Ok, I have been very bad since returning from vacation regarding obedience practice. So this week I have been making it a point to just do a few minutes of obedience with each dog in random places in my neighborhood daily. First day we were all rusty, but I think it is coming back now.
Tracking at Robbins Lodge was not stellar as they have been. Poor Sinn with his itchy allergies actually flopped in the high grass mid track and started rolling around! Though I couldn't help snickering, it is not a habit I want him picking up. Benadryl has been administered, so hopefully this weekend he will be up to scratch. Keeper, due to the fact initially I was backed off her a bit, needed redirection from me. So Denis directed me to stay close to her side until she makes more of a connection.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Back From Vacation!
I will have to review some obedience with the mutts since we had a long absence from each other. Tracking on Sunday went very well though, especially Sinn!
I think this was the longest track he has ever done, and I put hot dogs in every other footstep instead of every step, also had a sweeping curve in it. He did wonderful! Looked up only once, but kept his nose very deep the vast majority of the track.
Keeper, I suspect, still has not connected the treats to the track. I helped her by pointing out a hot dog piece and telling her "such." I had to redirect four times, I think much of it is due to her rushing. She did a 20 foot track, treat in every step, big jack pot at end.
My biggest challenge with her is to get her to realize I am expecting something from her and the rewards come when she does the behavior I am asking for. For a dog to be about 5 years, I realize it will take her some time to learn how to learn.
I think this was the longest track he has ever done, and I put hot dogs in every other footstep instead of every step, also had a sweeping curve in it. He did wonderful! Looked up only once, but kept his nose very deep the vast majority of the track.
Keeper, I suspect, still has not connected the treats to the track. I helped her by pointing out a hot dog piece and telling her "such." I had to redirect four times, I think much of it is due to her rushing. She did a 20 foot track, treat in every step, big jack pot at end.
My biggest challenge with her is to get her to realize I am expecting something from her and the rewards come when she does the behavior I am asking for. For a dog to be about 5 years, I realize it will take her some time to learn how to learn.
Friday, June 26, 2009
I Forgot to Mention...
The last obedience day was fun, I don't think either of my dogs were as lively as normal due to the heat though.
Sinn: heeled ok-ish, and we did some recalls. I have to ask Dennis if the recall is done from a sit or down? I believe it is down. Also, when can I start phasing out the food for heeling? I have to work on not saying his name and not using the stay command. And NO hand signals! Sigh, I have more homework to remember than my dog.
Keeper: She was laying down like a pro! So now I am putting a word on it, then I can phase out luring her down with my hand. Heeling is harder for her to pick up...I have to remind myself it is hard for a dog to look up and to the side while walking straight. So at home I have her heel a short distance for her dinner, ending with a square sit at my side and eye contact with me. If it isn't perfect, I pick her dinner up. When it is perfect, she gets the release to eat. Sometimes I just reward her sitting square and looking at me. She has the tendency to want to face me and sit, which seems perfectly natural.
Sinn: heeled ok-ish, and we did some recalls. I have to ask Dennis if the recall is done from a sit or down? I believe it is down. Also, when can I start phasing out the food for heeling? I have to work on not saying his name and not using the stay command. And NO hand signals! Sigh, I have more homework to remember than my dog.
Keeper: She was laying down like a pro! So now I am putting a word on it, then I can phase out luring her down with my hand. Heeling is harder for her to pick up...I have to remind myself it is hard for a dog to look up and to the side while walking straight. So at home I have her heel a short distance for her dinner, ending with a square sit at my side and eye contact with me. If it isn't perfect, I pick her dinner up. When it is perfect, she gets the release to eat. Sometimes I just reward her sitting square and looking at me. She has the tendency to want to face me and sit, which seems perfectly natural.
Thursday: Protection Day
Yea Keeper! Another lovely day with "the white girl." I was actually out there first for once, so Keeper was nice and fresh for her routine. She loved playing with the puppy sleeve, and I put away happy and wagging.
Her second time out was great, Kit decided to introduce the whip in a small way to build her confidence around it. Um, I don't think she lacks confidence. After a small noise (not really a crack) with the whip, she hardly blinked and and instead focused all her attention on getting the neat stick in Kit's hand. Kit promptly threw the whip and declared it was a bad idea. hehe.
I definitely will start physically conditioning her, I think that is holding her back a bit.
Her second time out was great, Kit decided to introduce the whip in a small way to build her confidence around it. Um, I don't think she lacks confidence. After a small noise (not really a crack) with the whip, she hardly blinked and and instead focused all her attention on getting the neat stick in Kit's hand. Kit promptly threw the whip and declared it was a bad idea. hehe.
I definitely will start physically conditioning her, I think that is holding her back a bit.
Friday, June 12, 2009
A Quick Check In
We have continued to play with Keeper, the new dog, and she just loves her springpole.
I laid a track for Sinn that was approximately 40 feet, with a curve, he took it just fine! I think he remembers what the game is again. Keeper just had a 10 foot straight track, lots of treats, deep track, with me pointing out pieces along the way. She didn't really need me much, so next time I will back off a bit more.
This morning, Keeper finally laid down for a treat! In fact, she did it three times. Thrilling stuff, now I just have to put a word on it. Her sit is improving when we go to new areas as well. Not pulling on the leash until she chokes, we are working on it:)
I laid a track for Sinn that was approximately 40 feet, with a curve, he took it just fine! I think he remembers what the game is again. Keeper just had a 10 foot straight track, lots of treats, deep track, with me pointing out pieces along the way. She didn't really need me much, so next time I will back off a bit more.
This morning, Keeper finally laid down for a treat! In fact, she did it three times. Thrilling stuff, now I just have to put a word on it. Her sit is improving when we go to new areas as well. Not pulling on the leash until she chokes, we are working on it:)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Back to Tracking
I finally made it to tracking practice!
Sinn did a refresher track, just straight 50 feet-ish, two hot dogs. At first he was so excited to be back he zoomed down the track, missing the majority of food bits. Then he really picked up on what we were doing about halfway through, and just slowed, got his treats and was wagging his tail.
Keeper did about a 10 foot track using tons of treats and I pointed out the pieces. She thought it was fun, but I don't think she had the light bulb moment yet connecting her actions to why she gets the treats. I get that sense from her often, that she has never been taught to learn. As with my human students, getting from zero to one is the difficult part, once learning to learn is accomplished, the rest is a snap!
Sinn did a refresher track, just straight 50 feet-ish, two hot dogs. At first he was so excited to be back he zoomed down the track, missing the majority of food bits. Then he really picked up on what we were doing about halfway through, and just slowed, got his treats and was wagging his tail.
Keeper did about a 10 foot track using tons of treats and I pointed out the pieces. She thought it was fun, but I don't think she had the light bulb moment yet connecting her actions to why she gets the treats. I get that sense from her often, that she has never been taught to learn. As with my human students, getting from zero to one is the difficult part, once learning to learn is accomplished, the rest is a snap!
The New Dog
I am in love! The new dog went from foster dog status to permanent status in, oh, about 30 minutes. She is great in the house, mostly chill when I am there, or roughing up Sinn. When I am gone, she hops on the couch and sleeps. No chewing, howling, or other undesirable behavior. She hangs from tree branches for fun, and I had to pry her off of the springpole, as she was determined to bring it down. Yet she is learning to get along with various other animals just fine (baby bird and tortoise) so her prey drive seems easy to point in the right direction. She seems to not have much if any dog aggression, though she plays very rough. Doesn't mind sharing toys at all with Sinn. Her name is Keeper, btw. Either because she is a keeper or short for brother's keeper, however one wishes to look at it.
The one thing we are working on is her crate training. She was convinced to walk into the crate once she realized it was the only way to get dinner, and doesn't mind when I lock her in while I am home. I tried a short trip away from home and I came back to a shredded crate. We have to have something to work on, right?
Around the neighborhood, I just try to encourage loose leash walking. She doesn't seem to know anything about leashes. Every few feet I either call her name and treat her for answering, or switch directions to keep her guessing. She does know sit, and she loads into cars easily.
The one thing we are working on is her crate training. She was convinced to walk into the crate once she realized it was the only way to get dinner, and doesn't mind when I lock her in while I am home. I tried a short trip away from home and I came back to a shredded crate. We have to have something to work on, right?
Around the neighborhood, I just try to encourage loose leash walking. She doesn't seem to know anything about leashes. Every few feet I either call her name and treat her for answering, or switch directions to keep her guessing. She does know sit, and she loads into cars easily.
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