When I returned Jack has clearly had issues in his crate while I was away. He's dug at the bedding and torn some of it and he was a bit stressed. Tomorrow I'll have to crate him twice and Wednesday once so I can make appointments. I think I may need to provide him with more than a single chew or item in the crate to occupy him to help him with his issues while being crated for the times I am away.
Since Emma wasn't due at my home until, as I was told, 10:30 AM and it was 10: 00 AM when I got back, I took Jack outside to work on Down and Sit and Lazy Leash. I walked him up and down the street while I worked him. He was distracted by the new location and the smells and sounds and sights. A man on a bicycle passed us and I was pleased to see Jack only jumped a little, but didn't bark or chase after it when it went by. He had been looking away when the bicycle passed and jumped when he heard it, but recovered well.
I walked him through what I call "the tunnel of dogs" and saw he wasn't ready for it. The "tunnel of dogs" is a set of houses where dogs are on both sides and they bark and jump against the fence as we pass. Max can do this section, but Jack is not ready yet in our training. I will work him slowly closer and closer to the tunnel until he can go into and out of and then finally through without issue.
Jack will be training both in and out of the house this week and working his Level 1 behaviors until they are fluent in both locations.
Today's Lessons:
Zen
Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Zen in the house and Level 1: Step 1 Zen outside. Today I refreshed Jack's memory on Level 1 Zen and began working Level 2: Step 1 Zen while seated in the living room. Jack did very well and was able to build up duration while working toward Level 2: Step 2 Zen.
I then did his second and third session in the office for the first time. I was again in a seated position. I had to remind Jack again of Level 1 Zen and work up to Level 2: Step 1 Zen. I did not work duration while working Level 2: Step 1 Zen in the office. Jack is still needs work on this step of Zen.
Sit
Jack is working on Level 1: Step 3 Sit. Today I stepped back and worked on Level 1 Sit from the beginning while outside. I lured or cued Jack into a sit while working in the street before my home. Jack was highly distracted and needs higher value rewards when working outside. I will train him in the street again on Sit this afternoon to finish his meals for the day and add something to his kibble to improve his focus. Jack is learning Sit is the action, not the location or position of the person at this time.
In our second session of Sit I worked on Jack offering sits while I was occupied on the phone. As Jack offered sits I would reward him and then cue Flat or Brace (Down and Stand) to get him engaged in the game. I added some smoked oyster juice to his kibble, which added to his desire to work for his food. Jack was offering Sits 50% more than other positions while I was working with him this way. As Jack begins to offer Sit more often I will cue it while he's giving the behavior (hand cue, verbal cue) and teach Jack that my hand cue is means for him to do that behavior. This should add to Jack's fluency.
On our third session I took Jack outside and worked up and down the ramp asking for sits. At first I just rewarded when he offered and then as he was offering them I would give the hand cue and reward and then started giving the hand cue and rewarding the sits. Jack became quick and responsive as we worked this way.
On our fourth mini session Jack offered sits while I worked with Emma and I gave him a treat each time he offered it. Jack is now offering Sits as a tool in his toolbox consistently. Note the attached video showing Jack offering Sit as a tool in his toolbox.
On our third session I took Jack outside and worked up and down the ramp asking for sits. At first I just rewarded when he offered and then as he was offering them I would give the hand cue and reward and then started giving the hand cue and rewarding the sits. Jack became quick and responsive as we worked this way.
On our fourth mini session Jack offered sits while I worked with Emma and I gave him a treat each time he offered it. Jack is now offering Sits as a tool in his toolbox consistently. Note the attached video showing Jack offering Sit as a tool in his toolbox.
Flat
Jack is working on Level 1: Step 2 Down. Jack offers Flats often, but doesn't readily recognize the hand cue. Today I retaught Flat to Jack while outside in the street. Jack is continuing to practice and work on Flat while in new locations and I am in new positions. Jack is starting to see Flat as a tool in his tool box.
In our second session I worked with Jack on Brace and Sit (Stand and Sit) while I talked on the phone. Since I had spiked his kibble with oyster juice Jack was motivated to work for his kibble. He offered Flat 30% more than he offered Brace while working with him this way. When he's offering Flat as a tool in his toolbox I will start giving him the hand cue and verbal cue to tell him that when I make that motion I want the behavior he's giving me.
On our third session I worked Jack on the ramp and lured him into a Flat and rewarded him, then worked to where I cued a Flat and then gave the reward. Jack is starting to become fluent in Flat, but needs more work on discovering Flat as a tool in his toolbox.
On our third session I worked Jack on the ramp and lured him into a Flat and rewarded him, then worked to where I cued a Flat and then gave the reward. Jack is starting to become fluent in Flat, but needs more work on discovering Flat as a tool in his toolbox.
Lazy Leash
Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Lazy Leash. Jack is very good at walking on a loose leash, but is not fully aware of the pressure on his collar. Today I worked with Jack in the street and rewarded anytime he removed pressure from his collar. I will begin to teach Jack about pressure on his collar tomorrow.
Observations
I have to be careful I don't rush Jack. As an older dog I am trying to "hurry" him up through is training, which will leave him with shoddy training if I don't slow myself down. Jack is clearly struggling with some of his behaviors and the cues attached to them. Instead of trying to drive the idea into his head with a hammer, I am going to ease it in with a feather instead. Jack is offering behaviors to get my attention and the rewards he knows I have, therefore I will slow down and give him a chance to offer the behaviors and rewards heavily until he's almost throwing them at me and then tell him again what they are called.
Jack is In The Game, but he's not sure what all the game is. He's trying hard to figure out what I am asking of him, but he's not put all the pieces together. When he does I'll be in trouble, because I can see Jack turn into a training monster - but better that than a dog who's tuned out.
I will continue to work Level 1 behaviors until Jack is fluent in them.
Level 1| Zen | Target | Come | Sit | Down | |
| Step | Completed | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Level 2
| Zen | Come | Sit | Down | Target | |
| Step | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Focus | Lazy Leash | Go To Mat | Crate | Distance | |
| Step | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jump | Relax | Handling | Tricks | Communication | |
| Step | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Level 3
| Zen | Come | Sit | Down | Target | |
| Step | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Focus | Lazy Leash | Go To Mat | Crate | Distance | |
| Step | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jump | Relax | Handling | Retrieve | Communication | |
| Step | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Level 4
| Zen | Come | Retrieve | Target | Relax | |
| Step | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Focus | Lazy Leash | Go To Mat | Crate | Distance | |
| Step | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Handling | Communication | ||||
| Step | 0 | 0 |
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