13 Months: Training - Day 20

Jack is In The Game!  He's giving prompt sits when asked
even if I have a camera in my  hands!

Jack is currently upside down in the middle of my living room while chewing on a hoof.  It is not the most dignified position I've seen him in, but it shows he's 100% comfortable in my house.  Another sign is his increased efforts to get Emma to play, his bounce through my yard and his ability to let me be in one area of the house while he's in another and not worry that he can't see me.  He's also chewing and playing with toys more and more.

Today Jack was almost throwing himself to the floor for treats while we practiced down.  His Sit is zippy and fluent and his ability to recognize I am training another dog and "tune out" while I do has improved.  He's "working" the system now.  He's IN THE GAME.  Jack is doing everything he can to earn his rewards and he's thinking of what he knows and can offer that has in the past paid and gotten him a reward from me.  Jack is learning at a pace that amazes me.

Today I was able to get fluent and quick sits out of him whenever I said Sit, be it in front of the door or when I was holding a camera, and is now starting to give the same quick and fluent Flats we've wanted from him. Jack has learned that Sit and Flat pay and is working with me to get his breakfast.

I love it when a dog figures out he can join my silly games and earn what he wants most.  If he sits quickly at the door he gets to go out that much sooner.  If he sits and waits while I work with another dog, he can earn random kibble for good behavior.  If he gives me a Flat he gets rewards and soon he'll realize that Brace earns rewards also.

Jack is well on his way!

Today's Lessons:

Zen

Jack is working Level 2: Step 1 Zen.  Today we reviewed Level 1 Zen again.  A weekend passed between our last lesson and this one and I want to ensure that Jack remembers and gives Level 1 Zen behavior before jumping ahead.  Working too fast will only result in a weak or faulty Zen in the end, so I review and refresh Level 1 Zen weekly with Jack.

Jack was back to touching and licking my hand when we started, but started to move to only touching my hand.  I stayed at Level 1: Step 1 Zen for two sessions and build up to Level 1: Step 2 Zen on the third session.  Jack quickly caught on again and was offering a solid Level 1: Step 1 Zen by the time we had worked through half of his breakfast.

Flat

Jack is working on Level 1: Step 2 Flat.  In this step Jack is asked to give me a Flat when I give him a hand cue only.  Jack is now doing so 80% of the time I cue him.  Today I backed up and just captured Flats as Jack offered them.  Last week he would do a Flat, but not jump up to repeat the behavior.  This meant he wasn't fully ready to engage me in training this behavior.  This week Jack is jumping up and offering a second and third one in rapid succession.  This means Jack is ready and willing to work on this behavior because it has value to him now.  Jack is participating in his training.

I was working Emma for lunch and Jack was throwing Flats at me.  I am so happy to see this.  Jack is ready to start progressing on this behavior.

Crate

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Crate.  In this step Jack is asked to enter his crate without being lured.  Jack is still overcoming his dislike of the crate and therefore I'm working on training his other behaviors around his crate as well as increasing the value of the crate.

Today, when working on Flat, Jack reached out and touched the crate to get payment.  I placed the last of Jack's breakfast (1/8th cup) in his crate for him to eat after finishing his lessons with Flat.

I am also leaving the crate open and allowing him to explore and check his crate to see what may be hidden inside it.  Just now Jack went to the open crate and entered it without hesitation.  Though he will do this when I am not near, it does not mean he's passed this step yet.  Jack will continue to do things in and around the crate to improve his overall opinion of the crate.

I left Jack's crate open all day and would reward him with praise, affection or food whenever he chose to enter it and explore.  Jack explored the crate off and on all day long.  For his final meal with me I put half of it in the opening of the crate for him to eat.  He not only ate the food, but actually entered the crate and stood inside it to eat.  This is a positive sign that he's learning his crate is a good place to be.

Observations

For the first time today I am seeing a completely relaxed and happy Jack at my home.  He's playing with toys and rolling on his back and exposing his belly on a regular basis.  He's not glued to me and he's playing with Emma whenever he can get her engaged.  He is settled into his routine and comfortable with it.

Jack is also ready to play the games I offer and is starting to think his way around my home.  He's offering quick and purposeful sits for going outside and offering other behaviors to get me to engage with him.

I am so glad to see a happy and relaxed Jack in my home.


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	1	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