100 Day Trick Training Challenge

A few weeks ago I watched a movie called Wild Horse, Wild Ride about the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, an annual contest that dares 100 people to each tame a totally wild mustang in order to get it adopted into a better life beyond federal corrals.

This has branched off into an Extreme Mutt Makeover - 15 trainers - 56 days - annual event in Texas held every year in conjunction with the Mustang Makeover.

So we are doing our own version and you are invited to play along.

100 DAY TRICK TRAINING CHALLENGE
Utilizing Kyra Sundance's Trick Title system...

BASIC RULES:
All tricks must be new to the dog – ie. if your dog already knows Sit, you may not count it.
Handler will bring any props required for a trick.
A reward may be given after a trick is successfully performed, but food must remain in a pocket until completion.

SCORING:
All tricks should be performed on 1 command and/or signal.  Extra commands or signals will be a 1 point deduction.  Gestures, body movements, noises are all considered extra commands/signals.  Multi-part tricks are allowed 1 command and/or signal per part without deduction.

If a dog is unable to perform the trick after 3 extra commands and/or signals, they will receive 0 points for that trick.

[N] Novice Tricks are worth 3 points each.
[ I ] Intermediate Tricks are worth 4 points each.
[A] Advanced Tricks are worth 6 points each.
[E] Expert Tricks are worth 8 points each.
[C] Champion Tricks are worth 10 points each.

A full tricks list is available on request indicating the possible tricks and their difficulty level.

Anyone want to play?

Major Updates!

So we have been silent for far too long - things got really hectic at the farm and the property was actually being sold.  This put us into a big tailspin as there aren't very many places that will allow 12 dogs and the comings and goings of boarders and training dogs.

In the end, we found a place in Winston Salem and are truly blessed to have such a fantastic new space!

We are still putting the finishing touches on it and will do a full post on the before and afters of it all - but we are so thrilled with the potential here.  We have a training room, office, photography studio and are fencing the yard for an amazing play area, building a full size agility course and outdoor obstacle course.

THE OFFICE SPACE BEFORE:

THE OFFICE SNEAK PEEK:

Moving up here has brought us closer to some really great people who have come on board at Pawtential.  

Melissa Robertson has come on board as our Office Manager.  She is handling the day to day answering of emails, phone calls and appointments.  She is also studying in our Train the Trainer program as an apprentice.  

We also have Jeanene Ridge joining us.  She comes from a lifetime of stock dog handling and competing as well as almost 10yrs of grooming.  She has come on board as a program trainer.

We have tons of exciting classes planned for next year, Woof Weekends, Urban Dog Programs, seminars and workshops and more...stick around - we are only just getting started!