Training diary, page2

14-15 weeks

In the countryside with Petra and Nuusku (10years old Finnish Lapphund). I was clicking the both dogs. It was awesome and I felt like a pro *grin*. Introduced target stick to Nuusku and she caught it immediately. Nuusku was extremely excited about clicking!
I was able to add more distance with Diesel's target stick "go-out" (I guess I cannot call them go-outs just yet..).

At home again and have no idea what has happened.. Maybe someone has switched dogs without me noticing it. Diesel has become an angel. This is the most well-behaved puppy I've seen. Even outside, when meeting other dogs I EXIST!
Heeling is going well, even outside (I try it only short time). Added cue to heeling indoors.
Practising "the finish" (not sure why - I'm not going to compete with her. I guess it's an old habit..) and started "stand".

WHOAH! I guess I should've kept my mouth shut. She turned from an angel to a Tasmanian Devil. Absolutely no control. Outside was terrible! Lunging, pulling, lunging, pulling. I wonder what's going on here.
OK, found out - one look at the mouth and she's teething. Ooooh brother. Patience Laura, patience, patience, patience. No clicking for couple of days.
Bought a new kind of harness and it's better than the old one. Diesel has calmed down a bit. She won't let me finish our clicker sessions! WONDERFUL go-out session. The distance is not very long yet but longer than ever and she was so excited!

What's on cue at this point: sit, down, heel (almost), come, "hello" (=give paw), "kiss" (=touch my mouth gently with nose). It's beginning to look like she would understand stand?!

Oops, forgot few things from the above list! Diesel also knows "leave it" and "drop it", which is beginning to be surprisingly reliable. She also has a release cue; when we go to the dog park I ask her to sit and remove the harness, then open the park gate and she is not allowed to enter before I say "free". I don't make her sit there for long but I shut the gate if she's trying to take off before the cue. Works! If there are many wild dogs/pups, doesn't work so well. She also sits before crossing the road or going through the front door.
Teeth checking is a piece of cake these days, whereas nail clipping is not! I have simply not practised nail clipping at all because she doesn't need any. Arrrghh.

I'd like to teach her to find chanterelles (mushrooms) and started with that in the countryside during the weekend. However, I really have to think about it. I need a PLAN - a good plan. I'm not sure how to proceed..

This weeks theme: reduce pulling when going to the dog park!

Second vaccination. The vet, who's really a tough woman, does not do any "sweet-talk", is extremely frank (up to annoying) but also very competent, praised Diesel like I've never heard before. Diesel got very wild there, looked like stress to me. I kept treating her all the time to be able to have some control over her and finally after 40 minutes (we talked and talked and talked) I picked her up and kept her in my lap. The vet said the Customs would pay anything to get their hands on a puppy like Diesel and told me this puppy needs a lot of exercise and training; that I should take her to a training class immediately. She clearly expressed her doubts I would be capable of handling this great puppy i.e. she doubted I was able to train her properly, which of course, offended me. I told her Diesel gets to play with other dogs at least an hour a day. I also said I'm training her already but didn't say anything about clicker training, didn't want to take the chance.. (And I could tell she wasn't convinced..) I didn't ask Diesel to do anything, I was only trying to keep her in control somehow since all the time we chatted I couldn't focus on Diesel.

Our days go up and down. All of a sudden target stick wasn't much of interest! We had two very short (only 5 reps) stick sessions and Diesel wasn't too interested. Then I tried once more and almost ended the session but after 5 or 6 reps Diesel started to be the usual excited herself. Huh? Looked like she needed some warming up, really? I have tried not to change the criteria too fast, but have I? Or could it be it's too easy for her?

We had few very good walks. Small steps but I was very pleased. When we go for a walk Diesel walks very vigorously if she notices we're going to the dog park. The nearer we get, the faster she walks and starts pulling eventually. Near the park the pulling is bad so I stop and try to be a tree. That's not a problem, she sits immediately but the first step I take she pulls and lunges again. So I stop again. I don't know how else to handle this.. If I tried to walk the other way, I'd be literally dragging her with me, which I don't want to do. So I stop all the time. Then about 2 meters from the park I stop and won't move. Diesel sits there for awhile then tries to pull then starts screaming and barking and pulling. Then she sits again and finally turns to me screaming. Fine - to the park we go, that's what I wanted. I make her sit and wait the "free" cue which she did perfectly!!!
Next time I take a different route and decide not to go to the park but instead pass by. So we're at the park but don't go inside and Diesel sits there and won't move any other way. Then she starts screaming and barking. People inside tell me to let her in, "she clearly wants to play" (duh!). I tell them we're practising just walking by and that she's been there twice today already. They tell it's never going to work and look at me funnily and like I'm being soooo mean. I tell them I'm in no hurry and we'll see. Diesel barks awhile and then turns to me jumping and screaming and I go mad; I start praising her, playing with her and even toss a tennis ball for her and we're able to continue! I felt great. Few meters after we meet and old friend, a Newfoundland Dog "Ruffe" resting on the grass. Diesel actually walks by him with me! Never happened before. Then I decide to let her meet Ruffe. Again I felt great!
We need A LOT of work with this though.
Another difficult thing is when we're returning home. Near home Diesel starts lagging behind and often sits or goes down and doesn't want to move. I think it's often a calming signal but she can also stay there a loooong time (and we need to go home sometime!). Problem is, there's a very busy street so I can't throw the ball, can't leave her behind (which always works in places it's possible) and I have to focus on the traffic pretty much. Drives me nuts in the mornings when I'm easily grumpy. She used to sit in front of the front door not coming in but I started throwing the tennis ball for her whenever she came inside. That solved the problem. Tennis ball is her absolute favourite, she doesn't get to play with it freely. I don't know how to handle this constant sitting.

It finally happened. I yelled/ranted at Diesel. I didn't actually yell but more like ranted "c'MON, stop chewing that NOW, I've told you a dozen times!" in a nasty voice (I bet she understood every word..). OK, let's NOT make this a habit!!!
Diesel's been a real brat. Sigh. Then I decided to try a new way: whenever she starts getting on my nerves and wants attention, starts being impossible, I simply stop what I'm doing, go get the treats and we start a clicker session. She won't let me finish! She's screaming and whining when we end the session and trying to grab the clicker!
We've been playing a retrieve game a lot. I sit on the floor, toss the red ball and she brings it back to me. She actually throws herself at me. Then I started using the clicker. Whenever she brings the ball to me I praise her and when she gives/let's go the ball to me I click and throw it again. I haven't been consistent with "drop it"! Sometimes I ask her to give me the ball and click if she does, sometimes I click just giving the ball, without asking. I guess I should either ask her everytime and click when she gives it to me, or forget asking and click when she gives the ball to me.

Target stick is still "not-so-nice". So I tried this: I took her favourite indoors toy (=milk jar stuffed with kibble so it makes a loud noise) and used that as a reinforcement instead of a treat. She got very excited, almost out-of-control because of this but I was determined to try making target stick fun again. We only had like 5 repetitions and then I let her play with the toy. After few minutes we tried the stick again and she was much more willing. Hope it'll be so the next time. I'm going to put the stick aside for awhile now. OK, she seems to like paw whacking (targeting something on the floor - touching it with the paw) more than touching the stick with her nose (stick is the only object she has had to touch with her nose). Does she really like it better or am I somehow making it more fun?

I started object recognizing with the red ball. First free shaped her to touch the ball. I was amazed. Before we started, I was pretty sure it wouldn't work, that she would just start playing with the ball and nothing else but when she first turned her head towards the ball in order to grab it, I clicked and she looked at me wanting the treat! It was great and Diesel was very excited. She started pawing the ball, not taking it into her mouth (I did not try to make her grab it or touch it, I wanted to see what she would choose, but of course, at first I clicked before she touched the ball). This was a lot of fun. We had three sessions of approx.. 15-20 repetitions and one time Diesel tossed the ball to the other side of the room and I almost ended the session there (I did not expect her to find the ball) but Diesel just turned her head, looked at the ball and rushed after it. Great fun.
Next time I added another object (another toy) beside the ball. We had about 12 reps and she did not pick the other toy ONCE! Next time she made two mistakes during the session.

We should practice recalls MUCH more than we're doing!

What I started doing with the lagging behind: When we get close to home where she usually starts lagging, I start running just before she has time to sit so she has to follow and she does rather willingly. For two days now we've been running the last ten meters home. She appears to like it and isn't reluctant. I also started turning around and walking back on our way to the dog park. I'm hoping this would help to keep a closer eye on me and where I'm going, even when we seem to be going somewhere she likes to go.

17-18 weeks

I've actually been a bit lazy with clicker lessons lately. I've had lot on my mind and don't seem to have endless patience..

What we have done though. First week; started the finish using target stick. We had two absolutely fabulous periods (both included three 10 rep sessions). She went all around me and soo nicely. I clicked when she was beside me and after that asked her to sit. She was very attentive. During the next period I started asking her to sit before I clicked. Again, very nice. I have to stand near the wall, otherwise Diesel will turn to me. Then I changed place, still standing close to the wall and at first I had to split going around me in to two parts; clicked when she was half way through. Then I waited her to go around but praised while she did it. Again very good. Looks like target stick is back!

Outside will still work on pulling. One time, she wasn't actually pulling but tightened the leash so I stopped. Guess what? Diesel turned, came right back to me with a perfect finish!! Pulling has reduced a great deal. Going to the dog park goes really nicely, meeting other dogs during the walk doesn't yet go so nicely but I can see a change.

Awww.. Sometimes I'm soo tired of people! If you're interested, read a story about a woman who thought Diesel already has a good command of Finnish language <grin> (posted on CS list before).

We continued object recognitions. I had three different toys and she picked the ball :). We're not clicking much inside, but clicking a lot on our walks. That's why it feels we're not clicking much..

Diesel is beginning to walk pretty nicely outside. I sometimes continue past the dog park and she looks at me but then follows anyway. What I also like is that she glances at me every now and then when we walk.

I've also tried to go to the dog park in the middle of the day. That's when it's often empty so I try to take few lessons there, that's the only place I can keep her off-leash around here. We've been doing recalls, sometimes attention (which I think we could do more outside). I haven't had much luck with the target stick outside or any other "normal" clicking lessons. Still too much to handle for Diesel outside. This sometimes makes me desperate. I have no way of controlling distractions outside, I have no way of gradually increasing distractions. We have to do an enormous leap from low distraction to high distraction environment :(.

Wow.. there was dog fight at the dog park, you can read more about it if you're interested (posted on CS list before).

Truly awesome lessons! A revelation!
I was shaping "go to the mat". I suddenly realized how different my attitude was. What was different? First three sessions I was shaping one leg on the mat. I got some "two legs on the mat" and even four legs on the mat (which I jackpotted) during the very first session but I did not ask for anything more than one leg on the mat. In the beginning of the next session I clicked just looking for the mat and immediately started getting one paw on the mat. However, I only got maybe two trials of two legs on the mat. Never mind, I didn't ask for that so it didn't matter! Time for the third session and I got many both front paws on the mat, even two reps of four legs on the mat (jackpotted). Break and we started a new period. First I clicked for just one leg on the mat but after that I wanted two legs on the mat which I got and that session was two paws on the mat and so on and so on (you get the point).. always jackpotting if I got four legs on the mat but not asking four legs on the mat. OK.. so, the difference is... earlier, getting many two legs on the mat in one session would have made me think "Hey she got it! She understood it!" and I might have tried changing the criteria. Now I didn't. I just watched her legs, I just concentrated on what I'm getting, not thinking if she understands or not. I was not changing the criteria because I thought she understood it. I was changing the criteria because of what I got. I had made a plan on how to proceed but I let Diesel totally guide me within that plan. I didn't base the sessions on something I thought I got. I hope this makes sense... Now, I know this is very basic stuff, I know this why one should keep notes and I have kept notes and I have tried to proceed according to my notes. Yet still this all needed to click (pun intended ;) inside my head to realize the difference! To realize that even that I'm watching my notes etc. I was still very eager to think when she understands! Think about it.. why would she understand? WHAT would she understand? That I want four paws on the mat? Why?? Why would she - I didn't want that, did I? I wanted one paw on the mat! Then I wanted two paws on the mat!

Next time we might try four paws on the mat, depending on what I'm getting.. :)

Why I think this was a significant change in my attitude? Well, obviously it'll keep me from getting frustrated. If I'm thinking "hey she understood" and yet the next time it appears she didn't, it'll easily make me frustrated "aaaaw... why doesn't she get it?!". Also, it will clearly help me to plan my training better, help me to see and understand the small steps. If I'm purely concentrating on the behaviour I'm getting/clicking I also have to be very clear with the criteria, right? I also think that these kind of revelations come only by experience. They might be different for someone else but it's good to keep an eye on them :). I can learn some (even much) by reading and studying the theory but I can only learn the practice by doing. I need to find out and experience even some obvious things to fully comprehend what I'm doing and why and to develop my knowledge and skills.

Still being lazier with clicking than before. Teeth seem to be bothering Diesel a lot (only three fangs are left to fall out) and I think we can take it easier. Playing a lot and just spending regular time together.. I guess I need a break sometimes.

Oooh great! Whenever we're alone at the dog park we play recall games. One favourite is I'm calling Diesel and when she is running towards me, almost reaches me, I toss a tennis ball through/between my legs. Needless to say, Diesel loves this. Anyway.. Today as we were at the dog park, two dogs were leaving and Diesel accompanied them to the gate. The owner had trouble opening the gate so I thought I'd better get Diesel away from there. I was about to fetch her when I decided to call her instead (I don't usually do this because I have a very low chance to actually succeed when other dogs are near). I didn't use the "real" word for come (which I'd want to eventually be r e l i a b l e), because I in fact expected it to fail.. I call "Diesel" she looked at me, then I used another word for come. She started running at me immediately!!!! I took few steps backwards, took out the tug toy and we had a wonderful game of tug when she came. GROOVY!

My good friend came to visit us, she's staying for few days. Diesel is a bit stressed by this new person "living" here but otherwise things are fine.

We have been clicking for "go to the mat" a lot.
I finally started clicking for 4 legs on the mat. When that was going well I asked her to go down after click. She started going to the mat and down before long! I have also changed the place of the mat as well as my own location.