SHAKTI, CGC, Advanced Trick Dog ("Dayspring's Spirit of SHAKTI")

Portfolio

Shakti has her own canine portfolio that includes a number of skills, tricks, achievements, as well as information about her education and training.

Simply the Best - Tina Turner

Training and "home schooling"

Shakti's owner, Lexi, started training Shakti and teaching her things when Shakti was a young pup. Shakti learned all the basics VERY fast. She also learned quite a few tricks right away. Since a very young age Shakti has enjoyed "working" with her humans and helping them with all kinds of things like cleaning up the yard and bringing coconuts and throwing them in a waste basket.

Lexi, Shakti's pack leader and owner, trains Shakti on a regular basis and it's always been a very special, bonding time for both of them. "Papa" participates in all the training as well. Training never really ends and it’s a process…It's a creative process of facing new physical and mental challenges and creating a spiritual bond between a canine and a human. I love learning, new challenges and mental stimulation!

Education, training and achievements

Shakti already knew most of the basic obedience skills when she enrolled to an intermediate obedience training in March 2006. She wasn't even 1 year old at that time! She was only 10 months old when she started her intermediate obedience training. Both pack leaders: Lexi and Mike wanted to socialize Shakti even more and reinforce all the skills Shakti already had. It was great practice for Shakti to test all her skills around the big group of dogs and to have to obey the commands with a lot of new distractions.

Shakti received her Certificate of Achievement for Completion of the Intermediate Program at Veterans Community Park in Naples, Florida.

Canine Good Citizen training

Shakti went through the formal Canine Good Citizen training at the Humane Society in Naples, Florida and completed the AKC Canine Good Citizen program successfully. She was awarded the certificate of completion at the end of the training.

AKC Canine Good Citizen test

On November 18, 2006 Shakti took and successfully passed the Canine Good Citizen Test! I received my CGC title. Shakti's listed as a Canine Good Citizen dog in the Archives of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Test. Items on the Canine Good Citizen Test include:

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator.

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the handler's side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.

Test 3: Appearance and grooming
This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner's care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout.

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog's position should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler's movements and changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired.

Test 5: Walking through a crowd
This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash.

Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler's commands to sit and down and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog's leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler's commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side.

Test 7: Coming when called
This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to "stay" or "wait" or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog.

Test 8: Reaction to another dog
This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.

Test 9: Reaction to distraction
This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.

Test 10: Supervised separation
This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, "Would you like me to watch your dog?" and then take hold of the dog's leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g, "there, there, it's alright").

AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate

Shakti's owners received the official CGC certificate and a letter from AKC on November 29, 2006.

Here's Shakti's CGC certificate:

Here's the letter from the AKC:

Ongoing Training

Training never ends and it is crucial to continue learning all the time. Just like humans need all kinds of mental stimulation such as reading, interacting with other humans, doing crossword puzzles, playing computer games, solving problems, surfing the internet, learning how to dance, playing sports, and many, many more, similarly, canines need all kinds of mental challenges and stimulation to reach their potential and to be happy.

A bored dog is an unhappy dog, no matter what size, breed or personality. Canines don't have all the entertainment that humans have and, to dogs, their pack leaders, and their families, are the center of the whole world. That's ALL that dogs have. Dogs are pack animals and they are very social (just like humans). Dogs love interacting with their human companions, friends and family members.

Shakti did some group training (listed above) mainly to experience new challenges and to be able to practice her skills with the distractions that a group class offers. Shakti's continuing her training with her pack leader and trainer, Lexi, EVERY DAY. We both love it and it doesn't really take a lot of time at all. Fifteen to thirty minutes a day of training and learning new things can really make a difference and make a dog a happy dog!

Shakti's training and learning will go on, so please keep coming back to check the updates about her new skills! Thank you!

CANINE BILL of RIGHTS

Dogs have a right to a rich, stimulating environment.
Dogs have a right to time and attention from a caring owner.
Dogs have a right to effective training procedures; if behavior problems are to be addressed, a competent person must be involved.
Dogs have a right to ongoing veterinary care and a comprehensive assessment (functional analysis and behavioral diagnostics) for behavioral problems.
Dogs have a right to an ongoing education and the chance to learn new skills.

From: How Dogs Learn by Mary R Burch, PhD and Jon S Bailey, PhD

Agility training

I'm starting my agility training! I already have some skills that mom taught me and now I'm so excited that I'll be able to learn even more! Please come back to read some more about that soon. I'll be posting more updates about my agility skills and training.

I'm in the tunnel. "Mom" taught me "Tunnel" command" and I always run to go through it.

Shhhh! I'm concentrating!

I love jumping through obstacles! "Mom" taught me that!

Read my Blog post

Watch my movie: "Shakti's First Steps in Agility"

I graduated from the Beginner Level of Agility class on October 27, 2008!

My "mom" was my handler of course and we went through the obstacle course together. It was FUN!

Please view my graduation movie

Novice Trick Dog Title

The team of Shakti (Dayspring’s Spirit of Shakti) and her trainer/owner/pack leader Lexi received the Novice Trick Dog title from the prestigious Trick Dog Trainers Association and Kyra Sundance herself!

Kyra Sundance is a stunt dog trainer, performer and bestselling author who has performed in live venues and on TV shows around the world, including The Tonight Show, professional sporting events, and a command performance for the King of Morocco.

For the Novice Trick level there were 15 tricks required to be performed to receive the title. We worked very hard and performed 26 tricks!

Shakti did a terrific job and we’ve had a lot of fun, joy and laughter together while learning the tricks! We both enjoy trick training very much and Kyra has been an amazing inspiration for us.

Thank you so much Kyra and Chalcy! We’ll keep working and learning new tricks!

Agility Level 2 Graduation

Shakti graduated from her Agility 2 Class on February 23, 2009.

Intermediate Trick Dog Title

On February 11, 2009 Shakti and her trainer/pack leader/ "Mom" Lexi were awarded another trick dog performance title, The Intermediate Trick Dog Title by the Trick Dog Trainers Association and Kyra Sundance!

For the Intermediate Trick level there were 15 tricks required to be performed to receive the title. We worked very hard and performed 20 tricks: