It's Finally SPRING!!! In some parts of the country people are already training in the water, but here in the northeast I'm glad we can just be outside doing Courier go-outs in the grass. Any dog can have fun in the water, but if you want to test your training skills, and have fun with other PWDs you can try entering a PWDCA Water Trial. (download the schedule here) Even if you are not competing its fun to watch. The first level, Jr. Water Dog is designed to use the dogs natural instincts with a little bit of training. The other levels build on those skills and any other training you have been doing. (Learning how to learn is the skill. Once you and your dog learn to work together you'll find that it gets easier to add new skills.) Start your puppy or beginner dog on the most important skill -- retrieve on command and bring it to hand -- and the hardest one to train for the apprentice test - the underwater retrieve. Phyllis
Our favorite for learning to retrieve	Three-handled toy for Apprentice underwater retrieve
Float news: Our float supplier has had to discontinue the process that they use to make the custom floats we have been selling. We are working with them to develop a float of a similar material that can be made to our specifications. In the meantime we are selling float lines (and loose floats) similar to the ones we have had, but they are only available in white. We do have a new shape float that is similar to the one we have been using on our fishing nets. It is 3" wide so it sits about 1-1/2" out of the water. The squared off ends will make a distinctive shape at the water line for the dog to focus on.
Photo coming soon.....