Hi all,

I went to pick up the dog trainer for our first session today from the ferry
terminal. She walks up the ramp with a horse whip in her hand! Huh? I
laughed as she said all sessions begin with a good beating Excellent, she
has a sense of humour. I can work with that.

I've met Zoë before, at my daughter's when she was working with Big Ben, and
we had talked on the phone at least a couple of times. I identified what I
thought we needed help with, the big one being coming when called. To me
that is the most important one. Secondary is pulling while walking on
leash, jumping up on folks (people drop to their knees in the street to ask
my dog to jump on them...Damn them cute dogs!!), and just general obedience
kind of stuff. I would like to be able to take him to someone's house, tell
him "to your mat" and have him stay there. I think tricks are good, but he
must be a good citizen first. I won't take him to visit my mom's house in
Calgary unless I know I can control his behaviour. They are old, and don't
need a rambunctious asshole jumping all over their leather furniture. My
sister dog sits some asshole dogs. They have caused..um...words... at my
mother's house.

Once home, we chatted some, and she asked a lot of questions about what we
wanted and what we knew. We decided to use his fairly strong prey drive to
assist in recall. Because he's sooo distracted by the great big smelly
world, she wants to teach him that playing fetch with me is WAY more
interesting than the big smelly world. Hence the horse whip. She tied one
of Kiba's fluffy toys (actually the Santa hat off a stuffed bear from
Christmas) to the end and let him killerate it out in the yard, keeping it
moving, jumping, and flying all over. She would let him catch it and he
would bring it over so they could play tug with it. Then she would send it
out flying around again. Chase, tug, release, repeat. She didn't take the
toy from him, but waited until he gave it to her. He didn't want to at
first, so she blew in his ear. Apparently this distracts them from the
tasty toy and they let go. Who knew? Kiba loves tug, and this was a
wonderful game, as far as he was concerned.

Back inside, she did some clicker work. Paul was asked to name three silly
behaviours he would like Kiba to know. He chose Shake-a-Paw, Whisper (that
quiet rowrr-rowrr talking thing that dogs do, not a bark), and Roll-over. I
chose Put Your Toys Away, Ring a Bell to Go Out, and learn your toys by
name. She said my tricks were too useful, I should choose ones more fun.
So I chose Baroo? (cocking head to one side), Paw(s) on Nose, and Sneeze.
The reason she wanted silly or fun ones was so we could relax teaching them,
knowing that if we screwed it up, he wasn't losing any really important
ones, like Stay. I knew I'd be nervous, but I had no idea how little
confidence I had. I am so worried about screwing up this wonderful dog, I
was afraid to try anything at all. Having a virtual stranger watching you
doesn't help. I got a bit better as time went on, but I think I'll do
better this evening by myself.

The very first behaviour she worked on was Bucket. She asked me for a
bucket and some treats. She took a mid-size Dutch oven from my pot shelf
and a pocket of treats and taught Kiba, in about three minutes, to put his
head in the "bucket". From a bunch of different places on the floor, while
she moved around the floor too. My dog was throwing behaviours at her that
I'd never seen before. She captured a sneeze in about one minute. She
lured a rollover in five. Damn, do I have my work cut out for me! It was
so much fun!!

We leashed up the boy, and walked down the block to the school yard so she
could see his level of distraction outside. She had a Flexi-leash (brand
name) the lunging whip, a clicker and some treats. I walked Kiba so she
could see him pull. He was actually pretty good on the leash, but Zoë was
fascinating, I'm sure, and kept him a little closer than normal. Once in
the open playground, we hooked on the Flexi-leash, unleashed him and had him
chase the lure. He wasn't nearly as excited about it this time, but wasn't
showing much attention to the usual distracting smells, birds, leaves, etc.
as he normally does either. He was TIRED! She did get him to chase the
lure, but his heart wasn't in it. I can see the value in the Flexi-leash
for this kind of "off-leash" work, though. I've objected to those leashes
because the only application I've seen for them is dragging their owner's
down the street from 20 feet in front. It makes me shudder to think how
easy it would be for one of those dogs to dash into the street, or meet an
aggressive dog and the owner to have no hope of reaching it in time. So I'm
under orders to buy one, and use it every day in different places to play
with the whip, fetching and tugging. I've since cannibalized a fur-trimmed
hat hood, so Kiba can have a real "varmint" to chase on the whip.

Once home, Kiba went to his favourite corner under a computer desk and
flopped there. He was TIRED...LOL! We chatted more, and she gave me lots
of handout sheets, and our homework for the week. She wants him to find
playing tug the very bestest game ever and if I come to Mom, I get to play
tug.

So our homework is:
Tug...lots of it, in different places.
Tug at home in the house and outside in the fenced yard, no whip.
In the driveway (unfenced), the playground, at my daughter's, with the whip.
Use the Flexi to make it safe.

Clicker work: Bucket, Shake a Paw, Whisper, Sneeze and Roll Over.

Read 101 things to do with a box. Apply ideas to "Bucket".
Use fur as "high-value" tug toy only, when out with whip.
Reward fetch (Kiba's favourite game) with tug. Put tennis ball in sock to
facilitate tug after fetch.

Relax, and have fun. (Ya, right!)

I'm sure I've forgotten to mention lots of stuff, but that's all I can put
down right now. I'm happy, and Kiba is snoring beside me, happy too. I'll
mention also that the trainer says he's very smart and very compliant, two
qualities not very often seen in the same dog. She thinks he's a great dog,
and that I haven't ruined him (my fear). She kept saying "I'm hogging your
dog", as she just kept working with him, but I think I learned more watching
than doing, and it was lovely to see my little guy respond so well. Once I
had the clicker, I seemed to become an idiot, all thumbs and nerves. But I
know I can do better, and Kiba will be waiting for me when I get there. Two
more sessions to go...
--
Phyrie
Kiba the Cav's Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phyrie/...758930/detail/

"Phyrie" wrote in message
...

Tug at home in the house and outside in the fenced yard, no whip.

That should be "no high-value furry varmint on the whip" in the yard.
Regular lure fine.