 Mini Pack Walk with LaLa and Potential Friends (Bandit already a friend, Maple, Frankie and Maggie). | On Week 2, LaLa is on a 6' leash with her potential new friends. She has earned this by great obedience progress and displaying an interest and friendliness to other dogs. She can get over excited, so she is still on a 6' leash around everyone, but she can socialize for brief periods now. Her manners can be sometimes lacking, which is why we are taking it slow with her. She was a little too excited sometimes (Week 1) around my husband as well. That has not shown up for many days now, and she is seeming to understand that Robert prefers gentle non nipping contact (as do some dogs). |
Being only on Week 2 with LaLa, we are going slow and steady, so LaLa can later get the most out of life in adventures. I really don't think that is going to be at all a problem. Except for Leon and Jazz (who already came trained), she may be the easiest dog of my own that I have worked with. Of course, that could all change as she gets more comfortable. That is what you need to know, especially when you get a rescue dog, that they may be inhibited and not showing all their behaviors at first. LaLa clearly likes to please and wants to just get along and have fun.
Ironically (since she likes fun), she is not playing with me with balls and flirt poles et, as I had assumed she would be into LMAO. It just goes to show you, you don't know what a new dog's motivation at that moment will be until you work with the new dog. I have not given up on that, but I have shelved it at the moment. She works well with and for food (when I choose to do that with her), so I can make a game of that. I am trying to get her to follow my hand WITHOUT sitting. Clearly, she has associated any food and hand with sitting LOL. I want to turn that into a spin or position tool. Also I am using lured heel for that as well. So LaLa is challenging in me in unexpected ways but not in any negative ways. LaLa is very sweet, loving, and loyal.
Week 2 Training Summary:
Week 1's exercises may change, but they are still in some way worked on. On week 1, we started sit on the dog (inside and outside in the yard), crate training, leash handling (inside and outside), place, and lured sits and downs (inside and outside). ***I had forgotten I was also doing dumbbell take it and outs. I had also been playing with follow the hand in week 1. Now I need to remember to continue those on in Week 3 (as I dropped it for Week 2). The major changes to Week 2 work from Week 1 work are as follows:
Not bad Week 2 work with the little hippo from Louisiana (LaLa)! LaLa is smart and likes to do this stuff with you. Crate around dogs, she gets excited with and I still need to do a lot of work with that. Crate around us is easy now without too much complaint. We are doing about 8 hours a week average. We could (and I had planned) to do more, but allergies are kicking me in the butt right now, so I elected to take it easy. There is no rush, because hopefully LaLa is going to be here for a long long time.
Ironically (since she likes fun), she is not playing with me with balls and flirt poles et, as I had assumed she would be into LMAO. It just goes to show you, you don't know what a new dog's motivation at that moment will be until you work with the new dog. I have not given up on that, but I have shelved it at the moment. She works well with and for food (when I choose to do that with her), so I can make a game of that. I am trying to get her to follow my hand WITHOUT sitting. Clearly, she has associated any food and hand with sitting LOL. I want to turn that into a spin or position tool. Also I am using lured heel for that as well. So LaLa is challenging in me in unexpected ways but not in any negative ways. LaLa is very sweet, loving, and loyal.
Week 2 Training Summary:
Week 1's exercises may change, but they are still in some way worked on. On week 1, we started sit on the dog (inside and outside in the yard), crate training, leash handling (inside and outside), place, and lured sits and downs (inside and outside). ***I had forgotten I was also doing dumbbell take it and outs. I had also been playing with follow the hand in week 1. Now I need to remember to continue those on in Week 3 (as I dropped it for Week 2). The major changes to Week 2 work from Week 1 work are as follows:
- Started Heeling work inside, and LaLa is doing much better than I assumed she would (the same thing with the loose leash we had started). The auto sit has been started with this (inside low to mid distractions) as well.
- Started working on Circle and Long Place with leash dropped in appropriate (non Robert or dog immediate) inside environments. Still need to be sure to hold the leash if Robert is about to come through the door or into the room from somewhere else.
- Sits have developed into an easy goal of 4 in a row for 3 sets at (usually) 2 or less minutes.
- Sit stays have been started and ended at a still sit stay in low to mid distractions inside to one minute.
- Loose leash walking with a familiar (ish) well behaved pack outside.
Not bad Week 2 work with the little hippo from Louisiana (LaLa)! LaLa is smart and likes to do this stuff with you. Crate around dogs, she gets excited with and I still need to do a lot of work with that. Crate around us is easy now without too much complaint. We are doing about 8 hours a week average. We could (and I had planned) to do more, but allergies are kicking me in the butt right now, so I elected to take it easy. There is no rush, because hopefully LaLa is going to be here for a long long time.
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