16 Months: Training - Day 39

Jack spent a 4 day weekend with Ronda.  She had taken the time off for the Memorial Weekend in hopes to go camping, but had injured her back so badly a week earlier that she was unable to leave for her trip.  Instead, Jack spent the weekend curled up with her and giving her comfort while she recovered.

I am happy to say that for the first time in over a week Ronda was almost walking normally.  Jack truly needs to learn how to do retrieves, something Ronda could have badly used with this injury (something that happens to her whenever she has to bend too many times and I've seen her like this before).  This means working hard on his other foundation skills that build up to the retrieve.

In that spirit Jack entered my home today to work on shaping.  I spent the day working on two skills that build his understanding that he makes me click and  forces him to think of what I am asking of him.  It was a good day for training for Jack, but a bad day of no play.  Emma injured her ACL at the end of last week and is on restricted activity, which means that Jack and her cannot just relax and play like they normally do.

I do want to mention I have noted that Jack's concept of waiting to get what he wants is still very poor.  Though he's offering some level of "other dog Zen" and I am seeing Zen creep into his daily life, his idea of waiting for a treat or not mugging a person who is eating or even not jumping on his Mom when she comes to pick him up is low.

I have setup some "Zen" traps in my home.  Emma fell for one and learned quickly that if a bone, even a new tasty one, is not on the floor for her to have she cannot just take it and chew on it.  I have placed a bone in the window sill by my front door.  It is now being left alone without issue by her and Jack.  I also left a slice of cooked bacon on my counter today for  most of the day and noted no dog attempted to get on the counter to steal it.  This is fantastic, because it tells me where Jack is on his Zen concepts.  Jack has Zen issues with people in general.

Today's Lessons:

Sit

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Sit.  In this step Jack is asked to sit while I walk 5 feet away from him.  Jack is able to do this now 90% of the time I work on this step.  He is also able to handle my walking around him in both directions and walking 5 feet to his left and right.  Jack is about to pass this step.

In the training I am doing with Jack on this step he's working in a low distraction setting and has little problem with the lesson.  On the other hand, working with his Mom when she arrives is very different.  Today we started his lesson on sitting and waiting for her to walk up to him.  With her back finally on the mend enough to give her relief and return her to her normal pain levels, the last thing I wanted was for Jack's jumping up on her and bouncing off of her to reflare her spasms.

I put Jack on lead and stood on it when I opened the door.  I had put Emma in the bathroom and let Max and Dieter exit the house when I opened the door.  I told Ronda to walk toward him only if he was sitting and to stop when he broke his sit.  It took us up to 5 minutes before Ronda could cross the 5 feet to him while he was seated.

Once she got to him he jumped up and I took the lead and walked him away from her.  He had to walk back on a loose lead (which he defaults too) and great her calmly.  Whenever he got too excited or he jumped I once again walked him away and returned him to his Mom.  In the end he stood close to her and kept his cool.  It took a total of 10 minutes to work through this, but Jack learned a lot and got the ultimate reward of greeting his Mom when he succeeded.

We'll continue this process to teach Jack to calmly greet her when she comes to pick him up.

Shaping

Today I wanted to teach Jack about his body and his ability to make me click.  I also wanted to work on Jack learning to think and try new things.  When Jack gets confused he lays down and stops moving and I want to break him out of that pattern and teach him he can and should offer me behaviors to find out what I am asking of him.

To do this I worked with him on sitting in a box.  Jack has had a couple of lessons with the box before and he's getting the clue the box has something to do with the lesson, but not what yet.  Today he tried sniffing, sitting and laying by the box.  I would toss the treats off to the side for him and to my amazement Jack looked at the tossed treat and then to me, I gave him the go ahead to eat them and he got up and did so.  So, my Zen training is taking, just not in some areas I need it!

Jack did get his front feet in the box once today, but he's not fully into shaping with the box.  I think I'll continue this lesson until Jack gets the idea he can do many things with the box to get a click.

Observations

Jack is a sweet and loving boy, but he's a bit clingy and pushy with his need to be in on everything.  He needs more real life experience in Zen and lessons on Communication in regards to giving space when people are walking through the house.  Jack is progressing nicely and this week should be fun as we work our way into shaping behaviors with the box.

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	4
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	1	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

15 Months: Training - Day 38

Food Dish Zen - Max, Attitude and Dieter.

Attitude always struggled with Zen also.

Zen, the foundation to all the other behaviors Jack needs, seems to be his hardest lesson. Jack is better than when he arrived and had zero Zen behaviors, but he's still putting his nose in or on everything and tries at least once a day to steal a treat out of another dog's mouth while I am training them.  His "other dog working Zen" is improving daily, but he's still struggling with it. So, I chant daily with him, "Zen, Zen and Zen!"

Zen; what is it?  It's the ability to wait to get a reward.  To wait to get the reward to go outside or his turn for a treat when I am doling them out to the entire household or a pet or even to get his treat AFTER he's done a behavior and not try to take it from my hand BEFORE.  Zen means wait and you'll get what you desire - most of the time anyway.

So, here is Jack, Mr. Impatient himself, trying to figure out exactly what I want and he's starting to get it.  The classes I have taken with Emma, which has had some new material as compared to the same class when I took it with Max, has helped.  That new material has given me more tools for explaining Zen.  Max's classes have also worked. In Max's classes we are learning how to ramp up or calm down a dog depending on our needs.  In this case, Jack needs to be calmed down around treats - and he's getting it.

So, Mr. Impatient is starting to display true Zen behaviors in certain situations - the more I explain and the better I explain what I want will lead to him offering it in all situations.  Here's hoping for that happening.

One thing he needs serious Zen in is "Mom is home Zen".  Ronda has done something to her back and has been in terrible pain.  She's walking like poor Dieter was at the beginning of the week.  I can see it wearing her and slowing her down.  She's clearly struggling with the pain and Jack's over reaction to her returning home is only adding to that pain.  Jack jumps on her and mugs her when she returns and that is something we'll need to stop.  I think tomorrow Jack will learn jumping at her will result in being stuffed in my front bathroom - he simply needs to learn calm when she returns home.

I do want to apologize to Ronda.  I was on the phone with my Mom when she arrived to pick up Jack and my son was there.  I didn't have time to chat or even dress Jack and manage the dogs.  I felt bad because I felt rude to my best friend when she picked up her very energetic boy and my sending Walter out to help her get him dressed.  I am sorry I didn't give you any time to chat or find out how things went - I wasn't ignoring you, honestly!

Today's Lessons:

Zen

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 3 Zen.  In this step Jack is asked to wait 30 seconds while a treat is on the floor.  Jack is not ready for this - 1 second is a life time to him right now.  I am still working on quick rewards for eye contact and working the same basic lessons I did yesterday.  Jack is improving rapidly on these and I am starting to see the confidence in the game which means he's finally understanding.

Once Jack is able to offer Zen the moment he knows a treat is in my hand we'll be well on the way to solid Zen behavior.  I will continue to remind and refresh on Zen behavior until Jack becomes the Zen King.

Observations

I believe a stronger job of controlling Jack's greeting of Ronda when she comes to pick him up is required.  His jumping and mugging is a clear sign he loves her, but not appropriate behavior and needs to be redirected.  I will think on various ways to explain to him what I want and work with Ronda on teaching him a calmer greeting routine.

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	4
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	1	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

15 Months: Training - Day 37

I see this a lot during the day.

This is Wednesday's blog post.  My week has been so full with building raised beds and caring for Dieter and dealing with server issues with my day job that I am running behind on a lot of basic work for the dogs!  Jack is doing great though and I am very proud with how well he occupies himself when I am busy.

Jack and Emma have been playing hard when we have outside time and learning a lot of new thing while he's here.  He started the week with power saws and power drills while my Mom and I built four new raised beds for my yard and I was pleased to see him sleep through the process.  He has been doing well on letting other dogs eat out of their bowls without trying to help and he's starting to off "other dog training Zen", though it is so very hard to do.

He's also spent the week giving me snuggles and hugs a lot.  He's a very affectionate dog and loves to give kisses or just be held in a hug - something dogs normally don't like, but he hugs back and he loves it.

I also shaved his face. He was squinting through the fur on his face and I finally couldn't take it anymore and took my clippers to him.  At first he and I were playing a dance of "how do we do this" and by the end of the clipping he was reluctant, but willing to let me finish the job.  He and I are now working on "clippers can make you feel happy" by my pulling them out and having him touch them with his nose and giving him a treat.  After three days of this he is wagging the moment he sees the clippers.  I have had them unplugged sometimes and plugged others and done it with them both on and off (he doesn't nose touch if they are on, just looks at them).

But with the busy week our training schedule has been off a bit and he's not working on lessons as often or long as he was before his vacation.  Hopefully next week will be better for both of us.

Today's Lessons:

Zen

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 3 Zen.  In this step Jack is asked to stay away from a treat on the floor for 30 seconds.  Jack's Zen has been his weakest point.  He simply cannot keep his mind around food and he's very very very very hand oriented.  He loves to nibble on fingers when he's excited - though there is not pressure or malice in the act - it is a sign that he has a problem with self control regarding hands.

I have been working Zen in as many ways as I can find to help him keep his nose, teeth and tongue under control.  Jack would be fantastic at Zen if his mouth would just listen to his brain!  In Emma's Finishing School class we were shown a few ways to explain Zen to the dogs and I am using those techniques with Jack to further explain to him what I want.

I am asking him to look to me, not my hand, not the treat, but me when he sees the Zen hand.  I have not added the cue back in yet and won't until he's got total control of himself - Jack simply gets too excited and tries stealing treats out of my hands the moment he smells them.

These new techniques are working.  One is to hold treats in both hands off to the sides at shoulder level.  Jack can look at my hand all he wants, but he will not get a treat until he looks at my face.  He quickly got this idea, since it gave him a clear "what to do" action, and he was quickly locking into my face and eyes and not even looking at the hands.  When I said "Yes" to mark he did right I would feed a treat from the hand he did not look at.

Another technique places the treats on a chair or my knee and again he's not to look at the food, but into my face.  He had a harder time with this at first, but soon had it and was a champ.  Each time he looked into my eyes I would click and feed a treat from the pile right into his mouth.

Taking the second technique further I put a pile of treats on the floor and would only pick up and hand him one when he looked me in the eyes.  Again, the click happened when he focused on me and not the food.  This one again threw him for a loop and he was on his side, sliding into home with tongue in action trying to slurp a treat from under my protective hand.  He got it in the end, but he had a hard time with this concept.

We worked for his entire lunch on this lesson.

Sit

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Sit.  In this step Jack is asked to sit while I walk 5 feet away from him.  Jack has a hard time with this concept.  He wants to get up and follow, something he does naturally with people he likes, and finds my walking away too tempting not to follow me.

He is starting to get the concept and I am starting to see confidence in his sit when I walk away or around him. He is starting to build duration on every 10th time I walk away and we got up to 6 seconds by the end of his breakfast!  Great job!

Observatons

Jack is a sweet boy who loves people in general.  Once he considers you part of his world he's like glue on you. I am one of his "people" and he loves to see me.  He gives hugs and kisses and even just leans into me and rests his head in my lap off and on all day long.  He is the most affectionate dog I have ever met.

He has a hard time therefore being separated from his people.  Learning Distance and Duration will give Jack more confidence and he should come out of Level 2 with an extremely solid foundation in key behaviors of Sit, Down and Stay.

Jack is doing a great job and I am not worried about his progress at this time.

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	4
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	1	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

15 Months: Training - Day 36

Jack is learning to sit for duration.

Yes folks, Jack is back!  Jack went on a 10 day trip with Ronda and experienced a lot of exciting events.  He stayed in hotels, visited restaurants and even went to a Zoo.  He did fantastic on his trip and was able to do some service dog work while he traveled.  When at the Zoo, Ronda had difficulty going up a hill, which is part of what Jack is being trained to assist with, and he was able to provide the forward momentum work she needed to finish climbing the hill.  She also experienced times when her balance went awry and he was able to assist with her maintaining her balance and not fall.  Great job, Big Boy!

He was also able to attend a graduation and the reception afterwards.  What a busy time for Jack.  He soared through without much issue.  He had a couple of events that frightened him, but Ronda handled the situations properly and he gained confidence.

Today he walked through my gate like he never left.  We had seen each other over the weekend and the moment he'd seen me he jumped up and hugged me.  I am clearly a person he loves and enjoys seeing.  He was thrilled when I just fed him his breakfast, since my Mom was over and we were in the process of making raised beds for my yard.

Today Jack settled into the life of visiting Auntie Charlie by playing in the yard, wrestling with Emma and stealing Max's Frisbee whenever he could.  He was a perfect gentleman and I noted several wonderful changes with him.

Before he left for his vacation with Ronda he was a bit sound sensitive and jumpy when things fell.  He slept next to the tree, less than 8 feet away from the saw horses where we were using a power saw to cut wood.  He just looked when boards dropped to the ground or we dropped a tool.  He even looked when I accidently dropped my grab stick on him - a complete change from Mr. Turtle who would flip over onto his back and flail his legs in the air when things fell around him.

Jack is a very stable dog who I have little doubt will succeed in becoming a fantastic service dog in no time.

Today's Lessons:

Sit

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Sit.  In this step Jack is asked to maintain his sit while I walk up to 5 feet away from him.  At first he had a bit of problems with this step and then seemed to settle in and remember what I was asking.  We had worked on this before and he was close to handling the concept, but hadn't perfected it yet.

Today I worked on a bit of duration while standing five feet away from him. One nice thing to see with his return is he isn't sliding into home like he did previously.  I had him slide into a down only once and after that he had a stronger and more controlled sit.  I do believe he's strengthened his stomach muscles, which has made doing the sit sit for duration easier.

I only got one training session in today, since I had a busy morning building raised bed boxes and caring for my male Dachshund, Dieter, who ruptured a disc in his back.  Dieter requires a lot of personal care when he goes outside.

Instead, Jack got to settle back into the routine of coming to my home and training with a light training day and lots of good play.

Observations

Jack is maturing into a fine dog.  He's still a goofy boy who enjoys playing and is a calm boy who can lay and quietly watch me work.  He is confident when dealing with new situations and gentle when meeting people.  He can be a bit of an alarmist when seeing another dog or person at a distance, but I am working on that.  He isn't when on lead, just when in the yard, but it is something I am working on with him, Max and Emma.

Today I shaved his face down, since his face hair had grown long again.  He's due for grooming and Ronda is arranging his appointment, but until then I decided he'd be more comfortable if he wasn't squinting through the hair on his face.  He's not totally comfortable with the idea of being shaved, but let me do it.

I will have to work on clicking for grooming to make a required part of his life easier on him.  I will include that in his daily training.  I will keep everyone updated on his progress.

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	4
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	1	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

14 Months: Training - Day 35

This training board allows the dogs to practice new skills.

Jack is progressing nicely with Target.  Like Emma, I decided to work on a single behavior this week to get him really thinking about what I was asking of him and it made a huge difference in his learning curve.  Today I pulled out the training board and worked with Jack pushing the "door" shut during his breakfast.  He was trying to solve the problem, but not really fully involved and it dawned on me that I have been asking both Emma and him to do behaviors that require a bit higher value reward to get them engaged in the training.

I chopped up some hot dog and cheese and added it to his kibble for lunch and sure enough, Jack was ready and willing to play my games and stayed engaged and involved the whole time we worked.  I even saw the "hey, why did we stop" look when I told him it was break time.

Once Jack knows a behavior he offers it with total commitment, but until then he's tentative and shy about offering anything.  I don't think he's fully equated that there is technically no wrong answer, just no click.  He'll get it and start offering more active behaviors when he's trying to get me to click.

It's been a great week with Jack and I believe he's progressing in both his basic training and public access training nicely.  I hope soon he can attend his first class and really begin expanding his horizons.

Today's Lessons:

Target

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 5 Target.  In this step Jack is asked to close a cabinet door with his nose. Jack yesterday got the idea to touch a flat surface, a wall, with his nose on cue, so today I brought out the training board and showed him what we are actually working toward.  Jack was curious about and willing to work with the training board and progressed nicely on his morning lessons.  He was touching the "door" on the board with enough force to move it and eventually close it.

On our afternoon sessions we worked with an actual cabinet door.  Jack closed the door several times, but he's still shy and tentative with the behavior, so we'll continue to work this step for a while.

Jack is progressing nicely.

Homework

Jack needs to practice Level 2 Target - both the steps and Comeafters this weekend.

Work on Come as a good thing.  When out in the yard call Jack to you and give him a reward for coming to you.  Teach Jack to come quickly by making Come fun when just relaxing in and out of the house.

Observations

Jack will be heading to a new adventure soon.  Ronda, his owner, has a vacation planned in which she'll be traveling with Jack.  I won't be seeing him during that period of time, though I will be caring for her Dachshund DJ.  I believe Jack will enjoy his travels and practicing his skills while out in the world.

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	4
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	1	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

14 Months: Training - Day 34

Max Demos Level 2 Target

I know I don't talk about Jack going on field trips much and that is because Ronda has been taking him to scheduled locations herself and reporting back how he's doing on each one.  Jack, as an older dog, can handle longer and more distracting field trips than Emma currently and like most adult dogs who are learning how to become a service dog, he's able to do a lot of On The Job (OJT) training that would otherwise be taught to a puppy in the home before ever taking it on the road.  Such things as duration and positioning actually seem to make more sense to an adult dog when learning while training in the field than they do in the home - though I am uncertain why this is so.

Yesterday Jack was pushed a little harder on his OJT by going to two different locations for training public access.  One location was a previously known location that he's gone to three separate times, thus making it a low stimulation outing, and the other was a high stimulation outing to Burlington Coat Factory.

I attended the second outing with Ronda, since I was shopping for clothing for job interviews and watched how Ronda and Jack work in public.  Jack is still rubber necking in a new location, which is typical of a dog who is early in public access training, but he's staying by her side, handling the stress well and listening and responding promptly to cues.  She did a great job of keeping him on track, teaching him that when she's "looking" at something he's to stay at her side and wait for her and even helping him deal with staying quietly with her in an open changing room while I changed my clothing and tried out the new duds.

Jack was worried when I closed the door between him and I and I could hear Ronda clicking and treating him at a fantastic rate of re-enforcement until he calmed, learned to stay in a small room with her and sit by her.  When I had finished trying on clothes Jack was curious, but not showing high stress signs.

At one point Jack and Ronda went to the car to retrieve my ID for me and when they returned Jack displayed the "been here, done that" behavior I would expect for a dog who'd already been in a new location and returned to it.  Overall, Jack's learning curve was challenged, but not pushed beyond his ability to deal with a new setting and helped him learn he can handle more than he thought he could before.  It was a very successful public access outing and I am pleased with how Ronda has been working Jack in his public access training.

I will continue to access Jack's public outings and every so often attend with him, but for the most part, I believe that Ronda and Jack are working well together and developing a strong trust.

Today's Training:

Target

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 4 Target.  In this step Jack is asked to touch a post it note on a wall with his nose.  Yesterday I introduced Jack to touching a post it note and quickly worked it to the wall. Jack was worried and lacked confidence with the lesson and though we managed to get several good touches on the post it note, he was doing his "I am not certain" behavior of laying down and looking about or tuning out when doing the lesson.

Today I returned to the lesson, but removed the wall from the equation and instead brought out a training board and put the post it note on that.  Again I was seeing some avoidance behavior and lack of confidence he knew what I wanted of him.  I worked both his breakfast and lunch on this lesson today.

He's getting the idea that I want him to use his nose on the board, and is starting to take note of the post it on the board, but hasn't fully gained confidence in the lesson.  By the final lesson he was touching the post it 85% of the time with his nose and using some good pressure, but I was doing a lot of cheer leading to keep him up on his feet and really engage him in the lesson.

I'll continue to work this lesson until Jack is confident with it and then work to him closing a cabinet door with his nose.

Observations

I love Jack's tail.  When I click it flashes with a wag, telling me that sound means happy things to him.  When I talk to him or say Yes in a lesson he's again wagging his tail rapidly.  When he's confident it's up like a flag and when he's uncertain it varies from even with his spine to all the way down.  The tail tells me how he feels about a lesson and how confident he's feeling. 

Last night I was watching an upright tail which was waving or wagging madly most of the time.  He was happy and enjoying our outing.  During out lessons today his tail told a different story.  It was down, briefly going into action with the clicks, but otherwise tucked tight and telling me he has zero confidence in what I am asking of him.  By the end of the day it was even with his spine - it's the start of "I think I know what you want" and soon will be up.  I love Jack's tail.

There is another factor in play here and any Poodle owner will tell you I am not far off in reading this dog.  Poodles, in general, like to know WHY you are asking them to do something and may find our silly human games unworthy of their energy.  Jack hasn't seen WHY I am asking for nose targeting on a post it note, and thus is uncertain that what I am asking is worth his energy.  He's not blowing me off or giving me the paw, he simply has a sharp enough mind to wonder what the final picture is and without the picture on the puzzle box to refer too, tends to be leery I know what I am doing.  Jack is willing to try out my silly games, but it takes a bit to get him into them and show him the rewards for him are worth his effort.  He's just figuring out that touching a note on a board may pay well enough to join me and figure out what I am asking.

Gotta love a dog's logic!

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	4
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	1	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

14 Months: Training - Day 33

Max uses Target to turn off a light.

Jack has started his training to become a mobility support dog.  At 14 months his joints can now handle mild pressure on them as we teach him how to brace and support Ronda when she looses her balance.  In time, around 16 to 18 months of age we'll begin to teach him how to help her stand from the floor and a chair when that task is needed.  We are taking it slow with Jack on these tasks so we don't injure his joints while training him - the last thing we'd ever want to do when training a service dog.

Jack is also working head long into a task Ronda needs sooner than later.  I have watched her struggle to pick up things that have fallen to the floor and even ask Max, who has full retrieve skills, to help her when he's nearby.  Like me, Ronda has only so many bends in her day and by the end of work she's in such pain and so stiff she simply can't do the tiny things that need to be done around the house - like pick up the dog food dishes or items on the floor that have been placed their by her other dogs or cats.  In the yard she needs help with hoses and tools that she's using and are below her waist.  With Jack helping her pain levels will be lowered and her ability to do more, for both home and work, will increase.

So, I am working on Jack learning the precursors to Retrieve and Brace.  Brace is a Stand with a Stay and his body in alignment so he isn't off balance or at risk of injury for himself or his handler.  I am working on duration skills with him currently to build that concept and help him understand what "Brace" truly means in his world.

Retrieve is a form of targeting where he locates and then picks up and hands an object to his handler.  To start this Jack needs solid Level 1 and Level 2 Target before he can become comfortable with and work on Level 3 Retrieve.  Jack has good Level 1 Target skills, now it's time to teach him he can target objects as well as feet and hands.

Today's Lessons:

Target

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Target.  In this step Jack is asked to touch a wooden object with his nose.  I used both a wooden spatula and a pencil.  Jack passed this step.

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 2 Target.  In this step Jack is asked to touch a plastic object with his nose.  I used a plastic scraper.  Jack passed this step.

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 3 Target.  In this step Jack is asked to touch a metal object with his nose.  I used a ladle.  Jack passed this step.

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 4 Target.  Jack is asked to touch a sticky note on a wall with his nose.  I at first put the post it note in my palm and clicked for targeting it there.  I then moved it to the wheel of my power chair and clicked for targeting it there.  When I placed it on the wall it made Jack worried and stressed, so I went back to the post it note in my palm and worked to touching the note when my hand rested on the wall and then slowly put the note on the wall.  Jack is not comfortable with this step yet and we'll continue to work it.

Jack made amazing progress with Target today!

Observatoins

When I was working Target with Jack today and he became stressed about the post it note on the wall I had to remove several factors to make the lesson possible for him.  I was sitting next to the wall with my power chair, so I moved the chair and then later parked the chair and got out of it to train Jack on just the post it note and not worry about the power chair in the equation just yet.  He would run and pull into himself and even hide behind me when he became stressed, but was able to work through the stress and return to make efforts at what I was asking of him.  I am uncertain why the wall threw him so badly, but I believe by the time he was laying by it and reaching out to touch the post it note, he was relaxing and able to think again.

When Jack becomes stressed like this he needs a lot of reassurance that whatever frightened him isn't going to eat him.  He trusts that I and Ronda will protect him most of the time and therefore is willing to come and try the new thing out, even if he's frightened, if we ask him too.  The key to this is giving him loads of success using Level 1 Behaviors once he's returned to face the fright that sent him away.  I did this today with using Level 1 Target to build back up to Level 2 Target.

Jack is able to do this job, he just needs more confidence builders to help him cope better with stress as he matures.  I don't see any reason to worry about Jack's progress at this time.

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	4
	Focus	Lazy Leash	Go To Mat	Crate	Distance
Step	1	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

14 Months: Training - Day 32

It took a while, but Max figured out he has back feet.

My job as a trainer doesn't just include the focused training I do with Jack and Emma each day, but also the day to day living I do with them.  Both Jack and Emma have been taught what is acceptable chew toys and what is not by careful maintenance on my part.  Though I do leave my shoes and slippers out, I watch to see if they are being taken by one of the dogs.  If I find them with one I trade them for something more acceptable for them to chew on, such as a toy, treat or bone.  When Jack was first visiting my home he had no concept of what was okay to chew on and what wasn't, and had he been left at his home all day long he would have very quickly learned bad habits when left alone.

Jack tried to chew on my recliner, TV tray table and wheel chair in the first two days of being in my home.  With a gentle redirect on my part I showed him he had plenty of appropriate things he could chew on and thus prevented him from becoming the great furniture eater he could have been.  The same happened in the yard - Jack and Emma love to dig and both have had adventures in my raised beds.  Since they've had minor success in my raised beds, I have since been very diligent on redirecting them to remaining in my line of sight and will build for both of them a "dig" spot in my yard where they have my permission to dig for hidden items.  I will train this, since I don't want them returning to my raised beds, but do want them to enjoy an activity they wish to participate in.  One way is to take them to the spot they can dig and show them they have hidden goodies, such as stuffed Kongs and beef hooves and bones hidden within the sand or dirt I provide for them.  Another way is to be the keeper of that resource by having it covered unless it is dig time and then making a big deal out of letting them dig in that spot.

Jack has also learned how to live with cats, both here at my home and at his.  He's learned that my cat doesn't want his attention, though he was very gentle and just curious, and one of the cats at his home enjoys his attention.  Jack has learned not all cats are friends, but all cats are to be respected and not chased.

Between focused training sessions Jack is learning to relax and nap or play quietly at my feet when I am busy.  He's also learned that he can't rush the door, must sit for petting when company comes and what power chairs are about when they move about the house.  Today he even did his first walk next to my chair while on the wheelchair lead.

Though I may spend a part of my day focused on a specific behavior, I spend the rest enforcing those behaviors by having him earn life rewards with them.  Want the attention of a favored guest, sit.  Want to go outside, sit.  What I ask of him is within his abilities and extends his lessons.  Jack has become a fabulous indoor dog who can now hold his bladder and not pee in my home, doesn't chew on furniture or non-toy items and is polite with guests.  Jack is learning a lot more in my home than just what I list in his lessons and he's doing a fantastic job of it.

Today's Lessons:

Sit

Jack is working on Level 2: Step 1 Sit.  In this step Jack is asked to sit while I walk five feet away from him and return.  Jack is able to do this, but tends to slide into a Flat after a few seconds.  I am working on Jack remaining in the position before advancing at this point.

Today I asked Jack to sit while was seated in my recliner and began to build duration in his sit.  Jack can remain in a seated position for about 5 to 6 seconds before sliding into a Flat and relaxing.  Whenever he slid into a Flat I stopped the training and went about my own business.

My friend Robin called and we discussed this.  Her dog, Jonathon, did the same thing around Jack's age and she too found it hard to build duration on a Sit when he kept sliding into a Flat.  Her solution was to teach duration using Brace instead.

I believe, after working through Jack's breakfast and having him slide repeatedly into a Flat, that I will begin working on duration while Jack is working on Brace.  This means that for now I will not be working on Flat with Jack until I have a solid 15 second duration with Brace and Sit.  This may take up to a week or more before Jack is able to return to training Flat.

Observations

Jack is one of those dogs that is willing to lay down beside you and wait until you are ready to do something.  This makes him especially easy to teach Relax too, but very difficult to teach duration in position too.  At least, when it's time for him to go to work with Ronda, he'll be willing to settle at her side and sleep the day out and enjoy it as much as he would moving along with her.

Jack is very smart and I have found that if I show him two or three times what I am asking for he gets the idea.  He's now seen Emma and Max walk beside the power chair and as such, when I clipped the lead to him and worked on walking with my power chair he fell right into position and worked nicely with it.  Next week I hope to have given them enough millage in the house that they can begin work on the ramp and then out on the street in front of the house.  I will work on both of them turning with and walking with the power chair where their feet are safe and they are comfortable going at faster and faster paces.

I also need to spend the remainder of this week teaching Jack he has a rear end.  I am afraid he'll knock Dieter off of the ramp and hurt him because he's unaware of his back end.  I will work on back end games this week to build up to his turning properly with the chair and paying attention to his butt when turning.

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	1	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