13 Months: Training - Day 30

Jack was gentle and kind to Attitude.

No, you didn't read the title wrong, it is my 30th day of training Mr. Jack and there was indeed a gap of two days between my last post about Attitude's passing and this one.  Ronda, Jack's owner, was sick and home for two days, so she didn't bring him to me - so, today is the first day since we took a day of grief and quiet that Jack has been back to train.

I am feeling a bit stronger than I did on Monday, the day we all sat in wait for the Pet Memorial man to arrive and carry my tiny jewel off for cremation.  Today she returned in her new urn and after a morning in which I was finally dry-eyed and focused, I found myself crying and sad again the moment her urn was handed to me.

I brought her urn in and let all of the dogs sniff and check it.  Though I doubt it smells like her at all, they were curious about what I had and seemed satisfied with the sniff and went off to do their own thing.  Max is a bit off balance still; Attitude was the doggy head of household and now that role has fallen onto Max's shoulders.  He's uncertain how to be the top dog in the house and is feeling his way through his new role.  Dieter is still sad and off and on shakes for no reason.  He is eating, but his desire to play and explore is gone and he's sleeping a lot.  He is an old dog, but his spark is missing right now.  It may return, but not for another month or so, if at all.  Here's hoping Dieter can find pleasure in Max's company and mine and not pine himself into an early grave over loosing his tiny buddy.

Jack and Emma are the least affected by this loss.  They really weren't close with her; she was just a part of their lives five days a week, but not a close companion to them.  They are playing like normal and training with the normal enthusiasm as before, but are not pining over Attitude's loss.  The one most affected in the house, outside of me, is Dieter and it is he I am paying extra attention to right now.

Jack is aware of my moods and that I am sad and when I start to tear up or cry he moves in and puts his head in my lap to comfort me.  For him, the loss has more to do with my unstable moods right now than anything.  He's a very empathetic dog and as such gives a lot of love and attention to the humans around him when they are sad - especially the ones he cares about.

The next few weeks my moods will range from calm and content to sad and broken hearted.  Though I had expected her death for a long time, the reality still hurts like an SOB.

Today's Lessons:

Zen

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 2 Zen.  In this step Jack is asked to ignore a treat that is lying on the floor for up to 10 seconds.  Today I started with Hand Zen to remind him we are playing the Zen game and then went to Floor Zen.  I started with just the exposed treat and worked up to 15 seconds - thus working toward Level 2: Step 3 Zen.  By the end of our 4th session Jack was able to ignore the treat on the floor for 30 seconds.  Jack has passed Level 2: Step 2 Zen at my home and needs to now pass it at his home.

Jack is now working on Level 2: Step 3 Zen.

Sit

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 2 Sit.  In this step Jack is asked to remain in a sit for 30 seconds while I stand 5 feet away from him.  I haven't worked Sit with Jack in a while, so I began at Level 2: Step 1 Sit, walking 5 feet away from Jack.  Jack had a problem with this step, so we did a review.  The included video shows some of that review.  I am working on Jack being okay with my moving around him in any direction and remaining in a sit.  Jack did well with this once reminded, but once again began to slide into a Flat when working this lesson.

I decided, because of his constantly sliding into a Flat, to work on this step outside.  Jack did amazingly well with this lesson outside in the yard.  I worked on walking around him and away from him at any direction of the compass.  Did was doing extremely well and kept his sit while working this lesson.

Jack will continue this lesson.

Observations

What a sweet and lovely boy Jack is.  He's got so much going for him with his gentle nature and soft personality.  He does have a soft personality though and that means I need to build his confidence up in tiny slices as I introduce new concepts to him.  I don't wish to frighten him and do wish to embolden him, so each success he has will slowly build him into a soft, gentle and confident dog who can work under high stress situations.

Unlike Emma, who shuts down when her stress levels rise, Jack doesn't.  He is willing and able to work through stressful situations and test his metal against whatever I am teaching him.  A lot of this has to do with their age differences.  They are six months apart in age and Jack, as an older dog, can handle stress better than Emma can.  With age Emma will begin to handle stress better - but for now, I must approach each of them as individuals with similar personalities to give them the confidence they need to perform their jobs.

Jack is doing well and enjoys outings regularly with Ronda, who is taking small steps with him to build his public access skills.  Thank you Ronda for taking your time with Jack and giving him high success in many locations without over stressing him or placing him into too high a stimulation area.

Level 1

	Zen	Target	Come	Sit	Down
Step	Completed	Completed	2	Completed	Completed

Level 2

	Zen	Come	Sit	Down	Target
Step	3	0	1	1	1
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	0	1	1	2	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