We've had yet another snowstorm. I do love the snow, especially when I don't have to go out in it. The storm happened Sunday so Erik and I snuggled in the house, sipping coffee and watching it come down like crazy. Everything is beautiful as you can see from the pic. However it is 13 with a single digit wind chill. Roads are icy. Getting Moto out is not going to happen.
But what did happen was a phone call from my friend and talented trainer Laurie. I filled her in on Moto's skittishness and as usual she had a great idea. Oh how I wish I was a "think outside the box" person but alas, I lack that talent. Thank goodness I have friends who can do so. Laurie is one of them. She asked careful questions on my training, his reactions, and how I deal with it. She provided some excellent insight into the fact that while I was asking more from Moto, due to all his sensitivities he is not able to deliver what I want. So some conditioning training/backchaining may be in order. Her suggestion is to go all the way back to puppy heeling where something really delicious is right in front of him while he is heeling. I will be off to the store to get some yummy cooked/cubed chicken for this exercise. That way he gets a good association (oh boy, a new place! That means I get chicken!) and he gets to succeed at what I'm asking of him, which is to keep his head up. The idea is the chicken lure will be so strong he will desensitize himself as he is so keen on focusing on the food just out of his grasp.
I cannot wait to try it, but from looking at the weather reports it may be next week. Until then, we'll do "the usual" training - fronts and finishes always need work. Well, EVERYTHING needs work so we won't be idling until it warms up.
No comments:
Post a Comment