What is Enough Training?

School has started. I have started a new part-time job and I still substitute teach. I take care of house, kids and mom. What happens to my training time?

In summer, while I was recuperating, I had time to train. While I did not do much personal movement, Pippin and I trained several times a day, for about 20 min at a time. We also spent time playing ball and taking short walks. As I got better, the we went back to our Tolt Pipeline off-leash walks and ALL the dogs were real happy. But, then my time at home became short and not dog-available. YIKES! I can tell this has quite an effect on my little Pip here.

So, how do I balance this? I know many people have the same problem. I find that I will do some of my training on the walks. Yes, I carry the clicker (my tongue) and cookies with me. On the off-leash walks, I MUST be better than the squirrels, horses, other dogs, and other great things out there. So, currently, Pip gets lots of rewards for good COMES. The rewards will lessen over time, but re-enforcement is the key here. We also do some freestyle tricks, directional commands, and loose-leash work. This last one is the hardest. He sees another dog about 200yds away … and wants to RUN up to greet. Not every dog wants to be greeted this way. So, on goes the leash and we work attention and walking on a loose leash. Genny, Michette and Pug all have no issues here and stay with me. As we get closer, we ask the owner if the dogs want to play, and if the owner say’s “Yes” then they meet and then the leash goes off and they play. If it is a “no” then we move on. Pip is learning. Learning by practice and praise when doing it right. So, there is training on the walk.

But, of course, Pip wants more. How to fit it all in? At first, I didn’t. But now we play indoor games if I can’t get outdoors. Find the cookie in the cupcake tin that have toys in it: hide 2 or 3 cookies in 2 or 3 cups, cover all 12 with dog toys that fit, and let the dog search for the cookie! At first, start with a cookie in each cup, then reduce. This is Lots of FUN! Push the big ball around the house (Treibball). Pip is getting very good at lining up in the proper position and then pushing the ball around corners and out of jams! I decided to teach all the dogs to push the big ball. Small Freestyle moves as position placements (heel, strut, etc) in the living room.

Not sure if it is enough. In Pip’s eyes, no. But, when I watch him, he is learning. I am hoping that in a month or so, I can actually start DANCING with him! Then we will pick up the pace. Until now – we cuddle and do the best that we can.

Do Dogs listen or watch?

So - I am teaching Pippin "left" and "right" and to be honest, I am surprised he knows his directions as I think I keep screwing up!

As long as he is facing the same direction as I, I get it correct. To send him out to the right, I direct my right hand/arm to the right and send him out "right foot". Same with the left. He does great. (I use "foot" to tell him to go out to a platform.)

Now - for Treibball - he is facing me on his platforms and if I want to send him to HIS left (my right) I use my right arm to send him out to the next platform to his left and say "Left Foot". After all - this is his left. He goes to the correct platform just beautifully.
note - we started this with two platforms that located about 5 feet in front of me and on either side of me, about 8 feet apart from each other. Today, I added a 3rd platform so there are three to choose from. He would have to figure out if he is on the center platform, which way to go.

Today - as we were doing this exercise - I was saying "right foot" when I should have been saying "left foot", yet, Pippin followed my hand and went to the correct platform! So - is he listening to me? I am thinking that he is following my hand, understands the exercise and hears the LAST word of the command "Foot" and knows to move to another platform. Bit by bit, the platforms will "shrink" to just a paper on the ground and then to nothing but by then, he will learn to place himself behind the ball correctly. Do I worry? I don't think so as in this sport, I will be using my hand signals as well.

How will this work in Freestyle? In freestyle, I want him to LISTEN and really not always watch what I do so I can dance. Will that really work? I think it will up to a point. There will always be that "hidden body/hand signal" that is choreographed into the dance. He is learning how to "look right" and "look left" but still relies on body signals. So, as long as the body signal is choregraphed to not look like a hand signal then it should be just fine.

I feel as long as I can understand HOW Pippin learns, then I can best help him learn what I am trying to teach. And what I have also discovered is that Pippin learns differently than Genny (somewhat), than Pug (very much so) and from Toby.

I think everyone should have several different breeds to teach!

Training Distractions! YEA!!!

This has been a very interesting last few weeks. We got busy here at home with vacation plans and then went away for a week. Pip’s training has been minimal. I did try to make a point to always work on something with him, even when it was during ball play. But, we did not concentrate for an extended period of time. Yet, he has always retained what we worked on and I could tell that his learning continued to grow. Progress can still be made in small steps – the trick is to incorporate the learning into the everyday events.

So – we get home from vacation to what? Street repaving in front of our house. You know what that means – LOUD Trucks! Lots of BEEPING! House RUMBLING! Pug would just BARK all day (very tiresome) and Genny became my “shadow”. I did notice that when I took everyone out back to play, even with the noises, they calmed down. SO – Perfect time to train. Took Pip to the side yard (where lots of our training happens) and where he can see the street – people and trucks and noise. And we worked.

At first, the attention was split, but quickly he gave me full attention. And we had FUN. Worked: directional go-outs (for freestyle and treibball), platform position work, ball pushing, agility box-work jumps, freestyle moves from beginner to more advanced. We had fun! The louder the noise, the better the attention (and more the cookie!)

I was so please with him. But, I also took him back out when it was quiet. All trucks and people gone, just us and the normal sounds. What was great was the solid attention. Equal attention now with or without the ball. I am sensing progress.

Next step – when I can handle him on leash (he does not pull unless he sees another dog and I am not ready for that pull yet) we go to the park and work there. Then we find another park and work some more. Hmmmm better try and do this soon before the weather turns!