Wow am I pumped.
Way too pumped,
egads....
This is week six in agility. Boy am I excited. Need to TURN IT DOWN, will be practicing my inside voice for next time.
Way too pumped,
egads....
Monday, December 12, 2016
Good Tree Hunting-Sonic picks a christmas tree.
Good Tree Hunting, Sonic's 1st Xmas (not a gsd)
I like to make fun of folks that call themselves dog parents, but,
ack, here I am all excited about Sonic's 1st Christmas. And we took him
to the Tree Farm to help us pick up a tree.
I was hoping for a cheerier shot, but my two guys are taking tree hunting very seriously.
And hey, OTHER THAN A BORDER COLLIE, what else do you see in him? I mean, I see an island dog (just google 'coconut hound', imagine him tan and flat coated and you'll see what I mean), but I will be forever curious.
Sonic was a VERY GOOD DOG at the tree farm, nice leash manners!
I'll get some Christmas pics with the decorated tree (and maybe decorated he), because this year I am going to be a besotted Dog MOM. Yes, SONIC, You WILL be forced into wearing red ribbons.
I was hoping for a cheerier shot, but my two guys are taking tree hunting very seriously.
 | This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. |
And hey, OTHER THAN A BORDER COLLIE, what else do you see in him? I mean, I see an island dog (just google 'coconut hound', imagine him tan and flat coated and you'll see what I mean), but I will be forever curious.
Sonic was a VERY GOOD DOG at the tree farm, nice leash manners!
I'll get some Christmas pics with the decorated tree (and maybe decorated he), because this year I am going to be a besotted Dog MOM. Yes, SONIC, You WILL be forced into wearing red ribbons.
October training diary
Oops, this should have backdated to October. I am tardy with my training diary.
Oh boy, this past week, where to start.
Jumping over arms, yep, he's doin' it.
Tall (stand on two legs) 'almost' gettin' it on the verbal.
Ditto for Spin (best) and Twist.
This due to me finally learning to stand still, speak 1st, then hand signal, then mark & treat.
Had a really good, right off the start, train/play session in the local parkette, even with swans nearby (which were slightly distracting to him, and really distracting to me--trumpeter swans, so beautiful)
Started 'go out's' to a target (a tiny ball on stick), and realized I was slowing him down with, you guessed it, too much movement. He didn't want to go out because my body language was ultra distracting/interesting. Again, me learning to 'stand still' with arms at sides, in this case, wait for him to touch the ball (still in the shaping stage), mark & treat. He's learning to move away from me independent, not looking for visual cues.
re: jumping over arms, and & 'tall', I over did/over-trained on Friday. He just wasn't all that 'into it' in the afternoon--note to self, don't be such a 'tiger mom'.
On the practical front, had him off-leash for the whole 90 minutes of a forest walk without me going nuts, AND he actually played tug & fetch (with a leather & fur tug-n-treat toy) in the forest. That was like pulling teeth with coaxing, etc... but a start. A good start. Lovely to see him free run for such a long time.
He met my in-laws puppy in their 5 acre unfenced yard. Sonic is acting pure bc in that context, stuck around, zero interest in wandering away, played a bit with puppy, then ignored, or bugged me, mildly friendly with folks to aloof once 'hello's' were done.
Oh boy, this past week, where to start.
Jumping over arms, yep, he's doin' it.
Tall (stand on two legs) 'almost' gettin' it on the verbal.
Ditto for Spin (best) and Twist.
This due to me finally learning to stand still, speak 1st, then hand signal, then mark & treat.
Had a really good, right off the start, train/play session in the local parkette, even with swans nearby (which were slightly distracting to him, and really distracting to me--trumpeter swans, so beautiful)
Started 'go out's' to a target (a tiny ball on stick), and realized I was slowing him down with, you guessed it, too much movement. He didn't want to go out because my body language was ultra distracting/interesting. Again, me learning to 'stand still' with arms at sides, in this case, wait for him to touch the ball (still in the shaping stage), mark & treat. He's learning to move away from me independent, not looking for visual cues.
re: jumping over arms, and & 'tall', I over did/over-trained on Friday. He just wasn't all that 'into it' in the afternoon--note to self, don't be such a 'tiger mom'.
On the practical front, had him off-leash for the whole 90 minutes of a forest walk without me going nuts, AND he actually played tug & fetch (with a leather & fur tug-n-treat toy) in the forest. That was like pulling teeth with coaxing, etc... but a start. A good start. Lovely to see him free run for such a long time.
He met my in-laws puppy in their 5 acre unfenced yard. Sonic is acting pure bc in that context, stuck around, zero interest in wandering away, played a bit with puppy, then ignored, or bugged me, mildly friendly with folks to aloof once 'hello's' were done.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
training diary
Cat feeding all good.
Now doing nice leave it's. Practiced with tossing treats (which are always 'his' as I used tossed treats due to early hand-shy issue issues), so now teaching some are his (take it. get it), some are not (leave it) and some are the cats (cat's name). He obviously understands the concept of name = possession, which is bizarre but seems true, maybe it's eye contact & body language (with said cat). BUT all this equaled, once, tossed a treat for him and Simba raced for it, and Sonic looked at ME (yay, good dog, here's a different treat). Nice choice on his part. (Simba didn't want it anyway--so Sonic got to have it later)
Off leash: taking him to the dog forest more often as there are less and less dogs outside now. Lots of dogs on Sunday, and again Tuesday. Watching him to see how he handles off-lead dogs. With very rare exception, does not play with dogs--does a polite greeting, sniff and move on. If the dogs are over bearing, too much energy, will do a fun imitation of speedy gonzales, but doesn't come back for more except with less energy, as in, darts away at 100 mph, comes back with less rpm, by that time, other dog is thinking Whoah, you are too fast for me, and not much more happens. Sometimes I slow up to join with folks with dogs, and Sonic will either ignore & move on (greetings done, you are boring, behaviour), sometimes engage in mutual sniff & pee session then move on to explore the woods, or just run ahead, or, if I stand around long enough say, hey, can I earn a treat here? He's just not all that into dogs.
He's has twice really liked a dog. Once, a female pug, mutual chase, then he kept trying to entice her to chase game, and circle round to come and get her (pugs just can't go that fast), and last week a goofy lab, he actually played some mutual chase and stuck around for peeing games & more chase. I walked with the owner. But that's it, mostly neutral, occasionally wary, definitely willing to stick up for himself, and communicates that with upright body language & look aways (hey, I'll stick up for myself if I have to, but I'd rather not have to). This works with any well socialized dog. He will respond to a cheerful 'let's go' if I think tension is building, or it's one of those bully dogs that will push his buttons instead of letting him move on un-molested (he does not like contact sports).
Petsmart: will go on Sunday afternoons only. There are actually dogs there on Sunday, dogs plural, lots of dogs, dogs in store and and dogs in class, barking puppies. So there's something to work with, and when there's something to work with, he learns and does well. Even with surprise dog in face-->he looked at me. Had a conversation with a lady in the parking lot. She had a gorgeous white shepherd pup who got bored and lay down. Had him on a loose leash while dogs went in and out. Worked him on his traffic lead indoors, he's good, getting more relaxed, interested in treats, not doing any 'training' right now, no commands etc he's on a leash, looking at just getting him comfy with the idea that dog over there doesn't equal dog in face, and he's starting to understand that--ie, he looks at a dog without expecting to have to deal with it. Take him out in the parking lot for breaks, and play & train there, and he's playing.
Agility: he's now looking forward to playing frisbee/tug in the parking lot at the END of his off-lead forest walk! Whoot. So, took along a pole (to practice wraps) and a mat (in lieu of table) and put all three things together. He liked it! So another place to train, my yard is too small
Now doing nice leave it's. Practiced with tossing treats (which are always 'his' as I used tossed treats due to early hand-shy issue issues), so now teaching some are his (take it. get it), some are not (leave it) and some are the cats (cat's name). He obviously understands the concept of name = possession, which is bizarre but seems true, maybe it's eye contact & body language (with said cat). BUT all this equaled, once, tossed a treat for him and Simba raced for it, and Sonic looked at ME (yay, good dog, here's a different treat). Nice choice on his part. (Simba didn't want it anyway--so Sonic got to have it later)
Off leash: taking him to the dog forest more often as there are less and less dogs outside now. Lots of dogs on Sunday, and again Tuesday. Watching him to see how he handles off-lead dogs. With very rare exception, does not play with dogs--does a polite greeting, sniff and move on. If the dogs are over bearing, too much energy, will do a fun imitation of speedy gonzales, but doesn't come back for more except with less energy, as in, darts away at 100 mph, comes back with less rpm, by that time, other dog is thinking Whoah, you are too fast for me, and not much more happens. Sometimes I slow up to join with folks with dogs, and Sonic will either ignore & move on (greetings done, you are boring, behaviour), sometimes engage in mutual sniff & pee session then move on to explore the woods, or just run ahead, or, if I stand around long enough say, hey, can I earn a treat here? He's just not all that into dogs.
He's has twice really liked a dog. Once, a female pug, mutual chase, then he kept trying to entice her to chase game, and circle round to come and get her (pugs just can't go that fast), and last week a goofy lab, he actually played some mutual chase and stuck around for peeing games & more chase. I walked with the owner. But that's it, mostly neutral, occasionally wary, definitely willing to stick up for himself, and communicates that with upright body language & look aways (hey, I'll stick up for myself if I have to, but I'd rather not have to). This works with any well socialized dog. He will respond to a cheerful 'let's go' if I think tension is building, or it's one of those bully dogs that will push his buttons instead of letting him move on un-molested (he does not like contact sports).
Petsmart: will go on Sunday afternoons only. There are actually dogs there on Sunday, dogs plural, lots of dogs, dogs in store and and dogs in class, barking puppies. So there's something to work with, and when there's something to work with, he learns and does well. Even with surprise dog in face-->he looked at me. Had a conversation with a lady in the parking lot. She had a gorgeous white shepherd pup who got bored and lay down. Had him on a loose leash while dogs went in and out. Worked him on his traffic lead indoors, he's good, getting more relaxed, interested in treats, not doing any 'training' right now, no commands etc he's on a leash, looking at just getting him comfy with the idea that dog over there doesn't equal dog in face, and he's starting to understand that--ie, he looks at a dog without expecting to have to deal with it. Take him out in the parking lot for breaks, and play & train there, and he's playing.
Agility: he's now looking forward to playing frisbee/tug in the parking lot at the END of his off-lead forest walk! Whoot. So, took along a pole (to practice wraps) and a mat (in lieu of table) and put all three things together. He liked it! So another place to train, my yard is too small
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Week 5 Agility-yep, excited
Week 5 Agility-yep, excited
https://www.facebook.com/droptheleas...3/?pnref=story
Hope the link works.
This is week 5, was not expecting sequences in the 1st round of class, but it works. Sonic's not keen on tunnels, yet. (It's one thing I can't do as homework)
I use lawnchairs as homework, still working on getting him to drive forward (eyes on me is too much of a good thing here)
Anyway, it's big fun.
Hope the link works.
This is week 5, was not expecting sequences in the 1st round of class, but it works. Sonic's not keen on tunnels, yet. (It's one thing I can't do as homework)
I use lawnchairs as homework, still working on getting him to drive forward (eyes on me is too much of a good thing here)
Anyway, it's big fun.
Friday, December 2, 2016
Home Agility Fun Fact:
Home Agility Fun Fact:
Okay, so I put him out on our verandah (our only outdoor enclosed space) and made him watch while I set up his course.
His course consist of 2 lawnchairs (ends up to make posts) as jumps (broad jumps) and one pole wrapped in a towel (in lieu of cone, to practice wraps) and a wooden box as table.
By the time I was done dragging this about, he was totally excited, MUCH more than when I just take him out to play--so I guess he likes agility. ;-)
Other stuff: plays frisbee in the parking lot after a walk, so yay! This is becoming a thing.
Taking him to petsmart to get used to being around dogs when leashed- not so good. Mostly not enough dogs to practice with, BUT I can get him playing and performing in the parking lot, which is awesome.
Cat feeding time: this used to be mayhem. He would just bark and bounce and carry on crazy (my husband puts up with this), I avoided it and would just crate him. Sooooooo, a few weeks ago, decided to make him do a LONG DOWN, which took some fussing to accomplish. Now, he sees his mat, plunks himself down with a relaxed eagerness that is good to see (while I feed the cats, I occassionally drop a cat kibble on the matt, but now down to 3 times). So, no more crating during cat feeding time--he can handle this, and his long downs are much better in general.
Erm, that's all, excepting I'm already anticipating pining for agility classes when they are over. It is sooooo much fun....
Okay, so I put him out on our verandah (our only outdoor enclosed space) and made him watch while I set up his course.
His course consist of 2 lawnchairs (ends up to make posts) as jumps (broad jumps) and one pole wrapped in a towel (in lieu of cone, to practice wraps) and a wooden box as table.
By the time I was done dragging this about, he was totally excited, MUCH more than when I just take him out to play--so I guess he likes agility. ;-)
Other stuff: plays frisbee in the parking lot after a walk, so yay! This is becoming a thing.
Taking him to petsmart to get used to being around dogs when leashed- not so good. Mostly not enough dogs to practice with, BUT I can get him playing and performing in the parking lot, which is awesome.
Cat feeding time: this used to be mayhem. He would just bark and bounce and carry on crazy (my husband puts up with this), I avoided it and would just crate him. Sooooooo, a few weeks ago, decided to make him do a LONG DOWN, which took some fussing to accomplish. Now, he sees his mat, plunks himself down with a relaxed eagerness that is good to see (while I feed the cats, I occassionally drop a cat kibble on the matt, but now down to 3 times). So, no more crating during cat feeding time--he can handle this, and his long downs are much better in general.
Erm, that's all, excepting I'm already anticipating pining for agility classes when they are over. It is sooooo much fun....
Monday, November 21, 2016
sums things up for the week
Cheating my journal, but it fits. Wrote this to a friend: sums things up for the week.
Yesterday, as usual, we took Sonic on a long walk through the woods on
local forest trails. Did a 'leave it' and then played frisbee--hard. A perfect re-direct.
Afterwards, I was ambitious, and set up my impromptu agility practice
which consists of two folding lawnchairs set up with front and back
sections upright to make low broadjumps for the dog. Sonic is great
at sticking by my side like glue, but unless I can run really really
fast and turn on a dime, this is not ideal for agility...so I am
practicing at home at my leisure with whatever equipment I can find.
The purpose of the two jumps is to teach him that moving away from me
and taking the equipment (jumping, in this case) is as or more
lucrative than sticking to my side. I have a throw toy to reward him
at a distance, but first I have to convince him to keep moving forward
even if I don't, and b) skirting around the obstacle produces no
goodies. The class, even though it is an hour long, is too short, to
train all things, and sometimes too distracting. Sonic does like it,
as do the husband and I. Santa may put some real jumps under the tree this
year (the husband can make them from pvc pipes). We had a set of diy pvc
equipment, but gave them away, thinking we would never again have an
'agility dog'. When Sonic runs through the woods, leaping, dodging,
climbing, flying across the jumbled landscape, it is clear that
agility (the dog sport) is not so much about canine athletic ability,
but about the dog and human's ability to communicate and work
together. There is nothing, physically, about the sport that Sonic
can't do (effortlessly) right now--teaching him to do what is asked
and not do what is not asked, and to do everything as fast as chasing
squirrels and have as much fun doing it--well, that is the task and
the challenge.
Yesterday, as usual, we took Sonic on a long walk through the woods on
local forest trails. Did a 'leave it' and then played frisbee--hard. A perfect re-direct.
Afterwards, I was ambitious, and set up my impromptu agility practice
which consists of two folding lawnchairs set up with front and back
sections upright to make low broadjumps for the dog. Sonic is great
at sticking by my side like glue, but unless I can run really really
fast and turn on a dime, this is not ideal for agility...so I am
practicing at home at my leisure with whatever equipment I can find.
The purpose of the two jumps is to teach him that moving away from me
and taking the equipment (jumping, in this case) is as or more
lucrative than sticking to my side. I have a throw toy to reward him
at a distance, but first I have to convince him to keep moving forward
even if I don't, and b) skirting around the obstacle produces no
goodies. The class, even though it is an hour long, is too short, to
train all things, and sometimes too distracting. Sonic does like it,
as do the husband and I. Santa may put some real jumps under the tree this
year (the husband can make them from pvc pipes). We had a set of diy pvc
equipment, but gave them away, thinking we would never again have an
'agility dog'. When Sonic runs through the woods, leaping, dodging,
climbing, flying across the jumbled landscape, it is clear that
agility (the dog sport) is not so much about canine athletic ability,
but about the dog and human's ability to communicate and work
together. There is nothing, physically, about the sport that Sonic
can't do (effortlessly) right now--teaching him to do what is asked
and not do what is not asked, and to do everything as fast as chasing
squirrels and have as much fun doing it--well, that is the task and
the challenge.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Just got back from nursing home visit.
Just got back from nursing home visit.
He was so cute & comfortable, working the old folks, wiggly piggly, a social butterfly. What fun. He's always been polite and aloof there, friendly if invited, but today he really looked like he thought it was fun and took the lead in interactions. Nice.
I take no credit, this is Sonic being his happy self, just taking joy in seeing it.
Oh, and the off leash walk went well.
He was so cute & comfortable, working the old folks, wiggly piggly, a social butterfly. What fun. He's always been polite and aloof there, friendly if invited, but today he really looked like he thought it was fun and took the lead in interactions. Nice.
I take no credit, this is Sonic being his happy self, just taking joy in seeing it.
Oh, and the off leash walk went well.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Sonic's 1st agility class
Sonic's 1st agility class--completely awesome. Indoor arena, really
fantastic comfortable people friendly instructor, and only 2 students!
Can't get better.
Sonic was nailing his toy, and launching himself after it, velcro eyes on me, just really really into being there.
He did have trouble with the instructors dog when she started barking and jumping, started jumping barking himself (and not in a good way). Then he completely lost focus and looked like a dejected puppy for the next exercise.
BUT, BUT, BUT, this was completely fixed with a quick time-outside on the longline, where he instantly went toy crazy again, played a quick round, let him pee, then drink, and then back inside & he was ON again. So now I know what to do next time.
Learning some new handling skills, driving forward, rear cross. My former training we just taught the obstacles, and then direct dog to obstacles...which is fine if you have the obstacles. Here we are building handling skills that can be practiced without obstacles, which is ideal for poor folk like me...because when the money runs out, I'll be without obstacles but with dog & skills. So, yay!
Topics covered. Front cross (which was pretty much already learned by instinct, running with dog off-leash).
Rear cross--brand baby new. 1st, teaching dog to drive forward with food on a stick (treat in chuck-it toy), to get the dog to run ahead of handler (anti-laser eye training). This would have come in handy in the early 'afraid of treats' stage.
Then teach circling at a trot (not there yet).
Then forward motion with me behind (rear-cross)
Wraps--hand signal & go round cone (used a traffic post at home), (egg-beater hand signal & toss treat forward)
Drive forward with toy (go! command). Been doing this in the woods with squirrels, so he has some idea already. Collar hold back does not work--which I'm actually happy about, since I've spent 9 months training him NOT to pull. When I gave up on that & just lightly held his leash tab, said go! he surged forward, I dropped tab & threw toy--that perked him up.
So all in all very good. He showed his top form, which looked AMAZING, and also his chips, the reactivity to barking dogs, and a brief moment of shut-down, so it looks like he's READY READY READY -- Yay!
I think I got me a brand spanking new little sport dog! (I miss you Dynamo, I really do, but I'm happy to get another kick at the can, ONE MORE TIME)
and now I'm feeling a little weepy, really, seriously, I never thought I'd....never mind, bye.
Sonic was nailing his toy, and launching himself after it, velcro eyes on me, just really really into being there.
He did have trouble with the instructors dog when she started barking and jumping, started jumping barking himself (and not in a good way). Then he completely lost focus and looked like a dejected puppy for the next exercise.
BUT, BUT, BUT, this was completely fixed with a quick time-outside on the longline, where he instantly went toy crazy again, played a quick round, let him pee, then drink, and then back inside & he was ON again. So now I know what to do next time.
Learning some new handling skills, driving forward, rear cross. My former training we just taught the obstacles, and then direct dog to obstacles...which is fine if you have the obstacles. Here we are building handling skills that can be practiced without obstacles, which is ideal for poor folk like me...because when the money runs out, I'll be without obstacles but with dog & skills. So, yay!
Topics covered. Front cross (which was pretty much already learned by instinct, running with dog off-leash).
Rear cross--brand baby new. 1st, teaching dog to drive forward with food on a stick (treat in chuck-it toy), to get the dog to run ahead of handler (anti-laser eye training). This would have come in handy in the early 'afraid of treats' stage.
Then teach circling at a trot (not there yet).
Then forward motion with me behind (rear-cross)
Wraps--hand signal & go round cone (used a traffic post at home), (egg-beater hand signal & toss treat forward)
Drive forward with toy (go! command). Been doing this in the woods with squirrels, so he has some idea already. Collar hold back does not work--which I'm actually happy about, since I've spent 9 months training him NOT to pull. When I gave up on that & just lightly held his leash tab, said go! he surged forward, I dropped tab & threw toy--that perked him up.
So all in all very good. He showed his top form, which looked AMAZING, and also his chips, the reactivity to barking dogs, and a brief moment of shut-down, so it looks like he's READY READY READY -- Yay!
I think I got me a brand spanking new little sport dog! (I miss you Dynamo, I really do, but I'm happy to get another kick at the can, ONE MORE TIME)
and now I'm feeling a little weepy, really, seriously, I never thought I'd....never mind, bye.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
HE PLAYED FRISBEE IN THE WOODS!!!
HE PLAYED FRISBEE IN THE WOODS!!!
HE PLAYED FRISBEE IN THE WOODS!!!
HE PLAYED FRISBEE IN THE WOODS!!!
I thought it would never happen, at least not for a very long time.
Used the leather tug-n-treat disc, but he was really chasing, just like he chases squirrels, and he was bugging me for more, and tugging. He was excited about it!
Please excuse the enthusiasm, but this is an exciting FIRST TIME.
HE PLAYED FRISBEE IN THE WOODS!!!
HE PLAYED FRISBEE IN THE WOODS!!!
I thought it would never happen, at least not for a very long time.
Used the leather tug-n-treat disc, but he was really chasing, just like he chases squirrels, and he was bugging me for more, and tugging. He was excited about it!
Please excuse the enthusiasm, but this is an exciting FIRST TIME.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Made a trip to a nearby city to buy fish for my aquarium. Took Sonic along for the ride to practice in new places.
Stopped at a city trail/paved pathways through parkland.
In the parking lot, did some sedate (read-boring) loose leash walking to see if he would start looking to me. Check, yes. Teased him with his tug-n-treat toy and got him tugging, and got him started up. Actually engaged enough that I felt perfectly comfortable to drop the leash and have him chase the frisbee.
Walked the trails, he was very distracted, but decent on leash, going out.
Could not engage him in anything when I stopped in the middle of a ball field--he just wasn't feeling good out there.
On the way back, same route, he started bugging me for training, whip out the frisbee, and played tugging and fetch games on the (empty) trail (had to watch for other users, it was Sunday, mostly empty).
Seeing him get excited for play on a trail that he obviously found somewhat strange and disturbing going in, is exciting and new. I can no longer say that he only plays at home.
He was overly interested in some dog sightings, but behaved okay, needed treats and space to accomplish--leashes still suck.
Stopped at a city trail/paved pathways through parkland.
In the parking lot, did some sedate (read-boring) loose leash walking to see if he would start looking to me. Check, yes. Teased him with his tug-n-treat toy and got him tugging, and got him started up. Actually engaged enough that I felt perfectly comfortable to drop the leash and have him chase the frisbee.
Walked the trails, he was very distracted, but decent on leash, going out.
Could not engage him in anything when I stopped in the middle of a ball field--he just wasn't feeling good out there.
On the way back, same route, he started bugging me for training, whip out the frisbee, and played tugging and fetch games on the (empty) trail (had to watch for other users, it was Sunday, mostly empty).
Seeing him get excited for play on a trail that he obviously found somewhat strange and disturbing going in, is exciting and new. I can no longer say that he only plays at home.
He was overly interested in some dog sightings, but behaved okay, needed treats and space to accomplish--leashes still suck.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Rainday, Trick and Train Day
Walks happen 365 days a year, rain, shine, sleet, snow, even during tornado watches. A dog's gotta pee. And run. But you know, on a dark drenched October day, I'm not going out for anything more than what's necessary, so it's Trick and train day.
It's still early days, so it's not much, and includes some pretty boring stuff (aka practical), but when I write everything down, it accumulates. It's not as impressive as it sounds, as I have a short attention span so nothing is really set. I really need to work on getting these on verbal cue, some of them are in the baby stages of works in progress are still getting lured or shaped & heavilly coached (translation, me bobbing, weaving, pointing and generally acting like a spaz), but:
Here's the list, in no particular order:
Place- dog from front goes round handler and between the legs, stops.
Tall- dog stands on two legs (Sonic does this naturally (to get a better view) but on-cue is another thing
Back- backing up, Sonic's favourite leash walk move, but now working on getting it on cue.
Side stepping- another natural, happens on walks, sort of getting this on cue.
Pogo- Sonic's invention, springing straight up in the air, on leash. Just starting to get this on cue and only happens if he's excited
Bring it- dog brings toy and drops it in my hand. I'm using a tug-n-treat frisbee to help teach Sonic structured play, goes along with fetch & tug
Tuggees- tug the toy, see above
Get it- fetch if he needs a reminder
Target- touch a ball or plastic lid, he's mastered touching a ball, fallout from my failed attempts to teach him fetch & retrieve a tennis ball...put ball on stick and I have a great target stick
Spin-clockwise
Twist-counterclockwise
8's - figure 8 weave through legs
Weave - me walking forward, Sonic weaves through legs
Go! - go out ahead of me
Over- jump over my arm (me kneeling, he's not super dog-yet). I used this video by Kristin Crestejo as my guide. Had him already doing the whole thing, and then today, not so much, but still jumping. Yay! Indoor exercises.
It's still early days, so it's not much, and includes some pretty boring stuff (aka practical), but when I write everything down, it accumulates. It's not as impressive as it sounds, as I have a short attention span so nothing is really set. I really need to work on getting these on verbal cue, some of them are in the baby stages of works in progress are still getting lured or shaped & heavilly coached (translation, me bobbing, weaving, pointing and generally acting like a spaz), but:
Here's the list, in no particular order:
Place- dog from front goes round handler and between the legs, stops.
Tall- dog stands on two legs (Sonic does this naturally (to get a better view) but on-cue is another thing
Back- backing up, Sonic's favourite leash walk move, but now working on getting it on cue.
Side stepping- another natural, happens on walks, sort of getting this on cue.
Pogo- Sonic's invention, springing straight up in the air, on leash. Just starting to get this on cue and only happens if he's excited
Bring it- dog brings toy and drops it in my hand. I'm using a tug-n-treat frisbee to help teach Sonic structured play, goes along with fetch & tug
Tuggees- tug the toy, see above
Get it- fetch if he needs a reminder
Target- touch a ball or plastic lid, he's mastered touching a ball, fallout from my failed attempts to teach him fetch & retrieve a tennis ball...put ball on stick and I have a great target stick
Spin-clockwise
Twist-counterclockwise
8's - figure 8 weave through legs
Weave - me walking forward, Sonic weaves through legs
Go! - go out ahead of me
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Sonic's Progress Report in Leaps & Bounds
Sonic's Progress Report in Leaps & Bounds
Can't think of a better way to test a dogs training & temperament
than taking them on along on holiday. He joined us at the beach, in the
tent, motel, hotel, the wilds of the north, the city streets of
Kingston, and even came along to watch military exercises (that was a
surprise to all of us).
For background, Sonics from the Caribbean Islands, a street bred dog, free-range 'pet'.
He came to us shy, skittish, did not know how to play. Had to teach him how to play with a human (tug & frisbee). He was afraid of lots thing, including treats and hands and flappy things.
But now he has survived and thrived camping out at windy, stormy, Agawa Bay, did not show undue fear when a thunderstorm boomed and raged overhead (amazing, because Lake Superior throws some scary weather), settled in to sleep at a campsite (oastler lake) that was WAY too close to a busy railway, and did just fine when we walked into the Royal Military College Reunion Games day (running, screaming people).
Well, here he is playing tug at the beach--a milestone! First time playing outside of our front yard.
Sonic plays tug at the beach
https://youtu.be/nEKpCNs7lXU
Sonic & the big wave
Sonic, beach bum
Sonic on the rocks
Wolfe Tango (military games-war-paint, costumes, yelling, screaming barbarian hordes--& fun)
Sonic still going strong after seven hours of a city walking tour, traffic, people, dogs, geese, & a fighter jet taking off directly overhead
For background, Sonics from the Caribbean Islands, a street bred dog, free-range 'pet'.
He came to us shy, skittish, did not know how to play. Had to teach him how to play with a human (tug & frisbee). He was afraid of lots thing, including treats and hands and flappy things.
But now he has survived and thrived camping out at windy, stormy, Agawa Bay, did not show undue fear when a thunderstorm boomed and raged overhead (amazing, because Lake Superior throws some scary weather), settled in to sleep at a campsite (oastler lake) that was WAY too close to a busy railway, and did just fine when we walked into the Royal Military College Reunion Games day (running, screaming people).
Well, here he is playing tug at the beach--a milestone! First time playing outside of our front yard.
Sonic plays tug at the beach
https://youtu.be/nEKpCNs7lXU
Sonic & the big wave
Sonic, beach bum
Sonic on the rocks
Wolfe Tango (military games-war-paint, costumes, yelling, screaming barbarian hordes--& fun)
Sonic still going strong after seven hours of a city walking tour, traffic, people, dogs, geese, & a fighter jet taking off directly overhead
__________________
SONIC Street Dog Extraordinaire
SONIC Street Dog Extraordinaire
Monday, October 17, 2016
Sonic's Pre-Agilty/Video Wobble board
Sonic's Pre-Agilty/Video Wobble board
Here he is.
The board is a plywood board placed on top of plywood, so it spins, wobbles and bangs. Hoping it prepares him for the obstacles; at any rate, it should give him more confidence on hiking trail structures, etc...
I'm freeshaping/rewarding any engagement with the board, and changes.
https://youtu.be/rybizecQtxk
PS, some serious cat bombing going on in the background
The board is a plywood board placed on top of plywood, so it spins, wobbles and bangs. Hoping it prepares him for the obstacles; at any rate, it should give him more confidence on hiking trail structures, etc...
I'm freeshaping/rewarding any engagement with the board, and changes.
https://youtu.be/rybizecQtxk
PS, some serious cat bombing going on in the background
Friday, October 14, 2016
Tug, frisbee & target--critique welcome
Tug, frisbee & target--critique welcome
Two videos.
Sonic playing tug with tug-n-treat frisbee.
I'm teaching him to play tug & frisbee. He had zero interest when we got him. I'm hoping to use tug & frisbee as a reward some day--but so far, food is involved, which is fine.
Thoughts on timing? When to let him win, when to pull harder? When to reward with food?
https://youtu.be/F4Z8_uob8cQ
The other is me hapless doing some targetting--he looks happy, but not fully engaged. It's hot, and he just did the tugging above. Should I have ended sooner, not done it at all, tried something else that he's more confident with (sit, down,)
https://youtu.be/SHBomymUfbg
Short history--free-range tropical dog for 1.5 yrs, I have him 7 months, he's only shown this level of engagement in the past month. For the 2nd, & 3rd month, he was afraid of treats indoors, and could not be consistently trained.
Things are really looking up in the past month.
And about those metal fingers--badly sprained my hand 2 months ago on that blue long-line you see in the video--which caused more hiccups in training, not to mention serious difficulties in holding a leash and treat delivery--some delays there too. In other words, we're still taking baby steps, beginners. My goals right now are engagement & building toy-drive.
Sonic playing tug with tug-n-treat frisbee.
I'm teaching him to play tug & frisbee. He had zero interest when we got him. I'm hoping to use tug & frisbee as a reward some day--but so far, food is involved, which is fine.
Thoughts on timing? When to let him win, when to pull harder? When to reward with food?
https://youtu.be/F4Z8_uob8cQ
The other is me hapless doing some targetting--he looks happy, but not fully engaged. It's hot, and he just did the tugging above. Should I have ended sooner, not done it at all, tried something else that he's more confident with (sit, down,)
https://youtu.be/SHBomymUfbg
Short history--free-range tropical dog for 1.5 yrs, I have him 7 months, he's only shown this level of engagement in the past month. For the 2nd, & 3rd month, he was afraid of treats indoors, and could not be consistently trained.
Things are really looking up in the past month.
And about those metal fingers--badly sprained my hand 2 months ago on that blue long-line you see in the video--which caused more hiccups in training, not to mention serious difficulties in holding a leash and treat delivery--some delays there too. In other words, we're still taking baby steps, beginners. My goals right now are engagement & building toy-drive.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
You've Come a long way, Sonic
You've Come a long way, Sonic
All the way from the streets of the Dominican Republic,
all the way from being a scared abandoned puppy (actually young dog 1 1/2 yrs in this pic),
To this confident, shiny happy beautiful guy.
all the way to Canada, and in these two pics, Killarney Provincial Park.
and this one,
and from literally being afraid of treats and treat training, to 'operant/offering behaviours'
from being passive to 'pushy' in training.
to liking to play,
and from waking up growling (nightmares? ptsd?) to lounging in joy on this couch,
all the way from being a scared abandoned puppy (actually young dog 1 1/2 yrs in this pic),
To this confident, shiny happy beautiful guy.
all the way to Canada, and in these two pics, Killarney Provincial Park.
and this one,
and from literally being afraid of treats and treat training, to 'operant/offering behaviours'
from being passive to 'pushy' in training.
to liking to play,
and from waking up growling (nightmares? ptsd?) to lounging in joy on this couch,
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