Category Archives: Uncategorized

Voodoo loves the GoDogGo machine 🙂 Today I introduced him to the GoDogGo ball thrower. At first, he was just chasing Dazzle (who is obsessed with it). But then I put Dazzle in the house and Voodoo realized the machine was throwing the ball!! Next I’ll teach him to drop the ball into the top bucket.

Video: https://vimeo.com/191224436

Here is a short clip of a game Voodoo and Dazzle play. It’s the first part, before it turns into a game of tug.  They drag each other around the house and yard by whatever toy they have. No destination in particular, just taking turns leading the other around 🙂

Video: https://vimeo.com/191225040

Voodoo earned his Open level Barn Hunt title this weekend in 3 runs! He also got one Q toward his Senior title! I couldn’t accept placement ribbons because I was the Judge for the event, but he would have had 2 first place and 2 second place ribbons. He is really getting into the game! I’m so proud of him and how he’s doing!

Videos:

His 3 Open level runs: https://vimeo.com/190485085

His first official Senior level run: https://vimeo.com/190487834

I have been remiss about posting on Voodoo’s blog and have mostly been posting on his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624424201217618/

But here is most of what I have posted over there recently:

The “fruits of all our labor” so far. Voodoo’s intelligence, stability and energy has made the training such a pleasure! Many thanks to his breeder Erin Lynes and her wonderful Eromit Labrador breeding program! Eight titles in one month in six different sports/activities, with very good scores! All listed on this page

Voodoo’s 2nd Senior level barn hunt practice. I think he likes this game 🙂 https://vimeo.com/189216111 I should have gotten video of his first run. He was even more crazy! He was struggling on this hunt. They were not easy hides and we ran out of time but he stayed with it and was so happy when he found the rats! Senior has 4 rat tubes, 3 tubes with just dirty bedding and 1 completely empty tube on the course. I love seeing him having so much fun!

Some photos and a video from our recent Field Practice (retrieving ducks) Video: https://vimeo.com/189399575

Voodoo is now seven months old – 22″ tall and 40 lbs. This photo was taken at the park on Oct 31st. (Dazzle is 23.63 tall, so he is catching up!)

The other night I had fish for dinner. I got a lemon wedge with it and I don’t use lemon. So I held it out for Voodoo to sniff/lick just to see what reaction he would have to it. But he didn’t sniff or lick it- he GULPED it right out of my fingers and immediately swallowed it- rind and all! I don’t think he even tasted it because he never made a face and was begging for more. Crazy Labrador!

Voodoo had a meltdown today because Dazzle wouldn’t play with him and was ignoring him. I usually stop this sort of thing because it creates conflict stress in Dazzle (he wants to “handle it” himself, but knows I’ll get mad if he goes after Voodoo). But I wanted to see how long it would go on. Answer: too long! 🙂 Even my husband came in to see what was happening. https://vimeo.com/189401840 I added some captions to keep it interesting. Watch for Dazzle’s “eye roll”.

Voodoo is almost as fast as Dazzle now! This is a very short clip: https://vimeo.com/189400687

And finally, my post from today:

I think Voodoo has entered his teen stage, where all previous training is forgotten 🙂 I went to the petstore to get more dog food and he was a wild man, totally out of control! Impaled the employee (who walked over to see if we needed help) with his front feet as he jumped on her, was lunging at the end of the leash in every direction, and he climbed on a customer that passed by us closely. SO glad this is just a phase and that it will pass! Just hope it passes quickly!

Voodoo did great in the “Prep for Novice Competition” class! He did his first stand for exam (with me feeding him treats) and his first stay line up. While the instructor was talking or working one on one with folks, we practiced his stays, auto sit, and stand for exam with me doing the touch. The hardest part of class for him is waiting or doing nothing, so we work on something through the entire class. He’s fine with working on stays, but not just standing around at the end of the leash with no particular behavior expected of him.

I’m so thankful to have an instructor for this class who promotes positive obedience training!  Voodoo and I are doing some of the things a bit differently than what she is teaching, but she is advocating for the dogs and saying things like “If the dog breaks the stay, it’s the human’s fault for pushing for too much too fast” and reminding people to praise and reward their dogs for a job well done. Such a nice change from “pop your dog” and “don’t let him get away with that” when the dog doesn’t even understand what the handler wants yet!

One last title added while Voodoo is still 6 mo. old (turns 7 mo. tomorrow) 🙂 Today he earned his Barn Hunt Novice title, first place and high in class! Video: https://vimeo.com/188725036

Over the winter, we will be focusing on Barn Hunt, Nose Work and upper level Tricks titles and preparing him for the Novice Obedience class. He will need to wait till he’s a bit older to do more Rally since the Advanced class has a jump. I updated his page of titles, scores and video links here: Voodoos-titles-and-Qs Eight titles in one month in six different sports/activities, with very good scores! A pretty good start!

Beginner Nov: https://vimeo.com/188455141

Two more qualifying runs today at the Rally and Obedience trials. Voodoo got 3rd place in Rally Novice. He got a 92, but would have been a 97 if the Judge had seen us when we did the sidestep right. Oh well, sometimes you get a gift, sometimes you lose points you shouldn’t have. Video: https://vimeo.com/188354787

Beginner Novice wasn’t as smooth, but he did Q. I left the ribbons attached to his crate at the trial so I’m going from memory, but I think it was a 182.5 or 187.5

For some reason, his “sitter” was broken during heeling. Whenever I stopped, he would take a step or two back and stand there wagging his tail as though that was perfectly correct. 🙂 We stopped off at QC to do some practice on the auto sit while heeling. Hopefully he has it back for tomorrow. Video: https://vimeo.com/188357636

Decided to start Voodoo on the treadmill. I’m not using it for aerobic exercise though. Instead, I’m going to use it to teach him the mechanics of moving with his head up and straight in a way that I can SEE him and reward correct position. It’s also a good low impact, low speed exercise that will help condition his muscles and balance for the heads up heeling as we work in short sessions. This is just the beginning steps and we just start to touch on the goal at the end of the montage of clips. https://vimeo.com/188100194

Today I tried to recreate the photo I took of Dazzle and Voodoo when Voodoo was just 9 weeks old. It wasn’t easy to do considering I couldn’t see my phone screen in the sun, but it’s the best I could do. I think it clearly shows how much he has grown! I’m hoping he will add another couple of inches in height before he stops growing up and works on filling out. 🙂

And Voodoo and Dazzle are still doing GREAT together! As you can see in this photo of Voodoo flopped across Dazzle’s head during play.

This evening Voodoo was tested for the Canine Good Citizen title and passed the testing! So he adds CGC after his name. No video or photos, sorry. He will get a certificate in the mail once I mail in the paperwork.