Friday, April 20, 2012

A Perfect Training Opportunity

I've learned from watching great trainers about seizing training opportunities as they happen.  Normally for me it's just little things but today was the BEST training opportunity EVER!
My training sessions depend on weather and what we need to work on.  Today it was far too windy to set up jumps so I decided precision heeling and "find heel" would be the work of the day.  The cold and windy weather was sending Pinch over the edge and precision was a tough assignment for him.  I believe he's in the Teen-Age/hormonal stage and I watch carefully for frustration and make sure he's absorbing what I'm trying to show him.  Here's a dog that will work his heart out and wants very much to be right; trying to keep him from a Fun Explosion is my challenge.
Moto was up next.  What's new and exciting for this guy is when he's on a down/stay waiting his turn, he's beginning to whimper and bark - he WANTS his turn NOW!  Very exciting and a new behavior for Mr. Moto.  He did his precision stuff just fine.  Now on to some heeling to test what we've just done.  Everything is going OK until all of a sudden he just leaves me and takes off!  Turns out our neighbor's dog has come by for a visit.  Mind you we are inside our fenced yard (which is cattle fencing so they have a clear view of our and neighboring property).  All our dogs love the neighbor dog which runs free 24/7, in fact I frequently bring her into our yard to join in and play.  Or if we're walking our property she comes and joins us.  It's a love fest all around.  But this time was different - Moto was working and he just plain abandoned me.  He got a strong correction for that and a collar scruff back into heel position.  He returned to heel, but he was focused on Shadow.  I did an abrupt about-turn which he completely missed.  Another collar scruff back into position.  Things were fine for a bit as Shadow sat to watch the show.  I took advantage and heeled toward her then turned left - CLUNK went Moto's head into my knee.  He got the message.  After that he understood his job and I had some of the best heeling I've ever gotten from him.  I was absolutely thrilled.
Now, if someone will please bring Shadow to the next show and place her ringside we'll be in great shape!

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