Days 8 to 11

Hi Kaye,

Day 8

Tonight I was training 'sit, lie down' with his dinner as reward. Half way
through he took himself to poo outside. He didn't quite make it to our
normal spot but he did make it to the grass. That involves two flights of
steps and crossing a pebbled area. This is a first!

Day 9 & 10 we just did a lot of socialising with people and trips in the
car. I was really low energy with the Ross River so the training was a bit
ordinary.

Day 11

Day 11 was incredibly hot. I put a fence across the chook run and now have a
chook pen, dog run and duck pen in the same complex. Fido and Pep spent a
few hours in small bursts over there and although they were pleased to come
back to the house there is a lot to do there; sniffing, two sleeping shed
compartments (one with a cool brick floor) and the poultry antics to look
at.

I'll make a play pen I can shift about too; for Fido's down time practice.

Day 11 was also very busy. Julie came over in the evening. I hadn't fed Fido
and it was starting to cool down so he was eager. She did a beautiful job
for us!


Clearly I need to practice puppy speak for getting his attention. Julie got
longer and generally better focus from him than I do. She has a very
animated high voice and uses it constantly to get and keep attention. It was
very effective.

We went through sit, stand, lie down, fetching, on your mat, got ya, naming
and inspecting body parts, giving tablets, grooming etiquette and how to train
it.

When she watched me she noticed me looming over him and crowding him. This
is a major clue and I think it accounts for some of his him 'walking out' on
training sessions early.....rough on my fragile ego! I've had no effective
strategy for 'walk outs' as I would with a horse. We need to talk more about
this! 

I asked Julie to assess Fido for our project. She thinks he is a pretty
normal pup. I think he is not as keen as other pups to receive affection and
to settle for a sit on my lap. She said just do heaps of it and demonstrated
the anti squirming technique. I'd done it identically in cafes when I needed
to restrain him, but have not done it as determinedly at home and certainly
not for extended periods. I just tried it then, sitting with Sally having
her breakfast and he settled nicely.

We also talked a lot about how to motivate him. Julie holds the meat between
her fore finger and thumb so that he has to work a bit to get it. I did that
this morning with crate training and 'on the mat' and it does extend the
reward, and with it the overall focus. (My focus has been to get food into
him because he gets his meals in training sessions.)

I met a dog a few days ago that would do anything for food. I thought it was
a wonderful thing. Julie pointed out the potential problems of a food
obsession and feels play rewards can be just as effective. Interestingly
Julie thinks Fido is very stable and very calm and will make an excellent
pet. I never have to settle him because he is over the top. He and Pep and I
have a tennis ball rugby game just before we go to bed, after final pee each
night. He's as revved as I ever see him and still he settles in a minute or
two in the bedroom.

Julie looked over my dictionary. I've attached it. She uses a bright 'Yes'!
To mark behaviour instead of the messy 'Good Boy' I use. I did 'charge the
clicker' so she could use it if she wanted to and he has 'got it'. This
morning we got a few 'captures of paw on my hand' so we should have 'high
fives' one day soon.

I'm intending to use the clicker to get 'yielding to pressure' on the collar
in preparation for leading. I haven't had the lead on yet because the collar
seemed to cause a little choking reflex sort of thing. I've had it on and
off and it is ok now. I've done a lot of 'Got ya' grabbing his collar and
scruff of his neck (so he never bites a clumsy handler) and he is super
cool about that, so I think we are ready to go a bit further. He'll have his
second injection next week and I'd like him to be leading a bit by then.

Julie also pointed out the need to shift the 'training area' very gradually-
get something happening- try it over there and then a bit further away until
he can stay 'on the job' with increasingly challenging distractions. With
toilet training and socialising objectives we often find ourselves out of
the 'Control Zone'. That is where food is not enough to extract his nose
from the current mission. Luckily, sometimes 'kill the plastic bag' breaks
the spell and gets him on 'on the job with me again (sort of)."

I've got him going in and out of the crate very happily now. Once I've got
'stay' on the mat I'm sure it will transfer to the crate very easily and
I'll be ready to start shutting the gate for short periods. I started the
crate training just by throwing his tennis ball in. We did 'sit/lie down' at
the entrance and then lured him in. I am doing a lot more luring now.

I've got the crate closed with his 'goodies' in there now. He would like to
get in and get them. I'll let him after he's had a sleep.

I've also been trying walking away and doing something else when he is not
responding with some enthusiasm. It seems if I come back to it in 30 seconds
he is much more willing. This happened yesterday when I asked him to come
inside. He sat down and looked at me. I walked away, put the kettle on and
went back to the same place and asked in the same way and he bounded in
almost smiling.

I'm really looking forward to seeing you tonight. I'll be there 6-6.30
unless I hear from you.
Cheers,


Richard