Aren't they very different, or am I picturing it wrong? The tube is already "rolled up," but the rug is flat?

Also, wouldn't working on the two rug commands at the same time be really confusing? (Place and roll up, if I'm reading right ... )


You want want her to roll it up, right?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Aren't they very different, or am I picturing it wrong? The tube is already "rolled up," but the rug is flat? Also, wouldn't working on the two rug commands at the same time be really confusing? (Place and roll up, if I'm reading right ... ) You want want her to roll it up, right?

I think my explanation was a bit lackng We're not currently working on any sort of a place command (I actually haven't even used it in a while), she just knows it and I have an idea that the rug might trigger that for her

I started with the tube. When she was reliably rolling that with her nose, I put a rolled up 3x5 rug in front of her instead (it was roughly the same size as the tube I was using). She'd start to nose it then flop down with her feet resting on the on the rolled up rug - which of course meant that couldn't move it with her nose. Kind of I'm excited a bit unsure so I'm trying things.

She tends to be a very floppy dog, especially when she's excited - lay down, roll around, belly rubs etc. She probably thought she was demonstarting great control by just laying there instead of flopping on her back!

I think I'm going to branch out the nose rolling into other areas or maybe cover the tube with carpet and get her solid with that before I try the rolled up rug again.

Tonight I worked on some obedience inside. Panzer has finally caught on to the "stand" command, yay! So we worked on positions and did a wee bit of heeling.

Like Kelly and Katie, I decided to make a training blog.

This post has videos of our work tonight....
http://ablondeandadog.blogspot.com/2011/12/she-stands.html

I am happy to report positive developments after Jethro's run for freedom. I realized I have not followed through on building recall and connection to me in higher distraction situations. In particular, I have not worked on calling his attention to me when it is zeroed in on something else.

Right after the runaway event, I started working on getting him to come to me out in the yard, up the driveway, and out in the big, wide world. This time, though, I've been practicing when he is in low level arousal - that is, focused on something but still under threshold. Well, two days later, I had let Jethro in one door, while forgetting the back door was still open. Sure enough, I look out the window to see Jethro merrily trotting past the side of the cabin. I picked up a big chunk of meat (yes, I just have them lying around : ) and went outside, and in a light, friendly tone, I used my new coaxing gesture and called him in. And he came! Right to me! Oh, I was so happy!

The other problem I was creating with recall was using the leash to enforce the control instead of insisting that Jethro respond to my voice only. So I have been really working on hands off compliance. Of course, he is always on a long lead, so he can't really run away, but this is a higher level of connection for us, and I find it very exciting to see him decide to work with me.

I've been using back scratches and belly rubs as an alternate reward. Today, when the neighbour's dog was coming into our yard - there are no fences here, Jethro went to greet him and then came back to me for a long back scratch. I wasn't holding him with anything but the caresses of my hands. He had a very mellow visit with Griffon, the neighbour's dog, even running a bit, within the length of his long line.

Yes yes yes!!

Good work, Jenny!

Now that we are living in the center of town for two months I am regularly taking the dogs for distraction walks. They are both doing great! There are lots of houses with barking dogs behind fences and 4-5 pet stores near by.
Keiko is really doing wonderful with OB... I hope to have him done with the CGC test before we leave to Mexico. The do not pet vest is really a help for taking the dogs out in public... Though I don't think many would come up to keiko anyway

The biggest hurdle I have right now with both dogs is obeying my brothers,sister and most of all my Dad... My Dad uses a really mousey voice when he is trying to tell the dogs to do something and they don't take him seriously so I need to work with him a little...

Great work!

What commands are other allowed to give (and the dogs expected to comply)? Are they limited, like "place"?

nose work and basic OB with both boys.

Dexter was happy to do some stuff and looks a lot better tonight.

Harley was exuberant and I have to hide the objet well like under things, in things and it can be any where in the house.

Tonight object was a tea bag

Stupid pet tricks here today - I've been sick and the weather is ugh!

So I they had a couple chuckit sessions and then tonight I worked on the pushing with the nose again (which will hopefully eventually lead to rolling up a rug)

I filled a 2 liter pop bottle full of water and layed it on it's side tonight. Kenzi mouthed it at first, but then nugged it wih her nose and when that was rewarded enthusiatically pushed it for her reward.

I started from square one with Kipp. His initial response was to lay a paw on it and stand there. So I put a couple pieces of kibble under the side of the bottle. As he pushed the bottle to get the kibble I marked it with a "yes" and he was rewarded by the kibble laying there a few times of that then I just waited. Sure enough he reached down and nugged the bottle again making it roll - success! We did that a dozen times and called it a night.

I worked on teaching Jethro to come to the whistle while under mild distraction on our beach walk. I had him on his 30' training line and challenged myself to not use it to actually exert control for the whole walk. I was careful to use the whistle when I had a pretty good idea that he wouldn't be too focussed on a scent. I would toot the whistle and as he looked and turned, I backed up and said, "Good Boy" as he came in for a treat. We did a number of trials throughout our beach walk.

A strange man came onto the beach and he approached too quickly for me to manoeuvre Jethro by voice and body language alone. I did have to use leash pressure to get Jethro out of the high arousal zone, but after that he did is exercises with me, looking a the man and then looking back to me. No problem.