Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
What state are you in? If there isn’t a Veterinary Behaviorist in your state, you can work with the company I work for. Behavior Vets just started a service to work with your local veterinarian with the support of a Veterinary Behaviorist. Feel free to email me at Bobbie@BehaviorVets.com.
He did so well in the field! This is the calmest I have seen him thus far! I recommend bringing the RC mat with you when you practice it, no matter where you are. That will help ground him because mat becomes associated with the exercise.
What a change in his behavior with the tunnel!!! Let’s keep at it! Time to extend the tunnel a few feet. 🙂
Superbowls video-
Where are the bowls/plates/targets? You need something for Gus to visually target–that’s where the treat goes. And when practicing it, do it away from agility equipment for now. Gus keeps going in the tunnel because he thinks that is part of the game. We want to help him be successful so that he doesn’t spiral.Great work with the Find It/Snacks game! Play this game EVERYWHERE! Not yet around agility, but everywhere else.
Are you wearing sleeves because Gus might bite you?
Can you take video and post it so that I can observe you practicing Relaxation Conditioning? The neuroscience tells us that it is a supportive exercise.
Since Avery already knows the Snuffle Mat, I would like for you to use it before you train a sequence at home. Spend about 2 min training, then give her the Snuffle Mat for 2 min, then train for 2 min, then the Snuffle Mat for 2 min. This predictable ritual is something we can bring into the trial environment in the future.
Since she already knows the Find It game, you can move on to Part 2 and practice Find My Face.
Ok, have you practiced Relaxation Conditioning with Mali yet? I am thinking that you should practice it daily for one week, then let’s ask your granddaughter to practice with Mali for the second week, while you are there supervising. this can be a good one to help Mali.
I would like for you to take video of practicing a Sit-Stay behavior on the Cato board. I can give you feedback then. This will help provide boundaries for Mali. And we can use this skill in many other ways.
Understood! It can take up to 3 weeks for the Solloquin to start working. At week 2, I would double the dose the bag recommends. The dosage on the bag is on the low end. Two of my dogs are on Solloquin and it has made a significant difference in the agility ring when they are on it. Their ability to focus increases. With some dogs, there is no noticeable change.
Can you post videos of you guys training at home and in class? I would like to see how much of a difference there is compared to the video of him in the ring.
He’s come so far when around other dogs! Thank you for posting that pet store video.
I look forward to watching your videos of you guys doing the different assignments. 🙂
So happy you are excited! Well done Tanner!! You are building value and understanding!
The Relaxation Conditioning exercise never has a verbal cue. It’s not a trained skill, but rather a method to help shift a dog’s arousal, helping them feel more comfortable and grounded.
Yes, feel free to shorten the training time. We want to set up him for success. Try 30 seconds. We can build up to 2 minutes during this course.
The distance between the plates should be 6-8 feet. And yes, you can change the location each time you practice.
It’s totally ok if Veloz doesn’t quite understand the exercise. Keep practicing like you are doing in the video. Do not change the location yet and do not do it around agility equipment yet.
I can recommend which threads to look at. Check out the following threads:
Monica & Merc
Liz & Callie
Tina & Elle
Mary & Zing
Danette & GusThe Find My Face exercise will help her recover from “not being right.” We will play other games as well.
I think it is important for her to complete the stress cycle. Meaning, if she needs a victory lap, let her take it. Let her have a couple of laps and then recall her back. When she comes back with the toy, sometimes go back into the sequence, sometimes toss the toy for her to let her do what she wants to do. Over time, she won’t need the laps as much as she does right now.
When Callie is triggered at night, do Relaxation Conditioning with her immediately. Let’s see if this starts to shift this behavior so that she is no longer triggered.
Potentially, the barking might just be part of Callie. And we will see the intensity of it decrease. I do think she can focus better for you at the startline.
Really great job with RC!!
I encourage you to continue the exercise. Our focus is on shifting his physiological state; it takes time for that to happen. The staring at the mat behavior will stop. And I want you to train it versus just observing times when he happens to relax because the exercise is designed to teach the dog how to self-modulate their emotions.
Hi Mary!
“The question/comment. When people talk about a “resilient” dog, it is a comment that implies to me it is always resilient, all situations. Zing is a “resilient’ dog in many situations, but has a few where she needs to build resilience. Are area’s of non-resilience in a dog commonly associated with a past trauma that created a trigger?”
>> Not necessarily. The dog has a fear memory that the animal is now reacting on because it is specific.
There are shades of resilience- you can be high or low resilient in different areas of your life. It can also change day to day. As trainers for our dogs, our job is to provide a foundation for which to condition resilience so that they can bounce back when out in the world experiencing different things.
If you choose to use touch, then only use touch/massage in that session. If you use food, then only use food. How lucky for her that you are licensed K9 massage therapist!
