Inspiration

Today I attended as a spectator an all breed agility trial sanctioned by the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).  So many great dogs, and interesting to see the differences between ASCA agility and that of the American Kennel CLub (AKC) and North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC).  It was inspiring to see some excellent dog and handler teams.

Jackie’s training is continuing too; we’re currently working on proofing her sit stay, down stay, and recall by taking it outside to add a layer of distractions.  At every opportunity that presents itself, I reinforce Jackie for coming to me at a high rate of reinforcement.  I’ve only just started putting the “sit” cue on a variable reinforcement rate, but for now, especially while Jackie is still learning everything new, I’m keeping cues to a high rate of reward, and of course new skills in process of being learned are reinforced at 100% rate, with occasional jackpots for novel behavior, extra challenge, or extra effort or speed offered.  Eventually we will go to intermittent reinforcement, but for now the cues she knows are still being rewarded at a high rate to keep Jackie’s motivation high, and new learning is reinforced at 100% for the same reason and to ensure clarity.

Gunner is working on handstand.  He already knows the cue “feet” to put his hind feet up on a platform or step since this is how you teach contacts for agility.  We have progressed to walking backwards up stairs and putting his back feet up on a pillow stack and then onto the sofa.  The plan is for this to progress to backing up a platform, and then to straight up a wall until it is a full handstand along a wall with no platform or pillows.  Aside from being a hilarious parlor trick, this is building front end strength and hind end dexterity as well.

Gunner demonstrates what will become handstand

Between the two of them, I feel like there could be a circus act

Pearls:

• Inspiration was abundant today at the ASCA all breed agility trial
• Jackie is beginning to proof sit stay, down stay, and recall with minor distractions
• Gunner continues to add to his already impressive tricks repertoire 

Jackie’s Crate Arrived

We love these Omlet Fido Studio crates, and Jackie’s one arrived today. Three of them line up nicely to act as a low cradenza in the bedroom, and the dogs seem to really like them as well.

Speaking of beds, I’m working with Gunner to get him used to sleeping with his head propped on a pillow.  While I sincerely hope that Gunner is one of the many dogs with heart disease that do not go on to develop heart failure, dogs that do, often try to sleep in a sitting position on their chest in a sphinx posture if they are having trouble breathing, and can often be restless sleepers.  So I’ve begun experimenting with roll shaped and triangle shaped pillows to get Gunner used to propping himself up comfortably.  

If it comes to heart failure, and of course I hope it doesn’t, however I’d rather Gunner be familiar with and comfortable sleeping propped on a pillow long in advance.  Prissy used to like to prop her head up against the side of her crate or on the armrest in the truck or sofa, and I have observed Gunner and other dogs do this as well.

I like how the three crates together form a low credenza

I’m experimenting with these shaped pillows to get Gunner comfortable with propping up his head to sleep on his chest in the sphinx posture if he wants to do so now or in the future:

So far the best has been this little triangle shaped fox; Gunner uses it to prop up against the side of his crate:

Pearls:

• Omlet Fido Studio crates work well in our space and the dogs like them
• Hoping for the best but planning ahead to get Gunner comfortable sleeping with his head up on a shaped pillow should he want to do so
• Heart disease can kindly consume a phallus