GTM on Floorboards

The "peanut gallery" (Ginger in the driveway, Patrick under the car)

Sliding the passenger seat as far as it goes

Sitting on the seat so that it is not an option for Lily.  She has to go on the floorboard.

Yes, there is space for her to curl up.

Lily discovers another way to use the space.  Next steps?  Adding Distance and re-teaching behind the passenger seat.  Add Duration.  And then???  Driving.

Retrieving fragile items w/a quiet mouth

Chillin'

for Wendi: Retrieving the Ringing Cellphone

Had a long discussion with Marge this morning about retrieving delicate objects such as coins, eye glasses (by the earpiece) and credit cards and the challenges inherent in these behaviors.  With coins there is the obscure risk of swallowing the coin, but with eye glasses and credit cards and cell phones there is the risk of damaging the object itself.

I had taught Lily many "get help" behaviors, including finding and retrieving the ringing cellphone but hadn't asked for that particular behavior for a very long time.  In trying it cold today, Lily remembered the finding and the retrieving when the cell phone rang, but forgot the "hold" part of the Retrieve.

So.....after thinking it over for some time.....I have decided to "review, remind, and reteach" the behavior from the beginning.  The beginning being Retrieve Level 3 in the new book.  From Step 1.  There will be one change....the position of the cell phone in Lily's mouth.  She must hold and carry the phone in her front teeth.

Just as "Keys" is Lily's cue to find and bring the keys, I will name the cell phone something and have that name be the cue to find and bring the cell phone, as well as the ringing of the cell phone as the cue.

Steps 1 - 3

Standing up and repeating Steps 1 - 3.  Then I begin explaining to Lily that she can take one step holding the cell phone quietly in her mouth AND THEN continue to hold it quietly until the "yes" and/or the "Thank you!"

This is where we will stay for a while.

"Drop the cue, Lynn!  Drop the cue!"

"Lumper!  Lumper!  Lumper!"

"Slow is fast!"

In preparation for Level 4 and having Lily pick up the cell phone from the floor, I hold it down near the ground and that's where we run into trouble.  Where was the duct tape when I needed it?

Wendi and Lily return to the beach

Since Lily responded inappropriately to the two barking dogs at the Ferry Landing earlier in the week, Wendi and I have chosen to focus on Doggy Zen and reminding Lily of her public dog manners.


They began at the beach on Thursday, where Lily has a strong history of appropriate behavior.  They returned today for more of the same - rewarding the good behavior with a romp on the beach.  It is a Saturday "June Gloom" morning, keeping the sand cool on the paw.  And again,  beginning with the Take It On the Road game and Level One basics.  Here is Wendi's almost verbatim description of another fun day at the beach.




1.  The Parking Space

Well, that was just ridiculous!  Not one, but two cars pulled out.  I'm serious.  And I slid into the double space.  Then, I situated myself such that I took the treats out of the purse and had them on the side, not in my pocket, because of the access to the sidewalk and the beach and the other dogs.

In the car.  Lily was out of her harness, but on leash w/the hatch up.  And I did Level One behaviors.  We stayed in the car and continued to relax and watch.  We did "Go Ahead" and walked around the space (because I had 2 car spaces) and then "Get In" back into the car.  But we did Touch and we did Zen and we did Down and Sit and a short Come.  Level 1.  We did that in the car twice.  I wanted to settle heimzets down in the car.

2.  The Hemet Lady

A lady came over to the car.  She must have been watching us.  A lady person with her husband and dog (German Shorthair).  I'm sitting in the car.  Lily is not hooked up.  On leash.  The husband is behind w/dog but the lady just wants to see Lily.

"She's so well trained.  How do you do it?"

"I follow Sue Ailsby's Levels.  Blah blah bah.    She's just written.......worth every penny......if you have any questions you can call her.....

"How interested are you?    How much training has your dog had?"

"None."

"How old is your dog?"

"Two."

Then her husband wants to get into this conversation.

The woman started saying that they would like my phone number or write this Sue Ailsby stuff down and the woman asks husband to go get some paper.  She tells me she's only down for the summer because they live far away.

"What brings you here for the summer?"

"Our  boat.  Our children."

She  tells me the town they live in but I don't know it.  I say, "Actually I'm planning to move myself. " "Where to?"  "Hemet."  "Ach!  That's just down the street.  20 minutes away.  Actually I'm a realtor.  and......  Where in Hemet?"

I tell her Four Seasons and then she tells me that's the best place in Hemet to live.  "I hope I've made a good choice."   "You will love it."

And then I said,  "If you decide to get the books and I think you should but at least you should begin reading."  And then I said, "And then I can help you train."  "You can?"  "Yes.  As a matter of fact I'm a trainer."

And then I said, "I personally know Sue who wrote the books with this dog's owner."    "This is not your dog?"  "No. Nor is this my car."  "This  dog is so well trained and listens to you.  You are surely a trainer."

Big grin on Wendi's face, she continued:

The Hemet Woman says,  "Can I pet Lily?" "Yes.  But if you don't mind I'd rather you not touch the top of her head.  This is one of my own personal bugaboos (and it is).   I have no scientific learning but I don't like people to come forward over my dog.   The dogs are liable to put their nose up....Reach below muzzle,  and tickle her chin, etc......"  "Oh,  that makes so much sense.  Why didn't I think of it?  You truly are a trainer."

Husband comes over and wants to pet Lily.  Hemet Lady takes her dog's leash.  Tells her husband to pet underneath chin.

C/T.   C/T.

"What  are you doing?"

"This is a clicker........"  yada yada.  Then I showed them Zen.  They couldn't believe it.   Just couldn't believe it.  It wowed 'em.  And Lily was just perfect.  Then I put Lily in her harness.

4.  The Great Dane Lady

Another lady walked up and joined us.  She wanted to see Lily.  She teared up and told us the story of her weim that they had recently lost.  She had thought about getting a blue.  But she was afraid she would compare so decided to get a bigger breed.  And she did.  A great dane......  brindle with a black mask..... 7 1/2 months ......  102#.  This dog was playing on the grass right next to the car.  His name was Fez, which is the name of the giant in Princess Bride.  OF COURSE IT WAS!

This whole time there were 7-8 dogs at any time cutting right behind our car because there was a whole empty parking space.  You couldn't pay people to do that when you're working on Doggy Zen!    I think that's what gave me the confidence to walk with her and not worry.  Anyways it was a great day and the sun was shining and yay!

5.  They all left.  I unhooked Lily.  I had her "Go Ahead" and at the same moment, while she was jumping,  a dog came diagonal across and a foot away and she lunged and I gave her a what for.  I don't get it.  Why all of a sudden?  She had done it perfectly a gillion times and this time she didn't.  I'm just telling you what I did.  Anyways, we both got over it,  locked up the car, walked on the grass and then crossed the street with all the other dogs and people carrying everything and on to the beach.

6.  Walking the Gauntlet

Lily and I approached the entrance and there they were.....  the line up to get washed off.  Little Tootsie.  Little Joey.  Big Moose.  Middle sized Fido.  8 or 9 in all including a Newfie.  Leaving only a remaining space of a line up of people going through.  Miss Pink, leash loose, and I walked calmly through the gauntlet, hand to paw, on to the sand path to the beach.  No treats.  No clicker.  No reminders.  I was hearing Sue say, "You get what you expect" and I expected her to be perfect and she was.  She truly was.

7. The Beach

I took off the leash.  Lily waited to be released.  "Go play!"  No bubameinzes.  She was a wonder and nothing else.  Today she got wet.  All the way up to her paws!  And she checked in.  I met many more people who loved her.  They can't understand that she's not my dog.  Because.....she stays right with me and she looks at me.  She's giving me Eye Lock but they don't know it.  "But she looks at you so endearing!"  There are other people who want to touch her.  "Oh," I say, "she doesn't like to be touched."  While I am petting her.  "She's not your dog?"  "No. But I'm her aunt.  Her favorite aunt." Lily is truly a magnet for making friends.

I can hardly wait until tomorrow!

Wendi and Lily go to Fashion Valley Mall

Lily's blood levels are askew.  Last Sunday she had a breakthrough seizure (the first in 9 months) and possibly a second, which we didn't observe but she showed signs of.

Her bloodwork has come back and her liver enzymes are high (triple the normal) while her phenobarbital levels are very low.  We have begun an adjusted medication and supplement protocol.

We have been watching her closely for signs of stress when interacting w/her and when out and about with her.  And because of the blood level irregularities, we will keep Lily well below her comfort threshold, as much as we are able.

Today Wendi and Lily worked together at Fashion Valley Mall while I was at the Apple Store in a class.  Upon entering the store, Wendi noticed Lily licking her lips.  Soon thereafter, she began drooling.  Wendi made a good trainer decision and they exited the store.  It could have been the result of a myriad things, but Wendi was not focusing on the "why"....only the "what".  Leaving was a good judgement call.

Instead, they moved beside  the building across from the store, with Wendi's back against the building and Lily on a Down beside her.  Neither signs of stress were visible and they rested there quietly for the remaining 30 minutes.  Soon Lily switched onto her hip and settled into an informal relaxed position.  Many distractions but nothing that Lily hadn't been exposed to before and the two watched the world go by.

Wendi reports that she did her own original version of the KORP while relaxing on the mall.  However, when she began to sing to Lily, Lily stood up.  Wendi's remark: "So, now you're a critic?"

When I came out of the Apple Store, Wendi and Lily headed off toward the car.  Once Lily noticed me walking behind them at a distance, she was able to maintain a loose leash and a SDW, but continued to "check in" by turning her head to see me.  Each time she returned her focus to Wendi, Wendi clicked and treated.

A successful vested outing with good trainer decisions and more critical observations than usual.   Total time:  45 minutes.

Wendi and Lily go to the beach

What a day they had!  They spent the entire morning either in the car (hatch open) watching the world pass by and playing the Take It On the Road game (either in the car or beside it:  all Level 1 behaviors followed by a LLW around the car) and remaining well under threshold.

Dogs on-leashed and off, dogs playing fetch, Navy SEALS exercising, joggers jogging. children playing...everything you can imagine beside the beach in the morning was there...and below threshold.

Wendi had a lawn chair and a mat.  She relaxed in the chair and Lily relaxed on the mat.  Wendi had matza and Cokes.  Lily had the occasional treat and water.

Then LLWing across the street and among the dogs.  Then LLWing through the sand to the beach.  Leashed dogs on every side, coming and going every direction.  Forward movement all the way.

Wendi's first trip to the beach w/Lily.  Lily checks in often.  But Wendi didn't know what to expect.  All off leash, of course.  Many recalls.  Much fun.  Good exercise.

They returned home at 4.  Two happy tired girls.

for Wendi: The answer to your Front question (2009)

Training the Front using the Front Ray diagram and using the floor tile and carpet as guides.

Lily and her Puppy Basket

Lily's puppy basket matches airline under seat dimensions.  We got it out for Andre, but it has become Lily's "mat of choice".

Variations on KORP

• as written
• on mats
• changing trainers
• moving to another's mat
• KORP at my side
• on a Down, a Sit, or a Stand
• combining KORP and Chips Or Me?
• in different locations
• on different surfaces

COMBINING KORP and CHIPS OR ME?

On a nearby bench

On the ground

Directly in front of her
(When I bend over I somehow cause the RP on my iTouch to jump ahead to Day 10, so I cut this short!)

See Cathy and Rooster

See Wendi and Lily

for Wendi: Threshold work

Lily focusing on you with me only as far away as the camera.  A totally different ballgame.


LLW: 2 friends out for a walk

Pigeons and a little dog.  Interested, but a non-issue.

Remote controlled cars (life passing on the sidewalk was a non-issue, so that, too was well below threshold.

Different location.  Different surface.  Much closer to me but still with you.  She is getting tired.  Notice how she is beginning to lag behind?

Now the biggest challenge of the day.

Just at the end of the next video both you and Lily notice the 2 approaching dogs on Flexi leads.

Look at Lily's ears and shoulders.

Right after I turned off the camera, the dogs noticed Lily and began barking, pulling and lunging toward her.

Your timing on your turn was beautiful and Lily responded correctly.

The dogs were no longer barking here, but were continuing to lunge and their owner was doing her best to drag them ahead.

Unfortunately now everyone was headed in the same direction and now Lily reacts.

To cue or not to cue?

Your turn was timely and Lily recovered quickly.

Of course, it would have been better if she could have ignored them

but given the circumstances, you both made the best of a potentially bad situation.

Right after the two dogs left, the couple with their 4 large dogs on prong collars approached.

When they saw us approaching they moved their dogs away and off to the side.

Lily walked on a loose leash within 5' of them, totally under her threshold,

and then we followed them at about 10' back up the sidewalk without incident.

Really good threshold exercises.

for Wendi: KORP in public w/distractions

Sitting

Down

"Don't you love having it on the iTouch?"

for Wendi: Go Ahead

Now the whole wide world awaits a controlled "Go Ahead"

Next we'll work it leashed and also w/a dropped leash.

for Wendi: Change

See November: 2010

for Wendi: Day 2 Tuck Under Review

This was great training.  Wendi "explains" again by bungeeing back to a known behavior without missing a beat.  Love it!

for Wendi: Tuck Under on the Right Side (Side)

We decide to re-mind Lily about Tucking Under on the Right Side.
This is almost like speed reading, since Lily has been taught the behaviors.  Sue says "review, remind, reteach".

So first, we'll re-teach Side from the very beginning as a new behavior.  (Steps: Right Side.....using Eye Contact and Pivot)

Eye Contact and Pivot.  Beginning with trainer footwork before adding the dog.

Clicking for movement.

Using the dictionary to stabilize Lily's front paws.

When to add the cue?  When you have the exact behavior that you want.

Side on cue.

Now we begin teaching the Tuck Under on the Right Side.  Step by Step.

Lily volunteered to Down the first time only, so we will get the Tucking Under reliably before asking for the Down.

We discuss where we've been, where Lily has come and where to go next.

for Wendi: Tuck Under (Steps: Sit: Level 6)

You watched this being taught in April: 2010

Now here we are just generalizing in another location.

"Just".  Ha.  Ha.

for Wendi : Go to Mat (Under)

On a hard surface.  Using a potholder as a target.

Chutes and Ladders moving her under to "explain".

Different surface.  Different objects.

Simulating the bulkhead space and airline seats here.

Could also have used the "Go Ahead" cue.

Wendi and Lily: Airport Re-dux: Day 2

"Do you have ANY idea how fun it was?"

.......Wendi

No Flips.  But Wendi's stories are every bit as descriptive and colorful.  Enjoy.

STORY #1   The Elevator and the Patchuski

We were in the empty elevator.  Lily on my left, a tight footprint, both of my hands were in my pockets.  The door opened and there, face to face, was an elegant, tall, beautifully groomed blonde woman (a Real Housewife of Orange County???) dressed to the nines.   She had gorgeous red luggage with matching carrier on rollers, unzipped and open,  for her dog.  The little white (and obviously untrained) patchuski jumped up and above the crate, barking and yipping, trying to get up and out.  A fluffy white poodle.

Well, we were surprised.  We stepped out as they stepped in - passing dog to dog.  Lily's ears remained relaxed and she looked at me while I looked at her.  I kept my eyes locked on Lily.  Her leash was short and loose and my hands stayed in my pockets.

From the sounds of the barking and the screaming as the elevator doors closed the woman may have been bitten for all I know. Clearly she was trying to push her dog back into the carrier.  From the sounds of the woman and the dog - it was messy!

My dog and I just continued walking.  My hands never left my pockets.

"Don't just expect the unexpected.  Seek out the unexpected."

..... Wendi

STORY #2  The Red Bus and the Drool

We rode the red bus three times.  The first time we boarded at Terminal 1.  We went to the back of the bus, where there was a seat along the back....but with an empty area on the left about the same size as the usual space in a commode.  So I did the "bathroom dance" with Lily, which she did perfectly, and backed into the space and lay down.

Although Lily behaved perfectly, I knew by her drooling that she was stressed.  So we got off at Terminal 2 - a very short distance.  (GREAT trainer decision!)  The ride was bouncy.  Lily even slid partway down the aisle when the bus stopped.

I walked her slowly back from Terminal 2 towards Terminal 1, partway inside and partway outside, to give Lily time to get comfortable and relaxed.  About half an hour later we got back on the red bus at Terminal 1 and repeated our first visit.  She was MUCH more relaxed this time but we got off at Terminal 2 again because........?????  Because we could.  And besides.  Why not?????

Then, after another short break, we got on another red bus and we rode the full circuit from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 and on to the commuter terminal and back to Terminal 1.  By then it was "eazy schmeazy".

"Lily is a real pro."

..... Wendi

STORY #3  Winging It

"I LOVE that "Tuck Under" behavior! "

..... Wendi

(Steps: Sit: Level 6)

We found a quiet, empty place at the end of Terminal 1 where there was a row of leather seats and a concrete trash container at the end, so I did the "Tuck" to my side, then the "Tuck" between my legs while I was standing before I sat down and cued the "Tuck Under".  It worked like a charm!

NOTE 1:  I had demonstrated the steps in teaching this behavior for Wendi this morning but she had never done it with Lily.

NOTE 2:  Picture in your mind little Wendi, legs spread apart, and 72# Lily BACKING between them!!!

"I hope no one was watching!"

..... Wendi

STORY #4   Self-calming

Hee!  Hee!

We went to another quiet corner for some time out.  Lily relaxed herself  and assumed the "Settle" position on her own and uncued.

(Taken on my cell phone)

STORY #5   Coffee Table Zen

A low round table surrounded by 4 leather chairs at the foot of the glass elevator in Terminal 2, near the luggage carousels.  While I was seated there, people came and went in the other 3 chairs:  men, women and even children.  Some put computers on the table, others brought food.  I kept Lily in her positional behaviors - Sit, Down or Stand - and we just were THERE.  Lily didn't attempt to interact at all.

STORY #6   New Wheelchairs

I planned to borrow a wheelchair to carry my backpack and walk the length of both terminal, pushing a wheelchair with Lily in SDW position, ride the elevator with Lily and the chair, and then return.

But I was faced with new and different wheelchairs.  They have no arms and they move themselves when you press a waist high bar.  New to me.  New to Lily.  

So we didn't even attempt the elevator.  And we walked in long, loose arcs instead of straight lines.

Very interesting and challenging to us both.

STORY #7  A Variation on Security

"Could the dog go through security?"

..... Wendi

Terminal 1 Security

" I didn't need the practice.  I already know how to go through security."

I had the leash in my hand.  I cued "Go Ahead" and dropped the leash.  Lily walked through the security, turned around and sat.  She set off the alarm.

I cued "Come".  Lily picked up her leash and came back through and sat in front of me holding her leash until I released her.

We did this three times.

STORY #8  Patiently Waiting

Standing in lines everywhere.  While I bought candy.  While I looked in shops.  In empty ticket line "mazes".  In long ticket lines.  I used the "mazes" for sharp turns, for standing and letting people (and luggage and children) pass, while chatting with people.  No crotch sniffing.  No interaction.  Lily just stood (or sat) quietly minding her own business.

NOTE:  Once when I was looking at the list of ingredients on a candy bar, I return the candy to the shelf and Lily followed it with her head.  She didn't touch it, but if someone had been standing behind us they might have thought that she had.  I would rather she had not moved her head.

EASY SCHMEAZY

• Escalators
• Bathrooms
• Back
• Change
• Tuck and Side
• Tuck Under  (Scoot Under)
• Go Ahead
• Relax
• EYE LOCK  (not just Watch, EYE LOCK!)

BENEFIT:  Wendi enjoyed the attention paid to Lily by the nice looking San Diego fireman.  But don't tell her that I told you!

NOTE:  Report of Wendi and Lily's first day at the Airport can be found in the Briefing Room.

for Wendi: Teaching the Back Cross

Wendi has been visiting.  And training Lily.  Today Lily is going to show Wendi the Back Cross ...  "Change".

First Wendi practices without a dog.  We didn't think to Flip this until after she had learned the motions of the behavior while standing still.  Below Wendi begins learning the behavior while moving.

Next we add the dog.

And practice.

How we usually use the Back Cross in "real life".  This is fun when the dog knows the behavior already!

Cueing Lily to  "Change" using the leash only - no verbal cue.

A golden retriever passes across the street.  Lily sees it but continues working.  The human definitely tenses up!  Wendi didn't know what to expect, but her confidence in Lily gets a boost.

Retrieve: Levels 3 and 4

2008, 2009