Training challenge

[pitbullmamaliz]

I am doing a training challenge for myself (and anybody else who wants to play!). I have decided to do Karen Overall's Relaxation Protocol (RP) with Inara, and also vow to teach her a new trick. Once she has learned this trick, I'll teach her another trick, so she's always learning something new. I figure we can still work on practical stuff, but learning tricks will be fun for both of us and confidence-building for her.

So we just did day 1 of the RP. Super easy, but I'll do it each day as instructed. You're supposed to do it twice a day so I'll do it again later this evening. I put Inara in a down on a special mat that rolls up like a sleeping bag, that way she'll eventually associate that mat with relaxed, happy feelings, and I can take it anywhere.

For our first trick we're working on a "beg," with her up sitting up on her haunches. I'm training it with the clicker and treats, luring her closer and closer to the finished product. We've worked on it a couple times today and she is confidently lifting her front feet off the ground a few inches while keeping her butt down. The last couple times we did it just now I didn't have to have the treat in my hand when I lured her into position, so that's great. She occasionally develops a case of "pogo butt" and lunges for the treat/my hand, but I just pull it back and look away from her for a few seconds. The only thing I'm not sure of is how to get her to tuck her front feet in in the "proper" begging position. Maybe it just comes?

So if anybody else wants to play, join in! Maybe we can all vow to teach our dogs something new.

Here's the link to the Relaxation Protocol if you haven't seen it: http://www.dogscouts.org/Protocol_for_relaxation.html

[TheRedQueen]

I've never done the RP...I'm not good at sticking to schedules/guides. It's a problem I have. I think this will be good for you and Inara though...my Inara and I would be helped by it too, I'm sure.

, I think it's Karen Overall's RP though...not Karen Pryor.

[pitbullmamaliz]

Actually it's Karen Overall! Thanks!

[TheRedQueen]

Actually it's Karen Overall! Thanks!

Yeah, I had to go edit what I wrote...I had the wrong Karen too before I went and fixed it. who knew there were so many training Karens...

[pitbullmamaliz]

Just in case anybody is interested, I found audio files of all 15 days of the relaxation protocol. I tried them tonight (day 3) and they were MUCH easier to use than trying to keep track on the computer screen. Inara seems to think I've lost my mind as I jog and clap, but she's not moving. It's a start!
http://championofmyheart.com/2009/04/01 ... tocol.aspx

Beg is coming along slowly. She can do it with only my hand luring her (no treat until she does the behavior) but I can't quite transition her to doing it without the hand movement. I'm figuring enough repetitions and she'll get it.

After this, I think I'll teach her to crawl - that was always one of my favorites!

[furever_pit]

Interesting. I have never heard of this. Keep us updated on your progress and how it is going please.

[pitbullmamaliz]

Just completed Day 4, the second time (you do two a day). The first session was rough - she stayed down except for when I walked around her, then she sat up to watch me, but the entire time she was down she was just quivering with excitement about getting the next treat. Not relaxing at all. So this evening for our 2nd session, we played first so she'd be a little tired, and then I only treated her every 2 or 3 exercises. She was much more relaxed this time, though she did slam her chin onto the ground a few times like she was exasperated. It was kinda funny! But it was nice because as soon as I put her mat on the floor, she ran to it and lay down without me telling her to. So she's obviously getting it a bit.

[pitbullmamaliz]

We are a "beg FAIL." I believe I have simply trained Inara to mouth my fingers when I hold them over her head. *sigh* I will prevail. Eventually. I hope...

With the RP, we did our first session of Day 5 and I was pleasantly surprised. The last couple times I've put her mat on the ground she's run right to it and lay down, which is good. Today she actually relaxed a bit - laid her head on the ground and sighed. Or she was bored. I haven't decided which, but whichever it is, it's progress! I think it made a difference that I'm not giving her a treat after each task, but doing every 2 or 3 tasks.

[TheRedQueen]

I think beg can be hard for some dogs, depending on their musculature in their backs...I don't ask for unless the dog is comfy in that position...I think some dogs just aren't comfortable in that position.

My old basset used to rock at the sitting up and begging...amazing for a long backed dog without much grace. . Ripley is good at it, Sawyer not so much...it just depends, I think. My guys will all do it with a lure, but some have an easier time with doing it on their own volition.

Congrats on the progress! I'm following it on CS too now.