Training Session Log

3x 10-minutes sessions. After I was done testing L4 Heel and L4 Contacts it was going so well that I thought I could start on L5 Contacts. All my jumps are outside so I thought I’d just send him around a flower stand (Distance) and then direct him to the board. Success at his first try. I think I like Contacts as much as he does

Also worked on L3 Front – He’s really improving every time we practice this one. But I would like it just tidy bit more precise and reliable. Good enough for a pass but will train it once or twice more before I log it in as a test.

In the second session we gave the Formal Return another go. It went much better than the first time and I could move rapidly to his right and left sides about mid-body and he was very solid. Then, purely by accident I discovered I can click and reach down to treat him between his paws and since he is so small I can keep walking all the way around him AS I give the treat . . . the interesting thing about this is that if he moves it’s okay because I’ve already clicked him but if he stays it’s a bonus. I compare this almost to luring in the first phases of training for some other behaviours. I much prefer shaping but sometimes a few reps using luring is just enough to get them going. I will see if this has helped him in our next session.

I also decided to start on L4 Retrieve after he offered me an interesting behaviour as we were playing "Fetch". He usually puts the ball or whatever toy on the floor at my feet and waits for me to pick it up and throw it again. By pure accident I opened my hand in front of his nose as he was approaching me and he nose targeted it (of course!) with the toy still in his mouth! Good Boy! I’m thinking this would be the start of the "Give" at the end of the Retrieve exercise in obedience. Soon enough I was having him follow my hand around the living room while nose targeting with the toy in his mouth. . .

So I moved into the doggy room and started on L4 Retrieve and it was soooooo funny because it went EXACTLY as Sue is describing it in the Levels Book

Griffin was VERY happy to be doing stuff with mom again! Tail wagging non-stop and happy the rest of the day.

Behavior	Level	Uncued Reps	Cued Reps	Cued Errors	Success Rate	Duration	Distance
Contacts	5	0	5	1	80%
Down Stay	4	15	0	0
Front	3	0	20	4	80%
Retrieve	4	30	0	0