Success!
Focus, it's what I have needed in my Peachy Pie training. She, ahem, *I* developed a few bad habits I wanted to stop now, instead of 3 years from now. Like biting me out of frustration when running agility. I have to say, I love watching this dog think. She is so easy in that, she does what is rewarded. And it's been very obvious I haven't given her the rewards for the behavior I actually wanted, which of course, wasn't clarified.
So my training plan ...
The Chuckit
The Chuckit is *our* friend. It creates a super high Peach, one who can hardly think, my closest state of being to Peach in a frustration state in a trial of a downward spiraling run. So we started a few weeks ago with getting a nose touch (ahem, with no teeth!) before I'd throw the ball. I went to using the clicker for a very clear marker of the behavior I wanted. At first, she couldn't do this if I had not yet picked up the ball. This was a great opportunity to work on my skill of breaking behaviors into very little things! Other criteria I have added is standing and looking at me (no barking, no foot tapping), a down, and a down + me walking away. All of these are being worked on with the difference of picking up the ball before or after I ask for her behavior. As she has figured out the criteria, her barking has decreased significantly and her OCD grabbing the ball has decreased. YAY ME ;)
Justine
Yep, I joined on the Justine wagon and am so happy I did. I figured we may as well start from the beginning, so we are diligently working through the foundation homeworks. And honestly, I love it. Focus, I need focus, and I have carved out time for my focus. Now to figure out my writing it down system better, but it's getting there. So the fast down is looking great (just need to get it without so much creeping while I'm running), drive ahead with a go go go is starting, and her dig dig dig is going great. I have training partners for Peach and Beam in both agility and obedience, and time every week carved out for it. Woot!
Biting
Aw yes, I let her get away with murder, but I tell ya, the little smarty pants is figuring out the game quickly. No biting = GREAT rewards! I need to be focused in her training til I extinguish the behavior, that is for sure. Last night we spent a lot of time running through the agility course not taking any equipment and practicing running together with no biting. So much greatness. When she knows her job, she's brilliant.
Hopefully I catch up quick, cause it's obvious I'm the short link of this pair. But I'm definitely in love.
With all of these in place, we can get back to retraining the A-frame and learning more fancy handling moves. Fun fun fun!
So my training plan ...
The Chuckit
The Chuckit is *our* friend. It creates a super high Peach, one who can hardly think, my closest state of being to Peach in a frustration state in a trial of a downward spiraling run. So we started a few weeks ago with getting a nose touch (ahem, with no teeth!) before I'd throw the ball. I went to using the clicker for a very clear marker of the behavior I wanted. At first, she couldn't do this if I had not yet picked up the ball. This was a great opportunity to work on my skill of breaking behaviors into very little things! Other criteria I have added is standing and looking at me (no barking, no foot tapping), a down, and a down + me walking away. All of these are being worked on with the difference of picking up the ball before or after I ask for her behavior. As she has figured out the criteria, her barking has decreased significantly and her OCD grabbing the ball has decreased. YAY ME ;)
Justine
Yep, I joined on the Justine wagon and am so happy I did. I figured we may as well start from the beginning, so we are diligently working through the foundation homeworks. And honestly, I love it. Focus, I need focus, and I have carved out time for my focus. Now to figure out my writing it down system better, but it's getting there. So the fast down is looking great (just need to get it without so much creeping while I'm running), drive ahead with a go go go is starting, and her dig dig dig is going great. I have training partners for Peach and Beam in both agility and obedience, and time every week carved out for it. Woot!
Biting
Aw yes, I let her get away with murder, but I tell ya, the little smarty pants is figuring out the game quickly. No biting = GREAT rewards! I need to be focused in her training til I extinguish the behavior, that is for sure. Last night we spent a lot of time running through the agility course not taking any equipment and practicing running together with no biting. So much greatness. When she knows her job, she's brilliant.
Hopefully I catch up quick, cause it's obvious I'm the short link of this pair. But I'm definitely in love.
With all of these in place, we can get back to retraining the A-frame and learning more fancy handling moves. Fun fun fun!