Cowboy did very well today. His Heel/Auto sit is much much better. He still lags a little bit sometimes but he is consistently on the left now and is making good eye contact when he "checks in" with me. I would say his obedience is now in the upkeep stage. He has been introduced to everything he will be taught and the majority of it is proofed. This weekend is very busy for me and so it will likely be Monday before he gets to go into town unless I can find the time Saturday.
He is now consistently and willingly staying on his place mat or in a Down/Stay for over an hour without getting up (he watched a movie with me last night and today he helped me with some office work).
Today during our exercise walk we were out in the big pasture and a rabbit shot out of some low trees. I let him chase after it for a few seconds until he was REALLY committed to getting the bunny. I called him back and paged him and he ignored me and so I gave him a correction with the collar and he quickly left the chase and came running back to me and sat down. When there isn't a bunny around his recall is near perfect, I haven't had him fail to come back at all and only rarely does he forget to sit. When a distraction like a bunny is around it is not surprising that obedience left his mind. The success is that I was able to get him back even when he was in a predatory state. With practice it will be possible to get him back with just a page from the collar or a verbal command.
Tomorrow I have lessons all morning so Cowboy gets a break to sleep in and then it is back to work in the afternoon.
He is now consistently and willingly staying on his place mat or in a Down/Stay for over an hour without getting up (he watched a movie with me last night and today he helped me with some office work).
Today during our exercise walk we were out in the big pasture and a rabbit shot out of some low trees. I let him chase after it for a few seconds until he was REALLY committed to getting the bunny. I called him back and paged him and he ignored me and so I gave him a correction with the collar and he quickly left the chase and came running back to me and sat down. When there isn't a bunny around his recall is near perfect, I haven't had him fail to come back at all and only rarely does he forget to sit. When a distraction like a bunny is around it is not surprising that obedience left his mind. The success is that I was able to get him back even when he was in a predatory state. With practice it will be possible to get him back with just a page from the collar or a verbal command.
Tomorrow I have lessons all morning so Cowboy gets a break to sleep in and then it is back to work in the afternoon.
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