Reviewing Small Spaces

In our "real life", Lily's and mine, we spend a lot of time waiting.  Much of that time, Lily is navigating small spaces tucked under or beside or under my legs.

Because this summer we are going to Ladder Distractions, I am using training time at home tightening up weak spots.  For Lily that will primarily mean strengthening her tucking into "Side" positions.

Of course, there are public bathrooms of every size and description.  At home, in training, I am willing to ask her to lie down in the small space beside the commode and the wall.  In public restrooms, I have her remain standing.

Need practice on Right Side.  Even though the right side was the same size space as the left side, the left side also had the toilet tissue.  Nevertheless, "Side" was problematic for Lily.

Between my chair and an obstacle, on my Left Side...."Tuck".  Lily responds well to the "Back" cue if I want to tuck her in tighter.  The workhorse Go to Mat behavior ("Go Lie Down") easily directs Lily to crawl under the chair, even one with a white skirt.

Same exercise on my Right Side....."Side".  Again, Lily understands but the right side is definitely her weaker side.  No problem going under the chair from the right side.

Another option I use while Lily and I are waiting is placing her under my feet perpendicular to the chair and under my legs.  This is probably Lily's favorite position.

Depending upon the layout, often I ask Lily to back into my chair space or to back into an empty space to my left or my right.  Here another trainer is reminding Lily that she can do the behavior for someone else!

This is the small corner I use for simulating the small space at my feet for public transportation.  It is slightly smaller than the under seat dimension window seat on most airplanes.  (Website for underseat dimensions depending upon airliner size).  Bus seating varies, but this is close.

On the rare occasions that I eat at my dining room table, Lily lies beneath the table during the meal.

In all instances, I have trained Lily to remain in her position until I cue her to stand.  As I incorporate her mobility assistance bracing more and more that will have to change, but I don't anticipate a problem.

Hula Hoops

Hula Hoops come in two standard sizes.  I used the small hula hoop to show the relative size of each space where Lily makes herself smaller and unobtrusive in public.

The White Chairs

The Corner

(not enough space for the hoop to lie flat)

Under the Dining Room Table

Dog Beds

Lily's favorite dog bed is her puppy bed.  I got it out again when Andre came to visit and Lily greeted it like a long lost friend.  What good training for curling up as small as her 74# and lanky Weimaraner frame will let her get!  Duration in this bed doesn't seem to be a problem for her at all and she often seeks it out.

CRO: Learning about transitions

Lily titled in CRO with our first three entries!  Syn titled as well!  Woo Hoo!  I asked that instead of sending us our ribbon, that a picture of it be emailed and I will post it on Lily's CRO page.  After all, it's  a cyber sport.  What not a cyber award?


I want to continue working Level I courses w/Lily on my right side.  But today Sue and I explored the new behaviors in Level II.  The primary new things are transitions.  Turns, the swing finish.....and Target.


Transitions defined: DOG CHANGES POSITIONS IN RELATION TO HANDLER

(taking the shortest route) while stationary, moving or both.

1. When traveling in a straight line, Change (back cross) is fastest and least obtrusive
1. We use a back transition (Change) and a front transition (Tuck/Side) when traveling forward, but have no experience transitioning turns
2. 90 degree turns
1. left turn: heel to side   (in front)
2. left turn: side to heel  (behind)
3. right turn:  heel to side  (behind)
4. right turn:  side to heel  (in front)
3. 180 degree turns
1. left turn:  heel to side
2. left turn: side to heel
3. right turn:  heel to side
4. left turn: side to heel
4. 180 turns
1. everyone turns left
2. everyone turns right
3. or everyone does opposites (I do a right, Lily does a left; I do a left, Lily turns right)
5. Weave transitions
1. Call Front.  Single Weave Transition. Wait. - While moving forward, the handler stops forward motion and may back up several steps (optional) calling the dog to Front position. The dog must pause in Front position, either standing or sitting.  The handler then re-positions his/her feet/legs and cues the dog to pass between the handler's legs to transition to Heel/Side position.

The Turn Transitions   ("Coke Can" Training)

I know it will come naturally eventually, but this is definitely going to be a trainer challenge.

(I am concentrating sooooo hard here.....)

• False Right Turn (Right Turn, Come Fore, Handler Switches to Heel/Side
  (and False Left Turn) - The team turns right 90 degrees and the handler immediately begins moving backwards, calling the dog to come fore.  As the dog responds and faces the handler, the handler switches to the position in which the team approached the station (Heel/Side) by turning 180 degrees right (to Heel) or left (to Side).  This exercise is performed while the team is in motion; there are no stops/pauses in place.

Because Sue is experienced and knows what she is doing, she easily moves Syn through these positions.  No new cues.  Primarily Targeting and other foundation Levels behaviors.  I, however, will have to work with the Coke Can for a while.

This is all about Level 1 Target, (Come) Front, Tuck and Side........while moving and turning.

Watching the CRO videos this week, I see that Lily and I need to work on an "instant" Watch and a straight Tuck on first cue.

Bathrobe Training

Yesterday Cathy and I were working on on and off leash walking, asking for Sits and Downs in position.  What interesting things we discovered!  Lily forgot that she knew how to Down; Rooster did beautiful Downs, but consistently moved out of position to do his Sits.

Then we changed dogs and included the Tuck/Heel cue, since both dogs know the Swing Finish.  This morning, while Shayla was eating her breakfast, I used the time to Flip Lily doing some variations on the basic Swing Finish.

In this first video I can see the importance of treat delivery.  I am delivering the treat with my right hand, which pulls Lily's head to the right and her rear to the left, out of alignment.

Here I am incorporating both side movement and back movement in the Tuck cue.

Thirdly, the Side.  We don't practice (or use) Right Side nearly as often as we do Tuck.  It shows.

At one point in time, I began teaching Lily to Tuck while in the Down position.  Sue advised cueing Down/ Tuck        Down/Tuck.  I am going to go back to working on this to keep her in position while walking.

Also, re-teaching both the Sit and the Down (on both sides) without the cue until I get exactly the behavior I want.