First exercise we did was the pylon. I was all stressed out and not concentrating as I should be but that will get better with time. I don't know what I am scared of because I know it's fear that makes me like this but that's the way I am and there is no point stressing about stressing. Iggy and I were supposed to shape going around a pylon. I had worked on get out and it was coming along but I had not shaped the going around, I have seen the benefits for the dog of shaping and need to start doing some shaping regularly now that Iggy is working with me much better. Anyway my first attempt I was doing a lot of moving and not letting Iggy figure anything out. I need to stand still. I was worried he would pee on the pylon and of course he attempted it :), Christine just grabbed him by the collar told him to cut it out and moved on. I then realized my boy was trying to put his back feet on the lip of the pylon, not surprising since everything I have shaped to date is about feet. He wandered away once but came back when called. I originally took him out on leash and then was reminded to have him on leash, makes sense, especially in that very stimulating very distracting location.
Second exercise was the table. At first we started with this tiny table that he was having a hell of a time staying on while tugging but did manage it. A sheltie then came over and had a play with him, also an intact male and definitely changed his state. I stood there and did nothing, later in the class Iggy went over and tried to play with a dog and Keisha just grabbed him and held him until I could reach him. I loved it she never let him interact with her dog never allowing Iggy to reward himself and her dog to enjoy it or get upset by it, I need to react when a dog comes over and we are working and not just stand there. After this he was unable to tug on the table, was able to after some work tug on the floor so Christine suggested get him on the table then release to tug. As soon as I would remove the tug he would jump on the table so that was working fine. I kept Iggy on leash for the entire exercise.
Third exercise was the jumps. First thing I worked on was that he would retrieve the toy in this environment. No problem, Christine pointed out to be careful what I am doing near the equipment because on his return to me he went around a jump. Will have to watch that in the front yard where the jump is set up. Went very well held him by he collar and released while stepping towards the jump. He took the jump no hesitation and I dropped the toy heading towards the second jump, repeated with the toy a little closer to the second jump. Third attempt went for the second jump and he did it, I rewarded with the toy. I should have just dropped toy in front of him and I threw it instead. Makes me think back to Splash and Oliver getting distracted thinking we where about to throw the toy instead by placing it we get rid of that chase thing.
Iggy did well in the fabric crate. He was relatively quiet, I covered him when I wasn't close to him and rewarded him when he wasn't covered. He started to get the whole sit while I unzip the door towards the end of the class, all I did was unzip that hold the side of the crate until he say usually right away. The last time I put him away we ran towards the crate and the door flap was down, I felt him fight me but I was already committed to putting him in. Need to work on crate door flap being down and him going in.
I think the leaving me while working is a startle thing so since we were all outside I asked Bill to help me. I tugged with Iggy and he honked the car horn. Iggy moved away a few times but never more than a foot and re committed to the tugging without any cues from me. I am sending Christine and email to hear her suggestions.
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