Puppy Landry and Cat Zen

.....or is it L2 LL ????   4 months old.

Target: Level 2

He's not a baby anymore!

Capturing PAWS UP.....against all odds

Dale started Target L2 by capturing Landry putting his paws up on the tailgate of his truck.  And on the gate at home.

We continued training it at Tidelands Park on Wednesday, again on the tailgate of Dale's truck.  A third location, still outside, with different distractions.  We captured the moment, even though we were not controlling our Setting Factors, Landry was truly in the game.....so we trained.

Today in my house, I encouraged Landry to volunteer the behavior by standing about 2' from the downstairs dog crate, facing it.

First Landry tried jumping ON the crate.  Then he thought it over and began volunteering it.  Then things got interesting.  Shayla joined us to share in the treats.  And then Lily arrived.  They didn't deter LM, however.  He knew what he was getting paid to do and didn't let anyone get in his way.

What a hoot!

We'll begin adding the verbal cue soon.  Capturing this behavior instead of teaching it using the "touch hand" as a lure, leaves both Dale and me just standing quietly waiting for Landry Man to figure it ALL out on his own.......and, as you saw above, sometimes from a distance and sometimes moving around obstacles (like Lily) to get there.  There's a word for that.  Tenacity.

During the training above, at a later session (moments later, but w/o the Flip) Landry couldn't fit on the dog crate because Lily was already there, so he just did Paws Up ON THE WALL.  Solidly.  No slipping, sliding or scratching!  This boy has potential.  I think you should keep him, Dale!

MENTORING SESSION: 10/13/10

First, during Landry's day he accompanied me to McDonald's where I had lunch in the car and he actually fell asleep in the back end.....with the hatch up and all sorts of things going on in and around the parking lot.  Then I got his attention, leashed him and we walked around the parking lot, the grassy area, sniffed bushes.....all on a LOVELY absolutely Lazy Leash!!!!

Then, at home walking from the car to the house, again on a lovely Lazy Leash he included CAT ZEN and didn't tighten the leash one iota as we passed Patrick, the orange cat, hiding in the jungle.  What a guy!

Dale met us (Landry, Lily and me) at Tidelands Park again at 3 for a second mentoring session.  Same place as Monday.  Totally different session.

Great Leash work.

FLUENT Level 1 behaviors!  (We didn't do Come)

Multiple times.

DownStay to 15 seconds

Began adding a teeny tiny bit of Distance to the Down

Capturing Paws Up on the back end of Dales truck. This is definitely how he is going to learn Target L2

Fun to watch Landry's pointer blood showing as he watched the pigeons.  What an adorable pup this is.

Happy Half Birthday, Landry!  Landry will be 6 months old tomorrow.

MENTORING SESSION: 10/11/10

Location:  Tidelands Park

Over Landry's threshold.

Not in the game.

The wide world was just plain overwhelming Landry Man.

So we put him in the back of the car and spent time talking it over.

TRAINING SESSION: 10/12/10

Location: F Avenue

In front of Lynn's house

LL from gate to parkway and grass

Cat in the Bushes Zen:

• 7 steps past; C/T
• back and forth
• on the 5th pass he did not hesitate but walked right on by
• looking at the cat but keeping a loose leash
• X15

Sit in the chair

•  focus and attention after approx 5 minutes
• not excitedly In the Game but responsive to cues
• Sit X12
• wanting to go to a Down but the clicker stopped him each time
• tossed treat in grass to reposition
• DownStay to 30
• easy schmeazy
• looking around
• but responsive to C/T
• did not move paws or elbows
• Open Hand Zen to 30
• sometimes on a Down
• sometimes moving away from me and Sitting
• 30sec Zen X5
• Target (Touch)
• palm of hand as cue
• gentle but direct touch
• X15

DISTRACTIONS

• environment
• bikes in street
• gardeners across the street
• a few cars
• the cat in the bushes

TIDELANDS PARKING LOT (same as yesterday)

I took Lily along and, with both dogs restrained in their car harnesses, I opened the hatch, opened a book and read for a while.....letting the dogs just chill and watch the world go by.

Then using Chutes & Ladders I did some extended Distance work.  Both dogs were still restrained, so they couldn't GO anywhere.  I walked 60' directly away from the car where they could see me.  Built up time in 30 sec increments until I could stay away 3 minutes and they remained lying quietly in the car.

Then did the same thing moving away to the right of the car and again, to the left.  3 minutes each direction.

When I walked behind the car, however, neither dog was able to stay on a down.  I think Landry would have if Lily hadn't been there and strongly suspect that Lily was the first to stand and Landry followed.

So we worked on that.

Then Dale arrived in his truck.  Both dogs heard (smelled?) the truck approach and went crazy!  The Fun Guy had arrived!  Time well spent.

Learning Shaping

Landry has not had a lot of "free shaping" practice so Sue takes time to give him a shaping lesson.

She wants him to interact in any way with the stool.

During these multiple sessions, Landry takes several breaks and then re-engages.

It's fun to watch Sue use the placement of the treat.

By the end of the video, Landry still doesn't realize that he is making the click happen, but we're on our way.

Landry at Sue's Public Clinic: Day 1

The Come Game

Lazy Leash

Luring Sit

Sit Stay using Chutes and Ladders

Introducing Distance (luring)

More Distance

Landry and Sue and Nails: Session 2

"Do you want me to hold him"

"No, he's supposed to be learning to control himself"

Landry and Sue and Nails: Session 1

Landry and Friends

WATCH: Level 2 (Click for Contact)

Landry has a good Eye Lock but now we are going to formally train this behavior, following Steps, by the book.

Beginning with a handful of treats (Wellness Core: Ocean) I am going to click for contact for the entire handful.  It will be tempting to begin building duration using Chutes and Ladders but I am going to resist all temptation.  Keep it simple.  Keep my criteria clear.  Click for Contact.  I want Landry to clearly understand exactly what the clicker is marking - eyeball to eyeball.  He chose his position.  I did not cue any position.  One handful of treats and that's it for this behavior for the day.

Unlike in the classroom, when we train here at home Landry is able to focus and give attention with more than minimal distractions.  There is Lily in the crate.  The patio door is open and all the outside noises and smells do not distract him.

The other criteria in this exercise is Lily's criteria.  She is crated about 8' from us and is watching Landry and me interacting.  I want her quiet.  I use the "Enough" cue once and that takes care of it.

Two dogs.  Two levels.  Two behaviors.  Two criteria.  I think I will need a nap.

GTM: Level 3 - Re-view, Re-mind, Re-teach

Monday morning.  Go to Mat is one of Landry's strongest behaviors, here at Lily's and at home.  Let's review.  With Lily in the picture on a mat as well.  (A change.)  Because it's Monday morning.  Because Lily's here and they have just romped a little. (A change.)  Because.  Because.  We will use hot dogs for treats for them both. (First time.)  I don't have a clicker so I am marking with "yes".  (Something else different.)  What is that important training adage:  When you change something about a behavior, you make everything else easier.

Well, it didn't take long to realize that I must make everything else easier and re-teach from the beginning.  Drop the cue.  Re-teach.  This made me think of Sadie!  "Am I willing to bet $100 yet?"

Having trouble uploading this Flip.

I will work on it and get it up when I can.

At first I am rewarding him one time for being in position on the mat and then after the second "yes" I toss the treat off the mat, to reposition him to return to it.  However, initially I am tossing the hot dog maybe 6' off of the mat, so by the time he finds the hot dog, chews it 100 times like his puppy mother taught him, and then returns and lies down on the mat, a lot of time passes.

When I begin tossing the hot dog just off of the mat, things move along a lot quicker and he receives much more information for the time spent.

We take a break while I "re-load" another handful of hot dog.  This time neither dog bothers to get up.

Another short, quick session.  Whenever I walk to the kitchen to "re-load" another handful of hot dogs, both dogs know that they are free to do whatever.

OK, Sadie.  Now I feel confident to take that $100 bet and I add the cue, while Landry is in the act of volunteering the behavior.

Another short session using the cue while he is offering the behavior and then we end it with a "Good job!"

With Lily to set the example (and since they are playing on the mats anyway) I cue "Go lie down"..... and, following Lily's lead, Landry does too.

There's more than one way to skin a cat!  "Come!" trumps "Go Lie Down" but once Landry can hear his brain, he goes and lies down on the mat.  Not bad for a morning's work.  Nine short sessions.  If we repeat and re-teach from the beginning the remainder of the week, he'll be rock solid and ready for BMO.  Landry thinks it's a fun game and we don't agonize over it.  Keep it short.  Keep it sweet.  Keep it simple.

PS.  Landry now weighs in at 40#.

CSI

Prints!

The first crime scene

Victim #1

More prints

Victim #2

Crime Scene #2

Crime Scene #3

Victims #4 and #5

I think we have a person of interest.

Door Zen

No clicker.  No treat.  This is BMO.  The reward is getting to come in the house.  Landry understands the "neutral No".

He doesn't seem to mind sitting in a puddle, either!  "Where will your puppy sit?"

Dale asks, "Yes, but can he do it without Lily?"  We will try it and see tomorrow.

Long Weekend (Shaping STAND)

FOCUS and ATTENTION

Tuesday morning after a long Labor Day weekend.  Landry Man hasn't had his breakfast, so we start "cold" with L1 getting focus and attention.  There is a humming bird circling the fountain!

Then L2 GTM and Crate "cold".

STAND

Now on to reviewing Stand.  So far, all of Landry's Stand training has been by luring under his chin to get a Stand from a Sit.  But try as we may, without a lure we cannot get Landry to volunteer or offer the Stand.  He offers the Down.  And Down over on one hip.  And great eye contact!  But not the Stand.  These are a series of short little sessions, with a break each time I reload more treats into my hand.  Because it is morning and he is a hungry boy, he is getting more than a single kibble per treat.

I tried "learning" into Landry while he was seated.  But what I seemed to be doing, was encouraging him to jump up instead.  "Let me explain it again1"  What will be the best way to explain to Landry?  He's trying to understand.  Trying to figure me out.  I am not making my criteria clear.

So we begin shaping a Stand by clicking any backward motion.  I also, from time to time, capture the Stand and C/T for just standing.  Trying to explain to Landry that I am looking for 4-on-the-floor.

I keep playing with the behavior, chaging criteria as I see the need.  I finally decide to just shape backward motion.  Keep watching Landry's tail.  When we began this exercise his tail was tucked tightly.  He was working hard and thinking. He is definitely In the Game and volunteering the backward motion.

Occasionally he offers a sit, we wait and then he actually does a stand.  Or backs up into another sit.  I reward either.  He is beginning to understand.  AND he is offering the behavior all on his own.  Ta Da!  Since he is consistently offering the backward motion, I introduce the cue.  A little too soon.

Lily has come outside to watch from the other side of the gate and momentarily distracts Landry, but he returns to the game on his own!

Later on in the morning we come back outside and re-view the earlier work.  Guess what?  He remembers the backing up motion but has forgotten how to sit!

Oops!  I miss a couple of good ones in a row!  But Landry Man keeps offering.  He's still In the Game.  He drifts away from time to time (Lily's back outside the gate) and then, on his own, resumes.  He even offers a couple of sits - the first one resulting in a beautiful Stand, the second resulting in Sit/backup/Sit.  That's OK.  He's getting it!

Landry's just not In the Game right now, so quit for a while.

Later in the day, we come outside to train Stand again.  Drop the cue.  Re-view.  See what Landry remembers.  And begin again.  Hmmmm.  He has a better recollection of his Sit now.

Work a little.  Get a drink.  Begin again.  Landry not only volunteers the back up behavior, but he gives himself a break and returns to "play" some more.

Tomorrow morning we will just re-view Sit.  Tomorrow afternoon we will just re-view Stand.  No cue for either.

Our last two short sessions of the day.

Lazy Leash and Distractions

Below is a Flip of this morning's Step 2 (Leash) training session with Landry.....the standing in place, the Chutes and Ladders of steps first up to 5 with a turn and then gradually increasing.

We had already worked our way from the gate to the grassy parkway, taken a nice sniffing break on the grass AND done some DownStay work on the grass itself....now we were doing a session returning to the yard.  Landry is working for his breakfast (kibble) and I am giving multiple pieces (2 or 3).

The CRITERIA is staying In the Zone and thus keeping the leash loose.

AND I am attempting to click the good DECISION (when he decides to reconnect with me).

As you can see, because of the time of day, we soon have multiple distractions - big ones!

So then the CRITERIA shifts to a loose leash and refocus (still clicking the good DECISION).  I took advantage of what the environment provided.

Landry's Outing to the Flight Line

The "Dynamic Duo" - GO TO MAT and CRATE

I set things up for success. The mat we most often use for training this behavior and in the location we usually train it. Minimal distractions. I gave the cue, cold. Landry wasn't ready.

So, immediately drop the cue and Re-teach, Re-view, Remind....the 3 R's. It literally took seconds for Landry to get In the Game and recognize what we were doing. He showed me "where he is" in the learning process. And that's where we worked.

Now we're clicking. (no pun intended!) But I'm still adding the cue while he is dependably committed to the behavior. Isn't it interesting. By watching closely it is evident when he begins to lose interest and we quit immediately (I'm beginning to be able to read this boy).

Landry is still In the Game. Just tired of that game. So we move on to CRATE.

As soon as I set the crate out, Landry voluntarily goes and gets in it. C/T. The crate itself was the cue. The second time I cued the behavior but I clicked early. This part gets me really excited. If you ever doubted the precision of the clicker, watch what Landry does the moment I click! He is committed to going in the crate but stops his forward motion the instant that he hears the clicker. This is HUGE!

In the course of Landry's CRATE work, in addition to cueing going into the crate, "Get In", Dale and I have chosen to teach him to remain in the crate until released, "Let's Go". IOW, Crate ZEN. Just because the door is open doesn't mean that you are free to leave. First, adding the "Get In" while he is voluntarily getting in and "Let's Go" while he is voluntarily exiting the crate.

Then I close the crate door briefly and "remind" him that his job is to stay there once the door is opened.

Incidentally, we are doing this with the leash, too. We are not "releasing" him when taking off the leash, but instead drop a few kibble on the ground when the leash comes off so he doesn't change demeanor and run. A continuation of Leash ZEN. Self control.

Training "Get In" and "Let's Go". Adding Distance by tossing the treat further away. Adding Duration in tiny increments. Not using Chutes and Ladders at this point.

Landry rides in the truck and the car crated, so duration isn't a problem for him. Remaining in the crate until released while in a vehicle becomes a safety issue.

Landry is often crated at home and at Lily's. He understands both cues. But Dale and I need to remember to continue training this behavior, too, even though we use it all the time. That way, "Get In" doesn't always mean that he will be confined. Either at home OR in the vehicles.

Classic LUMPING

The original Flip of this session is 9 minutes long.

The Flip below however, is 31 seconds. The Flip below is where I should have stopped because it is only during these 31 seconds that we were truly successful.

Well, that's not entirely true. The DISTANCE that we traveled in the Flip below is all the farther we should have traveled during the session. And it would have been a successful session.

Even if it had been 9 minutes long (way too long). Training too long - another form of lumping. Ah! The siren call to keep on keeping on. Or to "work through it".

Later today, we could possibly travel 2 steps further. Successfully.

Instead we went to the sidewalk and back, backed up several times, encountered Patrick, the orange cat, did LAT (or so I fooled myself into thinking we were doing - Landry had totally lost interest in treats by that point). Whatever was I thinking? That's the problem when we lump. We aren't thinking.

This was a training session. It had a goal. It had a plan. I knew my criteria. I had treats.

My goal was to walk to the sidewalk on a loose leash. The criteria - to follow Step 2, on leash, clicking for being In the Zone. But, as in any training session, I had the option of changing the goal to meet the situation at any time. This wasn't like yesterday, where Dale was leaving and his goal was to go home. I let attention to my goal cloud the picture of where we really were.

I didn't even look at the remainder of the Flip. I got this far, hit myself in the forehead with the flat of my hand and issued the only words possible, "Duh!"

OK, Dale. Here is the entire clip. After a little editing, I got it under 9 minutes. There's a lot in there that is done correctly. I reward for being "In the Zone". I reward for turns. I back up. We encounter Patrick, the orange cat, seated just to the left of the camera. Landry's leash is tight. I should have backed away and left. There's so much that can be said here. And Landry Man had many successes. Notice, too, where he refuses treats. For this little guy this is usually the first signal of over threshold.

But the point is....in the first 31 seconds we were successful. Had it been a Sit or a Down or a Stand, we would have repeated the success over and over and over. Why not here? Why wasn't 31 seconds of Lazy Leash on the jungle path not good enough? Lumping. That's why. Should I beat myself up over this? Of course not! Just remember to train "step by little step" and be thrilled by the progress next time.

WWSS

Dale, these two little Flips are worthy of some analysis. Main thing to watch - what is the click actually marking? What is the click telling Landry? Towards the bushes, is he even aware of the click? Let's do a training session sometime this week on this. And on the use of the Sensible harness vs the collar.

I was barefoot taking these Flips. The street surface was REALLY hot!!! I wonder, though, if Landry would have had fewer distractions had you walked to the truck in the street instead of on the narrow sidewalk? There are so many things to consider in this short time span and distance. What is the goal? What is the criteria? I wonder.....WWSS?

ZEN: Level 2

Last week Landry gave me 10 seconds duration on his Hand Zen AND 10 seconds of duration on his Floor Zen. This morning, cold, I chained the 2 ZEN behaviors into Level 2 ZEN. Still a work in progress - especially on Open Hand Zen, but as the day progresses he will get better and better. His Food Zen is really quite strong. I want to begin putting Cheerios on his paws this week. He's more than ready! AND build more Duration (up to 20 seconds on Hand AND on Floor Zen) using Chutes and Ladders. Lofty goals!

STAND: Level 2

Training in the Loo! Introduction to STAND. Luring from a Sit. Trainer seated.

Introducing STAND again in another room. Luring from a Sit. Trainer standing.

A few more sessions of this, then I will begin dropping the food lure in my hand and just do the motion the very same way. (I won't "drop" drop the food in my hand. I will make the luring motion without any food in my hand!)

No cue yet. Just working on getting the behavior. But what a nice shift of his center of gravity and lifting of those rear legs.

Training to "Through a Dogs Ear"

I have a 5 disk changer on my stereo system and over the weekend I loaded it with Landry's Gun Music, Through a Dogs Ear, and a 3 disk set of relaxing music for your dog. I have gotten into the habit of turning it on each morning after we have trained and after the dogs have romped and raced and played. So, the music was playing and all 3 dogs were quiet in their crates. I had just vacuumed and mopped the floor beside Landry's crate. It was noon and time for his lunch.

I opened his crate, waited 8 seconds and gave the release cue, "Let's Go". He stretched and yawned and ever so slowly left the crate, drank some water and we headed out to the yard so he could "Get Busy".

C/T for walking back "In the Zone" and off leash.

I had set up a mat for some GTM practice. The music continued to play. Here is the most mellow 15 week old puppy, still In the Game but soooooooooooooo relaxed that he almost put me to sleep.

Go to Mat: Level 2

Re-teach, Re-view, Re-mind

The Three R's

I went out and ran some errands, leaving all the dogs crated once again. When I returned, I pulled out one of Lily's pop-up tents and asked Landry Man if he was interested in playing the training game. "Ho Hum!," he replied, "If you insist".

Crate: Level 2

Re-teaching while seated on the floor

"Expect the unexpected"

Our first OTR training session of the day.

MAIN GOAL: That Landry learns "leash on, leash loose" in his soul.

TODAY'S GOAL: Using Leash: L2: Step 2, 5 steps at a time, with a hungry puppy, testing threshold.....

Can we get from the gate to the sidewalk?

CRITERIA: Tight leashes do not go where the puppy wants to go.

CRITERIA: Stay "In the Zone"

We have been working on this step on leash and off leash in every room of the house, in the front courtyard and the back patio and up and down the sidewalk inside the walls, with Lily and without.

We have been working on this front path in small increments with Chutes and Ladders.

We have obtained this morning's goal before. And so has Dale.

I set up the Flip and did a cat check. I had good treats and a clicker. My criteria was clear.

I am a dog trainer. I am watching the clasp. And missed what was almost under my nose. Here is what happened.

We achieved our goal. Patrick ran away, Landry made a quick recovery and we proceeded to our second destination - the street in front of my house.

I picked up the tripod and Flip and we walked together (Lazy Leash) 5 more steps to a shady spot in the street beside my car.

Waaaaaay over threshold in the street. From every direction. Only once did Landry release the pressure on the leash and accept a treat for the click. I couldn't understand why. Watch Landry's tail.

Can you guess what was holding Landry's attention just out of range of the camera, under my car? Yep. Ace. Patrick's black and white cat father, who was lying under my car watching it all unfold.

Because I have taken "the tight leash pledge", I had no alternative but to pick Landry up (all 32 pounds of him) and carry him back to the house.

NOTE: Yesterday, leaving class, the distractions were so overpowering to Landry, I had to carry him from the classroom to the car as well. Dale is thinking about attaching Landry's "truck crate" to a little red wagon to prevent a bad back while Landry is learning. You may need to get that wagon this weekend, Dale!

Landry makes new friends

MILESTONE: Landry goes to class for the very first time

So much to see.

And a new friend to play with. Another Marine....just like his dad.

Was he over his threshold? Yes.

Could he perform any behaviors? No.

Was he able to control himself and relax in the x-pen? Yes.

Could he be handled by Mark, the puppy man? YES!

Was this a good first experience? What do you think?

Another outing for Landry

GOAL: focus and attention in public

CRITERIA: loose leash in public

CRITERIA: Level 1 behaviors in public

Oh, Landry Man. There is such a wonderful world for you to discover!

Boats, birds, bicycles, pedi-bikes, people, dogs, bushes and breezes to sniff.....could he take it all in? Landry's world expanded multi-fold this morning and he handled it admirably.

But, I'm ahead of myself.

First I had to check the bushes for "the devil cats". Alright. The coast is clear! Off we go from house to car. The first challenge. Clicking for being "in the zone". Clicking for moving into light pressure on the leash.

Then, take a look around before riding in the "truck crate" in Lynn's car (another first).

A shady spot in the far corner of the Il Fornaio parking lot on San Diego Bay. Goal here is to get Landry's attention in the car. Criteria. L1 behaviors. Had to repeat the Sit cue, but Sit from a Down on one cue is a Level 4 behavior, anyway. Goodonya, Landry Man. You gave focus and attention. AND took in all the distractions at the same time. No rush. We have all morning.

Landry was content to stand and take it all in. There were a few tight leashes, but mostly it was slight pressure on the leash (Step 1). Shows me that with a lot more work on Step 1, perhaps giving in to the pressure will become default. But then, that is the goal after all. Once again, Landry is able to give focus and attention and perform his Level 1 behaviors at this location.

We move to our second location in the same parking lot. Now we are closer to the water and the activity. This is more challenging to Landry. As well it would be. Remember, this is only his second day out and about.

In the car. Chutes and Ladders for Car Safety Zen....remaining in the crate until released ("Let's Go"). I know. Switching criteria mid-stream. But this is focus and attention every bit as much as Level 1 behaviors.

Outside of the car. Too bad we weren't testing Leash: Level 2!!! At 229 those are tight leashes. The ones following are Step 1 light pressure. His disinterest in kibble indicates the lack of balance in his focus, which comes and goes but mostly goes. Productive training is over at this point. Time to leave or time to relax and just enjoy.

Then I totally changed both goal and criteria. We backed into a space right up by the sidewalk. As close as you can get to the water, the people, the passers by. My goal is now just to rest quietly in the car and watch. Criteria? Non-reactivity. Interaction when and if appropriate.

Wouldn't you know? Almost immediately a female bicyclist stopped to adjust her pedals, so Landry got to meet his first bike and rider, helmet and all. Not the most flattering picture here, but a totally positive experience.

Several dogs and young children passed by. Landry was curious, but totally non-responsive. Criteria achieved. More bikes, pedi-bikes, tourists, etc.

Landry made some new friends.

Then we ended our outing with some LLS - Loose Leash Sniffing.

COACHING SESSION REPORT: 8/10/10

Today was Landry's first public coaching session. Now that he has had all of his shots, it's time to start exploring the real world......as much as he is able to handle.

Dale and I were out to determine Landry's public threshold. We chose a parking lot on base that is usually empty and quiet. It is beside the flight line. Wouldn't you know? Today the F-16s and the Hueys were shooting Touch and Go's. One right after the other and in formation.

When we discovered the activity, we decided to see what Landry's reaction would be to the noise and the proximity of the planes and helicopters and move if we needed to. Landry was more interested in sticks, leaves and smells on the ground. So we remained and trained for about 30 minutes - with frequent breaks.

Landry rode in my car wearing his restraint harness. Lily rode in Dale's truck wearing her restraint harness. First time for both.

CRITERIA for Landry: maintain a loose leash

GOAL for Landry: The "Rooster Ramble" - focus and attention in the car; focus and attention doing Level 1 just outside the car; Leash: Level 2: Step 2 (5 steps forward, turn, and return). This is the pattern that Dale will follow as he begins taking Landry into public....far corners of parking lots and places of low distraction as Landry's ability to focus and give Dale his attention strengthens and becomes default.

We used Cathy and Jan's Coaching Form and kept it simple.

Landry getting settled and comfortable in Lynn's car.

At the flight line, just getting acclimated. Gusty winds, an active runway. Very near the beach. There are ground squirrels all around, but we did not see a single one.

Landry was quite willing to give Dale focus and attention in the back of the car. We had gone to the base for our session almost immediately after Dale came to my house after work. Landry had not seen him all day. Talk about controlling the environment! The bond between the two of them is wonderful to see. Landry is working well under threshold here.

Despite the noise.

Landry performs the Level 1 behaviors in the car for Dale. Still under-threshold.

Dale lifts Landry out of the car, but soon discovers that he's not quite ready to train. Clicker, treats, keys in his pocket, etc.......so he learns an important training lesson, returns Landry back to the car and gets all ready before beginning again.

CRITERIA: maintain a loose leash while "in" the environment at last.

We kept that first experience short and successful. Dale put Landry back in the car, we talked things over and decided to repeat the Leash exercise. Still under-threshold and able to give focus and attention AND maintain a loose leash (clasp hanging vertically).

Still working under threshold, Landry is able to Sit and Down for Dale outside the car. But Target and Zen are beyond him, so it is time for a break.

Dale uses this time to work Truck Zen with Lily, out of sight of Landry. Landry is retrained by his harness, comfortably resting and watching the goings on. When I walk over to watch Lily and Dale, Landry begins to verbalize, so I return and use this opportunity to Chutes and Ladders distance. The following 3+ minute Flip is just that - 3 minutes of Chutes and Ladders. In the security of the car and with my presence, Landry is once again under threshold.

When Dale returns, we move the car about 10' and facing in a different direction. At this point about 30 minutes have passed since we entered the parking lot. The air traffic is increasing and Landry must work hard to respond to Dale. After the first 30 seconds of this Flip, we should have read Landry's body language, ended the session and gone home. We will remember this next time.

We were both quite pleased by Landry's aplomb. He handled himself and the environment remarkably well.

CRATE: Level 1: BMO

Begin having the dog "Get In" to other things: your car, a room, other crates in other places, a tunnel perhaps?

Re-teach from the beginning. "When you change anything about a behavior......."

Introducing the funny round thing. Luring. Dropping the lure and having him move through the circle to touch my hand. (Could this be a precursor to TARGET: Level 2 (Paws Up?) It also has elements of DISTANCE: Level 2 (Go Around).

But for now, just go back and forth through the circle. The concept of going through. From both directions.

Now, the tunnel. It is a short tunnel. It is anchored securely. I use a combination of training tools: luring, shaping, cueing. Most training uses a combination of tools.

First Landry enters the tunnel, turns around and lies down. Perfect CRATE behavior! But I want him to learn that the criteria will soon be changing. It does and he gets it quickly.

Is this a finished behavior? No. Gradually I want the tunnel to be free standing and to roll and move and to have Landry conquer it. Eventually he will run from a distance. Eventually we will use a longer tunnel. One that turns in the center. One where you can't see the other end when you enter. Courage! Eventually I may even change the cue.

But for now, Landry has met the challenge! He will "Get In" something else.

CRITERIA:

• walk through hoop
• walk through hoop both directions
• look at tunnel
• enter tunnel
• go through tunnel
• return through tunnel from other direction
• add cue

(sort of)

Not a 3-minute behavior, but close! (And hasn't he been growing? 15 weeks old and 32#.)

Landry and Lily talk things over

15 weeks old

COME: Level 1: BMO

"Call him for good things."

Good boy, Landry.

Come!

Sit for your supper.

Puppy Hide n Seek

Landry definitely has a mind of his own. And he is bright. He will not be bribed. But he can be shaped. I am using Hide and Seek to make COME a fun game with high value rewards for coming. He gets IN and OUT of the game at will. No point in demanding "Come" with this puppy. He is willing and eager to be trained.

Week Seven

15 weeks old

32 pounds

CUE DISCRIMINATION: Handsignal Puppy Pushups

FREE SHAPING..

? ? ?

Who can guess what the criteria is ? ? ?

? ? ?

Only Dale and Landry know the answer.

Puppy Fun

Landry Man is all puppy! If this doesn't bring a smile to your face, nothing will!

Mystery Behaviors

Dale explains: I put a treat under a little bowl (one of his touchables). He should have treated the bowl like the muffin balls - he failed. He left the treat and took
the bowl to chew on instead.

The second mystery flip was the theory but I was using a mini-flower pot. He moved it far enough to get
the treat then as you an see walked away.

The third and last mystery flip was a little china bowl for dipping sauces. He left the treats and took the bowl.
He must have fallen and hit his head or something - or maybe it was the trainer that hit his head.