Relaxation protocol.

[Selina27]

That's great @Leanne , I'm another who's grateful for this thread, I've started it with Cassie, who is now 2yrs 3 months. I've done a bit of stuff like this with her before, but it is so useful to have it all set out as to how to build up the stages, it's what I've always struggled with!
We are on day 3 -- interestingly she has struggled with me walking half way round her, especially on the left, which maybe because it meant going towards the door! She's had lots of practice with me walking round her while she sits, I often practice this on walks and we did it in training classes. But if I just reiterate the down before I move she's fine.

 

[UncleBob]

Yay, well done Selina

Harv finds the 1/2 and 3/4 circles around him more attention worthy than full circles - must be because we are doing something unexpected.

Day 10 done. No dramas (I valiantly battled through 10 toe touches! )

 

[Selina27]

must be because we are doing something unexpected.

It's funny isn't it!
It wasn't the door, because I put her in a different place last night and it still happens, it seems to be about walking up the side of her quite close, or maybe because she's in down and not sit.

 

[UncleBob]

Day 11 done.

We had one break (small move and big bark! - how does something only 1/3 my size make so much noise?! ) at a door knocking / doorbell section but once settled again he was fine for the rest of the exercises, including more door knocking. To be honest this was very good for Harv - he would normally go racing up to the door, skidding for the last 5 metres (as the hall has wood flooring), and be barking the whole time, so ...
we're making progress

 

[HAH]

I love reading other’s progress - it’s great for encouragement! We haven’t done the RP for a few days (we did see a new trainer last night, exciting!), will try tonight.
It sounds like you and Harv are getting on so well @UncleBob. The door knock is definitely something I’m a bit curious about, looking forward to getting there...

 

[HAH]

she has struggled with me walking half way round her

We found this tricky too, and I came to the conclusion that a full circle is more ‘predictable’ in a sense, whereas a half circle is a bit more ‘where are they going?’ Sounds like Cassie’s doing really well with it. So much encouragement here, hoorah!

 

[UncleBob]

Day 12 done.

Today's observations:
* Men really are poor at multi-tasking - I struggled to hum whilst counting in my head at the same time
* The second out of sight "Hello" prompted Harv to stand. He didn't leave his blanket or bark (which is very good for him) but I repeated it anyway and he was fine with the next one. To be fair, these things must seem really odd to a dog : Who is he talking to? Why haven't I heard anything? Why can't I smell them? Is my nose broken?
* The final instruction is "Down 5 seconds and return". Return from where? I haven't gone anywhere! Am I supposed to Down and then return to an upright position?

 

[HAH]

No just men @UncleBob , I struggle counting while running quickly backwards so humming will be a real challenge!
Sounds like strong progress again, I’m looking forward to getting there but we have Life Skills training tonight - maybe tomorrow night I can slip in some RP. Reckon an off-stage ‘hello’ will cause us a bit of interest too
I think that last instruction is a typo and should just be ‘down for 5 seconds’ - this is a common final task on lots of the preceding days, and comes up again later. Down 5 after down 10 isn’t a huge challenge but I suppose that’s the point?

 

[UncleBob]

Day 13 done.

Harv stood again on the 'Hello' at the door and wait for 5 seconds but didn't move as far as yesterday, and was again OK when we repeated it. Not perfect but still good progress compared to his 'normal' response to a knock at the door!

 

[UncleBob]

Day 14 done.

Perfect session this morning - no movement at all from Harv.

(This despite my tempting fate by using the Mission Impossible theme alternating with Highway to the Danger Zone for my humming attempts! )

 

[HAH]

Mission Impossible theme alternating with Highway to the Danger Zone for my humming attempts

*These are now the official tunes for the RP humming sections*

 

[Boogie]

I think Spencer is ready for the first half of day 1. He’s 16 weeks old on Friday.

We’ll start when he wakes up from his afternoon nap. I’ve got it printed ready.

 

[Natalie]

I've been a bit rubbish this last week on sticking to the instructions, though I have done little bits of it around the dishwasher, front door and in the garden. I've picked up on day 7 today and progress has been good, there's definitely some improvements compared to a few weeks ago, even OH agrees and helpfully adds in some clapping at random intervals
But even today I freestyled a bit. We do most of this in the lounge which has 2 doors. I can easily leave through the door that leads to the dining room for 20 seconds.
However if I leave through the other door which goes to the hallway, and is nearly always behind Monty, this is far more difficult for him. Even the noise of this door opening (sits too tight on the frame) can make him sit or stand. Definitely everything going on behind him is far more difficult than things going on in front or to the side.

So I've mixed things up just to try and stretch things on what I know is more difficult for him.

Also does anyone else have a dog who wags his tail through most of this ?

 

[Boogie]

He did it!

Clever Spencer, I thought he was going to break the ‘down’ on the 15 seconds but he just made it. Tatze did it by his side, that gave him a role model to follow.

Tomorrow we’ll try all of day 1.

 

[Jacqui-S]

That is fantastic! Well done to them both

 

[Selina27]

Definitely everything going on behind him is far more difficult than things going on in front or to the side.

It's interesting isn't it? For Cassie the difficulty has been walking past her close too, she has to swing round and see what's happening. Well initially that was, she stays down now but does a little sort of hike up without leaving the ground! she doesn't wag her tail throughout, but is rather serious and composed
I forgot about this today, must re start tomorrow!

 

[UncleBob]

... Also does anyone else have a dog who wags his tail through most of this ? ...

We thought it was obligatory for the first few days, especially when the human part of the double-act returns to the canine part

 

[UncleBob]

Well done Spencer

 

[UncleBob]

Day 15 done (I think *)

All went well and Harv remained in place throughout

Talking aloud to yourself is a little odd (for those of us that don't make a habit of this!) but, whatever it takes for the training to be effective.

* When speaking to a visitor it doesn't actually say that you should open the door that had been knocked (so I didn't). Anybody have any idea about this aspect? I may need to re-visit this.

 

[Atemas]

Have just done Day 2 with Red...but Sky wants to do it too......walking one fourth of the way round your dog isn’t easy when there’s another dog in the way ?