Mum has become a certified trick dog instructor!

Hi! It's Cinnamon.

Although I didn't post anything for a long time, it didn't mean that I was unwell or anything. I was as fine as ever!

Today I have special news to announce.

As Mint reported in his recent post, he earned his Trick Dog Champion title recently.

I am sure I could have earned mine more easily than he earned his, but Mum somehow decided to do it with Mint first. I hope I can start earning my own trick dog titles soon.

Well, the news I have today is not about Mint's trick dog titles. Mum has become a certified trick dog instructor of Do More With Your Dog! 

In order for a human to become a certified trick dog instructor, the human has to take an examination that consists of a written test and a video submission.

So, Mum asked Mint and me to help with her video submission in which she had to demonstrate five advanced tricks with her own dog(s) and also how to teach a dog to do several different tricks. Of course we helped her willingly, as we knew that we could get a lot of treats if we did! And Mum passed the exam!!

Now that she has become a trick dog instructor, it seems that she wants to help other dog owners learn how to teach their dogs tricks. If you have any particular tricks that you want to learn or teach your dog, let us know. We would love to help!

Mint is an RA dog now!

Mint here!

I am excited! I am an RA (Rally-O Advanced) dog now!

Yesterday I went to a Rally-O championship and did two rounds in Rally-O Advanced A class.

If you get three qualifying rounds under a minimum of two different judges, you can get an RA title. Although I had been competing in Rally-O Advanced A for over a year, I hadn't got three qualifying rounds yet, partly because Mum often makes mistakes and, for example, she turns right when she is supposed to turn left or she doesn't stop when she is supposed to do so. However, I have to admit that sometimes I am not focused, giving Mum a hard time trying to keep my attention.

And yesterday I finally got my third qualifying round in my first round of the day and became eligible to apply for an RA title!!

As you may already know, I get distracted easily if Mum doesn't have food on her, and I know that she doesn't in competitions. So, I always feel temped to sniff the floor as soon as Mum says "Heel" at the beginning of my round in competitions. Yesterday again I couldn't resist the temptation and put my nose to the floor at first. But, Mum did a good job keeping my nose off the floor for the most part of my rounds.

This is my first round.

There were two judges in the ring, as one of them was a probational judge. When we were out of the video screen, I had an urge to check out a sign before me. But, Mum's yell brought me back to what I was supposed to be doing, and in the end I got a qualifying score, 97 points! And on top of it I got a 2nd place!!

The next is my second round.

Again I couldn't help but sniffing the floor at first, but later I became more focused. However, I don't know why but it took me a second or two to recall what "Stand" meant, and after standing up, I couldn't stay still. Looking at what I was doing, Mum got upset and forgot to stop at the end of the exercise when she was supposed to do so! Fortunately she realised what she had missed before the next exercise, and she requested a repeat, but it cost a three-point loss and my total score of the round was 93 points when I needed to earn 95 points or more to qualify.

Well, Mum still looked happy because I got my third qualifying certificate in Rally-O Advanced A. If Mum is happy, I am happy too!

Yes! Mint can dance without food!!

Mint again!

Tonight at our weekly dance training I proved that I can dance well without food!!

See?

It is not fun dancing a whole routine without treats!

Mint here again.

Cinnamon and I have been practising our dance routines in preparation for an upcoming international video competition. But, to tell the truth, it is not fun at all!!

Yes, I like performing with Mum, but that is partly because I can get a lot of treats just like when learning or practising tricks. But, Mum doesn't give me any treat when videoing a routine. And, my brain stops working if treats stop coming.

This is one of my videos recently filmed. 

As you can see, if treats stop coming, I start to wonder why I can't get treats, and I become unable to think about dancing. For example, leg weaves and paw lifts are very easy tricks. But, I cannot do them well in a routine without treats in Mum's hand or pockets.

Cinnamon has been having her own problem too. In her case, she can't stop barking if no food is coming! 

If she doesn't bark, she gets worried about the environment and keeps looking around during a routine. 

Does anyone know a good solution?

Mint is a Trick Dog Champion!!

Woo-hoo! I, Mint, have earned the Trick Dog Champion title!!

I didn't think I could make it so fast. But, it turned out that I had got a pretty good variety of tricks already. All I had to learn for the title was the Shell Game, where I had to find one with food hidden it it from three plant pots that were placed upside down.

This is the video that I submitted to earn my Champion title.

Is it Cinnamon's turn next?