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Spirit is still working on her crate behaviors to be ready for her vacation with a board and train facility in August. I worked on duration for a while and watched to see what she really needed help with. It's relaxing in the crate. She goes in fine, is quiet when in the crate, but sits with a level of alertness and tension that tells me she isn't fully comfortable in the crate. Time to teach her to relax.
I worked for a while on getting her chin down to her paws by shaping it. We got a good approximation of that while she lay at my feet out of the crate. I had gotten a hip roll, a deep sigh and her offering putting her chin to her paws before I moved it to the crate. I started with the door open and me sitting before it. I got her to lay down and offer the chin on the edge of the door, but no hip rolls. She was spring loaded and ready to go if I let her.
I worked on shaping the hip roll and finally got her hip over and her chin down with the crate door open. After a break we went back to it and this time I closed the door and slipped treats to her through the bars of the crate. I never left the side of the crate, but did get a chin down, hip roll and even once a big sigh. She's not relaxed, but she's offering the physical behaviors for now and it was a great session.
Her owner will continue to work on her relaxing in her crate and reinforcing body positions that encourage her to relax and become comfortable in her crate overall.
Ziggy
Ziggy is a Rat Terrier who was being evaluated for service dog training. Due to clear nervousness and difficulties recovering from novel or startling things I have not approved Ziggy for service dog work. Ziggy's owner will continue to enjoy Ziggy's company as a pet dog.
Buddy is working on impulse control and how to relax and settle near his handler. He is also working on focusing on his handler while working. We worked on settling at my feet at first and shaping chin down and other behaviors that encourage relaxation. We also worked on basic impulse control. On the end of the appointment his handler worked on rewarding behaviors that encouaged more focus and more relaxation on Buddy's part.
We did discuss getting a volunteer for Buddy to help with his training and care two days a week. I have found a volunteer who'll take Buddy from Friday night to Sunday afternoon and will work on impulse control, basic foundation skills and learning to relax at his handler's feet. This volunteer is near me, so I will be able to donate time to work with Buddy on the weekends.
Buddy's homework is:
It's Yer Choice: Buddy must offer a sit to get his dinner, go out a door or play with a toy. If he tries to steal a toy or food from his handler's hand she is to pull her hand away and look away from him until he sits. She is to do this as many times in a row until he can sit calmly and wait for the food or toy to be offered to him.
Please review Malcolm's Quest blog post and read the entry for Thursday to see more about installing calm and impulse control into a service dog in training. There are also videos available which show how to achieve the goal we are working for.
Pay for Eye Contact: If Buddy volunteers eye contact pay him with food, toy, praise or affection to let him know you like it. If he comes to check on you do the same, even if eye contact has not been made - we are working on him finding you to be the best thing since sliced bread, so offering him rewards of food, toys, praise or affection will increase his desire to be with you.
Door Manners: Teach Buddy how to wait at the door by asking for a sit and reaching for the door. If he stands, take your hand away from the door and ask for a sit again. Do this until you can open the door and he won't move from his sit. Work until the door can stay open for 1 minute and you can step in and out of the door at least three times.
Meet People: Buddy becomes over excited when he sees people he knows. If pulls and barks to show he desires to greet them. Work on his walking on a loose leash, quiet and calm and focused on you to meet people he knows. If he can't take 1 step without getting to excited, then take one step and lure him into a sit. Wait for eye contact and take one more step and lure him into a sit. Do this until he can walk up to 20 feet without needing to sit to calm down and meet the person without getting over excited. If he can only get 15 feet away from someone he likes and stay calm, don't try to get 14 feet away, but stop where he is still calm for that lesson and work to get closer in another lesson. He doesn't need to meet the person each time he works toward them, just learn to be calm when he sees them and eventually to greet them.
