As promised I resisted all urges to bring him out for just a bit and all I did was pee and poop him for the rest of the day.
This morning we went out. He was very attentive and all about me on the way to the door and out of the house. Once outside walked him close to me and released him out for a pee. Walked half way down the driveway did one short recall played tug and then a 20 foot recall from a stay and played tug. On the way back he was pulling so rewarded him about 3 times with a tug for turning back when I stopped and backed up.
At noon took him out for a pee and then did target on plexi with him. Single nose touches 3 times rewarded. Should have probably only done one.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Really!!!!
You gotta give me credit for thinking the glass is always half full. Mornings are our best times so I thought let's do some off leash in the morning, some jumping and then keep you on leash for the rest of the day, and this is how it went. He was great through the house ignores the other dogs just wants me :). Did the sit at both exit doors without screwing around :). Released him out let him go 15 feet and called him he turned and came back, I pulled the leash out of my pocket instead of the ball while I got the ball he turned and took off into the field, I called once but then figured he might really have to pee so waited. When he was done peeing (about 150 feet away) I called and he ignored me completely. I went in the house and can't see him but he didn't appear at the door and teaching him to ignore me and play in the field was not my plan so I jumped in the car and started going down the driveway. He appeared go out of the car called him he came right over we played for a second and gone again, I drove further down the driveway and this time when he came I put him in his crate in the car and then straight into the house in the crate. Right now I am so mad the best thing for both of us is I ignore him for two days. I imagine I just have to go back to the beginning and start from there. I am so sad, mad, angry, frustrated, hurt, scared...
Friday, February 25, 2011
Shoot me now
Is it me, is it him. I don't know but we are not in a good place. Is he not feeling well, I think we have ruled that out. Is it he is tired and needs a day (or maybe more) of complete nothing after a class? @#$% I am just so frustrated and to top it off Christine just posted a video of Quake running and he was amazing doing a big circle of jumps and tunnels looking forward driving and yesterday she posted Quake doing twelve weaves. Iggy has barely done three jumps in a row and has just got the tunnel.
Yesterday afternoon I said I would take him out in the yard and let him be waiting for him to choose me. Never going to happen. I walked with him and he seemed to stay close and then went to the other end of the yard and couldn't care less when I walked the other way. I got him back and went in the house another experiment gone wrong.
We went out this morning did a few single jumps and he worked very well. Let him off to go to the bathroom, he wouldn't leave my side, when I finally got him to go I tried calling him at five feet and nothing. I walked away and he came right to me. He did well but I would really like to move forward and am feeling very stuck in one place. I want to take him for a run but can't.
Mid morning we went out for a walk with Logan. Iggy was doing fine on leash and looking around when I stopped. A car went by and I put him in a sit and he moved at the end I grabbed his collar and fixed him and waited for him to remember I existed before I released him. His brain must have left with the car because after that he was pulling. I didn't want to keep correcting him so I put him in RZ on a very short leash. Any time his head would pass my leg I brought him back. When he would give me a few steps of nice walking I would play for a minute.
This afternoon I went to the basement to do some shaping. I played tug for a few minutes and put him in a down as I got ready, meanwhile Bill came down the stairs and Iggy broke his stay and ran towards him I said hey and went to get him. Iggy did turn at one point but obviously me coming to get him triggered run because up the stairs he went and would not come back down to me, I finally went got him by the side scruff and put him in the crate. I did bring him out and do some tugging with him about one hour later and he seemed happy to come out and tug.
Looking at our day it's been shit followed by more shit. Repeat after me tomorrow he goes out to the bathroom and that's it. No playing, no tugging, no nothing bathroom and crate. The dog I want is in there and we will figure out a way to get him out :).
Yesterday afternoon I said I would take him out in the yard and let him be waiting for him to choose me. Never going to happen. I walked with him and he seemed to stay close and then went to the other end of the yard and couldn't care less when I walked the other way. I got him back and went in the house another experiment gone wrong.
We went out this morning did a few single jumps and he worked very well. Let him off to go to the bathroom, he wouldn't leave my side, when I finally got him to go I tried calling him at five feet and nothing. I walked away and he came right to me. He did well but I would really like to move forward and am feeling very stuck in one place. I want to take him for a run but can't.
Mid morning we went out for a walk with Logan. Iggy was doing fine on leash and looking around when I stopped. A car went by and I put him in a sit and he moved at the end I grabbed his collar and fixed him and waited for him to remember I existed before I released him. His brain must have left with the car because after that he was pulling. I didn't want to keep correcting him so I put him in RZ on a very short leash. Any time his head would pass my leg I brought him back. When he would give me a few steps of nice walking I would play for a minute.
This afternoon I went to the basement to do some shaping. I played tug for a few minutes and put him in a down as I got ready, meanwhile Bill came down the stairs and Iggy broke his stay and ran towards him I said hey and went to get him. Iggy did turn at one point but obviously me coming to get him triggered run because up the stairs he went and would not come back down to me, I finally went got him by the side scruff and put him in the crate. I did bring him out and do some tugging with him about one hour later and he seemed happy to come out and tug.
Looking at our day it's been shit followed by more shit. Repeat after me tomorrow he goes out to the bathroom and that's it. No playing, no tugging, no nothing bathroom and crate. The dog I want is in there and we will figure out a way to get him out :).
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The good the bad and the ugle
It all went to hell this morning and I stayed operant the whole time :).
I decided to go out in the backyard this morning. I just added recall in the backyard to my goals, I have very little recall in the backyard maybe 50%, I don't really go out in the backyard and work so his major history in the backyard is ignoring me and having a good time with the other dogs. So I have in the last week been going in the backyard on leash staying on the deck and tugging and doing recalls. I figured I could step out the door and do a recall and he would listen. Ha ha foolish me he never even flicked an ear and there I stood like a pinhead. I also realize that I get so mad when he does something wrong not because he is wrong but because I put both of us in a situation where he would fail. I am not upset with his failure but mine. I maintained calm this morning tried walking back into the garage he ran around the yard had a couple of pees and a poo glanced at the door once in a while maybe he could see me maybe not but never even though of coming back. Since he has spent hours in the backyard amusing himself on his own and he hasn't had a whole lot of exercise this week I wasn't going to wait him out.
I walked towards him he was pooping, I waited until he was done and called and he came right to me. I put him on leash and we walked back to the deck and played some tug. I walked around a bit letting him get distracted he was all over me. So I took the leash off to see what would happen. Tug tug tug and he takes off to have a pee in the yard. Got him back smacked him around some, have been rewarding that and he really likes it now. Released him out let him go a few steps and called worked great for a few minutes and I started increasing his distance. Then he found a big piece of wood and it was all over he went into keep away mode. Which brings us back to another goal don't play keep away with the damn piece of wood. I went in the house he came with me, I grabbed some treats and went out to play drop it with the wood. He did great and I so should have done this ages ago. We then did RZ by the piece of wood.
I decided enough tempting fate and we came in. He needs a run I will give him one this afternoon when Logan goes down for a nap.
I decided to go out in the backyard this morning. I just added recall in the backyard to my goals, I have very little recall in the backyard maybe 50%, I don't really go out in the backyard and work so his major history in the backyard is ignoring me and having a good time with the other dogs. So I have in the last week been going in the backyard on leash staying on the deck and tugging and doing recalls. I figured I could step out the door and do a recall and he would listen. Ha ha foolish me he never even flicked an ear and there I stood like a pinhead. I also realize that I get so mad when he does something wrong not because he is wrong but because I put both of us in a situation where he would fail. I am not upset with his failure but mine. I maintained calm this morning tried walking back into the garage he ran around the yard had a couple of pees and a poo glanced at the door once in a while maybe he could see me maybe not but never even though of coming back. Since he has spent hours in the backyard amusing himself on his own and he hasn't had a whole lot of exercise this week I wasn't going to wait him out.
I walked towards him he was pooping, I waited until he was done and called and he came right to me. I put him on leash and we walked back to the deck and played some tug. I walked around a bit letting him get distracted he was all over me. So I took the leash off to see what would happen. Tug tug tug and he takes off to have a pee in the yard. Got him back smacked him around some, have been rewarding that and he really likes it now. Released him out let him go a few steps and called worked great for a few minutes and I started increasing his distance. Then he found a big piece of wood and it was all over he went into keep away mode. Which brings us back to another goal don't play keep away with the damn piece of wood. I went in the house he came with me, I grabbed some treats and went out to play drop it with the wood. He did great and I so should have done this ages ago. We then did RZ by the piece of wood.
I decided enough tempting fate and we came in. He needs a run I will give him one this afternoon when Logan goes down for a nap.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Goal setting as opposed to to do lists
I took him to class last night and he did really well. He is having no problem being distracted by Chris or David or their dogs :). I was looking at a video of a Susan Garrett seminar on weaves, I really don't think he could do it, but we are a whole lot closer than we were. I till feel we need a humongous spread sheet or something to give us more focus. This week I want to spend some time thinking about it.
My goal for this week is to work Iggy through all the exercises in the one jump video, hmmm that is still more a to do list instead of a goal.
This morning I had Iggy off leash, he was awesome and didn't want to leave me. So now comes the game of giving him freedom but being able to call him back whenever. At one point I sent him to run and he did go about 150 feet I let him sniff for a minute and called him and he kept sniffing, I walked away before I was back to the door he was at my side :). I played keep away with the toy a few minutes and then we had a good game of tug and went and did some jump work.
I got a goal, to walk onto the road of the end of the driveway and he turn to me instead of his brain being lost to the field and the smells there. Another one, good solid nose touches on the plexi glass target.
Last night at class we did bend work with 5 jumps, he did it no problem and was working awesome. We also did running across the dogwalk plank on the ground on a bar. I am going to delay teeter work until I meet with Christine. I want to follow Susan's method and see how it goes.
My goal for this week is to work Iggy through all the exercises in the one jump video, hmmm that is still more a to do list instead of a goal.
This morning I had Iggy off leash, he was awesome and didn't want to leave me. So now comes the game of giving him freedom but being able to call him back whenever. At one point I sent him to run and he did go about 150 feet I let him sniff for a minute and called him and he kept sniffing, I walked away before I was back to the door he was at my side :). I played keep away with the toy a few minutes and then we had a good game of tug and went and did some jump work.
I got a goal, to walk onto the road of the end of the driveway and he turn to me instead of his brain being lost to the field and the smells there. Another one, good solid nose touches on the plexi glass target.
Last night at class we did bend work with 5 jumps, he did it no problem and was working awesome. We also did running across the dogwalk plank on the ground on a bar. I am going to delay teeter work until I meet with Christine. I want to follow Susan's method and see how it goes.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Back to the plan
I think he is almost all back but I am definitely taking my time. We went out this morning and we did some tugging he was on so decided to allow him some off leash time. Release two steps call back repeat 3 times, fourth rep allowed him to go out into the field he peed and called him back. Worked well, after the meeting of the minds with the cats yesterday wasn't sure I would have any brain but it looked good. We did some lefts and rights, still having the odd hard time getting him to spin right. He had about 3 pees and a poo all of leash and all returning to me after being called. Now there is a light covering of snow on the patches of ice on he driveway which just scare the crap out of me so we went inside and headed to the basement.
We did some tugging when we got down there to assess brain, it looked good so we worked on backing up. We have huge alignment problems :). I used the end of the rug as my marker and he managed back feet off a few times, come to think of it I didn't mark where I was in relation to the end of the carpet so I know where to sit next time. I am working on throwing the food in a straight line away from me and that will hopefully help with his alignment. We worked on some nose touches on my hand, hand on floor. He definitely was more confident than he was yesterday, will have keep working on the target.
We did some tugging when we got down there to assess brain, it looked good so we worked on backing up. We have huge alignment problems :). I used the end of the rug as my marker and he managed back feet off a few times, come to think of it I didn't mark where I was in relation to the end of the carpet so I know where to sit next time. I am working on throwing the food in a straight line away from me and that will hopefully help with his alignment. We worked on some nose touches on my hand, hand on floor. He definitely was more confident than he was yesterday, will have keep working on the target.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
It just keeps getting better
Got home last night after Iggy had been left alone for 6 hours and he was so wired had to do something. We did some perch work and tugging on the bed. I got him to tug gently while lying down and do a great job of transferring his weight back when tugging on the bed. God it was fun to work a dog who wanted to work this much. Poor baby now he will probably get more crate time but that's what I want. Sad when I wished I worked full time so my dog would work better.
Let off leash this morning he really only didn't respond once and then he was heading over to take a poop and came right back to me afterwards.
I want proof recalls just for a couple of reps every day so we went out with two toys. One his tennis ball on a rope and the other his schumm toy. We did 10 foot recalls with tennis ball on the ground first started about 5 feet off the recall line and worked to 1 foot off the recall line. He did great. Then switched toys and he still nailed it. Need to do more work on him picking up and coming back with the schumm toy, he started heading to the front yard I ran away and he came to me with the toy. It is still not habit so I need to do a number of send to toy and run away to improve that. Working towards getting more of a turn before I run. I think that is the problem I do turn and run immediately or stand there I need to start mixing it up.
Let off leash this morning he really only didn't respond once and then he was heading over to take a poop and came right back to me afterwards.
I want proof recalls just for a couple of reps every day so we went out with two toys. One his tennis ball on a rope and the other his schumm toy. We did 10 foot recalls with tennis ball on the ground first started about 5 feet off the recall line and worked to 1 foot off the recall line. He did great. Then switched toys and he still nailed it. Need to do more work on him picking up and coming back with the schumm toy, he started heading to the front yard I ran away and he came to me with the toy. It is still not habit so I need to do a number of send to toy and run away to improve that. Working towards getting more of a turn before I run. I think that is the problem I do turn and run immediately or stand there I need to start mixing it up.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
He's back
Iggy and I went to the vet yesterday. After a very thorough check Andrew thought he was in great shape and nothing was wrong and went ahead and gave him his rabies shot. When I got home we went for a walk on leash he was good and worked well, still not 100% but better. Even in the morning he had made noise in his crate which was a very clear indication that he was feeling better.
This morning he is all Iggy. He bounced me all the way from the bedroom to the backdoor to play with his toy and rushed to sit at the exit doors so we could go out. Even yesterday morning when I went to the exit door to the garage he wandered around the garage for a minute or so and I had to call him to come to the door. Outside it was really nasty with a -17 wind chill so we didn't do much. Two reps past the jump and back over, two reps over the jump and back to me. Then we did one rep of walking in RZL with toy out ahead, he did great but didn't come back with the toy the way I would like. We had his schumm tug which he does this with. So we did two reps of restrained recall to toy and me running away, he did great. Then we went for a pee on leash and came back in. The guys were pulling out wood on the street he got a little distracted but came back and worked.
This morning he is all Iggy. He bounced me all the way from the bedroom to the backdoor to play with his toy and rushed to sit at the exit doors so we could go out. Even yesterday morning when I went to the exit door to the garage he wandered around the garage for a minute or so and I had to call him to come to the door. Outside it was really nasty with a -17 wind chill so we didn't do much. Two reps past the jump and back over, two reps over the jump and back to me. Then we did one rep of walking in RZL with toy out ahead, he did great but didn't come back with the toy the way I would like. We had his schumm tug which he does this with. So we did two reps of restrained recall to toy and me running away, he did great. Then we went for a pee on leash and came back in. The guys were pulling out wood on the street he got a little distracted but came back and worked.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Still think he is not right
I still think he is not feeling well. I am going to try and take a really good look at his mouth today and make sure there is nothing going on in there since he is still destroying Kongs any chance he gets.
We walked in the afternoon out to the end of the driveway and played some tug did our directionals and some recalls. He is walking pretty well on the buckle collar. My biggest problem is still I am not 100% clear on my expectations when he is not in a position beside me. The RZ is coming along nicely. I sometimes think I have nailed down the criteria and then not so much, this is why I am having a hard time training it. I could have gone farther but I just wasn't into it and honestly don't think he is either.
When I got home we went out in the backyard just on the deck to go to the bathroom and play a little tug. After being out there a minute and playing tug I left him in a sit walked two feet a way and released him he went to grab the toy at his feet changed his mind and ran into the yard just 10 feet but what the hell was that, really a smell was more fun than me, really!!!!!. Anyway went grabbed him brought him back on the deck and we played for 5 minutes and he was great.
I have decided to take him to the vet, we have an appointment tomorrow at 3:30pm. We went for a walk today to the corner and he walks fine but when we tugged he is just not that into it and then ignored me afterwards just like he used to do and hasn't done in ages. Hopefully the vet will find and easy fix problem and we can move on. Fingers crossed.
We walked in the afternoon out to the end of the driveway and played some tug did our directionals and some recalls. He is walking pretty well on the buckle collar. My biggest problem is still I am not 100% clear on my expectations when he is not in a position beside me. The RZ is coming along nicely. I sometimes think I have nailed down the criteria and then not so much, this is why I am having a hard time training it. I could have gone farther but I just wasn't into it and honestly don't think he is either.
When I got home we went out in the backyard just on the deck to go to the bathroom and play a little tug. After being out there a minute and playing tug I left him in a sit walked two feet a way and released him he went to grab the toy at his feet changed his mind and ran into the yard just 10 feet but what the hell was that, really a smell was more fun than me, really!!!!!. Anyway went grabbed him brought him back on the deck and we played for 5 minutes and he was great.
I have decided to take him to the vet, we have an appointment tomorrow at 3:30pm. We went for a walk today to the corner and he walks fine but when we tugged he is just not that into it and then ignored me afterwards just like he used to do and hasn't done in ages. Hopefully the vet will find and easy fix problem and we can move on. Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
God give me the wisdom...
I ended up taking Iggy to class last night because Lynn offered to come and help. She is rewarding him for staying in his crate while I teach with the door open. We worked on it two weeks ago and he did very well only had the door closed once when the second class came in and everyone started barking. Last night Lynn only used half his dinner and was usually about 15 feet from the crate. I also brought him out and did some RZ walking towards Lynn and even pushed her bending forward and he did great. I then did sits while walking and a dog barked just as I gave the cue so he missed it but after that nailed it. I kept him on leash outside for the whole day and gave him 30 minutes of freedom while we watched TV after I go home.
Looking back I think I had just pushed too hard and this dog cannot deal with working too hard. I pray :) that one day he will be able to function as a working dog and have house freedom but I really have to accept he may never :(. I also have to look at it that the only way I am going to discover his limit is to sometimes go over it like I did last week and recognize it and regroup.
Today so far we haven't done much just walked to the end of the driveway this morning and played tug with some recalls using Iggy and Come.
Looking back I think I had just pushed too hard and this dog cannot deal with working too hard. I pray :) that one day he will be able to function as a working dog and have house freedom but I really have to accept he may never :(. I also have to look at it that the only way I am going to discover his limit is to sometimes go over it like I did last week and recognize it and regroup.
Today so far we haven't done much just walked to the end of the driveway this morning and played tug with some recalls using Iggy and Come.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Stop I want to get off
I am amazed on how quickly things have gone badly. I am hoping it is a stage or a hormone or not feeling well. Unfortunately it brings all my insecurities back into the forefront which is just bad for effective training.
Yesterday around 4 pm I went to take Iggy for a pee. I have been letting him out in the front yard for a few weeks now and he goes to the bathroom and runs back. He doesn't always come when I call him but does usually get off the sniff and move on to a new one where he goes to the bathroom. So as always the writing was on the wall I just put blinders on. To give myself a break I have never let a dog out to go to the bathroom off leash and expected him to pee and come back in. My dogs have always gone out on leash or into a fenced backyard where they did what they wanted and came to the door when they were done. I realize you have to give him some freedom to find the spot, maybe my new approach will be go and call back every minute or so until the find the spot. Anyway yesterday he went out and just kept going over the snow back gone. It took me a couple of minutes to go to the garage door and get shoes and coat on. By the time I got out to the driveway he was nowhere to be seen and the driveway was very very icy. I waddled out around the house and back building until I finally found him, took a couple of calls but he came to me, I didn't kill him :), I told him good boy and let go because of course I had no leash (no idea if I should or should not have put it on) and it was icy so we were both safest on our own.
After this I was in no mood to take him to class so he stayed in his crate the rest of the evening other than a short walk by my husband for bathrooms purposes.
I honestly don't think he is himself, by now he is usually whining to go out and I have not heard a peep from him. Today he will stay on leash, I will assess whether or not we will do anything other than leash walks and crate as the day progresses. I need to see him poop to make sure there is no obstruction and that's the problem. Part of me is very sad, pissed, upset with this turn of events part of me goes you know how to fix this and you will :).
We went for our morning walk. Amazing how the thought of letting him off leash crossed my mind, I wonder why knowing it was the wrong thing to do :). We did most of our walk on the buckle collar. At first we rewarded turning back to me on leash pressure with tugging, that worked well we did three reps. Then we worked on "close" walking with me, did about 10 feet he was good, need to watch he slowly starts to swing out, I imagine that's to look at me face. Then we did toy out in front release after 3 steps, then we did walk by the toy release back to it. All went well he tugged he worked never looking all stressed.
By this time we were at the end of the driveway, I just stopped and waited. His brain was definitely going down the trail behind their house. I waited until he turned away and tugged we did that 3 times, did some sit to tug and some downs. Once I had the brain it was all good.
On the way back I again did stop and wait for attention, it was probably taking about 15 seconds each time, I rewarded the first two but wanted better to keep tugging. I petted a couple of reps still the same so I took only one step before stopping again and the brain came back much quicker and I was able to tug. This made me all clarify what it is I want. I want when Iggy is on leash and I stop moving he should turn back to me, even off leash if I stop moving I would like him to check in and he is pretty good off leash.
I am very proud of both of us, it went wrong and we were able to recover :) and move on.
Yesterday around 4 pm I went to take Iggy for a pee. I have been letting him out in the front yard for a few weeks now and he goes to the bathroom and runs back. He doesn't always come when I call him but does usually get off the sniff and move on to a new one where he goes to the bathroom. So as always the writing was on the wall I just put blinders on. To give myself a break I have never let a dog out to go to the bathroom off leash and expected him to pee and come back in. My dogs have always gone out on leash or into a fenced backyard where they did what they wanted and came to the door when they were done. I realize you have to give him some freedom to find the spot, maybe my new approach will be go and call back every minute or so until the find the spot. Anyway yesterday he went out and just kept going over the snow back gone. It took me a couple of minutes to go to the garage door and get shoes and coat on. By the time I got out to the driveway he was nowhere to be seen and the driveway was very very icy. I waddled out around the house and back building until I finally found him, took a couple of calls but he came to me, I didn't kill him :), I told him good boy and let go because of course I had no leash (no idea if I should or should not have put it on) and it was icy so we were both safest on our own.
After this I was in no mood to take him to class so he stayed in his crate the rest of the evening other than a short walk by my husband for bathrooms purposes.
I honestly don't think he is himself, by now he is usually whining to go out and I have not heard a peep from him. Today he will stay on leash, I will assess whether or not we will do anything other than leash walks and crate as the day progresses. I need to see him poop to make sure there is no obstruction and that's the problem. Part of me is very sad, pissed, upset with this turn of events part of me goes you know how to fix this and you will :).
We went for our morning walk. Amazing how the thought of letting him off leash crossed my mind, I wonder why knowing it was the wrong thing to do :). We did most of our walk on the buckle collar. At first we rewarded turning back to me on leash pressure with tugging, that worked well we did three reps. Then we worked on "close" walking with me, did about 10 feet he was good, need to watch he slowly starts to swing out, I imagine that's to look at me face. Then we did toy out in front release after 3 steps, then we did walk by the toy release back to it. All went well he tugged he worked never looking all stressed.
By this time we were at the end of the driveway, I just stopped and waited. His brain was definitely going down the trail behind their house. I waited until he turned away and tugged we did that 3 times, did some sit to tug and some downs. Once I had the brain it was all good.
On the way back I again did stop and wait for attention, it was probably taking about 15 seconds each time, I rewarded the first two but wanted better to keep tugging. I petted a couple of reps still the same so I took only one step before stopping again and the brain came back much quicker and I was able to tug. This made me all clarify what it is I want. I want when Iggy is on leash and I stop moving he should turn back to me, even off leash if I stop moving I would like him to check in and he is pretty good off leash.
Monday, February 14, 2011
!@#$%
Yep I hate failure, I hate being wrong, I hate screwing up. Now that I got that off my chest I can compose myself :) and try to fix the problem.
This morning weather is crappy, footing is crappy and I wasn't 100% into it. Iggy and I walked down the driveway and I let him hit the end and sniff, I saw him catch a sniff and start to go but it was too late I called and he kept going and going. I attempted to hide but that required me walking into 2 feet of wet snow so it took a while I saw him look back but of course could still see me and kept going. I said screw it and started to walk home but then thought that was just telling him go out have a good time and come home when you are done. So out on the road I went, it was glare ice with water, a broken leg waiting to happen. The shoulders were soft so the going was very slow. By the time I had gotten half way to the driveway for the house across the street Iggy came out from the back of the house and ran at good speed all the way to me. I praised him smiled and we went home. I am sure I should have played keep away but I just didn't feel like it and was worried about the footing. He looked at the house once I called him back and we went home with no more incidence and straight into the crate.
I really didn't want to go to the barn but went and Iggy was great. We did the setup from Friday again and he did it really well starting to turn I worked very hard on my not moving. We did 2 reps of that with just 2 jumps turn back on a wrap and reward. I did standing beside the standard and waiting to see if he would take the jump repeated 5 times and he did it great. We then did two reps of run through the jumps and threw the toy ahead. We also worked on the teeter running over it with a 30 degree angle for the entry I was standing half way down the teeter. On the first rep I moved when he hit the pivot on the 2nd rep I stayed still until he hit the end. He rode the drop (plank on 2" jump bar) no problem.
We still have class tonight, I will work him only bits and put him in the car after the first class.
This morning weather is crappy, footing is crappy and I wasn't 100% into it. Iggy and I walked down the driveway and I let him hit the end and sniff, I saw him catch a sniff and start to go but it was too late I called and he kept going and going. I attempted to hide but that required me walking into 2 feet of wet snow so it took a while I saw him look back but of course could still see me and kept going. I said screw it and started to walk home but then thought that was just telling him go out have a good time and come home when you are done. So out on the road I went, it was glare ice with water, a broken leg waiting to happen. The shoulders were soft so the going was very slow. By the time I had gotten half way to the driveway for the house across the street Iggy came out from the back of the house and ran at good speed all the way to me. I praised him smiled and we went home. I am sure I should have played keep away but I just didn't feel like it and was worried about the footing. He looked at the house once I called him back and we went home with no more incidence and straight into the crate.
I really didn't want to go to the barn but went and Iggy was great. We did the setup from Friday again and he did it really well starting to turn I worked very hard on my not moving. We did 2 reps of that with just 2 jumps turn back on a wrap and reward. I did standing beside the standard and waiting to see if he would take the jump repeated 5 times and he did it great. We then did two reps of run through the jumps and threw the toy ahead. We also worked on the teeter running over it with a 30 degree angle for the entry I was standing half way down the teeter. On the first rep I moved when he hit the pivot on the 2nd rep I stayed still until he hit the end. He rode the drop (plank on 2" jump bar) no problem.
We still have class tonight, I will work him only bits and put him in the car after the first class.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Time Flies
I can't believe it has been almost two weeks since I last posted a blog. They have been a great two weeks as far as training and epiphanies go. Iggy is starting to work much better with me and I have overcome some of my fears and put him in situations where he may fail, and he has, but I had a plan and it worked out :). I have to keep remembering to learn from my failures and improve.
This morning we worked on the exercise from Christine's Friday night class. Two jumps set up 15 feet apart. Working on the dog understanding you standing still cues take the jump then turn towards me. I imagine this is one of those exercises that the more you do the better the dog understands the cue. I am more concerned that I am giving the right information than what the dog is doing. I worked on standing still until the dog has committed to the jump and then either doing my front cross or wrap so before the dog is jumping he has the needed information. It went very well we did about 7 tries on both sides with jumps from 16" to 26". Tried two reps of also doing the second jump after the front cross and he nailed it.
This afternoon I wanted to work on shaping. He came out of his crate not tugging hard, we had to work a few minutes on tugging to wake him up. I was sitting on the ground in my back up position and took the toy out of his mouth. Working on really paying attention to actions that are getting the rewards. I need to film and watch because I am really starting to understand the detail you need to get good at shaping. I need some sort of system in my mind. Meanwhile while working Bill walked through and he got distracted and had to be called back then worked for a bit and then sat and scratched and I put him away.
Things I need for the next session. I want the video camera set up. I am working on getting 5 steps back, I will reward 1 step, 3 steps, 2, steps, 3 steps, 1 step, 4, steps, 2 steps, 3 steps and end. I will break this sequence off with tugging after the 2nd 3 step. I will reward in the center and ignore the fact that he is not straight.
Next session about 1 hour later. I hemmed and hawed whether or not I would even bother but I went ahead. Took him out to the bathroom and came in and played tug, I feel his tugging was the appropriate enthusiasm I pulled the tug out and fed as I said I would, after the tug break he lied down then got up and backed up I rewarded and then he started sniffing the floor and eventually lied down and starting licking the floor. There is nothing on the floor so after about 15 seconds I took him by the collar and put him in his crate. This was definitely falling back on old habits and not waiting for a cue from me. He spent most of the day out of his crate yesterday and even though we didn't spend any formal training time he never rests out of his crate so we will go with he is tired and will stay in the crate until tomorrow evening when we have class and then we can reassess the brain.
This morning we worked on the exercise from Christine's Friday night class. Two jumps set up 15 feet apart. Working on the dog understanding you standing still cues take the jump then turn towards me. I imagine this is one of those exercises that the more you do the better the dog understands the cue. I am more concerned that I am giving the right information than what the dog is doing. I worked on standing still until the dog has committed to the jump and then either doing my front cross or wrap so before the dog is jumping he has the needed information. It went very well we did about 7 tries on both sides with jumps from 16" to 26". Tried two reps of also doing the second jump after the front cross and he nailed it.
This afternoon I wanted to work on shaping. He came out of his crate not tugging hard, we had to work a few minutes on tugging to wake him up. I was sitting on the ground in my back up position and took the toy out of his mouth. Working on really paying attention to actions that are getting the rewards. I need to film and watch because I am really starting to understand the detail you need to get good at shaping. I need some sort of system in my mind. Meanwhile while working Bill walked through and he got distracted and had to be called back then worked for a bit and then sat and scratched and I put him away.
Things I need for the next session. I want the video camera set up. I am working on getting 5 steps back, I will reward 1 step, 3 steps, 2, steps, 3 steps, 1 step, 4, steps, 2 steps, 3 steps and end. I will break this sequence off with tugging after the 2nd 3 step. I will reward in the center and ignore the fact that he is not straight.
Next session about 1 hour later. I hemmed and hawed whether or not I would even bother but I went ahead. Took him out to the bathroom and came in and played tug, I feel his tugging was the appropriate enthusiasm I pulled the tug out and fed as I said I would, after the tug break he lied down then got up and backed up I rewarded and then he started sniffing the floor and eventually lied down and starting licking the floor. There is nothing on the floor so after about 15 seconds I took him by the collar and put him in his crate. This was definitely falling back on old habits and not waiting for a cue from me. He spent most of the day out of his crate yesterday and even though we didn't spend any formal training time he never rests out of his crate so we will go with he is tired and will stay in the crate until tomorrow evening when we have class and then we can reassess the brain.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Finally the part I like
Iggy is just getting to be more and more fun to train. I really do enjoy training a dog and watching him get concepts and improve to amazing skills. I hate when it is emotionally draining, the first 9 months with Iggy were emotionally draining. Why? When things didn't work in my head it was the end of the world. He is soft and stubborn all at the same time. I was not in an operant state. Now I have a dog who enjoys being with me (thank you Christine) so even when I make a mistake I can fix it without him walking away. So now I get to do what I like best which is just train.
The last time we did LOP with toys he would either come straight to me or blow by me to the other toy, I knew what I wanted him to understand was not getting through, my thought was I had to teach him to disengage from the toy on the ground. Yesterday we worked on coming to "side" with a toy on the ground 15 feet in front of you. First time I did it with no leash on and he blew by but after that he did very well and we also practiced a few with me running so he could drive out to the toy.
I am not happy with his retrieve after a jump, it is not bad in all other situations but definitely not consistent in the jump situation. I set up the jump in the driveway where I could move and ran away after every toss. I have to keep doing that every day because obviously I created a habit of dicking around with the toy after jumps. We did about 6 reps from different angles with the jump at 16" and he did great. My plan is to do at least 50 reps total of taking off as soon as Iggy gets the toy and then start waiting for the turn before I take off...
We have added a small curve to the tunnel and always work driving forward and turning to me. He is finding his entry off a nose touch and from a collar grab. Next I add a jump but I think I will just do the tunnel for another week or so.
I got a nose touch on the ground yesterday so hoping to introduce the plexi glass this afternoon.
The last time we did LOP with toys he would either come straight to me or blow by me to the other toy, I knew what I wanted him to understand was not getting through, my thought was I had to teach him to disengage from the toy on the ground. Yesterday we worked on coming to "side" with a toy on the ground 15 feet in front of you. First time I did it with no leash on and he blew by but after that he did very well and we also practiced a few with me running so he could drive out to the toy.
I am not happy with his retrieve after a jump, it is not bad in all other situations but definitely not consistent in the jump situation. I set up the jump in the driveway where I could move and ran away after every toss. I have to keep doing that every day because obviously I created a habit of dicking around with the toy after jumps. We did about 6 reps from different angles with the jump at 16" and he did great. My plan is to do at least 50 reps total of taking off as soon as Iggy gets the toy and then start waiting for the turn before I take off...
We have added a small curve to the tunnel and always work driving forward and turning to me. He is finding his entry off a nose touch and from a collar grab. Next I add a jump but I think I will just do the tunnel for another week or so.
I got a nose touch on the ground yesterday so hoping to introduce the plexi glass this afternoon.
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