Reactive Dog class with Helper

Helper barks at other dogs.  A lot.  They don't have to be particularly close or really doing anything, but she goes on high alert and starts to wiggle and squirm and bark.  So Tim and I have started taking her to a reactive dog class.

The class is great.  Both trainers are well read and have lots of experience.  The class is also small; it only has four dogs.  Unlike the basic obedience class we tried to take (and ended up quitting), this class is all positive.  It uses some techniques that I really like, but what is phenomenal about this course is the in-class set up.

The arrival of the dogs is staggered so that no dog sees any of the other dogs come in.  Once inside the building (which is pretty bare), each family (dog + people) go to their individual cubby.  The cubbies are formed by x-pens covered with a black lining.  There are two chairs, a water bowl, and room for mat or blanket for the dog.  The point of the cubbies is that the dogs are in the same room with other dogs, but they cannot see each other.  The cubbies are 20 + feet from each other.  In the middle of the room there are cones to remind people to stay far enough away from the other cubbies and to help direct the people when asked to walk their dog outside their cubby.  Basically, the cones are there for each communication and precision.  During the class, people+dog teams take turns walking outside there cubby, slowly decreasing the space needed away from other dogs for the dog to stay calm.

The main technique used is called dropping a 'here'.  The process is you drop a cookie in front of the dog and say 'here'.  Simple, right?  What it does is more powerful.  It breaks the dog's focus on whatever sets it off, it lowers the dog's head into a position which naturally calms your dog (and possibly the dog 15 feet away which was what your dog was worried about), and when the dog has eaten said cookie, it will look to the sky from where it came and you can say 'Good!' and give another cookie to reinforce a good behavior.  I think it's important to notice that since this is entirely positive, you are introducing anything else for the dog to be nervous about.  Additionally, you are playing off natural 'doggy' behaviors to get something you can reinforce.  If you time this correctly, you will drop a 'here' before your dog gets too excited.  By reading body language I can almost always do this before Helper barks.  Then since she's distracted, she doesn't bark, and if I'm on a walk, the other dog is usually already gone.  She's learning (at least on walks) that other dogs present an opportunity for cookies.  She's not stressed out because she thinks she might get correct or have to give a behavior she really doesn't want to give (like when some people teach a strict 'look at me').    Walks have become way more fun for both of us!  I still avoid places with lots of dogs, but walking around our neighborhood is fine.

The most important part about using this technique is practice.  When I first started, it would work, up to a point.  For the past several weeks, I have been practicing dropping 'heres' even then there are no distractions.  For example, she might have to do two or three for part of her dinner.  We'll practice on a walk maybe 15 times, one at the door inside the house, one right outside, one as we're leaving our lot, and the list goes on.

Mainly, I've very happy with this class and with the progress Helper has made.  We still crated Helper after 30 minutes of class today, she had had enough, but we also made it for 30 minutes with her sitting/downing/squirming about as calmly as she gets in a room with 3 other dogs.

One note, we are using this class and training in conjunction with a thunder shirt and a DAPs collar.

Upcoming attractions

I haven't posted lately, but I have some more pictures and post ideas.  Here's a preview of what's to come:
1. What is and isn't positive dog training.
2. Breaking up with your trainer
3. Board games for dogs.
4. Canine physical therapy.
5. Reactive dogs.

Ioda kickin' it up.

Friday night Tim and I decided to take Ioda to the Magnuson dog park.  Ioda had a good time, ran around, swam a little, got really wet, and almost sort-of tried to play with another dog.  He had an even better time when we got home.  He was still very excited from the park, so we were playing with him and Helper in the back yard.  We were playing one of Ioda's favorite games, chase (he chases us, so it's great exercise for everyone), when he also decided that he should chase Helper too.  He blocked her, gave a huge play bow and bounded two steps in her direction, let out a 'woof!' and gave another play bow.  To those of you who know Ioda, he doesn't often play with other dogs, so Tim and I were really excited.  Helper however had no idea what was going on and ran off scared to hide behind Tim and I.  Ioda just looked up at us like, 'I'm trying here!' and that was the end of that.  It was a small start, but hopefully there's more to come.

Today Helper has been worked with a lot.  I took her to the advanced agility class to just sit in the back and practice being calm.  I think we were inside the building for almost 5 of the 45 minutes we were there.  That being said, she's getting calmer at walking on leash around other dogs, and as we weren't participating in the class, I just took her outside every time she became stressed and barky or just over excited in general.  Several hours later we played our first round of 'Crate games' making it through the first three stages in no time.  She picked up on 'your in your out' quickly and really liked that game.  The first two stages she was squirmy, but the treats (chopped up hot dog) were good enough for her to sit still in the back of the crate.  I need to find something she likes as much as hot dog that is less gross/slimey.

Week 4

We've had Helper almost  four weeks.  She's a much calmer and more confident dog now, not to say that she's calm . . . but her good behavior has earned her some more freedom and she now spends her days under my desk with Ioda while I work.  Each day they seem to enjoy each other a bit more.  Helper has quit snapping near Ioda's head and has learned to back off when treats are handed out.  She's learned that if I'm giving Ioda a treat and she behaves too, she'll get one as well. 

For Helper the biggest distraction is still other dogs.  However, due some wonderful advice in the book Control Unleashed, she's made some big progress.  We now play the 'look at that' game with other dogs, people, traffic, anything that she wants.  It really does allow her to calm down.  We've also learned that if we give her enough squeeze cheese to gum up her mouth before she starts barking, she can't bark at the other dogs at obedience class . . . which means we can give her more squeeze cheese for not barking, and pretty soon we can play the 'look at that game'.  Last night at class, she was even focused enough to participate in some of the exercises.  The instructor also mentioned that we could stop by and practice attention and calm behaviors at two of the calmer, upper-level agility classes she teaches.  Since Helper already has great focus around the house and yard, our goals for the next few days are to start working on Crate Games and running through uprights.  Hopefully she'll be ready to start flyball training this fall.

Ioda's been going in for weekly acupuncture and Adequin injections.  These have been working wonderfully.  He's moving well and is more active than he was before over-doing it on the hike 5 weeks ago.  The vet says that he has more muscle in his hind legs and that we can start being moderately active again.  Additionally, we should eventually be able to participate in non-jumping agility classes, though she mentioned that he might really enjoy canine freestyle--I'm not so sure I could ever do that in public though.

Family and friends, here's all you really care about, pictures!
Here Tim and Helper are playing, but Tim has the toy.

Dogs just chilling under the desk.

 
And by the way, I seriously think that neon yellow-green toy is indestructible. 

The First Few Days

We're starting to settle into a routine here.  Helper can be squeaky and sound like a little chimp when kenneled, but she quiets down shortly after everyone else does.  

One comment on Helper's name, it is a reference to H.E.L.P.eR.: Helpful Electronic Lab Partner Robot, the robot on The Venture Brothers. 

Helper very bright and wonderfully food and toy motivated.  The past three morning she has earned her breakfast by practicing her name, 'sit', 'down', and 'here' on walks.  She's a bit reactive when other dogs or people come by and she doesn't like traffic, but most of the time I can ask her to sit and just pop kibble in her mouth until the distraction is past.

Around the house where there are few distractions she's doing wonderfully.  Her attention span in the house is great too.  Much better than I was expecting for a young dog with little previous training.  We already have distance on asking her to 'kennel', she'll go from all the way across the living room.  Similarly we're starting to get distance and duration on 'sit'. Down is pretty good from sit, but not so great from standing.  From standing, when lured she gives a fantastic fold-back drop.  In general she's getting better at food luring and soon we'll be able to start teaching her little tricks like circling to the left and right and weaving between legs.  

Ioda just ignores Helper for the most part.  In the yard they've almost-sort of-kind of thought about playing together, but then they both went and barked at our little Budda statue.  So in the yard, they're getting much better together.  In her kennel, Helper has twice gotten a bit snarky at Ioda.  Nothing bad really, but then Ioda can tell that I get a bit upset, and so he gets upset and stressed and goes and hides in his kennel.  This is why I really need to get Helper to learn the clicker training game.  Monday night I tried to start conditioning her to click = treat, but the noise of the clicker was stressing her so we stopped.  Since then, I've been working with Ioda (using the clicker) within ear shot and finally last night in the same room.  This doesn't seem to bother her so maybe tonight I can start working with her on click = treat.

With Ioda there are several things I'm doing to make Helper less stressful.  First we've been avoiding stressors (I've been trying to pay more attention to what stresses him out in the first place too) and slowly reintroducing them and clicking for 'brave' responses.  Since he also doesn't enjoy loud noise we've started playing clicker-games here he gets clicks for playing with objects (right now boxes) in such a way that he makes noise.  This idea is from the book Agility Right From the Start which I learned about here: clickertraining.com.  

Other random dog related things, Helper will start Beginning Home Obedience at Family Dog in Kent this Thursday.  Tim and I also got tired of picking Ioda up to weigh him.  So we taught him to get on the scale himself.  I think we have video of the process, so this might be coming shortly.  Photos will also be posted soon.

Day 1

Today Tim and I went to check out "Sierra"--now "Helper".  (As in "Go team Helper!" from the Venture Brothers.)  We are now a two dog family.  Ioda likes her about as much as he likes any other dog, she's tolerable, but not interesting.

Tim is smitten.  Our deal was, I would get to pick the dog (ideally an agility dog for me), but he would get to name her, with both positions having veto power.  I'm really happy with the interest Tim is taking in her, asking about how to proceed in training, all the details, what's the time line, even though I picked her out.  (And by picked her out, I mean I scoured the web and then we went to the rescue and met her.)  Helper is a squirrelly little dog, maybe 30-ish pounds and 18 inches tall.  We think she has some sheltie and maybe some border collie.

Helper is light on her feet and bounds into the air on a regular basis.  She's also currently sitting in her kennel squeaking.  They is a lot to work on to turn her into an agility and flyball dog.  On the plus side, she does seem to really enjoy squeaky tennis balls, running, and jumping.   She also has a good foundation for a solid recall and great eye contact and attention.  On the down side, she can be a bit snarky with other dogs and her attention span isn't very long yet.

Tonight Tim and I worked with her on the recall game (calling her between two people and dropping cookies between our feet when she comes) and teaching her her name.  We've also been stuffing her full of cookies when she's quiet in her kennel.

I think Ioda would roll his eyes if he could.  But at least today Helper's really motivated him to be on his best behavior and work just a bit harder.  Ioda also likes his treats and toys more after Helper has shown interest in them.

My short term goals for Helper are 1. learning her name, 2. a solid recall, and 3. click = treat.  Right now she knows sit = get closer to the ground (either a sit or a down), so we're using this as something she can do to get what she wants (from the "Nothing in life is free" method).

With Ioda, since he was recently diagnosed with hip dysplasia we're taking it easy from agility and flyball for a while.  Which means we'll probably work on our scent discrimination and directed retrieving.  For fun we're working on paw targeting, specifically back paws.  This is something I should have worked on with him when he was young, because now it just blows his mind.  Hopefully I'll have Helper knowing click = treat soon and I'll be able to work with her on this as well.