Come, Come Game and Lazy Leash

Teaching behaviors with "milling dogs and people".  Going back to the beginning with Lily - playing The Come Game.  We are starting with a singular dog and person.  Next session we will repeat this exercise and then begin adding more.  Next session we will not play The Come Game, but one trainer will hold Lily while the other calls her.  We will wait for Lily's default "Sit" on her recall.  We will next attach and remove her leash upon recall and send her to "go play".  This will up the criteria for Nad as well.

Lily and Nad

Watching this video clip, from Lily's trainer POV.  I would like to repeat this exercise, with the following changes:

• use cheese as the reward (I want Lily to ALWAYS anticipate cheese when called to Come, just as I trained her to recall to the whistle).
• wait for the default sit
• touch the collar or put on leash and then release
• get away from the Come Game mentality

Monty and The Come Game

Rooster and Webster

Nadador

Focus Level 2 Step 3 Comeafter

This was our second week working on Focus with another dog.  By our testing, the dogs are on Focus Level 3 Step 3, but on Cathy's tennis court they are struggling with Level 2 Focus for another person.

Level 3 asks the dog to hold eye contact for 10 seconds.  Time for us to go back to Level 2 in tennis court environments!

Level 2 Step 3

Comeafter:  Get another person to teach your dog to hold eye contact for 6 seconds.

Where have we taught Focus?  Where can we get Eye Contact from our own dogs?  Can we get the other Level 2 Focus Steps in a tennis court environment?  An other similarly distracting environment?

To prepare for our tennis court sessions teaching Focus to another dog, let's set our dogs up for success by teaching them to Focus on us outdoors.

Webster

Nadador

Lily

Where can you Review, Remind, Re-teach Level 2 Focus this week?

Proprioception Course

Proprioception (n): 1. Awareness of the body’s position in space, 2. Relating to stimuli connected with the position and movement of the body



Here we use a range of equipment and activities to build the confidence of the dogs, connection with the handler, loose leash walking skills (on leash and off), co-ordination and balance, and body awareness skills.

Rooster

Monty

Nadador

Lily

Webster

Handling: Level 3 Step 2

Step 2:  Dog allows a stranger to touch her on a table.

For our next session, let's all read Step 2, pp 420-21 before working on the behavior, so our criteria is clearly defined.

The Step 2 Comeafter other people approach the dog on the table and touch her.  The handler is involved in this behavior.

It is not until Step 3 that the dog must be relaxed as the stranger approaches the table and touches her.  The stranger merely brushes her hands on the relaxed dogs shoulder.

To prepare for Level 3, I am going to Review, Remind, Re-teach Level 2 Handling with Lily on the table.  Additionally, I will RRR Relax Levels 2 and 3 on the table.

Monday Levels Training

What is the best way to train or proof Level 3 behaviors in Cathy's tennis court?  Start by Reviewing, Reminding, Re-teaching Level 2 behaviors!

Looking for success by working under threshold.  Working on behaviors that require the dog to perform them for another trainer or a stranger.  Going back to Level 2.  New environments.  New distractions.  New equipment.



Lazy Leash Level 3 Step 4
Nad and Lily are working on hands-free leashes.

Adapted Relaxation Protocol
Working in a configuration none of the dogs has experienced before.  Making it "new" each time

Focus Level 2 Step 3 Comeafters
The dogs are asked to focus for a different person for the first time in Level 2.  Re-teaching the behavior to each dog.  But first, finding a location on the tennis court where each dog is under threshold and the trainers "Review, Remind, Re-teach" Steps 1 - 3.

Monty

Nad

Webster

Lily

Where can you and your dog successfully complete the Level 2 Steps?  Inside?  Outside?  In front of you?  In Heel/Tuck position?  In Side position?  When you are standing?  When you are seated?

Distance Level 2 Steps 1 - 4
By now all dogs are working well under threshold and we once again "Review, Remind, Re-teach", with the exception of little Monty, who is introduced to Distance for the first time ... Level 2 Step 1.  Lynn and Jan quickly dropped both their verbal cues and their handsignals and re-taught the behavior.

Monty

Nad

Webster

Lily

As we continue to Review, Remind, Re-teach this behavior, what else can we use as the "go around" object?  When we RRR, be acutely aware of body language, distance from the pole, adding the cue only when the dog is actively and dependably volunteering the behavior.


SURPRISE!




Jump Level 2 Steps 1 - 3
Training Distance on this equipment has the dogs learning/reviewing Level 2 Jump.  It is the addition of the bar on the floor and, as is the case with Karen and Webster, 4" above the ground.  NOTE:  No verbal cues (Hup).  No hand signals.  Working at eliminating the body cues and letting the dogs volunteer the behavior.

In Step 1 Comeafters, Sue suggests:  "Let's keep this simple.  Don't change the location or the direction, but change the board.  What else could you use?   A broom handle?  A vacuum cleaner hose?  A fishing rod?  Doesn't matter what it is as long as it isn't the same as the first one you used."

Real Life COME!

• Jan and Karen took advantage of a real life need of an immediate recall and reinforced Nad and Webster's Come
• Each dog had a really reliable recall!  Congratulations!  That is the result of careful, consistent training!
• Level 3 Come training needs other dogs and other people.  We will actively train this Step by Step the next time we meet.

Unexpected Real Life Distractions

• Stephen and Scooter
• the plastic bag
• no Mastiffs today!

Jump Level 3   (which is all about car zen)

• Karen had a breakthrough sending Webster to jump into the car.
• Question:  With his hip displaysia, should he continue to be boosted into the car?

GTM Level 3  (go lie down)

• Lily needs more active training remaining on the mat off leash and at a distance from Lynn (Levels 3/4    NB, Levels 3+ Steps)
• Monty and Rooster are tethered to their mat
• Nad excels at off-leash GTM 

KUDOS to Cathy, who worked her boys well under threshold on all the behaviors, which also meant that they were out of Flip range for the most part.

A close-up of the jumps:

Dog Agility Equipment Construction Instructions: YOU CAN! Build Better Training Obstacles for your Dog by Ann Embry

Thoughts:

• if brown is the new black, then Level 2 is the new Level 1 in building a foundation for Level 3
• a solid Level 2 Focus between dog and trainer in a variety of environments and positions would be extremely helpful to the dogs as they begin learning to focus on other people
• reviewing Level 2 Lazy Leash, being mindful of each of the individual Steps, can only strengthen the dogs understanding  of "Leash On, Leash Loose".  Period.  Collar work.  Doodling.  Single focal points.  "Change".  (let's add that to our Leash work next time we meet)
• remember to maintain balance by training Lazy Leash on the Right Side (for Lynn!)
• A Really Reliable Recall is a beautiful thing to behold, especially when you need it 

Comments below:

• add your thoughts, observations, plans

Lazy Leash Level 2 Step 2 (Right Side)

Day 2:  Lazy Leash Level 2 Step 2  (Right Side)

Back to the beginning.  Following the Splits in Step 2.  This time Wendi had her copy of Levels.  Treats in a can on the ledge; no pockets to worry about.  Several short sessions per Split (Wendi is training the number of treats in her hand.....and then reloading).  Using Lily's kibble as treats.  Each time she moves on to the next Split, she reads first reads it aloud so the criteria is clear in her mind.

Teaching Right Side.

Step 2a

Step 2b

Step 2c

Step 2d

Step 2e

Review, Remind, Reteach

Comments:

Lazy Leash Level 2 Step 2 (Right Side)

While Jan and Cathy worked on the tennis court and at Walmart, Wendi and Lily worked at the Four Seasons.  Another opportunity for Lily to train with another trainer.

Several outings.  Each with its own challenges and successes.  Flocks of ducks - swimming, foraging on the grass, taking flight - were all well within Lily's threshold.

Maintaining LL around other people and dogs walking.  Within threshold.  Sniffing Zen.  Likewise.  "Change" (the back cross).  No problem.  Maintaining Side position for extended periods.  Not so good.  Crossing in front of Wendi uncued.  Not so good.  "Go Ahead" through doorways.  Perfectly executed.....except when going through the final doorway to home.  Work on that.

Wendi is a great "on the spot" trainer and immediately addressed issues as they arose.  Stoppping and training.  Then, after arriving back home, training LL on the Right Side from scratch.

Criteria:  To keep Lily on my Right Side

Comments:

she was in my pocket for treats

dog that showed up was different than dog I expected

dealing w/dog that showed up

keep on right    clicked

handle treats

treating her poorly; high; right at her mouth; nudging hand

poor zen thing

taking treats gently

clicking for turning on r/side

not clicking for position

wasn't pretty

was struggling w/treats:

Criteria:   Same criteria. Remain on right side>

Comments:

treat delivery changed

kept her out of pocket

treats on ground

further away from me she returned to my right side

c/t when she returned

learning taking place

"no treats caused her to cross in front of me"

(after reviewing video second time)

"crossed in front of me on very first step"

because of delivery of treat

click when she returned to me

NOTE: the treat rolled in front me to left causing Lily to cross in front of me to get it   a no-no

timing of the click really good

Criteria:  Same.    Be on my right side

Comments:

she is meeting criteria well

auto going to left has disappeared

so as far as that goes, this exercise is succeeding

yes she did go in front of me again

good thought about not having her go in front of me ever

become more aware of the delivery of the treat

in watching video, I think its the level of cement that's making it roll

I didn't even think about her crossing in front of me until watching the video

she's calming down a little bit

L:  "Is learning taking place?"

I think learning is beginning to take place a little bit more

because delivery of the treat is a little bit calmer

L:  "What treats were you using?"

Shayla's food(very high level for lily)

near dinner time

she was hungry and had been exercising

the level of the treat always affects lily's behavior

she will eagerly work for kibble

perhaps we should have lowered the value of the treat

Criteria:  Same.  Met.

Comments:

Interruption:  leashed dog passed the gate in full view

huge distraction out of our control

yet she controlled it very nicely

I made no effort to control the situation

or to control her

distraction came and went....and so did she

gave full alert, making it short and sweet

ran right to gate

returned immediately to left side

where she's strongest

I did not cue her to return to me

gave her my back hoping she would follow my eyes, which she didn't

barked on my left side

never got her back to my right side

She ended up for 1 second on my right before ending the video

Captured on right side

Criteria:

Met, but needs to be worked on

Comments:
When I was doing the 5 steps c/t

and having trouble getting my hand out of my pocket fast enough

You were talking from inside house

and truck was passing

I was feeling I wanted to take her inside the house because of all the distractions

She got stuck on the left side

giving beautiful "tuck"

Maybe we should have backed it up

and started inside

but it was at the end.....so

Learning took place

When she was stuck on left side did she understand the criteria?

No, because she was stuck on the left side

After reviewing Lazy Leash L 2 step 2:

It's a brand new behavior on the right side.

My delivery was part of the challenge

Training inside I could have groups of treats on the table

and not have to deal with my pocket

L:  "Dropping treat vs placing treat?  Is there a difference?"

"Will have her think about what to do next"

"Keep in mind what you're clicking for"

being near you

in the right "zone"

"Keep your goal in mind"

"What is a clickable position?"

"What is hitting the spot?"

"Click for finding you"

"Turn a quarter turn"

"You've changed your click position again.  Can she find it?"

W:  "So here's the discussion:

She recently has had little actual training on the right side

so how far back do we want to go?"

Wednesday Levels Training

Training in the Walmart parking lot.  Lots of space for threshold work.  Varying amounts and distances from distractions.

Wonderful stucco walls and stacked stone pillars for Level 3 Target work (Paws Up with duration).  Hind end strengthening.  Enclosed trash containment areas for "real life" Zen and sniffing work.

Sitting in the back of the car watching the world pass before us.  Exposure for Monty.  Level 3 Jump practice for Rooster and Lily.

Meeting other people w/4 on the floor for Monty.  Remaining quietly in the car when strangers approach for Rooster.  Remaining quietly in the car unleashed and w/Lynn OOS w/Rooster for Lily.  From a strangers POV the scene might look like to friends visiting.  To a trainer, tho, much training going on.

GTM at a distance w/dogs dragging leashes or no leashes at all.  All 3 dogs.  LL work.  Cathy walking Lily and Rooster in tandem;  Lynn working Monty on LL Level 3 Steps 3 and 4.  Collar pressure work (LL2 Step 1) w/Monty.  Walking w/LL to a single focal point for Monty.

Impulse control for all 3 dogs while owners work with other dogs.  Relaxing w/o a mat.  Helping Lily maintain LL when approaching or being approached by Lynn.

Biggest accomplishment of all - maintaining training focus in a busy place.

Webster Learns Retrieve

Karen and I are going to begin meeting from time to time as Webster learns the Controlled Retrieve:  Levels 3 and 4.  First they review the Comebefores.