New Odor, No Micromanagement: Layla Learning to Trust Her Nose Intro to Nosework class, night four, and things got deliciously real. This was laying serious foundations: odor, commitment, independence, and handler mechanics that support the dog driven search. Odor Happens First (Food Just Makes the Point) Tonight Layla met her first four target odors: birch, anise, cypress, and clove. Each scent was carefully paired with inaccessible food inside a container or vessel.

Teaching a clear nose hold in nosework: Four scents, container + room searches, Red Light/Green Light game, and handler mechanics that support independent searching. This week’s class was all about pairing odor and trusting the nose. #BlueBlur #NoseWork #Rplus #Appetitive #TeamLayla

Walking on Sunshine in Pre Novice Agility Fast, Focused, and Fully Committed Pre-novice agility class felt extra good this week, partly because the weather finally cooperated and partly because Layla showed up ready to play play play. She did a stellar job getting into and staying in the weaves, even blasting out of a tunnel at full speed. I threw in a front cross before one weave entry and barely got out of her way in time.

Sunshine, speed, and twelve happy weaves. Layla blasted out of tunnels, forgave my awkward handling moment, and nailed her contacts. It was great being back in agility class after two weekends of freezing weather! #BlueBlur #Agility #Sunshine #Appetitive #Rplus #TeamLayla

Nose Down, Brain On: Intro To Nosework Intro nosework, fundamental principles, and the joy of letting the dog drive the search Introductory nosework class was all about building belief in Layla's nose. The first lesson:👉 Stop marking. Start paying. Pay at Source, Not at the Handler When teaching a nose hold for scent discrimination, we skip the clicker or verbal marker. No “yes,” no “good,” no marker at all.

Skip the mark. Pay at source. While the dog’s nose is on odor, deliver multiple fast treats right there. End intentionally with “all done” and lure away. Paying at source builds a clean nose hold and prevents head-whipping back to the handler. #BlueBlur #Rplus #Nosework #Appetitive #DogDrivenSearch

Rip, Roll & Sniff: The Felt-Strip Foraging Ball This turns the Holee Roller into a durable, reusable snuffle puzzle that satisfies dogs who love: ripping and extracting nose-down searching pawing, chasing, and problem solving It’s especially appealing for dogs who want to do something with their food. How to Make It What you need Holee Roller ball Felt strips, about 10 inches long Kibble, treats, or smelly snacks…

With the upcoming winter-pocalypse upon us, I'm adding enrichment to my to-do list. Here is one idea to turn a holee roller ball into a reusable snuffle puzzle for foragaing, nosework, pawing, chasing, and problem solving. #BlueBlur #Enrichment #Rplus #Appetitive

Sniff Happens: Layla’s Learning to Trust Her Nose Sometimes in the introductory teaching phase of nosework, your dog will look at you for direction, like, “So… are you going to help or what?” Don't direct them. You want your dog to learn on their own to drive the search. It may be hard to do, but just wait for your dog to make the decision to search. You wait.

Less directing. More following. Happier sniffing.
Layla’s intro to nosework class reminded me how powerful it is to trust the nose and let curiosity lead. Sweet moments, stinky food, and growing confidence. #BlueBlur #Nosework #Rplus #RescueDog #AppetitiveForTheWin #DogDriven

Sniff First, Ask Questions Later: Layla’s Nosework Adventure Begins This week, Layla and I started an intro to nosework class, and it was a perfect reminder of how fun simple scent games can be. One Box, One Hole, One Job Our first lesson was straightforward: one cardboard box with a small hole in the top, filled with very smelly lamb and tripe. Layla’s job was to drive to that box and put her nose right to the source.

Simple boxes. Stinky food. Big brain moments. 🐕
Layla’s first nosework lessons show how a simple sniffing game builds resilience, focus, and joy. No cues, no chaos, just dogs doing dog things. Read the full tale on Animal Accolades. #BlueBlue #NoseWork #RescueDog #Rplus #AppetitiveForTheWin

Pre-Novice Agility Notes: Lines, Motion, and Confidence Warming Up With Flow and Commitment Pre-novice agility class with Layla continues to be a mix of learning, laughing, and small victories that are so fun in the moment. This week we started with a flowing series that included the tire, tunnel, A-frame, s-lines, and weaves. It was one of those sequences that asks the dog to think, commit, and keep moving forward with confidence.

Pre-novice agility with Layla is all about flow and confidence. Perfection isn’t the goal. Success comes from understanding Layla's line and remembering that motion matters to her more than words. #BlueBlur #Agility #TeamLayla #Rplus #RescueDog #Appetitive #AnimalAccolades

In Bechhofen brennt das Feuerwehrhaus - Bechhofen In Bechhofen brannte in der Nacht auf Sonntag das Feuerwehrhaus. Die Ursache ist noch unklar. Die Feuerwehr hatte Glück im Unglück: Sie konnte die ...

🔥 Feuer im Feuerwehrhaus Bechhofen (RP, Landkreis Südwestpfalz). Für viele Feuerwehrangehörige ist das Feuerwehrhaus das zweite Zuhause.

www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/kreis-... 💶 #RPlus #rheinpfalz

#feuerwehr #bechhofen #suedwestpfalz #brand #einsatzfw #immerda

Serpentines, Sass, and a Whole Lot of Weaves A Weekly Variety Show in Agility Form Pre-novice agility class with Layla is never just a training session. It's a weekly variety show starring one very enthusiastic dog, a bunch of tunnels and jumps, and me trying to learn. This week’s episode with our coach Beth Martin featured serpentines, tight turn cues, rear crosses, contacts, and the crowd favorite: twelve whole weave poles.

Layla’s pre-novice agility class was part training session, part comedy special. She crushed the weaves, styled the jumps, and basically made agility her weekly talk show. New blog's up, come laugh and learn with us! #BlueBlur #TeamLayla #Rplus #Agility

Tunnel Vision and Serpentine Dreams: A Young Dog Agility Adventure Playing agility with a young dog is equal parts strategy session, comedy sketch, and tiny athletic miracle. Layla and I spent the weekend in a Young Dog Workshop with Jody Lolich, and it delivered all three in generous quantities. Here is what we learned, what we laughed through, and what we will be training next. Cracking the Code of the Verbal Tunnel Cue…

Layla and I took our agility skills for a spin in a brand new (to us!) venue and discovered tunnels, jumps, serpentines, and a few humbling handler moments. Come see what we learned in our Young Dog Workshop. Read the full adventure on the blog! #YoungDog #BlueBlur #Agility #Rplus #TeamLayla

Is ChatGPT trustworthy for dog training advice? — Compassionate Dude Dog Training We’re planning a trip. I asked ChatGPT when we should buy tickets. ChatGPT gave answers that seemed based on data. I could have found out the answer using a trip planner like I usually do, but ChatGPT...

I asked ChatGPT about treating separation anxiety in dogs. ChatGPT presented things that are science-based AND things not science-based.

Why do I not recommend ChatGPT for dog training advice? Full post:
www.compassiondudedogs.com/newsletter/i...

#separationanxiety #rplus #dogtrainer

Serpentines and Second Chances: Pre-Novice Agility Week 3 Every week, Layla reminds me that growth comes in layers. This time, we worked serpentines, post turns, and front crosses, with a healthy side of contact training. It wasn’t flawless, but it was full of “aha” moments—the kind that turn good runs into great partnerships. The Serpentine Shuffle Serpentine lines are cued with both the verbal cue “hup” and your body cues showing the dog their line.

This week’s agility run with Layla wasn’t flawless—but it was full of fun moments and great teamwork. Serpentines, post turns, front crosses, and a big dose of clarity. 💫 Read the progress on Animal Accolades! 🐾 #Agility #TeamLayla #Rplus #BlueBlur

Keeping The Connection: Lessons from Pre-Novice Agility This week’s agility play reminded me of one big truth: the tunnel may be fast, but connection is what keeps the game together. The Learning Pearl As your dog explodes out of a tunnel, don’t just run and hope. Reconnect. A quick glance, a verbal cue, even a breath of acknowledgment — that’s your moment to reestablish the team. Dogs exit tunnels blind to where their handler has gone, and without that brief reconnection, they’ll make their own (sometimes brilliant, sometimes not-so-brilliant) choices.

This week’s pre-novice agility lesson with Layla was all about staying tuned in, celebrating effort, and keeping the joy flowing. Layla and I worked on timing, trust, and remembering that every “oops” is just information.
#BlueBlur #AgilityRescueDog #Rplus #TeamLayla #DogAgility

Young Dog Agility Clinic: Building Confidence in Serpentines, Discriminations, and Sequences Handling a young dog in agility is part art, part science — and all about connection. Each exercise builds independence, speed, and clarity so your dog learns to love the game as much as you do. Serpentine Lines: Encouraging Independent Commitment We kicked off the young dog handling seminar with serpentines — a classic agility skill that teaches dogs to think ahead and commit to the next obstacle without constant handler direction.

This week we played serpentines, tunnel temptations, and post turns with Jody Lolich — all about building confidence and clarity for young agility dogs. 🌀

Read how the games unfolded 👉

#BlueBlur #TeamLayla #Rplus #DogAgility #AgilityTraining

Watch Teddy use his sniffer to find a single treat! He is a determined and seasoned searcher, so I've been making more and more difficult hides for him.

#scentwork #dogtraining #petsitting #enrichment #positivereinforcement #rplus

Layla Leaps Into Pre-Novice Agility This week Layla proudly graduated to Pre-Novice Agility! 🎉 Watching her progress has been equal parts thrilling and humbling—because as any agility handler knows, every new level comes with its own set of challenges (and homework). Contact Work: Building Confidence Our biggest project right now is contacts—specifically, Layla driving confidently into her 2o2o position (two paws on, two paws off).

Layla says: weave poles? Easy. 2o2o stops? …define ‘stop.’ 😏 Contacts are hard. Snacks are forever. #AgilityLife #BlueBlur #Rplus #AgilityDog #LaylaLeaps

Beginner Agility 3A Week 6: Building Confidence and Clarity This week’s agility training with Layla was all about contacts, confidence for driving, and clarity for weaves. Contacts: Finding the 2o2o Sweet Spot After receiving a WHOLE lotta reinforcement for sitting on a plank in the zone of reinforcement, Layla has decided that sitting in the contact zone is her new interpretation. Creative, but not quite right! Instead, she needs clarity to drive all the way to the end of the contact and land in…

Layla’s latest agility lesson? Sitting pretty in the contact zone isn’t the same as 2o2o 🤦‍♀️. This week was all about clarity: true contacts, confident weaves, and building her drive to go-go-go! Clarity = confidence = joyful runs. 🐾 #BlueBlur #TeamLayla #Rplus #AgilityDog

Echo finished up her skills certifications for #treibball last night, and then she got to do some formations!

#dogtraining #bordercollie #rplus #rescuedog

Focus Forward Layla doing a great job in Beginner Agility 3A. We're in Week 5 already! Support Success for Your Young Dog With a young dog, remember to support them through the obstacle at this stage. Even if you are a bit late cueing the next obstacle, it’s important to provide the young dog with clarity to successfully maneuver each obstacle. For example with the A frame, let her hit the A frame successfully, then mark the success with “Yes” then cue “Go” “hup!” That way Layla stays on her correct line and does not get pulled off the A frame if I cue with my body the next jump too early.

Beginner Agility 3A Week Five: Layla’s learning that ‘Go!’ really means go — and I’m learning my hands tell the whole story. Want to see how we’re shaping clarity, confidence, and forward drive? Check out the blog 👇 #BlueBlur #Agility #Rplus #RescueDogsRock

Red and white Border Collie wearing orange ear muffs while napping on the couch. She’s got a big fluffy tail.

The leaf blower gang is at it again, but thankfully Echo’s earmuffs block enough of the noise out to keep her relaxed and snoozing. Without them, she will bark incessantly, which isn’t fun for anybody. Note that not all dogs enjoy wearing equipment.

#bordercollie #rescuedog #rplus #dogtraining

Echo successfully completed her #treibball level 2 directional cues and push level 3 skill tests last night! All we have left is level 3 directional cues and level 3 send.

www.nationaltreibball.com/Skills-Certi...

#dogtraining #dogsports #bordercollie #rescuedog #rplus #positivetraining

Treats That Teach: Rewarding Recipes Rotating new treats prevents boredom, boosts motivation, and makes learning more fun and effective. The highest value treat often does not come from the dog food store. Usually it comes right out of your own fridge, pantry, or kitchen. Variety Matters Rotating new treats prevents boredom, boosts motivation, and makes learning more fun and effective. When we talk about training treats as reinforcement in…

Kibble’s fine… but sardine brownies? Now that’s motivation. See how variety in treats keeps training fun and effective. 🐕✨ #Motivation #Rplus #TreatRecipes

Beginner Agility 3A Week 2: Shaping Paths and Building Confidence Layla and I continued our agility journey this week with some exciting challenges and rewarding progress. The highlight of our session was playing with a post turn over a jump into the dog walk sequence. Focus on letting Layla find her own 2o2o contact “feet” — two paws on the contact zone, two off. Never lure. Instead, give her the chance to own the behavior first, then reinforce it.

Agility is all about connection and clarity. This week, Layla and I worked on contacts, weaves, and how my body guides her path. Dive into our progress on the blog 👉 https://animalaccolades.wordpress.com/blog/ #Agility #Blue Blur #Rplus #TeamLayla

Front Crosses, Flying Starts, and Focused Fun: Beginner Agility 3A Week 1 This week, Layla and I dove into front crosses — where you change sides while your dog is in front of you. Think of it like a “front” in obedience. Always consider the dog's line to the next obstacle, so when she crosses in front, she sees the next obstacle. Front cross 💡 Pro tip: Leave your front side open so the dog sees her line of travel.

Front crosses, flying starts, and clear lines — Layla and I packed a lot into agility this week! 🐾 See the full breakdown (and training tips you can steal) at Animal Accolades blog. #BlueBlur #AgilityDog #Rplus #TeamLayla

The crypto rollercoaster continues! 🎢 #REZU is up 12.51% to $0.0133, while #RPLUS is soaring 20% at $7.92! But not all is bright—#TOWNS has plummeted 24.83% to $0.0312, and #KMD is struggling with a whopping 41.79% drop. Hold on tight, folks! #Crypto

Crypto chaos is real! 🤯 While #RPLUS is flexing with a 13.36% rise to $7.55, #KERNEL is tanking 12.21% at $0.202. The #LTO plunge has left us stunned, plummeting 62.5% to ₿0.00000003. What a rollercoaster—only for the brave! #Crypto

Wow, what a shaky ride for some coins! 🚨 #OMNI is down 10.41%, trading at $4.13, while #RPLUS isn’t doing much better with a drop of 11.06% to $6.35. Even #KERNEL and #RESOLV are feeling the heat, down 12.62% to $0.18 and 11.43% to $0.1642 respectively. Buckle up, crypto fam! #Crypto

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India (IN)

#RPlus #India

Today's easy food and chewing based enrichment:
* tiny cabbage from the farmers market
* drill or poke holes in it
* stuff treats in the holes
*let your dog go to town shredding

Always feed extras and new foods in moderation, and when in doubt, double-check!

#morethanwalks #rplus #dogtraining

Teaching Your Dog to Love Nail Trims Many dogs find nail trimming stressful, but with patience and positive reinforcement, you can teach your dog to enjoy this grooming task. Here’s how to create a positive association with nail trims using a step-by-step approach. Step 1: Establishing a Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) Objective: Create a conditioned emotional response (CER). A CER is a learned emotional reaction to a previous neutral stimulus.

Nail trims don’t have to be a wrestling match. With cookies, calm vibes, and a dash of strategy, your dog can love their paw-dicure, and even their vet exams. 💅🐾 Turn trimmers from terror to treat time. #FearFree #CooperativeCare #Rplus