Lab Dog Proud Moments at the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac Specialty Show

Nissa did herself proud at the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac specialty show last week. The world's largest Labrador dog show was held in Frederick, Maryland over 4 busy days (plus an afternoon for a match before the big event). There were over 1100 Labradors in attendance for close to 1600 entries! The first 2 days of the show brought torrential rain, flooding the ground and leading to deep, sticky mud. Despite the miserable conditions my chocolate muffin placed 2nd in her Novice B obedience class with a 194.5 and won her rally Excellent A class with a 98, breaking a tie with fast time. It was a long, cold, wet day and we were both happy to get warm and dry back in our hotel room! That finished her RE title.

The second day Nissa made me very proud with her hard work. The mud was worse from all of the traffic in the same paths the day before, but she was a hard-working girl! Nissa won her obedience Novice B class. Nothing coming easy, we had to do an extra heeling routine in the mess when there was a tie (only 3 of us qualified, so it was not expected!). We won the run-off to finish her CD title with a 196+. Now she is officially Lobuff OtterTail Noble Nissa, RE, CD.

We had fun watching the rest of the show. I was happy to see my puppy students showing off. Chocolate Labrador, Scandal, won both his sweepstakes class and his regular class. He is destined to be a star! Black Lab, Jagger, made the cut in his sweepstakes class and placed 3rd in a very competitive 6-9 month old black puppy regular class. Super proud of how he showed himself! After all the excitment we headed home tired but very satisfied. Plus, we won some really neat loot!!

Labrador Girls Continue Their Winning Ways

Black Labrador Tallulah and chocolate Lab Nissa had a big day at the dog show and deserve to be sleeping it off back at home. Both girls made me proud with their performances at the Syracuse dog show on Friday. Tallulah got the early start by winning the first class of the day - Rally Excellent B, which she won with a score of 99 points. Once again I am obliged to admit the 1 point deduction was my handler error! I patted my leg once. It was totally unnecessary and I realized as soon as I had done it, but too late - it's not allowed at that level. I appreciate that Tallulah continues to put up with my mistakes as she rarely makes any in the show ring. She earned 1st place on all three of her RE legs with scores of 99 and 100. She so loves to show off and is sure that everyone in the building has come just to meet her! This leg finishes Tallulah's last AKC Rally title (first RN, next RA, last RE). She is now officially WhitSprgs OtterTail Tallulah, CD, RE. Conventionally we drop the lower level titles from the name as each more advanced title in the same discipline is earned. She has a RN and RA as well.

Chocolate Labrador Nissa was in the second class of the morning, Rally Excellent A. The "A" level is for dogs who have not yet earned other obedience titles or more advanced rally titles. Nissa won her class and I caught myself making another mistake for 3 points off. I think I will get better at this with experience! Later in the day Nissa was entered in a very competitive novice obedience class of 22. There were many wonderful routines with 17 dogs qualifying. Nissa earned 195 points out of 200 which was good enough to tie for fourth. I never like run-offs and I bumbled with poor footwork on this one, so we lost the tie due to my silly feet. It didn't matter to me. I was very proud of Nissa's good work. I am not one to ask my dogs to be perfect when I know I make many mistakes myself. Yet, we all work hard and have fun and, for me, that is the spirit intended for all performances when dogs and handlers work together.

Next stop - Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac Specialty Show where we plan to finish Nissa's RE and CD. It's a fabulous show - if you love labs, it's the place to be!!

Black Labrador Puppy Training for the Show Ring

Meet Moonlits Rolling Stone, aka Jagger. He came to me as a 7-month old boy ready for my 2-week training camp to prepare him for the dog show conformation ring. All of the show ring preparation I do is by capturing or shaping behaviors with clicker training. As always, Jagger learned the meaning of the clicker and began working on meaningful eye contact on his first afternoon here. This picture was taken on the morning of his third day. Visiting puppies live in my house with the rest of my own dogs, so there are rules to learn that have nothing to do with the show ring and we start those within the first few minutes of arrival as well. No busting into or out of the house or gates, be respectful of the other dogs (especially the oldies), no taking anything that is not a dog toy, eliminate outside, wait patiently while I prepare meals and eat only from your own bowl, go in your crate quietly when asked, no begging, no pulling or weaving on leash -- lots of what I consider to be basic manners, but many dogs do not know.

The show training happens throughout the day as I capture behaviors he offers. We start small and shape what each puppy gives into what is needed to be a classy show dog. Jagger is the sensitive type who needed his self-confidence boosted so we worked slowly the first few days, concentrating on bringing out his personality and helping him feel comfortable. Each puppy is different so I tailor my steps to fit the individuals. Jagger learned all of the things chocolate Labrador puppy, Scandal mastered and left here feeling much more confident and proud of himself for knowing how to do what was expected. We created the Jagger Movie to show some of what he had accomplished. Now he will go out in the real world to practice and build fun experiences in the breed ring. Be proud, Jagger!

(In case you missed it, there's a Scandal Movie as well.)

Painted Furniture Donation for a Good Cause

I have been painting furniture for the Yates County ARC "Chair-ish" Auction for several years now. This year I was given this nice cabinet to add any design I like. Since I mostly paint dogs it is fun to do something different now and then.

The possibilities seem endless as with each new furniture shape I spend even more time trying to decide what to paint than actually doing it. Then, no matter how much I plan ahead the projects take on a new direction as my brush touches the surface. I like these jobs that can be so free to float wherever the paint and my momentary whims take them. Yes, sometimes at the end I think I would have done it differently had I followed a plan to get where I got, but these are learning experiences and I enjoy them. It seems those who bid at the auction enjoy the finished products too.

The painting on this cabinet was inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh designs, but it went it's own way as I got going. I let it flow and intended to use a variety of colors, but something struck me at this simple green and white stage and I decided to stay with it. I know everyone is not comfortable with a lot of the vivid color I normally am drawn to use, so here's hoping those who prefer a more subdued palette will bid high on this piece and raise lots of funds for non-profit ARC's work.

While I have not painted many flower designs, I am an avid gardener and can't resist photographing my favorite blooms. You can find prints of the best garden flower photographs in my Dogs and Flowers Print Shop and on a variety of clothes, home and gift products at my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers shop.

Ducks Cut in Wood Picture Frame

We started making dog-theme wood frames and products back in the 1980's and they remain popular today. This example is a vertical version of our "3-Ducks" frame. It is made of solid cherry, individually cut by hand with a scroll saw and has a natural oil finish. We have other designs and use a variety of hardwoods with each piece being selected for the particular project. All of my OtterTail Lab Art has evolved over the years in response to customer requests as well as my own shifting interests, yet it remains always inspired by my own dogs. It is a bit nostalgic to see the photo in this frame which was taken in 1989. The Labrador dog I was showing was my OtterTail Beau Buckaroo, Am/Can CD when he was 18 months old - he looks so young. The judge was the well-know Labrador breeder, George Bragaw. Both have been gone for some time now. The show was during the Wine Country circuit in NY with a large entry and tough competition. It was a long time ago and yet I remember it vividly. That is what special pictures can do. They deserve special frames.

Dog Training Tips - Train a Labrador Pup for Showing

Happy Holidays to all! May this special season bring joy and build merry memories for the future. Our holidays have a different twist with the addition of a young dog here for training. This adorable chocolate Labrador is named Scandal and he belongs to Susan Bennington of Moonlit Labradors. Scandal turned 7 months old on Dec. 23rd and is getting ready to start his career as a show dog. He came to us on Dec. 18 specifically for conformation show training. Dogs at our home are all treated as house pets and expected to abide by certain rules, so by my requirements Scandal is learning some other things too.

I consider eye contact to be of utmost importance in my relationships with dogs and I almost always teach that first at the same time that I introduce the dog to clicker training. For dogs in the breed ring getting eye contact on cue is an element of showing well, so it's a great place to start. With all training I break the lessons down into small parts. I consider what things a dog needs to do to show well based on that perfect picture in my mind (and my experience in the breed ring). Here is a partial list of what Scandal has learned in the past 10 days (not necessarily in order):

Make eye contact on cue
Wag your tail
Stand 3-5 feet away from me
Allow me to place your feet
Allow me to look at your teeth
Stay on my left side on lead
Do not weave from side to side on lead or get underfoot
Do not pull on lead
Do not stop to scratch or sniff when trotting
Trot at a steady, even pace
Turn and trot again in the opposite direction
Trot in a large circle and triangular pattern without bumping into me
Look straight ahead while trotting
Keep you head up while trotting
Upon stopping from trotting look up at me and wait (eye contact and tail wagging)
Follow my hand with your eyes (so I can position his head)
Catch a toy -- advanced into catch a treat
Back up on cue

Other non-show things that Scandal has learned this week include:
When a door and gate is opened, make eye contact and wait to be invited through
How to use the dog door
Pee outside
"Leave It!"
"Move"
Do not complain in the crate (still working on that one)
"Easy" - go extra slowly and carefully on lead (e.g., on ice or steep downhill)
Lie quietly while I prepare dog meals
Wait for and eat from your own bowl and do not bother any other dogs as they eat
Don't harass the cat or eat her food
A noise I make means the same thing as a "click" of the clicker

The above is repeated daily as we introduce the next steps:
Stand with your feet in 4-square position - I may teach this earlier or later in the training. It may be more likely to happen naturally as they mature through different growth stages. You can always position their feet if necessary in the ring. I want them to walk naturally into a perfect 4-square. I teach them to move their feet so I can tell them to fix it if they are not properly placed. All of this should give him excellent preparation for his first exciting time at a dog show. For my own dogs I teach them much more - the more, the better is my philosophy. They love to learn and it makes traveling and showing less stressful if you can give them direction and they understand what to do. Plus the more they learn the smarter they get. Yes, I absolutely do teach my show dogs to sit on cue -- that's a topic for another post!

Black Labrador Portrait Painting for Christmas Gift

Here is my last dog portrait painting for 2010. This Labrador painting was commissioned by a girlfriend in tribute to her boyfriend and his beloved black Lab. It will be a surprise Christmas gift. I hope he loves it! I don't think he is a blog reader, so I am safe to say that the dog's name is Fetcher and he is 14 years old. I can tell by the photographs she sent me that he is a wonderful hunting companion and is said to be still going strong. Good wishes that you may continue on with what you love, Fetcher! It was my pleasure to paint such a special old boy.

I am gearing up for 2011 and already scheduling new paintings to create lasting memorials to much-loved dogs. Why not celebrate your own heart dog or honor a friend with a gift that will last forever? To learn more about commissioning a dog portrait painting of your own and see more OtterTail Labrador and Dog Art visit my OtterTail Labrador Art website.

Yellow and Black Labrador Retriever Dogs Sledding Holiday and Christmas Cards

Just in time for your holiday greeting card needs, here is a new design with two Labrador dogs sledding fast to spread joy and cheer. Send these yellow and black Lab Christmas cards because everyone deserves a laugh along with season's greeting. Choose the yellow and black Lab Christmas card with a simple merry verse inside or the versatile black and yellow Labrador Holiday card to spread joy to all your friends throughout the season. There are many more Labrador Christmas cards for your selection, don't miss the cards for chocolate Lab lovers. If you would like to order individual cards and customize the inside verse or even add your own picture, then my OtterTail Art Cards shop is the place for you! There you can also sign and address the cards to have them shipped directly on the date of your choice. It doesn't get any easier than that!


This fun new Labrador dog illustration was created from an original drawing which was colored and finished digitally. It is fun to experiment with the many different ways of creating designs for greeting cards, t shirts and clothes and gift products. Let these two silly Labs bring smiles to all of your friends this winter and holiday season.

Dog Portrait Painting makes great Christmas holiday gift

Just finishing this latest black dog portrait painting. Her name is Brisket. She is probably a Lab mix, but her family loves her no matter what she is made of! This dog painting is acrylic on canvas with nicely wrapped and painted edges so it may be framed or hung without framing. Brisket will be sharing the "wall of honor" with a black Labrador painting of Hobie, so I made sure the backgrounds will coordinate. They will look great together!

I have 2 openings left for commissions of dog portrait paintings to be done in time for Christmas, contact me if you want to schedule a wonderful gift for someone special. If you miss out on a spot or are a last-minute shopper you can still reserve a future painting and I will send a gift card to the lucky recipient. You can also find a unique and fun gift of an original Labrador painting or, easiest of all, order Labrador dog prints and choose from a selection of mats and frames to have them shipped ready to hang.

Dog Rally Obedience, New title, New starts for 2 great Labrador Retrievers

Tallulah, Nissa and I enjoyed our trip to the Mid-Jersey Labrador Retriever specialty show. There were 2 days of showing with 2 separate rally trials and obedience trials. I am proud to say my girls both won both of their rally classes; four tries, four blue ribbons. Tallulah was wonderful getting us going for our first time in Rally Excellent. She did it all easily, winning with 100 points and a fast time the first day and 99 points the second day. Nissa had me a bit nervous after refusing to jump at our last trial. She needed one more leg to earn her Rally Advanced title. Approaching tentatively, she started to by-pass the jump on Thursday, but in Rally you are allowed a second chance and, after a moment of bonding eye-contact, she jumped with gusto. Hurrah!! That left her eligible to move up to Rally Excellent for Friday. With little time to warm up between dogs I gave her a quick pep talk and off we went. No issue this time, she jumped both jumps on the course with confidence and enthusiasm. It was a great way to start the Excellent level. We'll take the winter off and aim to finish those titles in 2011.

Unfortunately, Nissa made up a new issue for the obedience ring. She had good scores going both days (190.5 and 195 out of 200), but she failed to come on the first call - an automatic NQ. She came beautifully and did a perfect finish on my second call both times. You could see her lean forward as if to start, then correct herself back into a sit, waiting to be sure I really had called. First day I thought it had something to do with the leaf blower I was shouting over, but in retrospect I think it is because I had corrected her for breaking a WAIT when practicing rally a few days before and, being the sensitive sort, that was on her mind. I know it is my fault one way or another when they are working so well and make a mistake, so I'll fix it and we will get her Companion Dog title next year. Still proud of you, Nissa. And Tallulah, it is always a joy to go into the ring with such a show-off!

New Labrador Christmas Card Yellow Lab Dog Tugs Santa

Here is a fun new little painting I did for a Labrador Christmas card design. This yellow Labrador dog has Santa by the leg as he descends down the chimney with holiday gifts for all. Well, this Lab may not be on the "Good Dog" list anymore - Will Santa leave him coal in his stocking? Brighten your holidays with humor and a smile when you send this holiday card to friends for Christmas. Two inside holiday verse versions are available singly or in set of 10 and 20 in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop or create your own verse and customize the card with your signature, photos inside, or whatever you like at my OtterTail Art Cards Shop.

Advanced Rally Obedience, 2 Labradors and 3 days

My black Lab, Tallulah, and her best buddy chocolate Labrador, Nissa, had a big weekend working toward Rally Advanced titles. We were entered 3 days with great expectations for our first try at this level of rally. These 2 girls and I are learning the Rally ropes together - as usual, I think they are getting it better than I am.

The first morning brought us a wet, cold start, but everyone seemed positive at the show and our judge was very pleasant. Tallulah went first in Rally Advanced B since she already has her Companion Dog obedience title. She did a perfect job and I was most proud of her, but as I exited the ring the judge told me I had made a mistake on one sign by having her sit at heel when no sit was called for. Opps!! That is a 10-point handler error. So we received a score of 90 points out of 100 and Tallulah was jipped out of winning the class. Bad Mommy, good Tallulah. Nissa went a short time later in the Rally Advanced A class and I had a chance to redeem myself. She was perfect too and won her class with a 100 point routine. We got home just in time for the torrential rains to start -- and on they went all night.

Day 2 brought drier air, but mud mud everywhere. My girls made me proud again, both winning their classes. Tallulah got the perfect 100 point score she deserved the day before and Nissa won with 99 points. Tallulah decided she will keep me.

Day 3 was cold, but pleasant. Tallulah was great once again, placing 2nd in her class and finishing her RA title. Way to go, Tallulah Bear!! Many dogs did not show up, probably due to the site conditions. That left me running with only 1 dog between my 2 and foolishly I did not take the time I needed to help my Nissa get ready. She started out great, but faltered mid-test at the jump. It's not like her to refuse and I did not make good use of the handling that is allowed in rally. We took a second try, but without success. We were allowed to complete the run and the rest was perfect. The judge and stewards asked me why it happened and after explaining I thought it was due to my hurrying and no proper warm-up the judge scolded me for not asking for a few minutes before my run. As I told her, I didn't know I could do that. Live and learn. So, Nissa will have to try for one more leg another time and I hope I will be the better handler that she deserves!

OtterTail Labrador and Dog Art Links and Connections

Wondering where else you can find my OtterTail Labrador and Dog Art and learn more about me on the web? Here are a few links you might like to bookmark.

OtterTail Labrador Art - my main website. Here you will find original dog and pet paintings, hand painted silk scarves and other art, as well as links to my various shops, galleries, social networks and everything OtterTail.

OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop - a shop with hundreds of fun products featuring many Labrador and dog designs. You will enjoy the ease of secure online shopping with international shipping. Please browse the many levels of this gift shop because it's fun to poke in the corners and find something special.

OtterTail Art Gallery on Imagekind - a wonderful place for purchasing your fine art prints. You can even try out a large selection of mats and frames to complete your print before you buy, or order one on stretched canvas. Excellent customer service - my favorite giclee printers.

OtterTail Art Cards on Greeting Card Universe. A relatively new shop just for greeting cards with a wide variety of designs and many more to come. You can order one card or take advantage of the quantity discounts, customize the verse inside and/or add your own images, have cards sent directly and even schedule the special date you would like them delivered. Does sending greeting cards get any easier?

OtterTail Labrador and Dog Art on Facebook. Become a fan, find out about ongoing sales and specials, and share with your dog-loving friends. [facebook.com/LabradorDogArt]

Labrador Art Amy on Twitter. Follow me on Twitter. I love to hear from all my Twitter Friends. [twitter.com/LabradorArt]

In case that's not enough, my prints are also available at Art.com, AllPosters.com, Artist Rising and more products can be found at Labrador Dog and Nature Designs by Amy Reges at Zazzle.com.

Join the continuing tributes to Labrador Retrievers and dogs and celebrations of nature's beauty.

Painted Ceiling - Master Bedroom project

Our new master bedroom addition is a project that is still in progress, but here is the completed painted ceiling. It was fun to do and I was delighted when I showed Jim a few colors and he said he loved the purple! Who would have guessed?! It was difficult to photograph, so I took a few sample shots to show some closer views.

The painting was done very free-hand and without any plan. I made it up as I went adding color and textures until I got something I liked. I have found that is the best policy for any of the faux finishes I have done on walls -- If you don't like it just keep adding more until you do. This celing is much more dramatic than any house painting I have done before, but the philosophy still worked for me. I never use a roller when I paint, just don't like them. So even when I make a solid color wall I use a brush with free flowing stokes in every direction and thinned paint. The benefits of this method are that I get good, even coverage after a few easy coats. I do not have the roller texture and missed, alligator spots, each coat dries very quickly and - important for me - it is much easier to get stray dog hairs out of the thin coats. I find it a much more freeing, fun and creative way to paint a wall than the rigid rollering and cutting in of edges. I mostly use a good 3" brush and mix my own colors from "junk" paint that others return. Other size brushes, sponges and rags, and my artist acrylics enter the scene when inspiration strikes.

The walls of this room appear solid colored at first, but there is a subtle, gradual blending from the ceiling gray-green through yellow and down into a peach. I had not planned that, but I like it the way it is so it can stay like that for now. I enjoy how the colors appear to change as the light of the day changes.

This is partial explanation for my not posting more completed art lately. I am bound and determined to move into this addition within the next week. Still have a big cement floor project to complete with a lot of unknowns - learning as I go. Wish me luck!

Art Donated for Seneca Pure Waters, Diving Black Labrador Dog Life Ring

Here is another item I have painted as a donation for a fund-raiser. This time it is for Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, a group dedicated to preserving Seneca Lake and, with it, our drinking water. They chose to have a life saver ring as the item to be painted and auctioned at an up-coming event. I must admit it has proven a challenging surface to paint. I hope everyone will like my design of a Black Labrador Retriever diving in to Save Our Seneca. That is the motto for this event and the letters SOS were a required element in the design. I haven't decided if it is finished yet - I may change the letters and possibly add a few other touches. I am looking forward to the artists reception to see what others did with their rings. All of them will be on display at venues in Geneva and Watkins Glen, NY as well as online on the SLPWA website. I have used my diving Labrador dog design on many wood items. It is nice to use it in a black Lab painting and I'm sure I will use it again, perhaps a painting on canvas next time.

Shop 2 Day Sale on Dog T shirts, Labrador and fun dogs

Cash in on the savings and get fun, creative, original dog designs on T shirts in time for summer heat. ** SPECIAL SALE ** Buy any t-shirt from my OtterTail Art for Dog Lover's Shop and save $3 by using coupon code: TMINUS3 on July 7 and 8 only. Buy as many as you like and save $3 on every one! Tell your friends, shop for Christmas presents in July, and find great gifts for birthday surprises no matter what age! The heat wave in NY and general hot spring and summer we are having so far is enough to convince me you can never have enough fun Tees to keep you cool and show your style. There is a huge selection to choose from and designs include flowers, wine, nature, positive energy, cats and fun sayings in addition to many Labrador and dog designs.

While you are there check out the great selection of Labrador Dog Christmas Cards as well as Labrador Retriever cards for Halloween and Thanksgiving and dog design invitations for holiday or party events.

On a roll for holiday shopping? For that special gift consider an original Labrador dog painting or print or commission a pet portrait painting that will be treasured forever. Shop now, relax later - Have a blast!!

Happy Birthday to the Oldest Labs in our Pack

Marius and Eponine celebrated their 13th birthday on Sat., 12 June. It was a miserable hot and humid day, so the party was mostly sedate with all Labs enjoying rawhides in the shade of the big trees. Here are some old pictures of my "babies". These two lovelies were the last puppies I kept from the last litter I bred. What will I ever do without them??

Eponine was a cutie as a pup and just as cute in her prime as these photos show. She is still adorable, but a lot more gray. I love watching her swim these days. She lolly-gaggles along barely moving her feet like a slow stroll, but her proper Labrador coat keeps her floating high like a cork. She can't hear much anymore, but otherwise is in pretty good shape and has a daily "go-dog-go" run in the midst of our pack walk.



Marius was a beautiful puppy and grew into a very handsome man who got compliments everywhere we went. He hates having his picture taken and I'm sad to say I have never gotten a really good picture of his best soft, sweet expression. Here he is having fun with his big balls - as a baby puppy and still up to the same silliness many years later. He hasn't played with the ball at all this year, his back is too weak for wild games. He was also diagnosed with Pannus in April, so he has to wear Doggles to protect his eyes on sunny days now. He doesn't like them much and they are not conducive to "ball-mania". Still, with drops his eyes are stable so he can still see enough to get around and most days his back is strong enough for a leisurely walk and drink from the pond. All in all he's a happy guy.

I named these two for favorite characters from "Les Miserables" because I was les miserable myself when I decided that would be my last litter. But I couldn't be happier about the sweet souls I got to share in my life for the past 13 years. I love you 'Ponine and Man-i-kin Babycake. Thanks for being you!

Labradors Help Artist Make Dog Art

A Labrador lover friend has been having a sad time lately and I wanted to make her a special card. She has only met my chocolate Lab Nissa so far, so I let Nissa be the model for this art project. It only took about 5 minutes to clicker train her to rest her chin on my knee and peak up at me, then hold it until the pre-set camera snapped the shot. The cropped "Before" picture is on the left. I digitally added pants and took out the messy background to create the card front "After" picture shown on the right. I thought some of you might enjoy seeing how my Labs and I work together to create my OtterTail Labrador Art. My friend loved the card. It will be available in my OtterTail Art Cards greeting card shop where you can change the inside verse to fit your occasion. Look for it in my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Store shortly too.

Training Tips: Showing Dogs, Teach to Focus on You, Clicker Training

A friend recently asked me about training her show dog to look at her and not focus on or try to grab the bait. There are many steps to training a show dog to free stack and show herself. Here are some basic training tips and a suggestion of how to apply them to this one step.

There are lots of ways to train anything - if one approach doesn't work for you or for one dog you can make up another way as long as you understand the principles. Basically, behaviors that are reinforced are likely to be repeated. The beauty of the clicker - used well - is that it marks the moment in a clear, concise "language". So you only need a second of the good behavior or something that is closer to the desired behavior than what you are getting to begin. You reinforce that and build on it. Think of the click as a camera shutter - take a picture of the moment you want to capture. We've all taken lots of crummy pictures in a row with one or two great ones depending on the exact snap of the camera. Click the clicker as if you were taking that great picture - the one when the dog is doing what you want, even if it only lasts a split second. Catch it with the clicker, then give the treat. You can't deliver a treat or say "good dog" with the same accuracy as you can click and the click becomes extremely meaningful to the dogs -- and they love it because it is so clear. Look at my photos. The picture on the left was what was happening only a few seconds before the picture on the right. The sweet puppy sitting politely would be the one you want to capture with the clicker. It's all about your timing.

Try this for redirecting a dog's focus - put the treats on a table within arm's reach. Problem dog will look at the treats. Wait until she looks at you instead, even if just for a second - click. Then give her one of those treats. It won't take long before she only looks at you and does not bother looking at the treats anymore because looking at the treats gets her nothing. Looking at you gets her clicks and treats.

Work up to taking a treat from the table and holding it in your hand and wait for her to make eye contact. Leave your hand by your side, not up by your face. Don't move it away from her. Close your fist around the treat and don't let her take it. Bump her if you want or just wait until she backs off for a second and looks at you - click and give her the treat. You can repeat that many times a day in all different situations, not just while working on show baiting. She will quickly learn that looking at the treat does not get her anything (if you make sure it doesn't) and trying to take the treat should NEVER result in her getting one. Really, that is just rude and disrespectful anyway, so she should learn that regardless of showing. Trying to take food from your hand gets nothing. As soon as she back her nose away the hand opens and treat is delivered. Ask for a little longer time of not touching before you deliver the click so she learns to maintain the backed off behavior. Build slowly on lots of little successes, lots of repetition. You want to add a short delay fairly soon in the process or you will inadvertently teach her that bumping your hand is what you want. Keep you final goal in mind, then dissect it into little steps. Start with the simplest little step and build up to your goal. Don't worry about what else she is doing while you are working on this - sitting, standing, wagging - doesn't matter. You are only working on getting her focus and nose off of the treat.

You can only teach one thing at a time. You can work on different things, but break up the session so she doesn't get confused. Don't try to work on tail wagging, perfect stacking, eye contact and bait attention all at once. Work on tail wagging, take a little break, then work on eye contact and forget about what the tail is doing. Later you can work on perfect foot placement, but forget about where her tail and eyes are during that session. After she learns each piece you can put it all together. You can make showing fun for her by teaching these things, then giving them to her as little jobs for which she will earn that bait she so dearly wants. She will have more fun and be more focused if she understands how to play the game and knows that she can get that reward by working for you and giving you "the right answers". You are giving her control. You are also giving her knowledge. That is much more exciting to a dog than standing there trying to dive for bait and getting kneed in the chest. It also presents a prettier picture to the judge.

Cement Leaves Add Colorful Sculpture to Deck and Garden

I experimented with making these cement leaves just for fun. I sculpted them last fall and finally got around to painting them a few days ago. I made two of them to remind me of Caladium leaves - plants I have always admired, but have not had much success growing. It was a fun process and I am actually letting some burdock weeds get big this spring so I can cast some "lunker leaves". They will look nice in my garden and, perhaps around a fountain I am considering building next to our porch. Once I set up a casting station I will make enough to sell. Keep an eye on my OtterTail Lab Art website, follow me as LabradorArt on Twitter or join me on Facebook to see when and where they are available for sale (along with all of my other art updates and events). Are you interested?