Today was our private lesson with a local dog trainer. We arrived and spoke with the trainer and our needs behaviors for a bit. We were in a large room and in the corner was a life-size cut out of a dog. Madison saw it and immediately went into her aggression-mode, barking, growling and straining at the leash...teachable moment!! The trainer, Mike, took a canister of pressurized air (the type sold to dust your computer) , stepped at Madison, said "enough" and sprayed her in the face. Magic...Madison turned away and was quiet!! This was followed by praise for her now positive behavior. About a minute later Mike had to use the technique again. After that, Madison sat, then laid down and was quiet and content. He said she had moved to "avoidance mode". Avoidance mode is: if I pretend it's not there then I don't have to deal with it! It was true...she was facing away from the fake dog! (I think I may have used that one before...)
Then I took Madison and Mike brought in his very laid back golden retriever. Of course, Madison went into aggression mode, so I stepped at her, said "enough" and gave her an air squirt. Wow, it worked!! For the next half hour, Kathleen and I practiced our technique while Mike walked his dog around the room and around Madison. Soon the two dogs were interacting by sniffing with no issues!!
We learned a lot in 45 minutes. We learned how dogs think in the now, how to deal with unwanted behavior, how to make a dog "come" and we learned we have much to learn!! We now will be practicing our techniques with Madison on walks and hopefully on pontoon rides!
Feedback: Julie is very good at the "enough" technique but not quick enough to praise. (sound familiar, former students?) Kathleen is very good at praise but not so firm on "enough". Surprised anyone?
Evaluation: Madison A
Julie & Kathleen B
Note: too bad I did not learn that air spray technique when I was teaching!!
Then I took Madison and Mike brought in his very laid back golden retriever. Of course, Madison went into aggression mode, so I stepped at her, said "enough" and gave her an air squirt. Wow, it worked!! For the next half hour, Kathleen and I practiced our technique while Mike walked his dog around the room and around Madison. Soon the two dogs were interacting by sniffing with no issues!!
We learned a lot in 45 minutes. We learned how dogs think in the now, how to deal with unwanted behavior, how to make a dog "come" and we learned we have much to learn!! We now will be practicing our techniques with Madison on walks and hopefully on pontoon rides!
Feedback: Julie is very good at the "enough" technique but not quick enough to praise. (sound familiar, former students?) Kathleen is very good at praise but not so firm on "enough". Surprised anyone?
Evaluation: Madison A
Julie & Kathleen B
Note: too bad I did not learn that air spray technique when I was teaching!!
No comments:
Post a Comment