Hello

I thought to share my excitment with you. Like I told Willie, I have been re reading the document "The Power of training dogs with markers or clicker". By doing so I realized I should have read it more than 2 times....however....the light bulb got turned on on a few things and I had to reasses my approach on certain exercices and behaviors. I was at fault and started over or introduced new ways.

1- Ziva started to show showing resentment going into her crate. Even though she would have treat in the crate to lure her in and one after she had gone in once I had close the door. There is a chapiter on luring and the difference between luring and giving a gesture or signal then a command. I am starting this exercice at point A. Yesterday I started by marking when she would look at it when I said "HOME' Please remember that she is crate trained and knows what HOME is. Then I marked when she would step in to get the treat that got thrown in for the mark to look at it.....we did that 3 times (sessions) yesterday and on the second session today she would go in fully on the command HOME and got her treat. She did it 6 times in a row.

2- Ziva had no interest to work, she did it just because she had some satisfaction of having treats but it didn't last long....she got distracted. I read the chapiter on how to build drive or motivation in the dog that doesn't show interest in training...Boy,,,,I play a lot....I constantly have this happy high pitch kind of voice...and smile....I am very energetic with the way I move and for the past 3 days so 6 walks (where I train the 3 positions and heeling) I get her to look at me soooooo much so the LOOK command is 3 out of 5 so far.....she can stay keen bouncing and wanting to do what she thinks is all game because WE are having fun....and genuinely. I start with having her bounce around when I say 'Are you ready?" and mark that.....and keep her excited all the way. She can run heeling now for a minute approx. without jumping for my hand or biting the leash. That is new. Before I had to drag her pretty much for the last 10 min or 15 min (the last km) on our way back home now she is heeling till I say "Done" at the door. I jack put some behaviors.....I have her redo some she misses, but first I try by just saying "NOO" and turn my back and see if she would comply......the "Down" has improved dramastically....very seldom I have to ask her more than twice, some are on the first command and much faster too. YEAHHHHH. I will look at Michael Ellis video on how to build drive next week when I will be alone. Oh yeah, I have her move to get the treat even jump a bit for it.....she likes that I can tell. Also I ALWAYS feed her after our walks now....no more working with a full tummy.

3- With the look command being stronger I can have her look at me when passing the Jack Ass (Russel)...not always but she tries. I can see a change.....and because of my new energitic apporach the obedience training in the soccer field where I do mostly the Stay and Recall commands....she is a lot more keen.....I don't spend more than 5 or 6 min there but she actually comes from a stay with excitement and once yesterday she came running......We had a party for that one with load of treats. Her eyes are happy and she has her mouth open, from excitement, and the heat probably but I like to think that she is having fun.

4- We were not always having dinner before her and she began to beg. I wonder if at the family gathering 2 weeks ago, one of the kids gave her human food because since that weekend she is stealing and comes bully her way in the kitchen when we prepare food....so I re started to mark the "over there" command and it is better. Yes she tries to make the limit of the kitchen by our feet but I insist she doesn't pass the fridge limit.....she is getting it. And when we eat, she has a spot by her crate by the back door that is where she is ask to stay.....if she doesn't want to comply she goes in her crate.....yesterday for 2 meals she complied to stay there after being told twice only......that is also good. She eats after us now....always even though it is 10 pm.

Ok so that is all she wrote. Cheers

Solange, I know that MANY readers will benefit from your post.

You've addressed some concepts that are slow-coming for many of us .... like the difference between lures, bribes, and rewards, and the huge change that our own engagement will make in the dog's engagement,

What a great post to read.

"I will look at Michael Ellis video on how to build drive next week" ..... you mean the Advanced Concepts in Motivation video? Yes, you will love it.

thanks Connie

I remember Ed Frawley saying on many of the videos I buy, to watch the videos/read the articles again and again, and it's something I don't do enough of.

Thanks for the reminder Solange - You inspire with your doggedness (grin) and it's great to read it's paying off.

Ziva is blessed to have found her way into your home.

One of these days it would be nice to see you both together.

Excellent post Solange!
I've been training dogs since Connie was a little girl and to agree with Maggie, I STILL go over and over my LB DVDs. There is ALWAYS something to pick up from them.

Well I am glad Maggie if I my lack of conciousness with respect of re reading helpfull documents is a reminder to you. It is not so dark now facing behaviors or even avoiding them from happening lol.....a Picture? Well I will have to arange that....hopefully soon.

Thanks Bob....I am taking a mental note that even the most experienced sometimes need to go back to check things out....funny, in skating I do it all the time even after 20 years coaching. lol

cheers ya all!!

I go back to the DVDs too.

It isn't even so much missing stuff the first time .... it's also suddenly understanding something (for me), or suddenly seeing new connections.

I look at it like a baseball player going in the batter's box. You can never be solid enough on the basics. That plus what Connie said about understanding and seeing new connections.

Hello;

Well not much to report really, Ziva is improving little by little on just about everything. Our daily life is much calmer even though she is still very much energetic and acts very much so like a puppy. I enjoy her much more. The ereas where I find it more difficult is to greet people at our house (jumping, nipping without presure from excitement) and meeting some (not all) dogs on leash on our outings. Even though on the second concern she shows a little improvement it is not what I expect it to be lol.

I cought myself going back on memory lane yesterday and thinking about other dogs I owned and how they were at 9 months.....and they were a lot more settled and obedient. True they were not LGD. There probably lies the difference.

Enjoy your weekend, here it is 26 degree Celcius, we are enjoying it.

I love to hear of your progress. It seems that you will be able to make Ziva into a long term partner.

She is an absolutely beautiful dog.