Good lessons from poor trainer choices

I wanted to start shaping Fizz's retreive today.   She already likes to pick up her dumbell and carry it about, including up and over the BOSU (blue side up, non-rocking).   Normally to start shaping a retreive, one would start with rewarding even a glance at the db, and then increase criteria to a sniff, a lick, a bite.   Because I know she likes to play with it and carry it, I was starting with the criteria of grabbing it with her mouth.   No clicker, b/c it's simply too much for me to work (clicker, food, db).  So just a verbal marker and feed (today's treats are scrambled eggs.......one of her favorites!).

I had planned to start this an hour earlier.  However, as I started gathering stuff, I looked up and there she was, sitting tight on the rocking BOSU.   So I decided to work with what she gave me.  Got the bowl of eggs, and rewarded any movements or position changes on the BOSU.   We had fun playing this game for about 5 minutes.  Finally snapped a leash on her, gave her a release cue, and led her off.  She really seems to like the rocking BOSU (maybe she wishes for a sailboat rocking on the seas??).

After the BOSU work, we spent some time outside, both potty break and playing.   I should have put her up at that point, it was a natural break point in her day.  However, she came back in still zipping around, so I decided to pursue my original goal:  shaping the retreive.   You can see the lower level of "oomph" in her work, due to my poor choice to not put her up, and push forward.  Bad trainer!

We had several distractions going on here: 3.5yr old James bouncing from chair to chair, across an end table and jabbering away.   The flag outside was whipping in the wind and thwacking the screen (I'm surprised that didn't pick up on the audio feed!), and hubby shows up twice.  I had NO idea he'd pet her until I watched this video.......will have to work on that.  "No petting puppy when Mommy's training!"   :)

There's a DWDH moment to work through b/c of my poor choice in timing.  She wasn't showing me great frustration, so I didn't want to end it, I wanted to see her come through it, and she did.   I was even happier with her choice to keep working with me the second time George showed up.   It had to be her CHOICE, and not me being enticing..........thus no big prey object game with the db to get her back.  I want her to work with me because she desires too, and because there is joy in it.....not because of "have to."

Finally, in playing tug, we have a few learning games within the game.  Thanks again to Susan Garrett for her awesome leadership and allowing us to watch Swagger in Puppy Peaks.  I've learned SO much!!!

Puppy jump bumps and more BOSU

Susan Salo has done amazing work in teaching horses to jump.   The dog world is now blessed to have her talent and skill in coaching.  Susan's work is in teaching the dog proper mechanics, including scope, and extension & collection of stride.  I first learned of her methods in 2004 with Banja and Vikka at BARK camp.  Very excited to have a green puppy to work with now....to learn correctly from the very beginning.

Puppies learn via stride regulators, also known as jump bumps.  When Fizz is a little bit older, we'll progress to 4" PVC cut in half, but for now, I'm using pool noodles.  They cut very easily with a serrated knife.  One noodle gave us four puppy bumps. :)   They are not set at any particular distance yet.  I just wanted to see how her body awareness and proprioception are developing.   Last night was our first attempt.  I had the bumps too close together and she was stepping on them.

Today, James and I set this up again.  He was my puppy holder for the first few runs.   On the first pass, you see that she goes off to the side, yet she's still jumping as if going over them.  On #2, she steps on every single bump, and on pass 3, she adjusts her striding and has a gorgeous, quiet, run.  When a dog is jumping from their hind (collected), they are quiet as they go down the row.....even an adult bitch jumping full height (24 or 26") is silent on landing when jumping correctly.  A dog pulling from their front in order to jump has a heavy landing, and often an "ooomph" over time.  They are not silent as they go down the row.   Was VERY happy with Fizz's stride adjustment and jumping style over the bumps.

Finally, a quick video of Fizz playing on the BOSU.  She often climbs on it and hangs out, with out any impetus from me, no food in the area (to be a possible promise of reward).   Of course I never have my camera when she does this........so I lured it a bit by putting a sheep tug on the BOSU.   You can see how she just settles in with it, and even fights to stay on at one point when it tips.   She is a VERY cool puppy!!!! :)

First bath!!

Most puppies receive their first bath within a few days of arriving to our home.  No particular reason, just something I've always done.   Fizz managed to go 10 days without hers.....so today was bath day! :)

Tried to get James to video for me, but that didn't work so well, so no actual bath footage.   I started by running warm water into the tub, about 1/2" worth.   She didn't love having her feet in that at first, but was not too upset to eat scrambled eggs.   She was sprayed off with the shower sprayer, and then lathered up with an oatmeal shampoo that shouldn't be too harsh on her puppy coat.   She stood nicely without complaining.   Finally, I rinsed her with a small plastic saucer that is one of the kids' bath toys. 

I have yet to meet a Rottie who doesn't do post-bath race around and rub routines.   Fizz started hers soon after being out and dried off.   Funny how much easier this is to manage with a small puppy than with a 75+ lb adult who feels the need to tear about the house, rubbing its wet self across all furniture.   Dogs usually leave the bath room on leash, and go straight to their crate to prevent them from "scrubbing" my furniture and walls.   Enjoy a bit of puppy cuteness!

Of Wagons, Hills and Bars...........

Fizz arrived here full of confidence, and seemingly indifferent to environmental "stressors."   She is not bothered by footings, sounds, smells, movement or anything else that I've seen yet.   I saw her first startle reaction ever at class last night when a Border Terrier started yip-shrieking (egads, that noise should be illegal!), and its the only thing I've seen her react to.  Vaccuum cleaner, coffee grinder, even the commuter rail train.........she just locates the noise and walks solidly towards it.   She is an amazing girl!!   I am so thankful to Erika for doing this breeding! :)

Despite her natural confidence, I still believe it adventageous to expose Fizz to as many things as possible.  Yesterday, we decided to check out James' red wagon.   James is 3.5, and a very willing helper.   He was my wagon-puller for the beginning of the ride, and it was perfect, as he was not at all smooth in his motions with the wagon, yet even a good lurch didn't cause Fizz to leave.

After wagon rides, James helped me do restrained recalls up and down our steep front hill.  I'd hoped that she would Puppy Ping Pong between us, but apparently James doesn't command enough respect for her to go visit when I have treats (even though he had the same treats).  So I altered the plan midstride to James holding her leash, and me calling.............and then having James come to me, sit down, hold the leash, and we'd do it again, up and down the hill.

Finally, we went out back and worked ground poles for proprioception.   There were plenty of play breaks and a potty break in between sessions.....but these demonstrate how we train:  short sessions, no more than 3-5min each.   It allows me to get many things in during the day.   We're also working on tuck sits, fold-back downs, chin heeling, name game, 2 cookies game, and lots of recall/RZ reward games.

My apologies for the poor angle on the ground bar filming, I had the minitripod propped on a slanted birdhouse.   Should have brought a stool out to give some height..........next time.   Enjoy! :)

Crate Games, Day 1

I finally found time to review my Crate Games DVD last night, and got Fizz started on the program this afternoon.   George had been to Men's breakfast at church yesterday and brought home a 1 gallon ziplock bag full of scrambled eggs.....for training treats! :)    Susan Garrett recommends working with a hungry dog, and having excellent treats.  Well, we were an hour past Fizz's lunch time today, and I used a combination of scrambled eggs and cut up grilled chicken for treats.  Success!!

Fizz has been home for a week now, and in that time, I have not once allowed her to walk out of a crate.  Instead, any time I opened her crate, I would lift her out, so that coming out on her own has no value to it, as it has no reward history.  With Fizz, this has been easy, she usually sits at the edge of the crate and waits for me to get her.  This behavior was already in place while she was with her litter.  When ever I went to the puppy pen, she'd come forward, sit and give strong eye contact, and wait to be lifted out.  What a girlie!

If you want to know how to implement Crate Games, you'll need to purchase Susan's DVD.  While I did record our whole session, I'm not posting it for two reasons:  a) it would be large in size, and b) that would be no better than scanning a copyrighted photo and posting the scan......it's flat disrespectful, to say the least.    When we started, Fizz had no value for her crate.  She's had a few meals in it, but most have been earned through training, and thus fed outside of the crate.  After about 20 minutes of work, she now demonstrates high value for her crate, manifesting as not wanting to come out on release word.

C.G. is a wonderful way to start building duration for the sit, for teaching the dog to understand resisting distractions, and that you only come when verbally released.   This will transition over to very solid "stays" Note: I don't use the word 'stay' ever in my training, it's a human superstition, not a command.   Sit/down/stand means sit/down/stand until I either release you, or give you another cue.  Period.   Once this duration of behavior is understood, it transitions very well out of the crate, and has great value in Start line stays, obedience work, and general impulse control.   A huge "thanks!" to Susan Garrett for her pioneering ways, and this wonderful teaching tool!!

For her socializing "outing" today, Fizz came to church with us.  She slept in her crate in the car during the service, and then hung out outside to meet/greet as people left.  What a variety of people we met, all ages, quiet people, boisterous kids, those with fascinating scarves (oh BOY said Fizz!), and blowing skirts.    She does so well with it all!    Yesterday, we went to Team practice at gymnastics, and she was literally swarmed by 1st-3rd grade girls.  She loved it, gave lots of licks and shared her puppy fuzz all around.   I just love how unbothered she is by anything, and by the restraint she is already showing in not playing with strangers in the same manner that I allow her to play with me (we roughhouse).   At pick-up time, we got to meet lots of the Dads, and several pre-teen boys.   The 'flooding' continues! :)