13 Months: Training - Day 21

Jack is a goofy boy with a sense of humor.

Jack arrived this morning with his sister Deva in tow.  Deva had gotten sick the day before and was on her way to the vet office for the day.  Ronda called later to tell me that Deva has pancreatitis.  Poor baby.

Today Jack had an adventure I wasn't expecting.  I brought out a tunnel to train Emma with and as all of the dogs were exploring it, Max decided to run the tunnel.  Max loves tunnels and runs them whenever he gets the chance.  Poor Jack didn't expect the tunnel to swallow Max whole and jumped, flipped onto his back and flailed his legs like he was an upside down turtle the moment it happened.

A second later the tunnel spit up Max and Jack, who had managed to get to his feet and shot across the kitchen returned to check this evil dog eating tunnel.  Once he realized it wouldn't eat him he began exploring it even more.  It was the funniest thing I had seen in a long time.

Today Jack enjoyed a lot of play time and fun working on applying Zen to life.  I had to tether him to keep him away from Emma while we worked on the tunnel and he saw me crate Max, who lay quiet in the crate watching the action.  It was a good day and I believe Jack is as happy here during the day as he is home with Ronda during the night.

Today's Lessons:

Zen

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Zen.  Today I worked Level 1 Zen again and found him to be even more solid in the behavior.  I want to build up to him looking up at me when he is doing Zen behavior, so when we began Level 2: Step 1 Zen I placed a pile of treats on the floor and covered them.  He did everything he thought of to get a treat.  He pawed, licked, nudged and even laid on his side and tried to angle his tongue around my hand to get treats.  I was laughing to hard to train him at that point.

I moved the treats up onto my chair and started again and simply waited for eye contact.  At first Jack was confused, but the moment I clicked for him looking up to me he got it and started to offer eye contact faster and faster.  Jack did very well today.

Jack is still working on this step.

Flat

Jack is working on Level 1: Step 3 Flat.  Yes folks, he has passed Level 1: Step 2 Flat!  Jack was almost throwing himself on the ground to get me to click.  His response is peppy and joyful and I am enjoying him build up more and more confidence with this behavior.  He is responding to the hand cue 90% of the time, which is what I wanted and I am very happy with this behavior now.

Today I took Jack outside to work on Flat and Sit while on lead in the street.  Jack was distracted, but still able to perform the behaviors with both the verbal and hand cues.  I was also able to walk around him both to the right and left while in a Sit and a Flat.  Jack is doing fantastic with these behaviors.

Sit

Jack is working on Level 1: Step 3 Sit.  Yes folks, Jack also passed Step 2 of Sit!  His sit is amazing and he's responding to the hand cue and verbal cue 90% of the time now.  Again, I had taken Jack outside to work today and Jack's response time was slower, but not unexpected.  He was distracted, but able to refocus on me and work.  I am happy with his progress at this time.

Crate

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Crate.  Jack is still exploring and trying out his crate.  Today I fed him small amounts of his meals in the crate with the door open. Each time I do this Jack enters the crate completely and eats his meal.  I am now seeing him enter and explore his crate more often, even with me in the room near his crate.  This is healthy and good.

I will start hiding surprises in his crate off and on to encourage his exploration of his crate more often.  Until I can see him relaxed and happy with his crate I will not work on his entering while I am by the door just yet, but continue to praise and reward any crate interaction.

Observations

Jack is a funny boy with a clear sense of humor.  He's so gentle and loving as well that it's hard not to like him.  He enjoys being touched and loves playing.  He will get a toy and bounce and fling it like he's some sort of gazelle or cat.  I love just spending time with this sweet boy.

Jack is brave, in his gentle way, also.  After such a fright with the tunnel he was willing to return to explore without my encouraging him and even wanted to try it out, though he wouldn't enter it himself.  I am about ready to start introducing him to new surfaces to build his footing and overall confidence.  He'll be a fun boy to work with and I look forward to our adventures.


Level 1

	Zen	Target	Come	Sit	Down
Step	Completed	2	2	3	3

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