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Training, and more training
Aug. 7th, 2012 04:01 pmI can't believe what a difference cool evenings and mornings make in my dogs' energy levels. It's amazing! I went from thinking "hey, they're finally settling down a little" in July to "holy cow, what do I have on my hands" these last couple of days. But hey, that must means more training, right?
Jodah - more jump-wrapping and tight quarters jumping, collection, and learning the discipline of keeping bars up. I'm only doing 2-obstacle sequences in the yard, more when I rent floor time in a less distracting environment. His attention is particularly bad in the back yard due to the beagles who have taken up residence in the yard kitty-corner behind us - they're very cute, nice dogs, but they like to chase each other around in circles and bay at the top of their lungs. It's cute, but yeah. Jodah thinks someone should go boss them around and tell them which way to run. But, when he does have focus, he's retrieving now! zomg! A combination of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nosemovie's 3 bumper game and pairing a food reward with a successful retrieve has worked, at least for his favoriteist-ever toy (note, ours no longer has a handle, because handles are stupid and must be chewed off)- and he finally seems to be getting that if he brings it back to me, I'll throw it for him again. We're also learning some core-strength tricks which will do double-duty for the freestyle portion of an ARF class we're taking. Maybe one day this dog will know where his hind end is and what to use it for ;-)
Riley - working on some more complicated sequences, and distance work. More obstacle focus. And most recently, starting dumbbell work for obedience. Riley's always been a retrieving machine, so I'm not worried about that part, so right now I'm shaping the picking it up properly behavior and having her hold it until I take it from her mouth. What I struggle with *most* with shaping? I try to take things too fast. I want the finished behavior way too soon. So I'm trying my hardest not to push to too much. I take the bell quickly from her before she has a chance to mess it up. I'm not asking for any distance yet. She doesn't have to be in front position. All of that will come. Patience.
My hip and both knees have been extra painful these last couple of weeks, so the running I'm doing in training has been somewhat limited. I'll see the doctor soon if it doesn't subside with my PT exercises and some extra stretching/yoga.
Jodah - more jump-wrapping and tight quarters jumping, collection, and learning the discipline of keeping bars up. I'm only doing 2-obstacle sequences in the yard, more when I rent floor time in a less distracting environment. His attention is particularly bad in the back yard due to the beagles who have taken up residence in the yard kitty-corner behind us - they're very cute, nice dogs, but they like to chase each other around in circles and bay at the top of their lungs. It's cute, but yeah. Jodah thinks someone should go boss them around and tell them which way to run. But, when he does have focus, he's retrieving now! zomg! A combination of
nosemovie's 3 bumper game and pairing a food reward with a successful retrieve has worked, at least for his favoriteist-ever toy (note, ours no longer has a handle, because handles are stupid and must be chewed off)- and he finally seems to be getting that if he brings it back to me, I'll throw it for him again. We're also learning some core-strength tricks which will do double-duty for the freestyle portion of an ARF class we're taking. Maybe one day this dog will know where his hind end is and what to use it for ;-)Riley - working on some more complicated sequences, and distance work. More obstacle focus. And most recently, starting dumbbell work for obedience. Riley's always been a retrieving machine, so I'm not worried about that part, so right now I'm shaping the picking it up properly behavior and having her hold it until I take it from her mouth. What I struggle with *most* with shaping? I try to take things too fast. I want the finished behavior way too soon. So I'm trying my hardest not to push to too much. I take the bell quickly from her before she has a chance to mess it up. I'm not asking for any distance yet. She doesn't have to be in front position. All of that will come. Patience.
My hip and both knees have been extra painful these last couple of weeks, so the running I'm doing in training has been somewhat limited. I'll see the doctor soon if it doesn't subside with my PT exercises and some extra stretching/yoga.
