Things that make you go hmmmmm

Didn't do much else with Iggy yesterday.  When I came home after class did some tugging and releasing to go to the bathroom and then right away tugging, no real freedom.  That worked great.

This morning went out played tug after he went to the bathroom.  Wanted to try more RZ so ran around in a circle about 30feet in diameter with him in RZ.  Rewarded with the tug, he did pretty well I did some decel and kept going until he put himself in the right spot and then rewarded.  I just don't think he is getting it but I am having a hard time figuring out what to change to improve his understanding.  I need to take it back to step treat step treat and video tape to hopefully see the spot where we lose the understanding.  Then I will have video and can get Christine to look at it and give me her opinion.

We also did some get outs with the wheelbarrow, took him a second to figure out what I wanted but then no problem, still very close to the wheelbarrow but he is moving out nicely.  Two reps off the right hand and three reps off the left hand.

I then let him go off leash for a run and to go to the bathroom.  Asked for a nose touch first and got a lot of biting more than I have gotten in a long time.  I am guessing too stimulated or at least on the verge of too stimulated.  He was doing very well with the recalls and then I called  him back just as he got sight of something and took off to a sniff, I walked towards him and took him by the collar and moved him away and sat him.  Did a few recalls and released him to go sniff but he wouldn't leave me.

So what did I learn, what do I need to change.  No freedom, he is allowed off leash but 1 minute and back to tug, I don't want any sniffing issues for at least 3 days then we can increase the freedom.  Take a day or two off from RZ and then set up the video, I think I may just be going to long on that exercise, maybe lets try it Thursday at the barn where I can bring him out for a few seconds and then put him back in the crate.  Better yet just open the garage and use the car crate.

This afternoon I was thinking we would work on find the line with the jump and maybe if all goes well LOP with two toys.

So went out this afternoon and had an epiphay, slow the @#$% down.  I am pushing too hard and we are going back into old habits.  Need lots more relationship building and a lot less testing of value we are just not ready.

Did 4 reps of find the line, Iggy set up about 10feet from jump I am about 10 feet past the jump, jumps set at 16" he had no problem with it but his attention was wondering when I left him in a sit.  Solutions run to my set up place, don't turn away from him keep him engaged.  I then left him in a down for a few minutes, I really need a crate out there.  I then went to the driveway and worked LOP with two toys.  He nailed the first one ran to the wrong toy on the second one and nailed the third one I then did one rep of drive to the toy on the ground since I am moving.  I had his attention the whole time and played a lot of tug in between reps.

I release him to pee and right away called him back to he is getting off  leash but in very very small increments.  I then tugged for a minute or so and pulled the toy out and he froze and looked around I waited about 30 seconds and touched his collar which right away brought him back to my world and he sat.  We tugged and then did 5 reps with full attention.

I am walking a very fine line of pushing the envelope and not losing the drive.  I have to remember that it is perfectly fine and even expected to once in a while cross the line into the dark side as long as I notice the cross and right away take steps to correct the lack of attention, drive, etc.  It is so hard because when he is working I am having such a good time.