6-10-24 FC Week 2 is uploaded

 Karen,

Did you go home from class today and take a nap?  Week 2 is a ton of new material, but just go through the HOMEWORK pages as they will help you learn. Also, there is a NEW section entitled HOMEWORK Cliff Notes which I know you will enjoy.

I also added a FOUNDATION Course Graduate Introduction section, uploaded the FC Week 2 Glossary, the FC articles (Why KMODT Works), filled in the pages under the section entitled AKC Trials and Events (so much fun history in this section) AND uploaded my NADOI published articles for your review, education and understanding.

All of that to say, breathe and take things one step at a time. We are here to help you succeed with Cosmos.

Roxanne

Sat June 8 2024

Sat AM LL, cool down and quiet time done at the city park in Richfield. Not many descriptions. Cosmo continues to struggle with quiet time, got up and changed position 3 time but layed back down right away.

PM Lions Park Richfield

LL,  cool down and quiet time. Cosmo did well staying within 4 feet of me. How to correct a couple of times until the 2 dogs that were loose started coming towards Cosmo I was able to make the correction going over the wall and kept him on the opposite side where he quieted down. Thanks to Jessi I knew what to do. The owners came and got the dogs. This really wore him out. So after 20 minutes we went into quiet time. It was kind of funny he walked himself back to the car and was ready to go. I will work with him for another 10 minutes in the backyard after it cools down. I ordered a tripod on Amazon and am really excited to use it.

Friday June 7

 Friday morning Richfield city park. Longe line and free time decided to do quiet time at the park with lawnmowers going, people walking, boys playing ball. Cosmo is doing well. Jessi commented that I needed to make sure that Cosmo was no more than 4 feet from me now that we're in week 2. We struggled with is for about 20 minutes and then he was good at staying within that 4 feet with minor corrections.

Week 1 EXAM

Link to Week 1 EXAM 

Welcome Karen and Cosmos

 Hello,

Welcome Karen, so excited to have you in the program. My name is Trina Swalberg. I live in Central Valley, just down the street from Roxanne . I grew up in Gunnison and lived there until I graduated. I moved to Cedar City to pursue a career in education. It was there I met my husband of 30 years now. We have two kids.  My daughter is 26 and currently lives in the UK with her husband who is in the Airforce. My son is 24 and lives in Las Vegas with his wife. No grandkids yet. My husband and I both work in Marysvale at a private school for teens that have behavioral and mental health issues. My role in the school is the principal / teacher, and my husband is the owner / director. We also have a farm that keeps us busy in the summer. We don’t get a lot of time off due to either working at our program or working on the farm, but when we do get a day off, we love to go to Lake Powell, go camping, or go out riding our side by side. 

In October of ’23, I decided my husband and I needed a small dog for companionship. After looking online, I found a toy poodle that I fell in love with. I made arrangements, went and picked her (Zoey) up, and the process began. I knew that I wanted to train her so that she was obedient and well-mannered I just didn’t know how. I searched online looking at many different curriculums, but none of them felt right. They all seemed like a “one program fits all”. I didn’t like that because I knew each dog has their own set of behavior problems, and having a small dog was different than a large dog.  One day I was driving by Roxanne’s house and decided to give her a call.  After talking to her, I felt like it was the right way to go. Best decision I have ever made in terms of dog training. Roxanne started us immediately in the puppy course. After completing the puppy course, I thought I would be done. However, Roxanne encouraged me to enroll in the Foundation course to better help Zoey be successful in real life situations.  After seeing how obedient her dogs were, I decided to continue with my dog training journey.  This course kept me busy and even some weeks I asked myself what I had gotten into. I am not a person who quits so I sucked it up and worked hard every day to be as successful as I could. My husband was so much support during this process. Often making dinner while I trained. 

Working with Zoey became part of my daily routine, (work, home, train, sleep, repeat). Any down time I had I watched the awesome videos that Roxanne posted on the blog. I would study, take notes, and practice, practice, practice. For me the videos were a life saver. I learned so much by watching them over and over. Each time I watched, I learned something new. I loved how the videos didn’t just show the perfect dog, but dogs that struggled and how to correct. Roxanne and Jessi were so much help and support through the process. They were always there to answer questions, watch what was specifically going on with me and Zoey, and guiding me to become successful. Anytime I became frustrated they would remind me to relax and breath, it would all work out in time. They both kept me grounded and focused. 

I finished the foundation course the end of March.  Throughout this course Zoey and I have really bonded.  We have gained a deeper understanding and respect for each other. We are not perfect by any means and still have a long way to go, but for a 9-month-old dog she is doing pretty good. She is gaining more confidence in the world around her and not so scared of everything like she was when we began. The foundation course has not only made Zoey a better dog, but it has made me a better owner. I would never be to the spot I am today without Roxanne and her program.  

Some of the things that I learned during the Foundation course that I loved the most was the sit stay, the recall, and place. Wow, those three things have made so much of a difference. It has given me peace of mind knowing that I can put Zoey on a stay while I move a vehicle around and she is safe. Or being able to recall her from a situation and knowing she will respond. 

I am currently planning on joining the retrieve course in June. I am eager to continue learning and bonding with Zoey. 

I hope that you enjoy and learn as much from this class as I have. You will find, as I did, that you will build friendships and gain a support system that will cheer you on as you and your dog learn together.  

I’m excited to get to know you and Cosmos and watch you two learn and grow together. 😀

Welcome Karen & Cosmos!

   Welcome to the wonderful world of dog training, Karen. I'm so excited for you and Cosmos to start on this new adventure!! My name is Mary. I was born, raised and lived in Southern California up until 3 years ago. As a retired couple, my husband and I were looking for a place to live with a slower pace, less congestion and more affordability than California. Through a friend, we discovered this little gem of a city. We absolutely love living in Richfield. It is so beautiful here. We have the valley, the mountains, the sky, wide open spaces and actually experience four seasons, something we did not have living in California. Every day I wake up, I am so thankful to be here.

    I met Roxanne Lee at the church we attend shortly after we moved here. She asked if I wanted to go hiking with her. Hiking is something I had not done very often up to that point, but I figured I could handle it so I agreed to go with her. We met up and went up a trail called Kiln-It. It was more like I dragged myself up this not so easy trail. I survived and decided I needed to hike more often to build up stamina. Anyway, on that day I was introduced to her pack who went up the trail with us. I was so impressed at the way they ran off leash, ventured out but came back when Roxanne called them. I appreciated how well trained they were but I had no intention of getting a dog....ever! I thought I'd just enjoy going out with her and her dogs and that would be that.

    Then it happened. About 2 1/2 years ago, Roxanne asked if I'd be available to help her with a Puppy Aptitude and Temperament Testing (PATT) on a litter of Mini Aussie doodle pups, a female and 2 males.  I told her I'd be happy to help out. I'd get to be around some cute little puppies for awhile then go home. After the test, there was playtime with the puppies. I was drawn to the female, at that time known as "Fat Amy". She was adorable, social, friendly and energetic. That little dog changed my heart. A week later my husband and I brought her home and renamed her Molly. We are so happy we did. 

    Shortly after we took Molly in, I began the Mannerly Puppy Training course with Roxanne and Jessi (Molly's dam and sire are her dogs) to work Molly through some basic obedience exercises. When we graduated from that course, we moved on to the Dog Obedience 1st Foundation Course. It was a challenge to say the least but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Through the course of the training, a bond of trust was built between Molly and I. Molly knows obedience is an expectation  and she has been trained to respond to commands. She is a joy because of her obedience training.,, not a source of frustration as so many untrained dogs can be for their owners. When we visit relatives who have untrained dogs, they are impressed with Molly and turn to their dogs and say, "Why can't you be more like her?" 

    After the Foundation Course, we moved on to the Retrieve Course that builds on the Foundation Course and deepens the bond of trust between the dog and its owner. Then we went on to PPP (Polish, Precision, Poise) to finesse the skills previously learned with obedience as the firm foundation. With all the training under my belt, I decided to do something I NEVER dreamed I'd do. I entered a few AKC obedience trials last year. I had built up some confidence through the year of working with Roxanne and Jessi, but moreover I had more confidence in the training than in myself!! That's one of Roxanne's mantras, "trust the training." Last year Molly earned her Beginner Novice, Novice, Rally Novice, Intermediate Novice and her CD (Companion Dog). It's also a lot of fun. I'm not in it to win it but to demonstrate how Molly and I work as team.

    I hope you get as much out of this training as I did. I have to be honest. There were times I wanted to give up and quit, I got frustrated, I cried, but Roxanne and Jessi helped me work through those times of breakdown. They are not just trainers, but friends who support and encourage with patience. They are also your dog's champions. They help you so you can help your dog. You will also find there is a wonderful "dog community". There will be other people at your lessons who have gone through the training. I'll be a part of that. We are here to help. If you need help with taking a video of one of your lessons or an exam, if you need a distraction or if you just need some encouragement, please let me know.

    Once again, WELCOME! Enjoy the ride!! Glad to have you with us!

Molly and the Lee pack 

She loves the beach

and the snow!

Response to Roxanne's Post from 6/3/24

 Roxanne sorry I missed this post. Mondays training was great I felt very comfortable even though it was a little intense. I guess I feel comfortable with everyone in the class and their abilities. Cosmo was much better than I thought he would be, not wanting to go after any of the dogs. Looking forward to week 3.