1-9-2012 Public Access Training
I finally have Billy to a point where I can concentrate on taking pictures and video while I'm training him. So here's a photo journal of our public access training today. I brought Gypsy along for moral support as Billy shows more confidence with her.
We went to my college where I take classes. I lucked out and found that the auditorium was unlocked and open so we were able to do an extended training session there.
I sat down in my usual seat and got Billy settled. No shaking, no whining. He did stress pant and have worried face, but he's so much better than he was the last time we were at the school.
Billy was a little weirded out by the auditorium and the noises he could hear in the distance.
On alert. I don't want to discourage this behavior because he will eventually need to alert me to things in our environment. I don't want him to think that paying attention to other things is bad.
A beautiful "look" from both of them. i even have MOST of his attention!
A much better "look" this time. And he's really beginning to relax.
Oops spoke to soon, a door slammed somewhere out in the hall. He did bring his attention back to me, and didn't get overly worried about the noise.
As a fun exercise to further encourage relaxation I let them off leash to play a little.
And did some basic obedience.
And Gypsy showed off her inability to maintain traction on any slippy floor.
Billy says,"Yeah, I'm so cool I can walk between chairs now. (a month ago he would have been very tense about bumping into the chairs, now he is okay with accidental touches like that). I am going to start teaching him weave polls to further desensitize him to bumps like that.
We moved on after a while to practice "under" and sit in another area. While we were in this area we worked on "sit," "down," "stand" and "brace."
So relaxed!
Even stopped panting for whole minutes at a time.
Door slam off in the distance, he only flicked the ear.
And was ridiculously happy to be praised and given a bit of steak.
A whole bunch of people had just walked through the area we were in, Billy was worried, but did very good.
I just really liked the idea of this picture.
Gypsy and Billy walking the hall. Billy does know 'Left' and 'Forward' But he still isn't getting 'Right'. So I don't ask for it in places like this.
A few things to note, he looks in open doorways, and down halls as we pass. This is something I REALLY want. I want him to scan the environment for triggers so he can let me know if he sees something I need to be aware of.
Also after the first left someone passes me on the right. You can see Billy turn his head in that direction, but he doesn't stop moving. In the past he has wanted to interact with people and would move towards them.
This is Billy pulling into harness with my other service dog off leash running up from behind and passing us. He used to pull to the side to interact with her, but now he continues to walk forward.
We went to my college where I take classes. I lucked out and found that the auditorium was unlocked and open so we were able to do an extended training session there.
I sat down in my usual seat and got Billy settled. No shaking, no whining. He did stress pant and have worried face, but he's so much better than he was the last time we were at the school.
Billy was a little weirded out by the auditorium and the noises he could hear in the distance.
On alert. I don't want to discourage this behavior because he will eventually need to alert me to things in our environment. I don't want him to think that paying attention to other things is bad.
A beautiful "look" from both of them. i even have MOST of his attention!
A much better "look" this time. And he's really beginning to relax.
Oops spoke to soon, a door slammed somewhere out in the hall. He did bring his attention back to me, and didn't get overly worried about the noise.
As a fun exercise to further encourage relaxation I let them off leash to play a little.
And did some basic obedience.
And Gypsy showed off her inability to maintain traction on any slippy floor.
Billy says,"Yeah, I'm so cool I can walk between chairs now. (a month ago he would have been very tense about bumping into the chairs, now he is okay with accidental touches like that). I am going to start teaching him weave polls to further desensitize him to bumps like that.
We moved on after a while to practice "under" and sit in another area. While we were in this area we worked on "sit," "down," "stand" and "brace."
So relaxed!
Even stopped panting for whole minutes at a time.
Door slam off in the distance, he only flicked the ear.
And was ridiculously happy to be praised and given a bit of steak.
A whole bunch of people had just walked through the area we were in, Billy was worried, but did very good.
I just really liked the idea of this picture.
Gypsy and Billy walking the hall. Billy does know 'Left' and 'Forward' But he still isn't getting 'Right'. So I don't ask for it in places like this.
A few things to note, he looks in open doorways, and down halls as we pass. This is something I REALLY want. I want him to scan the environment for triggers so he can let me know if he sees something I need to be aware of.
Also after the first left someone passes me on the right. You can see Billy turn his head in that direction, but he doesn't stop moving. In the past he has wanted to interact with people and would move towards them.
Click to viewThis is Billy pulling into harness with my other service dog off leash running up from behind and passing us. He used to pull to the side to interact with her, but now he continues to walk forward.