Zen. Zen. Zen.

I have 207 video clips filed under ZEN. Training ZEN. Training ZEN through L7 in Steps to Service. Training ZEN from the new book. Now we are focusing on OOS (out of sight) ZEN. The "ultimate" default ZEN. ZEN when no one is watching.

This involves simultaneously reviewing L1 - 3 (NB) while teaching L4. In "Think About Zen" Sue writes:

"You've spent a great deal of time and effort so far teaching your dog that she can earn good things by giving you what you want.

Now you're going to put her in the classic game show situation - go for the big bucks (your treat)?  Or walk away with the prize she's already won (that sandwich on the coffee table)?

We know that dogs don't generalize well, yet we've done (and will continue to do) so much work on Zen in ALL its forms that you should find Zen generalizing into all kinds of situations:

No for all manner of toddler Zen situations - toddler with ice cream on his face, toddler dangling crackers within easy reach, toddler with enticing toys;

No nicely gets my dogs out of the front hall when we have visitors; 

No helps us avoid a fight at the dog park as my dog heads for another dog's ball;

No says, "Stop paying attention to that cute hunky Doberman and pay attention to me!"

Be sure that you work coffee table Zen traps as well as the more obvious training situations. Surely a park bench with someone's lunch on it qualifies as a coffee table?  Or fast food in a bag on the dashboard of your car?  Groceries in the back seat?

When the day comes that your dog sees something disgusting or delicious within reach and looks at you to ask your opinion before snarfing it - do you have your million-dollar happy dance ready?"

Review, Remind, Reteach

At home we can teach the concept of ZEN and of OOS using food.  But we don't have that luxury when OTR (on the road) teaching Other Dog Zen or Crotch Zen or Toddler Zen.  Nor do we have the freedom of Flipping these training sessions.  But the at home training DOES teach the Zen "cue" - the neutral No.  Then we go OTR to generalize it.  But.....in training mode.

Lily will have a refresher course.

Places we are training GTM and Zen in December:

• Coronado Dog Beach (other dogs)
• empty ground beef trays
• sniffing Zen (Navy Exchange and Navy Commissary)
• Crown Vet
• guests arriving at home
• "Got Leash?" exercise 
• Vested/Unvested Leash work
• Wag n Tails Pet Store (w/in house Great Dane)