No class yesterday due to the torrential rains. Some roads near dog school were under water - or very nearly!
So, I worked on a few different things with the boys at home.
Spins of course! I am having a tough time free-shaping Ike to spin in the opposite direction that he has already learned. "Spin" is still not solidly on cue. I think I am going to go back and try to get it solidly on cue before moving forward with the opposite direction.
Bug has a free-shaped spin, but it is not on cue yet either. His spin is so different than Ike’s. Ike’s spin is like a whirling dervish while Bug’s spin is slow and ponderous. It’s funny because Bug is usually the whirling dervish, not Ike.
I did a bit of plank work with Bug and holy cow. I think feeling better and not being in class have changed the way he views the plank. Previously with plank work he was really not that comfortable and would try to cheat and not run the whole plank. Last night he could barely restrain himself until I released him and he ran the entire plank every time. Go Bug!!
I also worked on some “Sits” and “Downs.” “Sits” because it is not solidly on cue and “Downs” because I still want a happier down than I have.
I played a game Tracy Sklenar had mentioned in one of her seminars with Ike. I tossed treats ahead of us, restrained him, and then raced him to the treats (on my knees) – he won every time. Yay, Ike!! This is to work on having your dog drive ahead of you.
Then John and I tried to clip Bug’s nails again. We did a single nail on Sunday and Bug freaked out so badly we stopped. Bug was terrible when he first came to live with me, then after many months we had a brief honeymoon period where he was tolerating having his nails done really well. Now he has gotten even worse than he originally was. I bought a new Dremel (I dropped and broke my old one a while ago) and plan on trying to CC/desensitize him to it. Until then though we need to do the nails somehow. Last night we did one more nail and he freaked again. He freaks so badly I am afraid he is going to hurt himself.
Katrin and I are going to get together and try to do them together. I’ll help her with Monty and she’ll help me with Bug. Next step would be to talk to my vet and ask her about Xanax? I guess? I don’t know if that would actually help, but as I said, he panics so badly I am really afraid he is going to hurt himself. You would think it would help that I do nails every 2 – 3 weeks, but nope, it doesn’t seem to matter. To top it off, I have personally NEVER-EVER quicked him. Not once (watch I will tonight). So, I think he just has super sensitive feet or a nail phobia or both. VERY frustrating. Ike isn’t crazy about having his nails down, but he at least tolerates it.
2 months ago