Friday, October 15, 2010

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.