoming very hyper.

Ive personally found they come back more excited to learn and do stuff after a break, with Nova though i have to give him a quick run down before hand lol

[leopuppy04]

Interesting responses. I think my dog likes the break from doing 'obedience' all the time, hence why we do tricks and stuff.... tricks you can also teach inside with the air-con. I find that this way it keeps his mind active, and when we go back to obed in Feb, he is fresh and full of energy. Works well for me. I may love work (which I don't!) but i'm sure i'd like a break every now and again, or at least do something with a different flavour. JME. Mostly over the summer we go for long walks, swimming etc.

[Alpha]

We don't do any formal training but fun stuff like finding kids soxs in the yard , chucking a dumb bell about, we go over to a friends place who has broad jumps etc and do some jumping and retrieving, and have a play with the weaving pegs, and tunnel but its just play. Club does'nt return till Feb and I think first trial is not till March or so in Vic. No matter, any way not trialing until Lawson is 2.

[Guest Clover]

Summer break whats that? we have trained right through except had boxing day off. The dogs love it and we dont run them into the ground especially if it is hot. Our first Flyball comp back is not this weekend but the one after, and we have another on australia day so no rest for us yet .

[J...]

I wasn't planning on taking a break over Christmas but it just happened

Took her for a walk on the beach last night before heading to twilight training, we were a bit early so did some retreiving and drive games for a while, did an hour obedience class and she was still looking for more.... so I guess she's telling me she missed it and is glad to be back at work

[Nevafollo]

at our club they have an only for instructors sunday class most of the way throu only a few sundays off!!!!which means im back this sunday...unless i have a big night saturday

[spoilt lab lives here]

I havent done much training although we have learnt a few new things in the hols. We go to the pval or park and he an offlead run there with some obedience work into it, like sits and drops but thats it. I havent been to the demo team training yet, thats nothing formal just turn up for an 1hr have a coffee afterwards and then go home. Im going when i can though. Other than not we have had a break.

[bloss344]

We pretty much have a break, but I keep doing things like tricks and games. It's been too hot for Bob to do much of anything lately. We've been doing more walking and socialising which has been great for Bob.

Looking forward to getting back to training though.

[ReXy]

we have had a little bit of a break from more formal training, but still do daily stuff.. such as working on manners and your basic everyday stuff. i think you never really get a break you cant turn them off and just leave them there. or they will go mad..lol

[smisch]

Well I took a break for a while but leading up to our agility trials I have been doing the basics like weaving and jumps, but I make every walk a time to work so they sit by the curb and do some stays before running off to play but apart from that it's pretty much the usual!

[ausdogsx6]

Just wondering what people do with their dogs in the summer months while most of the training clubs have closed until Feb and their aren't many trials around. Do you have a break and not do anything? Do you still keep up your training? Do you teach things that you usually don't during the year?

Me? I pretty much take a break. We do a bit of training and do some tricks and free-shaping.... stuff that takes the back burner during the year. So far - in a few short sessions, i've been teaching Leo how to operate the 'old school' flyball box (where they push down the lever and the ball shoots out.... homemade). We've also been doing some free shaping and teaching the 'out' command for agility.

Hi, we start training again tomorrow. Alpha dog training only has 3 weeks break. I cant wait to get back to it again. I think I am having training withdrawals and my dogs must feel the same, they seem very bored. I also train at Berwick Obedience Dog Club but they are like most clubs and dont start until Feb. We are moving in March so I dont know if I will get back there except to say good bye.

Can you tell me about your home made flyball box. My oldest dog is a Kelpie named Zac. He is almost 2yo. and I would like to start flyball with him. I thought it might be good to teach him a bit at home first. My other dogs are 7 months old so we are still doing obedience for the moment except for one who is 18 months old but unfortunately has HD. So, out of 6 dogs, Zac is the only one that I can do dog sports with for the moment. I would love to make a flyball box at home though if you care to give us some hints.

I wouldnt worry about taking a break if I was you. a change is as good as a holiday and that goes for dogs as well as their humans.

regards, Lois