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Kate is
thinking about writing a children's book featuring Yarra.
We will be looking forward to it! Thank
you Kate, for sharing Yarra's story. It is an
inspirational accounting of the brilliance that can be
achieved when these wonderful dogs receive early
training.....from day one when that captivating puppy
arrives in your home!Late 2007 when Yarra was still a very
young dog, she mastered the long down stay....for fifty
minutes.
Beverley.
Photos are Thumbnails.
KATE WRITES -
 Even
with all the information you provided as well as advice and
stories from Doodlers on the Chit Chat…I was not prepared
for the feelings I had/have for this beautiful creature and
will forever be grateful beyond words to you, for parting
with her. She is everything and MORE, that I read about the
Labradoodle.
I
studied the breed, nutrition, training, psychology for over
a year before I put in my application. She has won our
hearts and those of anyone who meets her.
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She arrived at
LAX happy, clean crate and wiggled her way into
my arms and into my heart. From that day, hers
and my training began.The things I was dreading
in getting her were – barking excessively and
not easily potty trained. Those fears never came
to be. In fact, nothing has been difficult with
her. She’s not a picky eater, loves every person
and dog,, loves to learn, is intuitive,
thoughtful, kind, silly, graceful and so much
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When my best friend
died a week after I got Yarra and when I returned from
my friend’s family the evening she died, Yarra, who was
still just a very young puppy, laid at my feet, quietly,
somber and knew that I needed her gentle comfort. A few
months ago, I took Yarra to where my friend is buried
and when we arrived at the grave, she instantly layed
down and cried and softly whined which brought me to
tears.
Thumbnails. Click to Enlarge
Her training
began with a private training at my house, and it has
progressed to anything and everything we can do.
She’s well socialized and comfortable in any setting.
Agility is our fun thing to do. We started out when she
was very young with an ‘intro’ to agility which was
basically puppy playtime with agility equipment present
to familiarize the dogs to what they might encounter if
they went on to more serious classes later. Each
session, and we’re now in our 5th session has
been age appropriate, keeping in mind her developing
joints. I still don’t let her race through weave poles.
She got
her CGC certificate at 10 months old and in February
2008 we’re taking a serious 10 week class in therapy
work. I want to work with children and get involved with
or start a reading program. Currently we are doing
agility, Freestyle dance, obedience ( just because I
like to repeat the structure of that type of class),
Therapy class starting in Feb. 08, CGC repeat because
it’s a positive experience, and again, for structure of
a class situation.
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It is so true
how intelligent and cheeky the Labradoodle is.
She craves learning and if I even pick up a
clicker, she’s at my feet, sitting at attention
and excited to learn something new. It seems
everything I introduce to her is learned within
minutes. Our lives are better than ever with her
being a part of it. |
When
we go out, she turns heads and its almost hard to get a walk
in without many stops from people asking about her or asking
to take her picture. I had ‘business’ cards made with her
photo, name and my email on them because it’s easier to hand
them out rather than constantly writing everything down for
people who ask about her.
Plus
we train almost every day in small sessions, sometimes only
a minute long so as not to tire or bore her. She’s up to 50
minutes in a down stay because that might be required of her
at some future time. She is unafraid of almost everything as
she’s been exposed to all kinds of things. The day after she
arrived was our ‘trash’ day, so we sat outside whilst the
big, noisy trucks came down the street, all the while I
talked softly to her and stuffed cheese bits in her mouth. I
hand fed her for a couple weeks so she knew where the food
came from and has no guarding issues. I can drop baking pans
behind her and she only looks and isn’t startled.
On her
first birthday we watched a huge fireworks show and she
didn’t flinch. I had prepared her with videos of fireworks,
increasing the volume over time. From day one, I handled her
feet, toes, tail, ears, lightly pinched her here and there,
while giving treats so all her experiences were pleasant.
I’m writing all this as it pops into my head so it’s not in
a proper order. Even during our Doodle Days which I began
last year and we do them about every 5 to 6 weeks, I will
call her out of her play to come and sit for a couple
seconds. We still have lots of work to do and that will
never stop.
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Yarra's mother Chinnata who now lives in the
United States pictured with Kate and Yarra.
Yarra's
father Rutlands Nirvana, also the sire of
Rutlands Onyx due to sire puppies in 2008.
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Rutlands
Onyx Carries on the Tradition of his daddy
Rutlands Nirvana |
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