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Buddy worked on Sit/Stay, Zen and It's Yer Choice on Monday. He did extremely well with all three lessons. He was able to do a 2 foot Sit/Stay and worked up to Open Hand Zen. He is working on both Level 1 and Level 2 behaviors now.
Buddy's homework is:
Level 1 Zen:
Buddy is still poking the Zen hand with his nose. He needs to work Level 1 Zen with his handler and build up to completing all of the Come Afters in Level 1 Zen.
Buddy has started Level 2: Step 1 Sit. He is up to 2 feet with his trainer, but needs to work on the same level with his handler.
Buddy is working on Level 2: Focus. He is up to eye glances and needs to work toward 2 seconds of eye contact.
Buddy is in a fear stage and needs gentle introduction to new locations for public access. Anything he's been doing normally is perfectly okay, as per discussion with his handler, but new locations should be for very short durations and only for training reasons. Buddy had sweaty feet in a new store while with his trainer, which states he's willing to work in a new location despite high stress.
We look forward to seeing Buddy and his handler again.
Jewels is working on Level 1 in the Training Level's program. She is a big girl who hasn't learned good leash manners yet, nor has she mastered her Level 1 behaviors. Today we started working outside with Jewels and teaching her how to focus when a distraction (another dog) was present. She had taken a walk prior to my arrival, so she wasn't fully up to her lesson in the heat.
She worked for a bit, but was clearly more distracted by being outside than having Max, the demo dog I brought, nearby. She finally decided she was done for the lesson and simply sat down and stopped participating. At this point I asked she be taken inside and had her handler work with Max instead to learn the mechanics of the lesson.
As a Bull Mastiff, Jewels is easily affected by the heat and may find working in summer near impossible. At 130 pounds, when she decides she's done she is impossible to move forward and currently she hasn't learned the love of training nor developed the desire to work. It will take time to see if Jewels is up to the job on a personal desire basis. Forcing her to do a job she has no desire to do will be unfair to Jewels.
She was assigned, for this week, continued work on Level 1 in the Training Levels book and to learn the Up/Down game and the 1-2-3 Treat Game. She is to learn both new games in the home and then work on them in her yard and hopefully work on taking them on the road and using them while on her walks.
Up/Down Game:
The Up/Down Game is designed to develop confidence and focus. The game is played by placing a treat on the ground directly between the dog and human while the dog is facing directly at the human. Once the dog eats the treat and begins to lift their chin the human is to say Yes or click with a clicker and put the next treat in the same spot on the ground. As the dog gets faster about lifting their head the human can wait to click or say Yes when the dog's head is a bit higher until the dog is looking up at the human before the click. The goal is to build reorienting on the human as fast as possible so that the treats can be quickly delivered. If, in a 30 second period, the human has managed to fee the dog 30+ treats they are playing it correctly.
1-2-3 Treat Game:
This game is designed to keep the dog in a set rhythm while walking. The game is played by counting steps and delivering the treat on the 3rd step each and every time. The handler has to concentrate and count their steps while keeping a normal walking speed. They should be able to say to themselves, "1 . . 2. . 3" and while on 3 give the treat straight into the dog's mouth without the dog moving out of position or either of them stopping. This game, when played right, should become such a rhythm that the dog is reaching for the next treat before the handler is offering it. If the two are in sync, the dog should be able to walk smoothly and take treats without missing a step. The dog then can easily be walked past distractions such as other dogs, people and anything that truly distracts the dog and improve their focus while walking.
With both of these games I am hoping to see Jewels with improved focus on her handler and a more relaxed walk when on lead. This should also encourage her to walk with her handler for longer periods without deciding she's done before her handler is.
Next week we will attempt a short walk with Jewels and Max together to improve her leash skills and begin her roadwork for the summer.
Today Coco and Malcolm returned to Manito Park. I love park walks because no two are the same!
First news, the moment Coco realized it was me in the house, long before she saw me, she came running with pure joy to meet me. I am loving this Coco!
She took a treat directly from my and then did a play bow at me! What a lovely new development in her behavior!
She was so overjoyed to see my van she leaped in without hesitation and rode happily to the park.
At the park she was eager to explore and was sniffing and checking the world out without concern of any of the people around us.
Today was baby stroller and dogs day. She spotted some resting ducks (Ma and Pa duck) under a bush and was totally ready to check them out.
She is very driven by her nose, so we are working on the Name Game and reward for Check In all week before our next outing. She's not responding well to her name just yet, and we are now ready to train some loose leash and use sniffing as a reward.
At the plant sale in the park she met a new lady. Malcolm was invited to greet her and while the woman petted him Coco decided she wanted attention also and stepped up to the lady and got pets.
She was so tired by the end of the walk we carried her for a bit and then she finished on a relaxed and happy note.
Slow moving cars no longer frighten her, but large vehicles, like the limos do, so we will start to work her on the other side of the park where she is at a distance from a busy street and DS her to car and truck sounds at faster speeds before moving her closer.
Coco is setting the pace and with the wonderful support of her owner, she is truly finding her inner Min Pin!
