Protocol for Relaxation Log

[Artfish]

Protocol for relaxation

I am starting this out with my dog. We've done a few days of this before but never finished the program. I am determined to go through with it as I have seen improvement with this. I'm going to keep a daily log of it here with any notes on behavior changes. My goal is to do this two sets a day on weekdays, three sets a day on weekends. The program is 15 days long and then assumes indefinite continuity. I am using the clicker to mark good, silently turning my back on my dog a few seconds to mark undesired behavior.

Day One, very high value treats, distraction-free living room.
First time: He thinks he can earn the treat faster by falling into a down... ah-ah! I did a lot of turning my back on him at first but that waned as the procedure progressed. He does not like clapping but this is typical; ever since we got him he has shown sound sensitivity and will creep away if I am digging for pots and pans in the kitchen. Need to make noise and click + jackpot randomly throughout the day. Never broke position during the movement exercises. Released with "all done!" Maybe would be best if I got a mat for him to work it like a Control Unleashed exercise...

 

[corgipower]

Good luck with it! I look forward to reading your daily progress. I've been thinking of working on this with my malis.

 

[dogsarebetter]

I have been thinking of working with this also. i have the page book marked

 

[Artfish]

Day One, part two...

I managed to find a "mat." It is an old fleecy, dark pillowcase with penguins. We did a small training session where I freeshaped mat interaction. It must have worked because as soon as I got it out, the goober was all over it. We conducted all of Day One's exercises on the mat. I'm hoping the mat will help make transitioning the work outdoors much easier and assist with CU mat exercises.

Results

He is already paying better attention! No breaks unless directed on the mat and held that sit very nicely. He even sat with his back turned to me in between exercises while I got more goodies and was mostly reluctant to break even when cleared. Sometimes I would make him break by luring him off and on the mat, other times I would just repeat the "sit" command and he'd sit up straighter and brighter. Tomorrow starts Day Two...

 

[Artfish]

Day Two, part one...

First day back from break and both of us were out of the house at the same time. Came home to a VERY antsy dog. Went to the cattle pastures for fetch off a hill followed by following around the walking steaks. The first several minutes, each found of fetch was interspersed with nail Dremeling. That problem right front paw is getting MUCH easier to handle and the nails are getting shorter.

Brought out the mat and completed the Day Two exercises. I know I should be doing more than one set a day but we did spend a long time out running around. He only broke a couple times but overall performed better. I am trying to time my clicks to eye contact, so even if an exercise requires a five second stay, I will wait two or three more seconds and click the instant I get eye contact. Good or bad, I'm not sure but I want good eye contact in the house before we attempt this outside.

After this exercise, we did some "go to your mat" exercises. This is the second exercise just involving the mat after our freeshaping and he immediately understood that "go to mat" coupled with me gesturing toward the mat = lotsa treats. We did some sits on the mat and downs on the mat. We did a lot of clicktreats for this, then on a whim I stopped clicktreating and just gave positive verbal markers for mat interaction. He went to the mat, made sure all four feet were on it, looked at me, walked around, touched it, looked at me, then downed square on it. Click + JAAACKPOOOOT!!!! We ended there after a massive jackpot.

I think he is paying better attention.... he may have an anal gland or bony poop issue today which could be contributing to his crazies, but I do notice moments of greater clarity. Keeping an eye on him next couple of days and if he still seems irritated, off to the vet.

 

[Artfish]

Had massive overtime so I couldn't do much work with him. We'll call this...

Day Three, Session One:

VERY hungry and motivated. We did Day Three work, plus some work while in a down, some going upstairs and out of sight for an instant (he is usually good about almost a minute of out of sight stays), and some mat work. He was VERY antsy, I think just extremely hungry. By the end of the session, the drool was hanging.

We also worked on some existing tricks that are in progress- cleaning up his toys by name, picking up stuff on the ground and throwing it into the wastebasket, and another trick, and he is doing VERY well with all of them. Tissues are tough for him because they are clingy but he's getting there. Focus is improving and I can tell he is thinking more. I did forget to give my "all done" cue at the end but I figured telling him to go to his crate for his dinner may suffice.