Relaxation protocol.

[Leanne]

Yup totally agree... hence why we have been on day 3 for 2 days the nice part is the last bit is always really easy.. like a 5 second down so it always ends on a positive

 

[Boogie]

How do you reset the behaviour to continue training? I use a treat to the side to remove from position to train again having 'changed the picture' .

We give the pup a fuss and have a play with a toy, then back to work (the length of the training session depends on the age of the pup, of course.)

Is that so they never learn to snaffle for dropped food?

Yes, absolutely, we only ever feed treats or meals from a dish or a hand. ‘Tho they are allowed blaster cubes and Kong wobblers.

 

[Boogie]

Blaster? - Buster

 

[MaccieD]

Yup totally agree... hence why we have been on day 3 for 2 days the nice part is the last bit is always really easy.. like a 5 second down so it always ends on a positive

Hey 2 days on one stage is nothing Our dogs don't know that someone, somewhere decided that they should extend each task on a daily basis. Learning doesn't work like that, particularly if you're introducing lots of new elements. Each task should end on a positive, even if it means going back a step

 

[Boogie]

I like the look of th protocol and will have a go with Spencer when he’s old enough. We do very similar tasks at puppy class but I like the structured nature of this.

I like written things to follow in training I always make myself a list to make my treats and jackpots truly random or I slip into predictability really quickly.

 

[Leanne]

Very very chilled puppy today.. couple of 2 minute training games, no walk as yet (its 12:30!)

I’m nervous... last time we had a day like this he was a NIGHTMARE the day after ??

I’ve even left the room a few times.. no barking ?, he got up and sat by the door and waited but didn’t go all bonkers when I walked back in like a minute later! Usually I end up with a puppy on my head when I sit down after any absence from his side.

He even went back to his bed ?... didn’t even bite my foot.

Oh god he’s plotting... that’s the only logical answer.

 

[MaccieD]

No, he's learning and growing up ?. Of course he may be plotting his next escapade as he lays there snoozing ???

 

[Leanne]

Didnt want to hijack your thread Leanne, but here's our update

Please don’t apologise! I’m really enjoying that a few of us are doing it at the same time!

 

[Leanne]

No, he's learning and growing up ?. Of course he may be plotting his next escapade as he lays there snoozing ???

That’s much more likely.

Reminder to self... check all windows ?

 

[Natalie]

Day 4 - I freestyled a bit
Cos my lounge isn't big enough to take 20 steps backwards, left and right around a dog!
I added in a few star jumps at distance and increased clapping and jogging. All good, when done to his front, left and right.
Managed two walks around the back of him, but two failed. so the out of sight thing is something we've got to work on.
Weirdly later on when he was snuggled up on the sofa between us, I popped upstairs for 10 minutes. Normally,, he would have got up and moved , but he stayed put completely.

When I told OH that by day 15 I'd be knocking on the door and Monty would stay put, he laughed. and laughed. and laughed some more.

 

[Leanne]

Sounds really good! For the 20 steps I ended up in the garden ?

 

[Leanne]

Day 4

So we have had a walk, a snooze and are ready to play.. I wanted to do it now to see what happens when I try to get him to relax when he’s not due a sleep (for want of a better description).

Jogging around him in a full circle was absolutely fine. Can’t believe it. Didn’t move a muscle.

When I’m doing it so that I’m not so ‘engaging’ I have been looking away from him. At the TV, the wall etc.. anything other than him so that he recognises that even when I’m not looking at him I’m still ‘paying attention’.

So.. I jog around him in a circle.. nothing, totally relaxed. I then do a short one.. no problem... then a 20 second down... I turn around and the sod has walked off. He’s taken himself into his crate and is looking at me with a ‘yeah.. it got boring’ expression... we were about 3/4 of the way through and it got me a bit thrown.. on one hand I don’t want him just wandering off midtraining because obviously he can’t choose when to recall etc but in the other hand he was in boisterous puppy mode and the object was to relax so he took himself to his relaxing place (ironically the one place he never sleeps during the day but that we have an understanding that he’s not ever disturbed in.. lots of socks go in the crate ?) I don’t get the impression that he was stressed (going by the way he’s now snoozing ?) and frankly he’s NEVER wandered off before midtraining... so was he bored? Or was he relaxed?

 

[MaccieD]

Hmm! Difficult to know for sure without seeing body language etc but it could be that he was a bit bored so took himself off. I see it happen with clients who struggle to engage with their dog and retain their attention. Normally I would be encouraging the human to step it up and be more interesting but that would be counter productive for you ?. Could be the session was becoming too long for him today. Just start fresh again tomorrow and see how it goes.

 

[Leanne]

I will try and video it tomorrow

 

[HAH]

So, we just did Day 2, and he was really good - again, quite excited to begin with but as soon as we started he was into training mode. Interestingly @Leanne Kipper does a similar posture change - he starts in a very upright ‘correct’ down, then shifts to back legs to one side. I was also surprised how well he managed the jogging and the half way round him.
I tried to get him lying on a mat but after 5 minutes of joyfully running round with it ?? he sat on it and shifted off. We’ll persevere next time.

 

[Leanne]

Day 4 (part 2)

Literally just uploaded the video onto the Labrador friends favebook group. Pretty pleased with how tonight went - you can tell he knows what’s going on now and whilst he stays alert throughout he’s not battling the impulse to jump up and follow me like he was in the first few days. I redid day 4 as I he wasn’t quite there yesterday.
Still need to work on the rising for the treat, Sometimes he cracks it and other times he didn’t. That’s more to do with my handling though I think.

Overall for a 18 week old pup. Very pleased!

 

[HAH]

Good boy! Wish I was on the Fb group, might have to actually sign up now there’s some interesting stuff on there...?

 

[Leanne]

@HAH you should! That’s where the funny videos go ?

 

[Leanne]

Out for the count again! It’s every single time we do it

 

[HAH]

Those little frogs legs! ?