Training Date at the Vet

While at the vet this morning, picking up some new thyroid meds for Lily, Beth, my favorite vet tech gave me 5 minutes and I taught her how to play the "Tight Leashes Don't Go Anywhere" game with Lily.

Lily's Lazy Leash is grand........everywhere but at the vet when being returned to me.  We taught the tech at the Eye Clinic for Animals how to play the game with Lily and Lily remembers whenever we go there, now, that the location understands the rule.  Funny how she relates the rule with the location and not the people.

So it was high time to teach her that Kensington Vet knows about loose leashes, too.  First Beth had to learn about "J" leashes, because she had a death grip on Lily.  I wonder if that's part of the lose/lose situations at all vets.  They expect the dogs to pull so they hold short leashes and apply the Opposition Reflex before the dog even moves.  Oh well.

First, Beth and Lily stood on one side of the doorway and I on the other.  J leash. And as long as the leash remained in a J, we just passed the leash back and forth.  No one moving.

Then, they remained standing and I moved a step away and returned and we exchanged leashes and Lily got a good wiggle and giggle before beginning again.

After a few, it was Lily's turn.  I remained stationary and they moved.  I only asked for five minutes so in the five minutes, I remained just on my side of the doorway and Lily and Beth got about three steps out of sight and were able to walk to me on a "Training Levels quality" loose leash.

I just love teaching Lily with non-trainers in real life situations.  This one was surely a success.