Olive's class progress - Thundershirt & macaroons

[celloyogi]

Sounds like great progress- good job!
We have had some bumps on the road as well, I will share what worked for us
Leo had auditory sensitivity since early on, I have spent several months sitting out on and off classes, watching other classes, playing, doing tricks, leaving when we reached threshold sometimes outside, sometimes in different non busy hallway etc.
OTC herbal Lactium helped with level of sensitivity, sold at Swanson vitamins online.
Happy tricks helps- and I mean any things that make you dog happy at home, making faces, whispering, chasing your hand with food, digging into your pocket for food tidbits, barking on cue, spinning- each dog different but by trial and learning we have found some activities which placed my boy in different state, it helped.
Playing Crate Games helps- you can always find or bring crate to training facility and it is already established happy place.
here is article by Susanne Clothier on thresholds
http://suzanneclothier.com/the-articles/understanding-threshholds-its-more-under-or-over

I wasn't really thinking in specifics like the article (great one, btw), but the basic idea is the same. Recently on our walks we've been going to the tennis courts at the middle school, right when school is letting out. There's a fence and sidewalk between us and the cars/kids/buses, and plenty of snow to play in. She's still on a leash. I walk her along the fence until she starts to look antsy, then immediately go to the far side of the courts and we play in the snow. It's like she almost forgets about the school activities.

At class I blow in her face a lot. It's a game at home that she loves. She tries to bite the air and gets all excited about it. Have no idea why (makes no difference what I've eaten or if I've just brushed or not!) but if I do it during class, I'll get 15s or so of happy out of her. So it's a good game.

 

[mellie]

Hummm, these are really good ideas everyone. I will be trying them out with Sally -she has reactivity at times too. On a side note, I am now craving macaroons and will be making some since I am off due to the blizzrd. Thanks

 

[celloyogi]

Hummm, these are really good ideas everyone. I will be trying them out with Sally -she has reactivity at times too. On a side note, I am now craving macaroons and will be making some since I am off due to the blizzrd. Thanks

We got a big platter of the Manischewitz macaroons at Costco.

 

[Jaynie]

Hey, you gotta use the treats that are meaningful for the dog! (And thundershirts rock, by the way!)

It took me almost a year to find Neechee's big motivating treat to use when trying to cure his forging while heeling. I ended up coating just behind the side seam of my jeans, and just Neechee nose-high with Tobasco sauce, which he reacted to like a crack addict!

 

[Psalms]

Yes, this was such a revelation to me, when I was taught that I have to keep Sammy below his threshold in order to train him. I was at first depressed that we couldn't go traipsing through the neighborhood on our normal walks but should choose a place like the one mentioned, with children, other dogs, cars, buses, etc. at a distance beyond his trigger point. It's still a little confusing to me, but I trust the trainer, and since this is now being reinforced by others we're just going to keep on going.

Janet

 

[JacqueZ]

At class I blow in her face a lot. It's a game at home that she loves. She tries to bite the air and gets all excited about it. Have no idea why (makes no difference what I've eaten or if I've just brushed or not!) but if I do it during class, I'll get 15s or so of happy out of her. So it's a good game.

Honey loves playing with air blowing on her to, she gets all excited and starts digging and barking!

Great job with Olive!