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