This morning Coco and I were going out to the backyard to hang some clothes on the line when she saw one of the dingbat cats and took off. She had been so good about staying at heel and going to the gate without a leash that it took me by surprise.
I called her and used my whistle but to no avail. I blew it a few times and nothing. I knew if I went after her it would set a precedent and she would wind up going even further. Not knowing what to do I got into my car and started it up. And there she was. In all her bliss and glory running with this huge smile on her face. I opened the door and called to her and told her how good she was and she could not wait to get into the car.
And then it hit me, I don't need to set a specific time to teach her again how to respond to the whistle. All I need to do is use it every time we are going to leave the house and go for a ride in the car. I really like incorporating training with everyday life. It becomes such a natural extension of what we are learning together.
I remember watching a trainer on TED talks about how to use distractions and how to think about them. I caught a little bit of it but the principles stayed with me. All I needed to do was find something that was a greater distraction than the one that was causing the behavior she needed to learn, automatically setting up her to learn in a positive way.
So getting Coco to increase her stays meant taking a piece of fish that she loves and putting it on a plate in view and sitting nearby and putting her on a down stay. Each time increasing her stay a little longer. Each time making it a little more interesting by getting up and going into the kitchen to cook or do some dishes. Or putting the treat in another room and having her stay and then going into that other room and waiting there before I called to her. That one was tricky. In the beginning she couldn't last long but I put her back on her down stay, using the delicious treat to get her to want to follow me and then stay. And before long, she wasn't fazed by anything, a treat or where I was. All she knew was if she stayed in the down stay she would eventually get that delicious piece of fish. I used what distracted her, the fish to get her to focus.
It's amazing. Coco's own brain pathways develop and her own memories and thoughts and experiences become her own teacher over time. Cool stuff.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
July 4th 2010 Immersion Training Technique
During our last training class our trainer was talking with us about an immersion training technique. A couple of weeks before class we had a few severe storms. One night one of our big trees in the backyard got hit. It was incredibly loud and there was a sudden very bright white light at the same time. It unnerved Coco and me. What was interesting was that Coco tried to get me up and follow her a few minutes earlier. I was tired and telling her it's okay. It's just a bad storm. When I got up she insisted on walking me down to the basement. It is where we have gone when there has been a tornado warning.
After that night we had a few more stormy nights, even a tornado warning with sirens and everything. It is important that Coco can handle a scary situation and still be focused on me and being able to stay calm.
I realized saying, it's okay or all right wasn't cutting it. She was taking this as an it's okay to be nervous. So I started saying, "We're safe." When we went to the July 4th festivities it was the perfect opportunity to get her used to a new situation with sudden loud noises and her knew cues to feel okay..."It's safe." "Your safe." She stayed close and leaned into me and I don't think she was really keen on the loud noises but she wasn't skiddish or anxious. Despite the mock gunfire and canon fire and sirens from our fire department and bands from the local high schools.
When we left we walked past a couple of dobermans, she saw them and didn't give them any of her attention. She stayed focused on me and where we were going. There was no pulling at all and no nervous trying to rush.
I had put the prong collar on Coco just to make sure if she started to pull I'd be able to handle it because my wrists are weak and this was going to be a big challenge for both of us. I had my earplugs in and dark wrap sunglasses and a hat. So we were all set. If I needed to take one step and rest and then take another, she was calm and fine. We did great on our solo trip to a July 4th daytime parade.
Today when vacuuming, Coco was laying down and staying calm. She isn't afraid of it at all. I never teased her with it. But this time I decided to use the words, "Your safe." Especially, at a time when I knew she already felt safe. Just to make it clear that no matter what the sounds are, whether she understands them or not, when she hears me say she is safe, she will remain calm.
The bond, the trust has grown even stronger. I'm so grateful to the Morris Service Dog Program and our trainer Sarah for helping us bring our service dogs into this type of understanding and bond with us. It's amazing.
After that night we had a few more stormy nights, even a tornado warning with sirens and everything. It is important that Coco can handle a scary situation and still be focused on me and being able to stay calm.
I realized saying, it's okay or all right wasn't cutting it. She was taking this as an it's okay to be nervous. So I started saying, "We're safe." When we went to the July 4th festivities it was the perfect opportunity to get her used to a new situation with sudden loud noises and her knew cues to feel okay..."It's safe." "Your safe." She stayed close and leaned into me and I don't think she was really keen on the loud noises but she wasn't skiddish or anxious. Despite the mock gunfire and canon fire and sirens from our fire department and bands from the local high schools.
When we left we walked past a couple of dobermans, she saw them and didn't give them any of her attention. She stayed focused on me and where we were going. There was no pulling at all and no nervous trying to rush.
I had put the prong collar on Coco just to make sure if she started to pull I'd be able to handle it because my wrists are weak and this was going to be a big challenge for both of us. I had my earplugs in and dark wrap sunglasses and a hat. So we were all set. If I needed to take one step and rest and then take another, she was calm and fine. We did great on our solo trip to a July 4th daytime parade.
Today when vacuuming, Coco was laying down and staying calm. She isn't afraid of it at all. I never teased her with it. But this time I decided to use the words, "Your safe." Especially, at a time when I knew she already felt safe. Just to make it clear that no matter what the sounds are, whether she understands them or not, when she hears me say she is safe, she will remain calm.
The bond, the trust has grown even stronger. I'm so grateful to the Morris Service Dog Program and our trainer Sarah for helping us bring our service dogs into this type of understanding and bond with us. It's amazing.
Rib Fest 2010
When Rib Fest came around this year Beks and I went, with Coco, of course. We parked and took a shuttle. A big yellow, noisy school bus. Coco's first time on one. She was wonderful. She backed into an area to sit and laid down. No fear, no hesitation. She was a great help for me, getting into the bus and back down the steps again.
Here are some pictures of Coco. We walked around and then got sandwiches and some gatorade. Coco had plenty of water. And we found some shade. When I was finished with my sandwich I left some for Coco that didn't have any BBQ sauce on it. I set it down in front of me and left it there for about ten minutes while Beks finished eating and we relaxed. She didn't try to stretch out and reach for it or beg. She saw it but didn't pay attention to it. She was amazing - again!! Normally, she doesn't get people food. But I have used this technique while training her to keep her focus on me during a down stay, even when I left the room. Leaving a special fish treat on a plate near her on the table and telling her to stay was a greater distraction to her impulse to follow me. I used the same technique for teaching her to leave it, though when we worked on leave its she never got the treat. I gave her something different that she really loved. These abilities came in so handy at the Rib Fest. There were so many BBQ Rib bones everywhere. I told her head up and gently put my hand under her collar just to make sure. She did great.
Coco on the bus to the festival as the bus made it's way through the stops and starts of the local traffic.
We had been at the festival for awhile, sitting in the shade and listening to music when Coco started to get up and walk in circles around me. She stepped over me and walked behind me and laid down right next to me again. A few minutes later my head started to hurt.
When we got up to leave the heat must have hit me. I felt real woozy. It was hard to know how far down the ground was. Coco stayed close to me. Going as slow as I needed to go without being told. As I write this I remember that this was one of the first things Angel, my first akita did. She always seemed to know when this was going to happen to me and she'd walk in these tight circles around me until I put my hands on her back. Then she would walk me to a chair or the couch. Some times she decided all on her own to take me to bed. Bear, my second akita, used to put his face close to mine and put his paw on me and cup his paw on my shoulder or knee before I started feeling this way.
Coco and Beks got me back to the bus and we got home safe and sound. It was a wonderful day.
Rib Fest was a great event. Naperville did a fantastic job making people feel welcomed to their town. The train station parking and other areas were open for people to park their cars - for free. People were then shuttled on a bus to the festival grounds - for free. There was a $12 admission fee that was donated to various charities that helped women and children who were victims of domestic violence get counseling and other assistance which was way cool. And there was great music and lots of people milling around and having a good time with their families.
Good job Naperville!
Here are some pictures of Coco. We walked around and then got sandwiches and some gatorade. Coco had plenty of water. And we found some shade. When I was finished with my sandwich I left some for Coco that didn't have any BBQ sauce on it. I set it down in front of me and left it there for about ten minutes while Beks finished eating and we relaxed. She didn't try to stretch out and reach for it or beg. She saw it but didn't pay attention to it. She was amazing - again!! Normally, she doesn't get people food. But I have used this technique while training her to keep her focus on me during a down stay, even when I left the room. Leaving a special fish treat on a plate near her on the table and telling her to stay was a greater distraction to her impulse to follow me. I used the same technique for teaching her to leave it, though when we worked on leave its she never got the treat. I gave her something different that she really loved. These abilities came in so handy at the Rib Fest. There were so many BBQ Rib bones everywhere. I told her head up and gently put my hand under her collar just to make sure. She did great.
Coco on the bus to the festival as the bus made it's way through the stops and starts of the local traffic.
We had been at the festival for awhile, sitting in the shade and listening to music when Coco started to get up and walk in circles around me. She stepped over me and walked behind me and laid down right next to me again. A few minutes later my head started to hurt.
When we got up to leave the heat must have hit me. I felt real woozy. It was hard to know how far down the ground was. Coco stayed close to me. Going as slow as I needed to go without being told. As I write this I remember that this was one of the first things Angel, my first akita did. She always seemed to know when this was going to happen to me and she'd walk in these tight circles around me until I put my hands on her back. Then she would walk me to a chair or the couch. Some times she decided all on her own to take me to bed. Bear, my second akita, used to put his face close to mine and put his paw on me and cup his paw on my shoulder or knee before I started feeling this way.
Coco and Beks got me back to the bus and we got home safe and sound. It was a wonderful day.
Rib Fest was a great event. Naperville did a fantastic job making people feel welcomed to their town. The train station parking and other areas were open for people to park their cars - for free. People were then shuttled on a bus to the festival grounds - for free. There was a $12 admission fee that was donated to various charities that helped women and children who were victims of domestic violence get counseling and other assistance which was way cool. And there was great music and lots of people milling around and having a good time with their families.
Good job Naperville!
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