The above photo is Zia comfortably settled into one of my brand new kennels. She has done very well over the past couple of days and is really only struggling with Down and a slight bolting tendency.
When it comes to training very indispendent dogs it can be difficult to convince them that you, as the handler, have the right idea. She and I have been arguing about whether or not laying down on command is really such a good idea. She often disagrees and stares at me as if to say "we are doing this again?"
However, as I transition her to the electronic collar she seems to be seeing things from my point of view a little more readily. She will really enjoy the freedom the collar gives her (especially because she seems very hesitant to go to the bathroom with a leash on) as soon as she understands that the sensation is a reprimand and it is coming from me.
The bolting problem I eluded to earlier is not the kind of bolting where the dog ends up 2 counties over. She likes to bolt back to the door or to her kennel when she decides she is done. The joke is that sometimes Zia says "see ya!"
I have been working with her on a 20 foot leash so that she has the opportunity to make this mistake without allowing her to reward herself by getting to the door. She is understanding better and better with each workout that when she feels a page from the collar she is to turn around and return to me.
Tomorrow I am going to introduce Place and that will be the last command to introduce. After that it is just polishing the commands she is already learning and transitioning her to the electronic collar. Because she is so sensitive we are taking things very slowly so as not to overwhelm her or frighten her with the collar.
I would consider her on schedule and doing nicely. We played with the frisbee again today and it is clearly her favorite thing.
When it comes to training very indispendent dogs it can be difficult to convince them that you, as the handler, have the right idea. She and I have been arguing about whether or not laying down on command is really such a good idea. She often disagrees and stares at me as if to say "we are doing this again?"
However, as I transition her to the electronic collar she seems to be seeing things from my point of view a little more readily. She will really enjoy the freedom the collar gives her (especially because she seems very hesitant to go to the bathroom with a leash on) as soon as she understands that the sensation is a reprimand and it is coming from me.
The bolting problem I eluded to earlier is not the kind of bolting where the dog ends up 2 counties over. She likes to bolt back to the door or to her kennel when she decides she is done. The joke is that sometimes Zia says "see ya!"
I have been working with her on a 20 foot leash so that she has the opportunity to make this mistake without allowing her to reward herself by getting to the door. She is understanding better and better with each workout that when she feels a page from the collar she is to turn around and return to me.
Tomorrow I am going to introduce Place and that will be the last command to introduce. After that it is just polishing the commands she is already learning and transitioning her to the electronic collar. Because she is so sensitive we are taking things very slowly so as not to overwhelm her or frighten her with the collar.
I would consider her on schedule and doing nicely. We played with the frisbee again today and it is clearly her favorite thing.
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