Day 1: post office parking lot
Fear: level 3, occasionally a level 4 reaction
Reinforcement: homemade salmon treats, partial breakfast before session
Overall pretty good. Barked initially at a couple things. We stayed off to the side of the door, and a couple times she actually perked up and seemed happy. Seems to do better moving than stationary, where she can "absorb" all the stimuli around her, which freaks her out. Didn't like the flapping flag on the pole, also nervous about each person who came/went into P.O. Did offer me a little attention, and was able to do some sits and downs on command. Stayed about 10 minutes.
Day 2: post office parking lot
Fear: 3-4
Reinforcement: cream cheese/canned cat food in food tube. No breakfast before session.
Seemed a little worse today. May be because I just discovered she's in season. Didn't bark at anything, but didn't get comfortable like she did yesterday. Offered attention once or twice, but had difficulty doing sits or downs on command. Lots of c/t for looking and listening. C/t'd for every look at a person, for every sound that occurred (car door slamming, etc.). One man stopped and loomed right over us, staring (he was fascinated by what I was feeding her) and she did pretty well. I just squeezed the tube continuously into her mouth while he stood there for 10 seconds or so. She didn't shy away or stop eating, so I guess that's good. Panicked when I stumbled into her on the way back to the car, and thought that the sign near the door (right next to us when I stumbled) was going to eat her. If she would have been in better shape, I would have stopped and c/t'd her for looking at it...but I didn't want to overdo it. We'll try that sign again. Stayed about 6-7 minutes.
Not sure if I should wait to continue this until after she's out of season...those hormones can make the girls extra weird.
