Fall Events & Winter Class Schedule

Canine Good Citizen Test Sunday, October 28th at 3PM

$10 charge for CGC Testing or Bring a Pumpkin or Dress Up in a Costume for No Charge

Free Practice Days are Sunday, October 21st from 3PM-6PM and Friday, October 26th from 5PM-7PM

Worried that your dog doesn’t have all that it takes to become a Canine Good Citizen this month? Click here to learn about all of the elements and see a video of a Practice CGC.

Sniff Through

October 21st at 1oAM; NW1 and NW2 Offered; Interior and Container Searches; Birch and Anise

$15 for one element or $20 for both; Pre-registration is recommended. Contact us at seespotsniff@gmail.com for more details on how to enroll.

Winter Schedule

Puppy Preschool
Monday 6PM (starts 11/5)
Jess Ritchie & Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $125

Basic Obedience (6 months or older)
Monday 7PM (starts 11/5)
Instructor Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $125

Wag It Games
Wednesday 6PM (starts 11/7)
Instructor Jess Ritchie- 5 weeks for $125

Tricks
Wednesday 7PM (starts 11/7)
Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $150

Body Awareness 2.0 (need instructor approval)
Thursday 7PM (starts 11/8)
Instructor Jess Ritchie- 5 weeks for $150

Tricks
Friday 2PM (starts 11/9)

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $150

Agility Level 1
Friday 6:30PM (starts 11/9)
Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $120

Agility Level 2
Friday 7:30PM (starts 11/9)
Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $120

Beginner Agility
Saturday 11AM (starts 11/10)
Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $120

3 Reasons to Take Training Classes With Your Dog!

1) Training builds better behavior.

While this may seem obvious to many, some dog owners expect the dogs to just become more well trained with age. Through training classes, your dog becomes a pleasure rather than a pain. The guests who previously avoided your house because of your poorly trained dogs will now enjoy visiting. And while some people think training only puts stricter rules on your dog, your dog actually has more freedom because he knows how to behave himself!

2) A trained dog is welcome in more places.

Especially during summer and fall, dog owners consistently become disappointed with how much they have to leave their dog. Wouldn’t it be great if your dog was well behaved enough to come to your kid’s soccer game with you or even join along on the fun of camping for a weekend? Better yet, wouldn’t it be great to be able to have your dog stay in a hotel room with you? Training classes are the answer to these types of issues. Start including your dog in more family activities rather than just thinking of him as another hassle to have to come home to let outside.

3) It can be fun for all involved!

Admittedly, some weeks I feel like we laugh more during class than actually train, but I’m sure that can’t be the case because all the dogs go home looking so good after our five or six weeks together. However, training truly can be fun for the entire family. You are allowed to bring your kids to class and sometimes depending on the situation other dogs from home, and the best part of all is that you’re all learning some important techniques to transfer over to real life situations once you leave.

Listed below is our fall group class schedule, but as always, if you are more interested in doing private training, feel free to contact me personally at scott@beyondtheleash.com. You can check out my website to find out more information about my history and training style and feel free to check out Jess as well at her website. We hope to have the opportunity to train with many of you this fall.

Puppy Preschool (up to 6 months old)

Monday 6PM (starts 9/10*)

Instructors Jess Ritchie & Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $125

Group Obedience

Monday 7PM (starts 9/10*)

Instructor Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $125

Scentwork

Monday 8PM (starts 9/10*)

Instructor Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $150

*Monday classes begin a week later than the rest of the session

Wag It Games *new class*

Tuesday 6PM (starts 9/4)

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $135

Tricks Level 1

Tuesday 7PM (starts 9/4)

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $150

K9ProFit (fitness class)

Thursday 6PM (starts 9/6)

Instructors Jess Ritchie & Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $125

The Art of Shaping

Thursday 7PM (starts 9/6)

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 5 weeks for $150

Beginner Agility

Friday 6:30PM (starts 9/7)

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $120

Agility Level 1

Friday 7:30PM (starts 9/7)

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $120

Beginner Agility

Saturday 12PM (starts 9/8)

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $120

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Canine Detection Seminar This July!

Randy Hare is coming to New England!

Seminar Location: 850 Lawrence St., Lowell, MA 01852

Dates and Hours: July 6th-8th; Friday, Saturday, & Sunday 9AM-4PM

Description: Randy has 25 plus years of experience in K9 Law Enforcement as well as detection dog training. Residing in Jackson, Mississippi, he is owner and lead trainer of Alpha K9. He created his own detection training method known as the On Target technique, which teaches the dog to make odor association while utilizing positive fight drive using an oral response. Within the seminar, there will be a detailed look at the theories and principles of traditional detection dog training as well as the On Target technique. Both odor recognition and the dog’s final response, whether it be a passive or active alert, will be shaped through the use of a Randy Hare rack. Furthermore, Randy will put an emphasis on teaching dogs to work independently of their handlers and resisting distractions and temptations while searching. Dogs will work both indoors and outdoors and will be encouraged to troubleshoot puzzles in order to strengthen their ability to locate odor. This 3-day seminar is ideal for anyone interested in or anyone who is already heavily involved in detection training. Randy is internationally renowned for his knowledge and skill in canine detection.

Pricing (coffee and donuts as well as lunch will be provided for all three days):
$250 3 day working spot LIMITED (dog needs to display strong toy drive)
$150 3 day auditing spot
$100 per day for working spot LIMITED (dog needs to display strong toy drive)
$75 per day for auditing spot
*10% discount for active Police or Military attendees

Please contact Scott Williams at info@beyondtheleash.com for a registration form. Please reserve your spot as soon as possible if you plan to attend because availability is limited. Hope to see many of you there!

New Training Facility Opening in Lowell, Mass!

We are pleased to announce the opening of our brand new 3,500 square foot dog training facility at 850 Lawrence Street in Lowell, Massachusetts. Scott Williams of Beyond The Leash and Jessica Ritchie of Cookie That! dog training have formed a strategic alliance in able to provide a richer experience to local dog folk.

Together these two companies will offer classes in Agility (coming soon!), Tricks, Competitive and Basic Obedience, Detection Dogs, Weight Pulling, K9 Fitness and more. Our current spring schedule is as follows:

Beginner Scentwork click to enroll

Sunday 10AM

Instructor Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $150

Advanced Scentwork click to enroll 

Sunday 11AM

Instructor Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $150

Tugging Class

Monday/Friday 1 PM

Instructors Jess Ritchie & Scott 
Williams- 6 sessions for $120

Puppy Preschool (up to 5 months old)


Tuesday 6PM

Instructors Jess Ritchie & Scott Williams- 4 weeks for $100

“Get on Your Bed” Class

Tuesday 7PM

Instructors Jess Ritchie & Scott
 Williams- 5 weeks for $125

Tricks Level 1

Wednesday 6PM

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $150

Group Obedience click to enroll

Wednesday 6PM

Instructor Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $125

Tricks Level 2

Wednesday 7PM

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 4 weeks for $100

The Art of Shaping

Thursday 6PM

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 5 weeks for $150

K9ProFit (fitness class)

Thursday 7PM

Instructors Jess Ritchie & Scott Williams- 5 weeks for $125

Tricks Level 1

Friday 6PM

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 6 weeks for $150

Tricks Level 2

Saturday 3:30PM

Instructor Jess Ritchie- 4 weeks for $100

Located just thirty minutes from Boston, the Lowell, MA dog training location is easily accessible from the 495 highway. Just minutes from Southern New Hampshire and a short drive from most of the North Shore.

If you are interested in establishing better control of your canine companion or simply looking for new, stimulating activities to do with your dog, give us a call! We are offering introductory specials on most classes and look forward to meeting everyone. Call 866-957-DOGS (3647) today!

Dogs Rule in 2011!

A new year is upon us! I am very excited about getting involved in some new K9 activities as well as moving forward with existing nosework classes. New Nosework Classes will be offered by Beyond The Leash in Boxford, Ma. On January 9^th. There will also be a FREE Nosework Demo at All Dogs Gym in Manchester, New Hampshire on January 19^th at 7pm. A week after that, new Nosework classes will begin at All Dogs Gym as well. Call for info: 818-974-9354

I have just recently started taking Flyball classes at Gemini Dogs with my three year old Malinois Cane. He is a natural athlete and as long as I don’t rush the details of the foundation work, he will do great and have a lot of fun doing it. I have high hopes for my dog Cane this year. Not only am I getting into the Flyball stuff, but I am continuing with his French Ring Sport training. I would like to enter him in a trial in Montreal, Canada in May. He will most likely compete at Ring 2 for the third time. He has already obtained the level of Ring 2 but he won’t be ready for Ring 3 by May. I am also continuing his Bed Bug detection work. Hopefully these activities along with walks in the woods will keep my dog busy enough to stay out of trouble. lol!

There will also be a brand new class that I am developing for 2011. This will be another “drive-based” exciting activity for dogs that all dogs will enjoy. More details will follow soon.

Let’s enjoy our dogs in 2011!

French Ring Trial Coming!

French Ring Trial Announcement!

The Patriot Ring Club is hosting its first French Ring Trial on August 7 and 8, 2010. The trial will be held in North Eastern Massachusetts. The field location is not finalized at this time. A French Judge is confirmed and Decoys are confirmed. Entry fees will be $50. We are presently welcoming volunteers to help with all aspects of the trial. If you have never seen a French Ring Trial it consists of obedience, agility and protection-based exercises. All dogs compete off leash and without collars. It is a challenging and exciting European dog sport. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to attend! If you live in North Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, Southern Maine or Southern Vermont, this will be a great opportunity to see what this activity is all about and meet French Ring Sport enthusiasts in your area. Save the dates! For more info call: 866.957.3647 or visit www.FrenchRingSport.com

New Nosework Article

Nosework’ classes brings dogs into their own

Boxford dog trainer has more than 100 clients hooked on ‘Nosework’



Nationally-recognized dog trainer Scott Williams has recently begun introducing the activity of Nosework to dog trainers and local pet owners in the Northeast. His company, Beyond the Leash, is currently one of a handful of training businesses in the country certified to teach the sport that is rising in popularity.

While your dog doesn’t like checking facebook on your laptop and you are not too keen on sticking your nose into a pile of wet leaves, Nosework represents an activity that you and your dog can genuinely enjoy together.

Nosework’s search-dog techniques introduces structured activities to your dog that allows him or her to grow on its own; to grow more into focus, grow closer to their strongest sense, and grow closer to you.

And by giving dogs the freedom to unlock the powerful potential in their sense of smell, Nosework classes can uncover the sometimes unnoticed intelligence and autonomy in canines.

Scott Williams, of Boxford, has firmly placed himself as an east coast pioneer of the activity. Starting with classes in West Boxford, William’s Nosework training has now spread throughout New England as his students, some of whom are dog trainers, are now beginning to teach the classes in their own respective regions. Williams, however, is one of only a dozen trainers in the country with a certification to teach Nosework through the National Association of Canine Scent Work , the official governing agent for the sport.

While it has been well under a year since he moved from the west coast, Williams has engaged over 100 dogs and dog owners in the activity that can bring a domesticated canine back to its primal instincts.

The class begins by first incentivizing your dog to search and hunt using food hidden in one of several cardboard boxes. But in subsequent lessons, these canine students will track a birch scented q-tip under the wheel carriage of a pick up truck.

In addition to your dog’s short term enjoyment, the classes also have the real potential to see long term mood enrichment in an otherwise bored or stubborn canine.

Watertown resident Viviana Cordano began working with Williams in July and said that her two-year old Labrador Betty, who she found in an animal rescueshelter, has become more tranquil since first beginning Nosework classes.

“She’s a rescue dog that had been returned to the shelter three times so I knew she was a little bit of a trouble maker. But she didn’t know her boundaries; no one had ever taught her anything,” said Cordano. “Not only did she need to learn but I wanted to get her mind working, her nose working…mentally tire her out.”

Cordano goes onto explain what she noticed about Betty after going through the courses with Williams.

“I found this sport and she’s doing really, really good. We enjoy it very much. Our relationship has grown tremendously and she seems calmer too,” said Cordano.

Dog trainers are also drawn to the sport that strengthens a dog’s ability to identify certain smells through some of the same methods taught to law enforcement canines.

While some trainers find that Nosework is able to increase their pet’s repertoire of abilities, others find it is simply an outlet for their dog — and for themselves.

Dog trainer Mac McCluskey travels down from Lebanon, Maine to attend the Nosework classes in Boxford. During a recent class, McCluskey took his 3-year-old Belgian Malinois Naiya through an advanced Nosework course. The course had the canine looking among random boxes, around the perimeter of a building, and in the various nooks and crevasses around the outside of a car using the search command “find it.”

“I do other dog sports with the rest of my dogs and I needed to find something for her. She seems to be pretty much a natural for it,” said McCluskey. “So it’s good for her and it’s a great outlet for her.”

McCluskey goes on to explain how his dog, and others,can enjoy the sport so much.

“Dogs are just like giant noses on four legs…dogs smell things the way we see things. So in a structured environment like this it really draws on what they do best. And that’s use their nose.”

To learn more about Nosework and enroll in Williams’s most popular class, “Intro to Nosework,” visit Beyon dtheleash.net or contact Williams at 866-957-3647. Williams also offers obedience classes as well as his nationally recognized “Doggy Boot Camp.”

New Fun Nosework Video!

Here's a short video of the "Intro to Odor" Class. We are having a great time in Boxford.

So far there are twenty-five Nosework students enjoying the experience with their dogs.

We are working towards having trials and kicking the butts of all visiting nosework competitors

from the left coast.

Beyond The Leash has been invited to give a K9 Nosework Seminar at MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA. on Sunday December 6th, 2009 from 9am to 4pm.

The title of the seminar is "Introduction to Canine Nosework". There have been 12 to 15 slots made available. I have been told that they have a spacious 8000 square foot training room to hold the seminar in. A description of the event is as follows:

Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. The sport of K9 Nose Work and Fun Nose Work classes are designed to develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. It’s a great way for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy. Find out just how good your dog's nose really is!

Scott's approach to teach dogs to do scent work is based on some of the foundation techniques used in K-9 detection. This unique curriculum promotes a positive, fun and motivationally-based methodology.

To sign up for this exciting event please contact MasterPeace Dog Training at 508-553-9300 or visit them online at masterpeacedog.com

Boxford Nosework in the news.

Beyond The Leash dog training in Boxford, MA. recently was featured in the TRI-TOWN TRANSCRIPT. The article focuses on the new dog sport called K9 Nosework orFun Nosework. A link is provided within the text above. But if that fails I have copied and pasted the article below.
BOXFORD - In a world where dogs are used to wearing plaid sweaters and eating treats that look like miniature T-bone steaks, one Boxford resident is offering to guide your canines back to their primal instincts.Using some of the same methods that teach dogs to search for bombs and drugs, Washington Street resident Scott Williams has begun teaching “nose work” classes at Lincoln Hall. The lessons, he said, have the potential to turn a pampered Pomeranian into a hunter.“You’re really trying to channel the dog’s natural instincts and drives,” said Williams, who moved to Boxford in June. The classes are recreational activity for both the dog and the owner, Williams said.While it has been gaining momentum on the West Coast, canine nose work isn’t well known in these parts. Williams, a certified nose work instructor, is running one of only a dozen or so classes in the country, and is the only certified individual teaching on the East Coast.Using the downstairs in Lincoln Hall, the former Los Angeles resident begins by setting up small cardboard boxes in a line down the length of the room. Putting a dog treat or food in one box, he has the owner walk his or her dog down the line until it finds the right box.“We teach them to search and hunt using food,” Williams said.Nose work is contradictory to most types of training in the sense that you are trying to push the dog to follow itself and not the owner. He said owners have to be careful about giving subconscious visual cues to their pets, such as slowing down around the box with the food in it.“Ultimately, we want the dog to follow its nose,” Williams said.The class work ranges from finding a piece of food in a line of boxes to eventually letting the dog off the leash on a vehicle search to find a birch-scented Q-tip.Since starting Boxford classes in late August, Williams has seen enough interest in the lessons that he will also be offering them at the Community House in Hamilton.In the four months since moving to the area, he has received requests by a number of dog trainers to give tutorials on nose work teaching. Last week, the dog trainer was invited to the state police academy in Vermont to take part in a detection-training workshop.The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Boston has also shown an interest in training, he said. Williams said since nose work focuses on improving a dog’s motivation and autonomy, it’s ideal for helping abused dogs that are timid and afraid.The next set of classes in Boxford begins on Sunday Oct. 18 at Lincoln Hall. Williams is offering advanced classes, which begin at 1 p.m. and the introductory course that begins at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Classes in Hamilton begin on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Community House.The course includes six classes.

Cane is out...Malinois really do sleep. I have proof!.

As the saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words..." I'm going to bed. Good Night!

Intro to K9 Nosework Graduates!

Well, The very first session of "Intro to Nosework" has ended. We had two classes running back to back. The first class had six dogs and the second class had five. Out of eleven dogs, nine dogs graduated and are moving on to our "Intro to Odor" Class that starts on Oct. 18th. I am very pleased with the commitment of the handlers and I am always impressed with how quickly dogs learn when given the freedom and guidance to do so.

These first classes have really been a great experience for me as an instructor. The New Englanders that I've met through these classes are the best. I don't consider myself a "people person" but when dogs are the common denominator, I have no problem chatting for hours on end about dog related stuff. That's why I started Beyond The Leash!

Thank you all again for your support. I love what I do and am so fortunate to be able make a living doing it. These are lean times for all of us these days and I will continue to work hard to make your experience in K9 Nosework well worth the time and money. THE FUN IS JUST BEGINNING!

"Cane" takes 1st Place in Competition!

On Saturday, September 26th 2009, I put my dog Cane into my RV and drove up to Wells, Maine for the first Mondio Ring Trial that "Maine-ly Ring Club" has hosted in eight years. They have an excellent field and a nice group of low key dog enthusiasts that love both the sport and their dogs. This group has also managed to avoid the politics that seem to go hand in hand with these types of activities. To briefly summarize the sport I would say it is a blend of off-leash obedience, agility (jumps) and protection-based biting exercises all mixed together with a theme. The purpose of the "theme" is to create new and unusual scenarios limited only by the imagination of the hosting club and the judge. The end result is a physical and mental challenge of each dog's character and training. Mondio Ring is quite unique. Saturday's theme was "Vacation in Maine". There were lobster pots and buoys on the field. One of the challenges was the dogs' ability (ie self control) to ignore plastic lobsters being tossed around them while remaining in the down position with their handler out of sight. The retrieve object was a stuffed toy that resembled a whale. A life-sized styrofoam deer stood in the field along with a fairly tall lighthouse. It was really well done without being totally over the top.

I arrived at the trial location at 9am, just in time for the rounding up of competitors and the review of the days activities. Numbers were drawn from a hat to decide the order that the dogs would be competing in. In my catagory "Mondio Ring 1" there were seven competitors. I drew number 4. Anyone that has competed with animals knows that your're not going to "fix" anything right before a trial so what you have is what you're going to get. Cane's obedience is good. His retrieve is not perfect but solid and his bite work is also not perfect but solid. This is the result of beginning training at seven weeks old and working with him almost everyday from the day I got him until his first birthday. After that I gave him almost a full year off just to be a dog.

The trial began around 9:30am. The first three competitors did not pass. Before I entered the field I was instructed to remove my dogs leash and collar and hand it to the "Deputy Judge". This is the person that basically walks you from one exercise to another. They remind you where to stand and usually it's a big help to have a knowledgeable Deputy Judge at a trial. I handed off my gear and heeled my dog to the predetermined spot before the Judge, placed him in a down stay and introduced myself. While I was doing this another one of the Judges helpers was tossing a big piece of raw Chicken in front of my dog. Food refusal was the first exercise. Cane ignored the tossed food and was good about all of the exercises. The only one that he blew completely was the "Send Away". This exercise is when you tell your dog to "Go Out" and the dog takes off straight into the field before you. I had started that with him but never finished it and had he done it I would have been extremely surprised. It was a twelve point exercise so it's a big one to loose.

In the end my dog scored 183.5 out of 200 possible points. He lost a point here and there and the 12 big ones for no send away. On that day Cane was the best of seven dogs. It's really nice to win a trial. Even if it's a small local trial. It confirms to me that my training is on the right track. It tells me about my dogs character and it tells me a lot about myself when I do these things. I must keep my nerves in check and be a good sport win or loose. Friendly competition in any venue should only bring out the best in us.

Canine Detection with Randy Hare

I recently had the honor of being one of the only civilians invited to participate in an intensive Canine Detection Training course sponsored by the Vermont Police Academy. The instructor was Randy Hare of Alpha K9. In the world of Law Enforcement Randy is recognized as a leader in the business of Canine Detection. His ground breaking techniques have not only advanced the quality of the training but the speed that dogs are capable of learning. It is not often that one can do things faster AND enhance the quality of the end result. More importantly, Randy is able to teach others how to implement his techniques quickly and effectively.

It does however take a high-drive dog to utilize Randy's techniques. It takes a dog with high "fight-drive". I guess it's easiest to describe this as the strong desire to play tug with you. There are many dogs that are "high-drive" but the drive may be stronger to retrieve than fight or play tug. It takes a very specific dog to take advantage of this methodology. But when starting with the right dog for the job, progress moves at lightning speed.

Fortunately for me, my dog Cane falls into the category of having (at least moderate) fight-drive. I am enjoying K9 Nosework with Cane and this course really helped to give me a deeper understanding of the canine mind. Good training seams to always be simple-not easy. Channeling a dogs natural drive into a productive task is both rewarding for the dog and the handler. It takes the genius of simplicity and the patience of a Saint to stand back and let the dogs learn on their own. It goes against 100 years of traditional dog training and catapults both man and dog into the New Age.

Week 4 of Intro to Nosework

We completed week 4 today. First we started off with an expanded box drill with twice as many boxes as usual, blind hide and timed each participant. All students did excellent. Times ranged from 4 seconds to 1 minute forty seconds. It was great to see how well the handlers read their dogs.

After that quick warm up, the boxes were moved to the perimeter of the room to start working on interior room entries. That first corner was hard for all of the dogs! It's amazing how all living things want to cut corners! But of course they all got it after a few searches and the handlers learned to be more patient before giving that "Search" command. It was very clear to all that participated that giving the command just a second off from when the dog was actually in work mode lead to less than optimum results.

I will try to be more diligent about posting pics and keeping this blog updated as to our progress. Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding nosework or other dog related questions. If I don't have the answer, chances are pretty good that I know someone that does!

Scott 866-957-3647

Meet Dorothy & Raven

Dorothy called Beyond The Leash last month because she was having a little trouble with Raven. Raven is a wonderful one hundred and fifty pound, two year old Newfoundland that still acts like a six month old puppy.

Dorothy needed a trainer to come to her home for training sessions. Raven is a very strong and enthusiastic dog that had already knocked Dorothy down with her jumping and playfulness. Keep in mind that although these two are a bit of a mismatch, this is Dorothy's fourth Newfoundland. This is her favorite breed and I fully understand a person's devotion to one breed or another. The problem was that if Raven decided to run down the street or even pull on the leash for that matter, Dorothy does not have the physical strength to hold her back. Raven had been through puppy classes and actually was involved in a board & train program at one time, so most of the basics were in place. We just needed more reliability and less reactivity to the environment. I knew I could get Raven to that point and then Dorothy could safely manage her dog. After that, the two of them could really start enjoying life more by getting out into the world together.

We started off with just creating a simple routine of putting a leash on Raven and making her sit at the door before going out and sitting outside the door after passing through. This level of control was needed to keep Raven focused on Dorothy and to break the old habit of just charging out into the yard and going into crazy play mode (I did the same stuff with my young dog Cane). Next we worked on heeling around the backyard. From there we worked on sitting at the gate that goes to the street and sitting outside the gate. At this point after about four weeks of training Dorothy is able to put the leash on Raven and take her out for a walk in the neighborhood. Our next hurdle is teaching Raven to control herself before getting in the car. She LOVES going in the car for a ride through Peabody, MA so this is very stimulating for her. We are making progress in leaps and bounds. Every time I arrive for a training session I see Dorothy's confidence and competence getting better.

It really makes me feel good to help someone like Dorothy. She had already spent considerable time and money with other trainers in the area. It was simply a case of finding the right training approach for this team. Dorothy's strong commitment to seeing this training through has made working with her a real pleasure. I look forward to video taping the two of them in the future and posting that video to this blog.

Stay Tuned and Enjoy Happy & Safe Training!

Scott Williams

Beyond The Leash

K9 Nosework Classes in Boxford Massachusetts are big success!

We had twelve new handlers start K9 Nosework Classes with their dogs this session. We are approaching week four and have seen huge progress in a very short time. We will be starting new Intro to nosework classes at a new location in South Hamilton Massachusetts as well as at our existing location in Boxford, Massachusetts. The South Hamilton classes will be held at "The Community House" on Monday nights starting Oct.19th at 7pm. The next session of classes in Boxford will start Sunday Oct.18th at 1pm. Boxford classes will be held at "Lincoln Hall" in Boxford, Massachusetts. For more info on this exciting and addictive new dog sport, please visit: http//www.K9-Nosework.com

Happy & Safe Training!

Scott Williams CNWI

http://www.BeyondTheLeash.net

This was my first dog. I was at my parents recently and went through some old albums. Her name was Snowball. She was a Samoyed. She liked to kill Skunks, chase cars, guard her food bowl and roam the neighborhood. She was a pretty typical dog. Although more independent than many dogs I've had since, she preferred to sleep in the snow rather than by the fire. Great dog though. We all loved her.

Fun Nose Work Trial

As many of you already know, Beyond The Leash Dog Training hosted a fun nose work trial at our Southern California dog training location. We had thirty competitors and many spectators at this event. It took place on June 7th at 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Canada California 91011. This event is a result of many dog owners getting involved in fun nose work classes teaching their dogs to hunt for specific recreational odors. The trial was to further enjoy the training and really see how far the dogs have come in a relatively short time.
The Fun Nose Work classes will be starting in Boxford Massachusetts in July of 2009. For more information about this exciting activity to enjoy with your dog AND see some trial pics, please click on the link below:
http://www.ncswa.net/trialgallery/june72009.html

North Shore of Massachusetts dog training

Dog training on the North shore of Massachusetts will begin in July of 2009. We will be holding group dog training classes, private dog training classes and Doggy Boot Camp in Boxford Massachusetts. We will also be offering Fun Nose Work classes! These classes help your dog rediscover their natural ability to hunt and find great rewards! This class helps shy dogs become more confidant and helps high energy dogs calm down (at least a little).
Dogs from surrounding communities are all welcome! We are just 30 minutes from Boston, Cape Ann and New Hampshire. Check back for updates and class start dates.