Geez..... I feel like I'm spinning my tires here lately!
I blame myself... certainly not the dog. She's very smart and eager to please. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, expecting too much too soon, or both. Probably both so some extent.
Gracie is doing very well with touch (the target stick with nose), but I'm not convinced that she's connecting the cue as well as I thought. She's also failing at "Flat" (in a down, putting her head down between her front paws all cute-like). Even her cued downs (not a new behavior) are pathetic the past couple days!!! She spends a lot of time throwing all sorts of behaviors at me, but responses to cues are just not up to par.
Could it be a learning dip? How long do they usually last? Perhaps she's still confused with the whole new training method thing? Is this common with crossover dogs? Should I try a whole new behavior for a little while and give these a rest for a couple days? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? (Insert Ben Stein monotone here) I'm really frustrated!
Hmmmmmmmmm......
I know we can do this.... I just have to figure out what's not clicking with my clicker training!
