On a non-clicker-related note, I'm thrilled to have a lot more time on my hands starting today. I just finished my undergraduate degree, my very last assignment was sent in this morning. That means I have my part-time job, preparing to move, and working on finding a new job in preparation for the move. (On reflection, this is a TAG-related note - I certainly clicked myself for finishing my degree!) Now, onto the dog training...
I could not be more thrilled that I went ahead and purchased the Manners Minder while I was at the APDT conference. I also could not be more thrilled that our crate training is progressing well. Today, on a whim, I stuck the Manners Minder in the crate, and put it on a down stay, dispensing treats on a variable schedule from 0-10 seconds. Caspian was so eager to hop in that I went ahead and put him in first, and brought Kaia and some treats over to work on a new trick I'd like to teach them both.
I kept an eye on Caspian for the first 30 seconds or so, but he had no issue at all with just staying in the crate, staring at the Manners Minder. This is huge, since he's usually determined to be the one I'm working with - he has previously ignored any and all attempts to distract him while I work with Kaia, and since I try to keep his stress level low, I don't like to put him in that situation. So, Cas is quietly hanging out in the crate, and I decide to go ahead and get started with Kaia. I worked with her for a few minutes, then switched them out and worked with Caspian while Kaia was in the crate
I have learned that I need to trust it a little better. My timing was off, because I was still a little concerned about keeping an eye on the dog in the crate. Hence, the actual clicker training wasn't as solid as usual. I also decided I'd rather use the clicker+ with a different tone for each dog, if I'm going to do clicker training with one dog where the other dog can hear it, so they were adjusting to the new noise.
Just to put another strike against me for today's training efforts, I was so focused on the Manners Minder that my training plan was nonexistent. I purchased a remote switch for a light, this afternoon, and would like to teach both dogs to turn it on. However, they don't get the concept of interacting with it when it's on the wall, and if I set it on the floor by itself, it slid around too much to be switched on or off. Still, tomorrow I'll attach it to a board and set the board on the floor, and pay more attention to the dog out of the crate, now that I know the Manners Minder is sufficient distraction for the dog in the crate.
Despite my training silliness, I'm very happy. If this continues to work as well as it has so far, I'll start them on crates in the car and at the training facility soon, and see how far I can take it before we move. And I'm determined to have them turning light switches on and off, too - as soon as I've undone the damage from today's poor planning!
