Rooster Works at SJVA "Dog Beach" and "Mad Minute" Warm-Ups

This morning Rooster and I arrived at SJVA at 7:45. It will be our first day Flipping in the parking lot. The first Flip is a small peek at what Roo experiences for 45 mins as students arrive at school. It is "Dog Beach" generalized. For the time being Rooster is in the car just watching. This morning he was really chilling. I think he's still recovering from an active and fun Sunday in Coronado working with Lynn, Lily, Jan, and Nad.... (see Mentoring Videos Sunday Dec. 12)

The Criteria remains the same. Good behavior is expected. No clicking, treats, or cues. The back hatch of the car is up. Rooster watches what is happening in front of him and I do my thing, read as usual. I set up the Flip to not be obvious to people passing. I would have liked to have it placed differently but this seemed to work ok.

After being in the car well over an hour, Rooster is ready to go to work. He met the criteria for good behavior. He never made a sound. He put himself on a Down and there he remained.

As soon as school starts Rooster leaves the car and we enjoy the parking lot and all the near-by distractions. This morning I decided that we would do our morning warm-ups or "Mad Minutes" at school. Usually this is how we start the day at home. After a quick run through of behaviors (Mad Minute or Minutes) I decide on what the focus of the day will be. This way we review a lot but focus on just few behaviors. Rooster is used to Mad Minutes at home so I decided it would be fun at school with the added distractions..... which are obvious in the Flips.

Time for Roo to go to work.

Criteria for Rooster:

• that he remain focussed w/ increased distractions
• have latency with behaviors

Criteria for myself:

• no extra talking
• one clear cue
• try to avoid pop ups
• treat in front

Our Mad Minute starts in the car with L1, Watch, and Stand

As with the RP we move through a series of tasks/behaviors ... staying with mostly L1

The level and amount of distractions start to rise, we continue with L1 and some L2 behaviors. I am watching Rooster closely for signs of a change in threshold. So far so good. He is remaining focussed and accepting treats politely without snapping.

One bonus of being at school, you can hear on the Flip. These students (middle school) are not the least bit shy about adding their own form of distraction, as if running/walking on the fence line is not enough. Calling to Rooster doesn't seem to bother him at all,... but then his name isn't Biscuit. There's a children's story about a dog ( yellow Lab or Golden) named Biscuit. I guess the boy calling, read the story. Because Rooster is remaining focussed, we up the game and go off leash adding more L2 and some L3 behaviors.

Focus on GTM

After our session yesterday I planned to spend some time this week on GTM. I took Rooster's mat and started with shaping next to the car. After a bit I moved it next to the fence line an started over again shaping. By that time the PE class had ended and relative quiet returned to the playground. You will notice that Rooster has become aware of dogs on the other side of a concrete brick wall which borders the other side of the parking lot barking. He seems to quickly get over it and is able to continue with GTM. I am including only a small part of a longer flip here. We will continue to work with GTM this week.

By the time we finished, Rooster was covered with the parking lot grime. We headed home for a much deserved and needed swim, a romp with through the horse corral, before the swim, and the chance to "veg out" for the rest of the day.

"Dog Beach" goes OTR and RP Morphed Again

It is a "New America" for Rooster as we take "Dog Beach" OTR to a new location and new "squirrels" .... time to generalize. The following flip is a look at the "new DB" though I haven't flipped any actual work yet. I am working through the issue of the flip picking up people/children in the background along with Rooster and if that's ok. The next installments will have actual working/training. We arrive at 7:45 AM and begin waiting with the hatch up, no C/T, just expected good behavior. Children are not bussed to school they arrive by car or walk. Things become busy starting about 8:00 AM and this continues to increase with double lanes of cars and children arriving until the bell rings at 8:30. By that time hundreds of children have arrived. I park in the front row, Rooster facing the drop off lanes. Children pass right by the car walking beside and directly behind as their parents escort them to the entrance gate. The Academy is K-HS so there is a good selection of students and personalities. Elementary students tend to follow along with their parent, HS and MS students tend to be a bit bouncier, louder, and more verbal, walking in small groups.

After school starts, Rooster and I continue to work outside the car, making use of the entire parking lot and up along the fence lines.

Students have outside activities on the various fields and playgrounds that border the parking lot.

It is delicious..... on leash and off leash practice for both Rooster and me. The parking lot is closed and fenced so there is no need to worry about incoming traffic. It is our own personal playground.

We have the permission of the school to be here so the yard supervisors and teachers know that we are not stalkers in disguise and they just ignore us.

It is a wonderful place to practice all behaviors L1-L3. We will be there three days a week in the coming month/s. Later on we will go back for the end of the day when kids are energized in an end of the day way. Eventually we will be on campus during the school day walking the grounds and training in the lunch area where smells are most wonderful.

I woke up this morning and decided to morph the RP Day 1, yet again. This is the first time through and the first flip. There are several things that I experienced doing this and several things I noticed watching it.

My Criteria:

• that Rooster would remain sitting for the entire time. I do not care if he moves and adjusts his position as long as he stays sitting.

The Merry Maids were here yesterday so my kitchen floor is exceptionally clean and slippery....no wet or dry drool to add traction this morning.

also:

• I hadn't thought about the logistics of treating from a sitting position so there were numerous adjustments made along the way. Ordinarily I try to treat front on.... I struggled a bit with this.... I'm still not happy with the outcome but will keep working on it.
• I decided that the clicker was an annoyance and went back to "yes" which I have used in the past
• I was using cheese. I don't know why, usually I just use kibble. Rooster doesn't need the higher value here.
• More work with Target.... which we are doing.....
• It is hard to notice Rooster's position when I am sitting. I didn't want to shift around a lot but wanted him to get the picture of me sitting facing forward and not bending sideways.

When watching the Flip I noticed:

• Again, I'm not happy with Rooster's position and that is something continue to work on.
• As mentioned above more time is needed with Target for position
• Bless his heart.... Roo self corrected to a straight sit position several times.... I guess the work on a expecting a straight sit is paying off
• I need to make up my mind about clicks, "yes", or none of the above. I like to do something to indicate a break between the tasks when we begin with a new format.
• At first, I think because of the high value of cheese, Rooster focus was on getting the treat so he was throwing in Station on my leg which we have worked on in the past...back to the low value stuff

All in all, it was interesting, insightful and fun. We will work with this a bit and after taking it to the right side will Morph again

Coaching at Sunset Park and The Forum, Tuesday Nov. 30

We had a full day of fun planned for the dogs beginning at Sunset Park in San Marcos and ending at the Forum.

Originally, when we started our coaching sessions way back in April, our focus was to address the dogs reactivity which we believed was hindering their making progress in public settings. Today it dawned on us that our focus has changed. Though we still are aware of reactivity it has improved greatly and now our focus is related to Public Access. We have taken "to the road" and now are actively searching for new places and challenges for the dogs to experience.

Today our focus behaviors included:

L1 including L3 OTR cold testing

• Sunset Park w/ different trainers

CGC at Sunset Park and the Forum

• Working on the left
• Working on the right

Relaxation Protocol Sunset Park and the Forum

• Facing the dogs
• In heal position
• On the right side
• To strengthen 4D for L2 and L3

PAT #s 1-4 in preparation for Thurs. mentoring session using L1, L2 behaviors, at the Forum

• Non vested
• Keeping a small footprint
• Exiting the car
• Walking through the parking lot
• Going through doorways
• Walking among people

Working with behaviors that at L3 and beyond become Vested Behaviors

• Zen
• Come
• Down
• Down/Stay
• Surfaces
• On the Road
• Sit
• Sit/Stay
• Stand
• Stand/Stay

At the end of the day when we sat down to evaluate how the day had gone we agreed that with the exception of two things we had accomplished all that we had set out to do. Many of the behaviors we focussed on today overlapped so we had the opportunity to practice the same behaviors in different settings and through different approaches. The most important finding though was that it sure was a fun day, OTR.

Rooster is not a "Morning Dog" so he mentally prepares himself for the day ahead.

Our first challenge this morning was cold testing L3 OTR. First thing Jan and I exchanged dogs and the day began.

Foot Play Rooster's Tricks

I have been using the bell and easy button to build coordination, strength, and endurance for Target. It has evolved into a fun trick. Not beautiful and polished but a break from concentrated training.....besides it may come in handy down the line.

Rooster and Karen Overall's RELAXATION PROTOCOL

Anyone within earshot knows the high value I place on Karen Overall's Relaxation Protocol. Rooster and I keep redefining it to meet our needs. Though he is working at a higher level than Day 1, we are now using Day 1 for cue discrimination and to start building Duration for random Sit, Down, and Stand. Though not shown here, I have also begun using the

RP for building Distance by standing a long step away from him when I give the cues. Gradually, using chutes and ladders, I will increase the distance between us during a sequence of tasks

COACHING SESSION 11-9-10

Rooster tackles the parking lot of food ZEN

Rooster and Cathy working on ground Zen with all sorts of temptations.

Rooster

Levels 1,2, Cold at Home, OH, and Mission AH

The first three flips are cold behaviors done at home: Level 2: Crate, Go To Mat, and Distance

The next video of Level 2 behaviors cold, was flipped at OH on August 10. The dogs were working with all the distractions found at the harbor plus our own distractions of working dogs and busy trainers.

The last video was flipped at Mission Animal Hospital. Level 1 behaviors were tested cold.

Rooster Faces His Squirrels... and Triumphs

Today was Rooster's play date with children. Pat, aunt and mom, came with computer and materials we needed to complete before school starts. The girls came equipped with pizza, pool stuff and girlie things like Kens, Barbies and Pink Jeeps. They also had a clear mission... to help train Rooster.

The Goal

For Rooster to remain below threshold around children.

The Set - Up

• The situation was totally controlled
• When the girls arrived Rooster was in his crate
• They knew to ignore him, not even look in his direction
• He would remain invisible until he could be quiet and calm
• The girls would reward his good manners with treats (while he remained crated)
• What followed would be determined by his threshold level

The girls were wonderful, Rooster was wonderful..... another step (giant) in the right direction.

Rooster did bark when the girls came in and as instructed they didn't even look in his direction...nobody did. It didn't take but a few moments for Rooster to realize barking would not get him attention. He first learned this on the tennis courts with Hannah. It is a lesson we practice often. When you bark you are invisible.

Rooster quickly quieted. He did not bark again all afternoon. After a bit the girls went up one by one, said Hi, gave him a treat but he still remained in his crate while the party continued. When he came out he was ready to greet his guests and the day progressed from there.

Rooster exits his crate and meets the girls

After watching Rooster do "his thing" Level 1 behaviors, Abby and Ryland walked him around the kitchen. Rooster was loving the whole thing and so were the girls.

While Pat and I got some work done, the girls, the Kens, the Barbies, and two pink Jeeps went swimming. Rooster crashed on the floor, leaving the pool to the girls. Afterwards, Ryland wanted to take Rooster for a final walk, so off they went.

Again some valuable lessons learned. Control the situation, if you can, set things up for success, and move forward in little steps. Rooster could/would not have behaved this way a few months ago. We have been taking baby steps in this direction at OH, Balboa Park, Coronado, Mission AH, OTR, and at home. Today it started to come together. We still have a lot to do but we have put a few more squirrels to rest. The girls have promised to return to help train and there are classrooms of kids waiting at school for when the time is right.

Saturday Play Date With Jan, Nad, and "The Girls"... Goal 2, Appropriate Behavior Around Dogs, Known and Unknown

Because of occasional lameness, Rooster has had little interaction with dogs other than those he trains with and those times, always on leash. Saturday, Jan brought Nad, Samantha, and Kasey over to train with Rooster. This was the first time Rooster has seen Nad's "sisters" and the first time in a year he has been allowed to play freely with other dogs. He plays with our Jack Russell, but he lives with Winston.

The videos below chronicle the interactions beginning with first meeting to swimming in the pool. The dogs also spent time together in the house which wasn't flipped. At the start, Rooster was in the house and when the door opened on the other dogs he did bark. He was not allowed to leave the house until he could do so quietly and on a loose leash. This took several attempts. At last, leaving the house on a LL is the beginning of the flips. After that point, all the dogs remained below threshold and things progressed quickly. With the dogs resting and observing in the shade of the planter, Jan even took time to do some nonsense shaping with Nad. Rooster and "the Girls" politely watched.









After chilling in the shade, watching Jan shape Nad, and earning the "big reward", it was time to hit the pool. For Rooster this meant...run free at last.









This was a strong, positive, beginning toward Goal 2, Demonstrate Appropriate Behavior Around Dogs, Known and Unknown. The situation was totally controlled. Jan's dogs are amazing. Their calmness and good manners were examples that Rooster could follow and I could learn from. This is step one but a giant step. There are lessons learned and things to work on. Rooster needs to continue to learn to play with his pals. A valuable lesson and such an obvious one is that good manners (Zen) are all the time, everywhere. Rooster has a way to go but because Nad and "the Girls" have such strong Zen, Rooster for the most part was able to remained below threshold. When his threshold did raise, he recovered quickly. Here's to more play dates and strengthening ZEN.

OH Tuesday, July 27, Meeting and Greeting People and LL Walking Near Unfamiliar People

I have 4 major goals for Rooster that we continue to work towards.

- To appropriately meet and greet people, familiar and unfamiliar

- Have appropriate behavior around dogs, known and unknown

- Demonstrate fluency with L 1 behaviors

- Be "In the Game" when walking/working near or on grass

The following videos were coaching sessions at OH on Tuesday, July 27. In the first two, Rooster, Jan, and I were about to begin a coaching session when a lady got out of her car and came directly toward Rooster. He barked at her. There was an instant change of plans and we switched to working on Goal 1. I asked if she would consider helping train Rooster to meet and greet her appropriately. She agreed. You will notice in the video, the lady is further over threshold than Rooster. This was a good session for both Rooster and the lady.

In the first flip Rooster is practicing LL and L1 behaviors while the lady becomes more comfortable, taking the time she needs to decide when she is ready to greet him.

In the second flip the lady has decided she is ready to greet Rooster. It was a great learning experience for all.




The last flip is LL walking near unfamiliar people. This included walking through the parking lot, a familiar area, as well as on the sidewalk where people are closer. It is harder to keep Rooster's focus walking on the sidewalk as the smells are closer. The rate of c/t had to increase. In one instance the nose won but all in all R did well especially with people passing so close. This video followed the time spent meeting and greeting the lady by the car. It points out to me that Rooster is very aware of people approaching and how they approach may determine his reaction to them. The people passing in this flip are not paying attention to Rooster and he therefore is not threatened by them.

Just For Fun... Sit, Down, Stand on the Board... (Surfing Practice)

The contact board seemed like the perfect place to practice Sit, Down, and Stand, so just for fun, Rooster and I gave it a shot. It proved the be a great idea and Rooster's behaviors were near

perfect.

Shaping Surfaces

The above Flip was Roosters second time on the contact board. The first was at Sue' s clinic. Though he hasn't used the board we have shaped surfaces at the park using the bleachers. I had a plan in my mind of how I wanted this to go but just wasn't happy with what was happening. Partly I think it was because I had planned for the various steps to move slower. My criteria were not clear to me and because of that not clear to Rooster.

Criteria

I wanted to first see how Rooster reacted to the contact board, then work up to four feet on the board

The next Flip was taken during the same session as the first. The problem I am having is me not Rooster. The Criteria remain the same but I have moved the board to face in a different direction.

Day 2

Shaping Surfaces

There was something wrong yesterday so I emailed Lynn. She sent me a link to Sue shaping Lily. This was so helpful and helped me realize my problem. My criteria needed to be determined by where Rooster was in the process and not where I thought he should be. He sailed through looking at the board, one foot on the board, two feet on the board etc to placing all four feet on the board and I needed to move on from there. Also, I was adding difficulty in the form of distractions. I was the distraction. I was standing up, moving around, and speaking. Rooster was having the think about what he was doing and at the same time he kept looking for me. I sat down on a stool and said nothing, only clicking to mark the behavior I wanted.

The following Flips are with me in one place, sitting quietly, and only clicking for the desired behavior.

Criteria

Four feet on the board moving forward.

I sat quietly on a stool facing the side of the board. After the click I tossed the treat ahead of Rooster to encourage him to move on forward the get his reward. I was not expecting him to walk the length of the board. The times he did were a bonus.

The Criteria remain the same but half way through I change my position to facing the end of the board but still tossing the treats off the ends of the board. Toward the end of the Flip when Rooster seems to be moving from end to end with ease, I change where I am tossing the treats. I start tossing treats to the side.

I have not changed my criteria, it remains moving forward on the board, going in both directions. The only change is that I have moved the location of the board to a different area, the entry hall. I go back to c/t from the side and then in the second video I move to the end of the board. I again deliver the treats to the ends of the board until Rooster seems automatic in what he is doing. I then toss treats to the side. This was a much better session today. The criteria were clear both for Rooster and myself.

I plan to continue to change the locations where I put the contact board, change where I sit, change where I toss the treats after clicking. I will also add the cue "walk on" when Rooster's behavior is automatic end to end.

OH Tuesday Coaching Session, June 22

Criteria

• Keep the dog below threshold while increasing distractions
• Loose leashes first and foremost
• Be aware of where your dog's threshold and training level are and adjust accordingly
• Begin adding Duration and/or Distance when appropriate in any of the below activities.

June 22 Activities

• Have the dogs' full attention before allowing them to exit the car using L1,2 behaviors including Watch L2, Zen L1, 2 Target, Sit, Down
• OTR anywhere within the parking area: difficulty and distractions based on the individual dogs' thresholds: L1,2; Zen, Target, Sit, Down, the Come Game, Watch.
• To help prepare for Thursday's class at Mission Animal Hospital including LL steps 1and 2, floor Zen, Rally - Left about Turn, Where Can Your Dog Rest?
• Group Sit/Down
• Group Walk w/o clicker or treats

The first video is of Rooster learning Left About Turn at home before taking it to OH

The second video is taking what we practiced at home in the kitchen, OTR at OH. We also have been practicing this move on walks and training outside around Hemet.

The last video is the Come Game but the stakes have changed for Rooster. I am holding the camera and not playing the game, ( you will notice him glancing in my direction occasionally) Karen and Beth are working with Rooster, there are more distractions, people walking by, a barking dog in the background, treats from "Ground" Zen still on the asphalt, and Rooster remains in the game even managing a default sit.

These videos are a small example of what we did today. We spent a lot of time with all the dogs working together including walking side by side, passing, weaving in and out around sitting dogs and the same with the dogs downed next to each other. This was done with all the normal OH morning distractions including trash trucks, cars, dogs, birds, people and children in all sizes.

Every dog has made huge gains in the ability to maintain below threshold with lowered reactivity.

The coaching sessions at OH are paying off for both the trainers and their dogs.

After Mentoring at BP Dog Park or Levels by/in the Pool June 17

Criteria

Rooster needs to have pool manners. All labs swim, but self control with Levels at/in the Pool? That is our Summer challenge.

• Watch and be In the Game in a high emotion location ... the pool
• Exhibit Pool Zen
• Enter the pool on cue
• Level 1, 2, behaviors by and in the water
• Water doodle (our version of LL swimming)

If you notice, Rooster is dry, that means he just entered the pool area. In the past he entered in a frenzy and our goal is to enter calmly and get in the water where I choose on cue. Our version of doodling is him following me to the other end of the pool without a lure.

I lied, Rooster is dry in this shot, but again this was level 1 by the pool, Get In, my decision, and our version of water doodling.

An amazing thing, I was concentrating on Rooster's manners before throwing the toy in the pool so I never realized until too late that he was giving me the Come Game by leaving the toy with me and immediately swimming out to get it again. So the Game (criteria) must change.

My criteria here was for a little Zen and I got more than I thought I was getting...the result is the dog is smarter than the trainer.... how is this for generalizing?

Still using the original criteria because I wanted Rooster to jump in the water after the toy.

Eventually I want to be able to cue him to jump in so I don't want to loose the behavior.

A criteria change

So now I changed the criteria to the Come Game, not expecting him to get out of the water, Sit, or Down. I didn't get the instant turn and swim out again as I did before but Rooster may be getting tired. We will try again tomorrow. Perhaps I won't throw the toy so far initially either making the behavior easier. I just love all this BMO stuff.........and Rooster does too

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END.....

Unfortunately the fun must end because my other life is calling.

Rooster knows exactly how to use a beach towel. He always helps out before going inside.

Tomorrow is another day .... :o)

Oceanside Harbor Coaching June 15

The Criteria

Maintain and/or Increase Balance and Self Control

• maintain below threshold in an area of multiple distractions
• maintain below threshold in potentially reactive situations
• provide the opportunity for the dog/trainer team to experience in a planned way, distractive and reactive situations.
• provide the vehicle (L1, L2, behaviors ) which support the dog in maintaining or regaining threshold including: Watch, Zen, sit, down, target, Come Game
• Loose leashes first and foremost
• Be aware of where your dog is and adjust accordingly

Today we addressed the above Criteria by practicing the following :

To help the dogs get focussed in the car before exiting we will do L1 behaviors and include Watch

Rise and Shine Rooster..... Watch is something we spend a lot of time with and Rooster does not leave the car until I have his attention. Today he was amazing and at OH no less. When he is above threshold he will not give me his eyes. All the clicking on the video seems confusing but Jan and Nad were right next to us. The dogs seem to be able to tell the difference.

Target, another in car behavior and again Rooster is in the game.

Rooster is in the game so we added duration and distance to Zen.

Rooster earned his ticket to exit the car! After the prerequisite doodling

we moved on to LL step 1 and step 2. and other behaviors to help prepare for Thursday June 24, class.

LL Step 1 collar pressure...There is room for improvement here, not Rooster's but mine. Next time I will be better organized with the treats.

LL step 2, Dog keeps the leash loose while the dog stands in one spot for 5 seconds, then walks 5 steps forward and turns around. Rooster remains in the game. Rooster has a default sit so I need to encourage him to stand for five seconds. We have been working on standing for duration at home and will continue.

It seems to me that Rally is organized doodling so we added a bit of organization to our doodling by accepting the Flip Challenge 3.... Rally behavior Left About Turn

Even with the distractions in the area, a glance back and Rooster remained focussed. For him this is an accomplishment especially as there was a child included.

We Practiced for Flip Challenge 2: Where Can Your Dog Rest? It seemed like the perfect opportunity as we were there and so were the distractions. Also, Jan was there for encouragement. We have not worked this close to the Jolly Roger before but stayed out in the parking lot. Working at BP has provided the courage to forge ahead.

This was right at the front door of the Jolly Roger. It is the entire unedited video. Rooster was aware of what was happening around him but remained below threshold even with two men working near-by. He calmed even more as the time progressed. This was a first for Rooster and hopefully it will be the beginning of steady improvement. In the future as we continue practicing this behavior, I will hopefully not have to c/t quite as much.

The Bonus..... Rooster had such a good day I promised him a swim when we got home and then I couldn't leave well enough alone and had to toss in POOL ZEN... BMO

I have been shaping Rooster to get in the pool where I choose rather than just jumping in for a tossed toy. We also practice L1 in the pool, our version of BMO. (would that be dog-quacize ?) The Pool Zen is a challenge because the treat tends to float away.

THE END... ROOSTER HAD A LONG, GOOD, DAY TRAINING AND IS DONE.

OH Tuesday Coaching Group June 8

The Criteria

Maintain and/or Increase Balance and Self Control

• maintain below threshold in an area of multiple distractions
• maintain below threshold in potentially reactive situations
• provide the opportunity for the dog/trainer team to experience in a planned way, distractive and reactive situations.
• provide the vehicle (L1, L2, behaviors ) which support the dog in maintaining or regaining threshold including: Watch, Zen, sit, down, target, Come Game

This was a good session with lots of learning going on. Today only Karen/Webster and Rooster/Cathy were at OH. Both dogs arrived excited and over threshold as noted by snapping up treats or ignoring them.

After practicing, watch, car Zen, puppy push-ups, both dogs relaxed and joined the game.

1. They were able to LL walk around the area separately, pass each other, and walk next to each other w/ appropriate manners.
2. They were either able to rise above distractions or quickly recover from them by support and reinforcement of L1 behaviors.
3. Rooster's Come Game is greatly improved especially after leaving the berry covered ground for a cleaner area.
4. He is becoming comfortable working between two people as opposed to with just one as at home.

Come Game w/ Distractions; Sit and Down w/ Distractions and Duration

THE CRITERIA:

• Play the Come Game w/ default sit, in different areas
• remain below threshold and in the game as distractions change

THE CRITERIA:

• L1, Sit and Down
• L2, Come
• Remain below threshold / in the game in different locations with different distractions
• Work off leash

Oceanside Harbor June 1

Working with L1 behaviors in the Jolly Roger Parking lot

Our criteria for the Harbor included:

• working below threshold with the numerous distractions including people, dogs, birds, harbor sounds, and smells
• practice L1 skills including BMO
• linking behaviors
• giving the dogs the opportunity to work L1 behaviors with a different trainer

Come Game Challenge

As Rooster and I were working, so were the gardeners. Twice his attention was drawn to them but he was able to get back in the game.

Rooster, Webster, Nad at Oceanside Harbor Level 1

How amazing that all the dogs were all working closely together below threshold doing Level 1 as the world passed by.

Oceanside Harbor Car Zen

Barking is a ticket back to the car. Once there Rooster practiced his "Car Zen" with positive rewards until time to rejoin the group.

Rooster Tennis Court Therapy

Rooster Tennis Court Therapy 2

Rooster and Hannah

daily warm-ups L1 sit, stand, zen, target L2 stand

Rooster and I practice these behaviors everyday, everywhere. These are our warm-ups for what is to come.

Closing cupboards and drawers

Rooster is learning to close cupboards and drawers.

Adding Distance

Target L2 Counter

This is a really good example of bad clicking. It shows that not only the dog but the trainer needs to be in the game. I really learned a lot watching this.... cringe... and am making the corrections in my click timing.

Target L2

Target L2

Nonsense Shaping