I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.

I love curiosity, I have always been a curious person. And this is exactly the way little Eliza Langman-Rouse came into the world....

Eliza Langman-Rouse was born at 2.59am on Thursday 9th February. I can honestly say it is the most painful yet amazing experience I have ever imagined. Seeing her looking at me with her big brown eyes, exquisite and inquisitive all at the same time melted both of our hearts and healed so much in less than a second. She has already changed our lives and yet made everything so complete. Very surreal!

The Devongem household have been enjoying the new arrival. Reef gazes at her for hours, Fiji steals her toys, Bailey is very interested in her noises, Popi sleeps alongside her, Tik wiggles at her and Riot has not yet noticed her! We are very lucky to have such kind dogs.

We are very busy down here at Bowerland and the holiday cottages have been booking like mad - if you are planning on coming down make sure you check the availability on http://www.bowerlandcottageholidays.co.uk/.

In addition to this training is very busy and if you havent already signed up to these please don't miss out:

 

What do we have coming up?

Mark Laker - 10th March Course Running Day - This looks like an excellent day where we will be running a number of courses and trying to find the fastest and most efficient lines and testing the value of some of our behaviours under a bit more pressure. This day is aimed at the competitive handler only and really is looking to push you to the next level!

25th March Mark and Karen Laker - this day is really aimed to push you to the next level of your agility training. Karen is covering

Rewarding key positions (any level)

Tunnel turns (any level)

Movement, attention drive (any level, incl foundation) Jump Grids (any level)

She will, as usual, work with all different abilities and we currently have one or two spaces in each group available. Dont miss out on this with your youngsters, dogs that you are improving jump work with and all levels of dogs in the tunnel workshop. Last time I attended this workshop it was awesome and Karen insists there is more to come. As we all know placement of reward is VITAL so dont miss out on any of these. These could be combined so that you attend more than one session.

Mark is working on

Pre season circuit training (G3-4)

Pre season circuit training (G5-7)

Warm up for 2012 courses to get you in the mood (G3-7)

This is aimed at the competitive handler and will really push you individually with some great groups available. The pre season circuits work all of the drills and challenge both you and your dog. Dont miss out on this opportunity to get ready for the competition season and achieve your potential with these top class trainers on your doorstep

9.00 – 11.00 Grade 1-3 handling 11.30-12.30 YD Contacts/Weaves 1.30-3.30 Grade 4-7 handling 4.00 – 5.00 Young Dogs

These workshops are not to be missed. Jo has been working regularly with DD and we will continue to ask her to come and work with us whilst you are enjoying working within the GD system.

Lastly Jans Canine Development Day - this is one not to be missed!

These have been going down a storm and helping people to work with different types of dogs. On the 4th March we will be covering how do dogs learn?

· Classical and Operant Conditioning

· Aversive and Rewarding Reinforcement

· Stress, Anxiety & Depression

· Counter Conditioning & Extinction

This day is aimed to refresh and renew your understanding of dog behaviour, both for professionals and those who are interested in their own dogs learning. It is a day not to be missed with invaluable learning opportunities.

Also we now have our new, 'recommend a friend scheme.' We have new DD cards where you can write your name on the back, each time a customer books we will ask them if there is a name on the back of their card, if they make a booking you will recieve a £5 money off your next booking voucher and we will also add you to our list for our Christmas draw. We want to improve positive dog training and you can help us to access the people that need it most! If you need any cards please see Fern, Lauren, Kim, Mandy, Vivienne, Sian, Jon, Kelly, Fran, Carole or Matt.

Wishing you all much happiness in your training and hope you take up these days if you haven't done so already!

Lauren, Matt and baby Eliza xxxxxx

So proud of the Devongems.....

So with due day arriving I thought I had better update both blogs in case I never get a moment again. My agility babies, the Devongems are doing fantastically I have to say and I am so proud of them all.

Here are a few of my favourite recent photos, I am biased in my love for these collies I know.....

Many people have been enquiring about our 2012 litters, please see

 http://www.devondogs.co.uk/planned_litters.html

Re Free I LOVE the Reef pups however I am considering using Riot Matts Devongem boy or a very close relative. We are also waiting to see what Frees sisters pups are like so are keeping our options open. We also need to keep in close contact with Frees breeder as we really value her input.

Poppy is a friends dog and the pups are brought up in her home but we will be homing them as we have a lot more contacts and will find these pups only the BEST homes. We are not worried about agility status, more great active, understanding and well cared for busy environments, agility is a bonus but not the most important thing.

Our own dogs have been having a ball, the farm is moving along nicely and developments at Bowerland are great. We love living here even if it is hard work at times - it is great to see it all coming together so nicely.

If you have any up to date photos please send them over, hope to see you all soon and hope you are getting ready for the 2012 competition season or if not enjoying the great February weather.

If you havent had our training info email carole@devondogs.co.uk to be included next time:

Canine Behaviour day – for all of you who have a want to understand more about your own dogs, we have an excellent day on 18^th February which will cover relationship building for both puppies and adult dogs, with our excellent Dog Behaviourist Jan Windsor. This day should be full of variety as well as great for those of you that want to add it to your CPD. Her Day 2 on 4^th March – How do dogs learn? This will cover Classical and Operant Conditioning, Aversive and Rewarding Reinforcement, Stress, Anxiety & Depression, Counter Conditioning & Extinction. This day is aimed to refresh and renew your understanding of dog behaviour, both for professionals and those who are interested in their own dogs learning. It is a day not to be missed with invaluable learning opportunities.

Life Skills dates – the next one we have available is on 12^th February, we currently have 2 spaces available. This is invaluable for all young dogs, and dogs currently in obedience/foundation training. The next date is 14^th April and we cannot recommend these days highly enough.

Walk the Course – our February DD membership offer is a great one. We are offering you the opportunity to buy one – get one free. The Walk the Course workshops are paramount to your learning of how a course works, and being able to talk through the various exercises in a comfortable atmosphere.

Kamal Fernandez Obedience Maestro – we have one working space left on 12^th February, this is a must for all of you who are developing attitude with your agility dogs. The day is aimed to cover lots of motivational and control games to add to your box of tricks. He is not only an entertaining trainer, but a vastly knowledgeable one and we are very fortunate that he has travelled down to the South West especially for Devon Dogs. We also have unlimited spectator spaces on both 11^th and 12^th February.

Sian’s next workshop is on 31^st March. The Young Dogs group is completely full, however there is currently one space on the Grade 3+4, one space on the Foundation, and 2 spaces on the Grade 5-7. If you or anyone you know of that would benefit from Sian’s championship and international level expertise, please come back to me.

Her partner Anthony Clarke is also visiting on 3^rd March and he currently has one space on Young Dogs, and 2 spaces on Flatwork. Again if you are interested contact me asap as we expect these spaces will go quickly now that we have let people know of their availability.

Training on the Ring day is on 17^th March, this day is invaluable to all customers and we thoroughly recommend it. The day is not only of huge value to your learning but also an opportunity to meet and talk to lots of other like minded folk.

We also have the Lakers visiting on 10^th March for the day, Karen working with Relationship Building, and Mark working with Pushing Your Course Work, we currently have one space available on Karen’s day and 2 spaces available on Mark’s day. They are also visiting us on 25^th March where Mark currently has space in his G3-4, G5-7 and G3-7 and Karen currently has some space on all of her workshops.

Lastly Jo Tristram is with us on 8^th March, here G4-7 group is full, however she currently has space on her Contacts and Weaves, G1-3 and Young Dog sessions.







 I am sure I will see you soon,

Lauren
www.devondogs.co.uk
carole@devondogs.co.uk