Loke, Australian shepherd, fetching, other cool tricks and therapy dog work. Clicker

http://cafenaive.blogspot.com/

Loke is 20 months old now.
For working as a therapy dog, Loke must be able to fetch different objects in various materials and so on. I've had a lot of trouble with this, 'cause he's simply not been interested. (Remember, Loke is my first dog and I've not been training dogs before him). Then I was minding my own business in front of the computer one day and suddenly Loke delievered the dumbbell. I guess he was bored. =P He got a big reward for being spontaneous about it and after that he is rather content with fetching stuff. Still have to work in different locations and such, of course.
The reason I'm using the same place for all the objects is to help Loke generalize - same place but different object = not too big a difference. He knows what's expected in that place. =) Eventually you can raise criteria.

All the different objects are useful when rehabilitating people, depending on handicap/injury. People will use their arms when throwing the objects and train their abdomen when picking things up, practise mobility etc. Many of the objects I use also stimulates different senses - sight, feeling, hearing and so on. It can also stimulate memories.

And there are of course just some funny tricks att funny training that's got nothing to do with therapy dogs. =)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• australian shepherd
• clicker
• clicker training
• shepherd
• australian
• klicker
• klickerträning
• dog training
• dog
• tricks
• obedience
• canine freestyle
• agility

[normansep12]

Aussies are born with no tail so he might be a cross and also Aussies don't have pointy ears either so i think some border collie in him or just border collie a they come in lots of colours and also a therapy dog works with a therapist not rehabilitation

[Silivr1]

@normansep12 Loke is a pure bred Australian shepherd registered in the Swedish Cennel Club. As for the tail, you can read for yourself on the Australian Shepherd Club of America's webpage that "an identifying characteristic is his natural OR docked bobtail". So they can very well be born with full tails but are docked as puppies in several countries. In Sweden this is thankfully banned by law since 1989.

[Silivr1]

@normansep12 Pointy ears aren't uncommon either, but not desireable in the breed standard. But it is allowed. In fact, if you visit the ASCA homepage you can see several photos of aussies that have similar ears as Loke. Loke is a working type, so he's bred to be an efficient working dog, not a fluffy show dog.

As for the therapy dog part. Swedish therapy dogs and care dogs works with rehabilitation of both the mind and the body. This may not be how it is in your country.

[limebread]

Strange how your aussie has a tail. I thought most/all breeders docked their tails due to hygiene problems with them. Does the tail give you problems?

[Silivr1]

@limebread Docking is forbidden in Sweden unless for medical reasons. His tail is no different than if a border collie has a tail (and no one docks border collie tails) so no, the tail is no trouble at all. ;) Some aussies are born without tails naturally and this is what breeders have decided is the ¤right look¤. I'm glad that it is forbidden in Sweden to mutilate dogs just for the looks.

[i2ambler2002]

@Silivr1 My aussie has a tail as well, and non 'perfect' ears much like this pooch. His stand up just a little like this. I think its cute. :-)

[Silivr1]

@i2ambler2002 It's very cute and very expressive! =)

[4fota]

@ normansep12 - Ofcourse Loke is a purebred Aussie. As his owner said: the aussie comes in many different, colours, shapes, sizes. With pricked ears, floppy ears and something in between. With EVERYTHING from no tail all the way to a full tail. Thats one of the advantages of this fabulous breed, you can do some research regarding lines, relatives and parents and get the dog of your dreams, either if you want a big bones, fluffy showdog, or a sleak and more agile workingdog. Please do your homew

[DawnShadowWarrior]

lol my Aussie has a tail too! XD Except he's red colored instead of multi colored. And he's so obsessed with playing fetch that he won't pay attention enough to do tricks 8P

[myruby2001]

AWWW! I love aussies, I have an aussie/ border collie and i love her sssssooooooooo much lol i am gald they dont dock tails in sweden i wish they didnt here in the US, my dog has a docked tail and she isnt even a purbred! its ridicoulus, but i still love her :)

M&M

[limebread]

@Silivr1 Just for breeding standards? That's sad. I hope docking gets banned in the US.