Yesterday afternoon we went outdoors for our training session. It was cloudy and a bit cold, but not windy or rainy. Yay! We worked on 'freeze', paying close attention to duration. She's getting it!
Our evening session was more work on 'bang' and we've actually added a cue to this. It's funny, sometimes she looks like she staggers before she falls over...which adds to the trick even more. She's doing splendidly on staying down until I click, too. Halfway through the session we went upstairs to the hallway, only to have her look at me with a clueless look on her face. I guess she's incapable of playing dead in the upstairs hallway. After much cajoling and luring, she gave me a few and we ended the session.
In other news...today is grooming day! Frankie will smell nice and clean with trimmed nails! We pulled up in the Petsmart parking lot and she was so excited...until we got to the groomers room. Down goes the tail and she starts plotting her revenge. Or so it looks like, anyway.
As I was walking back through the store, I noticed a beginners training class going on. I watched for a bit and was able to talk to the instructor. Aparently they have a lesson on clicker training and don't mind if you use one on your dog in class. I've always wanted to enroll Frankie in a class to test her skills. Granted, she can't do everything on the beginners list yet, so this might be good for us. I think I'll sign up!
OH!!! I didn't post about my little 'positive reinforcement' experiment last Sunday! This is funny...lol!
At the church we go to, I am the childrens chorister. I'm responsible for getting about 60 kids ages 4 - 11 to sing. Every year we put on a childrens program for church, and last sunday was it. During sunday school the kids, especially the 9-11 group were complaining and whining about singing. They've never really been enthusiastic singers, anyway. I said, "Who wants to sing today?" About 3 kids raised their hands. I asked them to come up and gave them each a hershey kiss. Well...after that EVERYONE raised their hands and begged to sing! We learned a song that we'll eventually do for Thanksgiving, and my goodness, I've never heard them sing so well! Treats all around!! I explained that they'd never know when I'll offer treats, so they don't want to get caugh not singing. The teacher of the 11 year old boys just about fell off his chair. Those boys NEVER sing!
I chuckled all the way home...LOL!
That's all for now.
Ellen & Frankie
