Per my training log, Fizz hasn't seen a dumbell since May 1st (doh!). I brought it with us to class on Monday night and she tried to climb up my side, to get to it. We worked a few reps of take (I think I almost lost fingers!) and then checked on grip.....yep, still firm, and still with pull against me to get it. So I put it on the floor. Fizz has only ever worked her db in the house, in our den specifically. This is by NO means a generalized behavior, but her reaction to simply seeing it in class told me I wasn't anywhere near overfacing her with it. After about 5 floor to hand pick ups, we had a big party and put it away.
Tonight, I pulled out my borrowed book and checked in on what was next: hold. This is the one step that I had trouble with Froli...and the whole reason I learned about clickers in my training many years ago. Even verbal praise from me generated enough excitement in Frol that she got chewy.......so I went to calm/neutral marking via the clicker.
First I checked Fizz's response to my hands on top/bottom of her muzzle. It's not a grab, it's not holding the dog by its face, or any kind of pushing in on gums. Simply gently holding the upper/lower jaws, if dog chooses to pull back, they pull back, no big deal. She turned her head to an angle the first two times, and then just sat there while I "held" her. Praise/reward (food).
Next, I brought the db back into the picture and worked several takes/outs with her, having very nice committed grips. As soon as I started trying to work the hold, she wanted to spit the db to get the food in my hand. In trying to work with the method exactly as written, I chose to work through this tonight. I held the db, held her muzzle, and had a single piece of food in my fingers. I did get 3 or 4 good holds with a committed grip, but otherwise, she was trying to get the food in my fingers.
Currently, when I ask for a take, the food isn't on me at all. Its in a bowl, sitting somewhere nearby. We will try holds again tomorrow, and I will have no food in my hand, but instead, in the bowl as she knows and see if we can get more settled holds, closer together. I think that was the root of our issues tonight, the food being right in my hand.
However, all that said, I'm very happy to see how eager she is for the db after a 2 month layoff from it, and to see how positive her association is with it. Once the hold and deliver to hand are solid, we'll start bringing the db with us many places and work on generalizing the behavior.
Fizz is a really fun puppy and I'm enjoying the journey of our training adventures! :)
