Monday, January 02, 2006

2 Weeks + 20 lbs. Kibble = 2 lbs. Dog Meat


We've had Trigger just over 2 weeks and have seen a lot of changes in the little man. He's gained 2 pounds which is roughly 16% of his body weight. When you think about it in human terms, that would be over 20 pounds for most of us!
He's getting much more coordinated and fast. When he runs through the back yard being chased by Gladys, his evasive maneuvers are becoming much more sophisticated, and often involve running along the fence behind ladders and wood leaning against them. Just this morning he was able to climb onto the couch in the den all by himself. This is where we hang out with the dogs, and the couch has been a refuge for Gladys until now. I imagine later today she will be taunting him with a bully stick from the perceived safety of the couch, only to make the horrifying discovery that he can climb up and continue the battle.
Training Progress:
House-training:
Uses litter box at night and while we are at work. No recent accidents (has only had 3 piddle accidents). Potties in the back yard in the dirt planting areas only and never on the lawn. (requires ongoing supervision to enforce this habit) Gets down to business much more quickly since I've been following Ian Dunbar's advice of one piece of dried liver when he pees and 3 pieces of dried liver and a party when he poops!
Crate-training:
Settles down nicely in his crate for naps during the day. Sometimes a very brief soft whine but generally hunkers down quickly with his stuffed kong. His breeder, Michelle Weese, has my eternal gratitude for crate-training him!
Self-control:
Trigger will sit before we open the crate door or the back door. I'm working on getting some duration while we open the door. I'm settling for 1 or 2 seconds right now and will continue to build on that.
Trigger also sits before he gets a treat when we are romping around outside. I like that because it is wet and muddy and that reminds me to be consistent in not letting him jump up. When he comes on a recall he naturally sits about 6 feet away. I use the treat to bring him 1 or 2 feet away and sitting before letting him have it.
Lately he's starting to snatch a few verboten paper items. Since we are supervising him closely we tell him no and put them back where they were. Thus far he hasn't returned to those items for round two, but I'm sure that is just a matter of time. We will continue to redirect him to appropriate chew toys and see if that is enough to keep his little teeth appropriately occupied.
*NEWS FLASH!!
For the first time, I have both of the dogs lying down and sleeping quietly together on the same chair with me.
There is light at the end of the tunnel.

**ADDITIONAL NEWS FLASH!!
This will probably only excite fellow clicker trainers, but today Trigger started offering previously known behaviors to get me to click and treat him! We are finally on our way to exploring what he can learn with our help.
On another note, Gladys offered a very cute new behavior today. While Trigger was demonstrating his down, she reached over and rapped him on the snout with her tiny paw. I immediately reinforced that and now she taps the tip of his muzzle to get a treat.
**Update of above: I've decided that Gladys' little routine of thwacking Trigger's nose isn't such a good thing to encourage. He's not as oblivious as he initially was to it, and it now causes him to jump up and start wrestling with her again. I think I will ignore her swatting him and we'll see how long it takes for that behavior to extinguish itself.

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