Relaxation protocol.

[HAH]

Great photos, love his expression! And what excellent creativity in adapting for the dishwasher, such a good idea. I hope you'll be back to jogging before long , but in the meantime this is very neat. Also state of the kitchen is nothing, more impressed by your A++-rated washing machine

he toddled after me and launched himself into a down on the mat (in the other room) with a ‘yeah I will take my treat now please!’

Yes! Kipper's started doing this in the kitchen. After a few minutes, he'll follow me then - in the same room, generally - lie down in a very deliberate fashion, "look, I'm doing it!" and then just wait with a look of expectation on his face

Not sure about everyone else but I am extremely guilty of teaching a new behaviour and then going ‘done! What’s next?’ As opposed to continually reinforcing it as much as I should.. lessons being learnt me thinks!

Yup, this is me too; ritualistic is the word, there's a lovely rhythm to the protocol which I think is teaching and reinforcing so many good lessons on training in general. Really pleased you posted it!

 

[Leanne]

My washing machine is brand new. Our old one would only spin on half a load... it was a nightmare... now I sit and watch the new one with a smile on my face.. I love my washing machine ??

 

[HAH]

Day 5 yesterday- really good again, a sustained lie down all the way until Kipper had a little sneezing fit which broke his concentration, and he hopped up to say 'hello, isn't this fun?' Still we carried on and he was fine for the rest of it.
The only thing he seemed to find a bit challenging again was the counting. I'm sure this is because there's no 'action' as such, it just needs him to lie patiently while I gaze around. But he managed it, and I was most impressed by his stillness when I jogged around clapping, and went to the gate and opened the latch (normally this would definitely get a follow). Again, the mat was a super starting cue and - although he needed telling to lie on it - he lay down ready for action as soon as I put it on the ground. I'm hoping to do another session for Day 6 this evening to keep momentum up...

 

[Leanne]

Wow Hah that sounds amazing! What brilliant progress you are making!

 

[HAH]

Thanks @Leanne ? didn’t manage session 6 yesterday as we had a loooong discussion about cars (ours is quite full of holes) BUT this morning - inspired by your efforts - we did do mini training on the mat while unloading and loading the dishwasher. Treats were less high value (kibble) but more generous. Worked really well, and Kipper gleefully ran around with the mat afterwards which was v funny ?

 

[UncleBob]

Days 6 and 7 done.

Following Leanne's lead I also incorporated dishwasher un-stacking during the 'out of sight' parts

We had one break from the down. And it wasn't caused by any of the planned actions. As I left the room I sneezed and this always results in Harv rushing to see whether I am OK! He seems to find it really strange (and its not just me, he does it when OH sneezes too). Perhaps I need to stock up on some pepper or dust and have a sneeze proofing session or two

 

[Boogie]

We’ve always done the dishwasher ‘down stay’ with ours. Spencer isn’t quite ready, he can manage ten seconds wait so far

 

[HAH]

As I left the room I sneezed and this always results in Harv rushing to see whether I am OK!

Kipper has always done this too Although interestingly he seems to be chilling about it, the last few times he's not even twitched his ears whereas previously he'd have to grab a toy (preferably the sheep-with-no-name) and dash about checking everyone was alright.
It's curious as dogs sneeze too, so it's not a completely alien behaviour for them? I guess human sneezing is quite spectacular sometimes in a dog's eyes.

 

[UncleBob]

Day 8 done (no sneezing!)

Harv was rock solid this morning. We had the slightest of Commando style shuffles forward when I sat down and that was it, completely chilled with everything else

 

[Leanne]

@UncleBob - how old is Harv? It sounds like he’s doing amazing with it! Have you noticed a difference?

 

[Leanne]

Day 5 again.

I have now realised that I am that person... the one who when you go to a pub chooses it because there are water dishes on the floor and convenient hooks to put the lead!
As a result we did yesterday’s in a PUB! This was proper challenging.. there were half a dozen other dogs, new area, I was EATING...

He did brilliantly.. got up a few times (particularly when I walked to the toilets ?) but NO barking.. which considering that reduction of barking was our actual target I am absolutely thrilled with!

Back to the ‘proper’ training today though!

 

[Granca]

Back to the ‘proper’ training today though!

No, I think you need to repeat the pub challenge, just to make sure it was’t a fluke!

 

[Leanne]

That’s a valid point. I really should ?

 

[Selina27]

He did brilliantly.

That's great @Leanne I'm so impressed with what you can do with Mas already.
I'm thinking of starting this with Cassie, it might consolidate a few things, I'm very good at half training sometimes!

 

[Leanne]

I would massively recommend it... I suppose the thing is that no training can be bad training and whether it’s reinforcing relaxation or just a long down its good practise!

 

[HAH]

Really impressive @Leanne , you and Mas are doing fabulously and I’d like to farm your knowledge please! We’re doing this tomorrow but there’ll be lots of hooman nattering. I’m thinking of taking a frozen Kong, but do you have any tips?

 

[Leanne]

I don’t rate kongs for Mas but just because he thrrows them around and then scrabbles for them.. personally I like a decent sized bulls pizzle as hat keeps him busy or literally a cup of kibble on the table and just give him one piece at random every 10/20/30/60 seconds or so... after 10 minutes or so the concentration wipes Mas out and he snoozes!

Decent walk first though ??

 

[UncleBob]

@UncleBob - how old is Harv? It sounds like he’s doing amazing with it! Have you noticed a difference?

He's physically 5 (on the 26th of this month) but mentally around 6 months!!

To be fair to him he has calmed down a lot as he's got older (we don't tend to appreciate this until we meet people we haven't seen for a while - I'm grumbling about what he's like now and they are saying what a huge improvement this is!). I do think that the RP exercises are helping too - not a night and day change but gradually.

Anyhow, Day 9 done. Harv was great again. The most difficult part was me trying to touch my toes 5 times! (Strictly-speaking it doesn't say from a standing position so perhaps I'll sit down next time ...)

 

[HAH]

personally I like a decent sized bulls pizzle

Well that's the tip of the day then! I'll get hold of some later, and a good walk is definitely on the list. Kipper loves a frozen kong and lies with it between his front paws licking away, until the last tricky bit when he does ask for it to be stepped on and then chucks it around.

@UncleBob you're galloping along on the RP days. Harv is clearly going great guns. I wonder how we'll feel by day 15 and we're talking to people who aren't there for 10 seconds? Hopefully the same as now!

 

[Leanne]

Day 6 (again)

Me and Mas are a bit further ahead on this but my son wanted a go today so he did it.

Very impresssed, stayed focus throughout and when when H left the room and shut the door (which I haven’t done yet!) he stayed where he was! Which is ironic as he is the same puppy that escapes ?

I think it’s quite important for Mas that he can do this with other people other than just me so very pleased today!