Re: BAT tips I like to look at the odd blip as a way of seeing how much we've improved. ;D ;D ;D Coffee with cuillin is a brilliant result Debsie. Aren't they weird though these dogs of ours? Coffee with dogs passing near no prob then took a dislike to one through the pub window. Perhaps she knew it was under age and warning it to stay out.
Re: BAT tips Jen, I agree a blip here and there shows up the good bits, or so I like to think ;D : Maybe having coffee gave Debsie the opportunity for Cuillin to see more dogs which seems to be easier than meeting one, as with Charlie on his in town experience with 10 dogs, not one single bark or lunge at all he couldn't have cared less. I think it's numbers so they can't focus on one dog.
Re: BAT tips I agree Helen. I think trying to prevent them fixating on a dog which then causes stress levels to build is the important thing. When there are a few dogs they don't focus on one there's too much going on so perhaps that helps.
Re: BAT tips Sometimes I am stupid. . I know what your thinking, what only sometimes ? It occurred to me on our walk this morning I should reward them for staying calm. : At the moment I reward them for not going ballistic in a stress situation. I realised I should reward them for not reacting at all and staying calm in a situation that could be stressful or is similar to a stressful one. For example this morning we passed a mini digger digging up the verge. Just as we were passing the workman dressed all in luminous yellow, big and bald got out right next to us only a stride away, walked up the road with us for a bit chatting. What did Scott and Scout do ? Nothing. They had a look at him then carried on as normal !!!!! ;D. Another day, another man they would've barked or a least a slight grumble. I gave them fishy treat for that. A similar thing happened later on the walk with a man and a wheelie bin. Again a situation that could've caused a reaction but nothing. ;D fishy treat again. I can usually tell by their body language and the way they walk when something is stressing them and they could react so if they don't start to show stress I don't usually think about it just carry on as normal. It was just these two incidents this morning certainly deserved rewarding and I realised that's probably what I should be rewarding all the time to encourage calm. Is that right ?
Re: BAT tips I definitely would be rewarding any calm behaviour especially in situations that could be stressful for them x Well done Scott and Scout for today x
Re: BAT tips Most definitely, without a doubt, yes yes yes I'd reward every single instance of not reacting in situations that might once have got a reaction but now don't. Those instances are gold. In the future, once they are perfectly calm in all situations, still reward in some of them to maintain the desired behaviour. Do this for their whole lives.
Re: BAT tips Thanks Naya and Rachael. It's something that should've dawned on me ages ago. Oh well better late than never. : PS. [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4934.msg72788#msg72788 date=1399032116] In the future, once they are perfectly calm in all situations, still reward in some of them to maintain the desired behaviour. Do this for their whole lives. [/quote] Thats optimism.
Re: BAT tips David and Thomas took Charlie out for a long walk today where they met 3 dogs, 2 Collies and a Staffy cross, Charlie didn't make a single sound and was totally relaxed, lots of hot dog and praise which still makes me think that the dogs he does react to is habitual ??? anyway we are chuffed. xx
Re: BAT tips Brilliant ! It could well be habit with the dogs he reacts to. However doing the same training with dogs he may or may not react to just reinforces the 'Ooo a dog that means treat' in his head. Also if one of these dogs had happened to be reactive David and Thomas would've been one step ahead. Fab Charlie ;D ;D ;D
Re: BAT tips [quote author=charlie link=topic=4934.msg73982#msg73982 date=1399304204] so I have trained David too ;D ;D x [/quote] And that's the hard bit done. . Only joking David. ;D
Re: BAT tips [quote author=Jen link=topic=4934.msg74016#msg74016 date=1399309179] [quote author=charlie link=topic=4934.msg73982#msg73982 date=1399304204] so I have trained David too ;D ;D x [/quote] And that's the hard bit done. . Only joking David. ;D [/quote] It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it ;D x
Re: BAT tips Had a mini Breakthrough today !!! It felt like a major breakthrough at the time but in the grand scheme of things it was really only a mini one but a breakthrough none the less. Scott and Scout took a treat from a strangers hand !!!!! . I know, amazing right ? Technically she isn't a stranger I've known her most of my life but to Scott and Scout she has always been a stranger not to be trusted. Our walk takes us through the middle of her fam so we see her quite regularly. Over time they have improved a lot and we can stand at a normal conversation distance with no problems unless she moves her hands in any way in their direction. Then they bark Today she was crossing the road ahead of us so I called out and asked her to stand still so we could BAT her. She gave me a quizzicle look but kindly stood still. We BATted towards her getting nearer with no problem and got to a nice conversation distance. I explained what I was doing. She suggested she slowly move nearer while I reward them for being calm. This worked really well and she ended up with them right by her leg. They didn't seem worried at all. She then suggested she try giving them a treat. I agreed but was thinking this is never going to work as soon as she moves her hands they will bark like mad. Scott and Scout watched me hand over two fishy treats. She then slowly and gently lowered her hands down to their level. They gentle took the treat from her hands, tail wagging in what could be described as a friendly fashion. They then had a sniff of her hand. After a few seconds I gently moved them away, I didn't want to push my luck and risk them remembering they dont like her and bark, gave them another treat and lots of praise. They didn't bark or look twitchy or nervy or stressed. UNBELIVABLE I think I'm still in shock. ;D
Re: BAT tips Jen, you are doing so, so well. One day, you will bring them to visit me and Charlie in London and show us how it's done (for we need showing after beagle gate this morning). Many, many congratulations. You are going to crack this and have two perfectly normal, lovely, well behaved dogs you can take anywhere.
Re: BAT tips Oh Jen I would call that a major breakthrough at least, that's incredible you must be so proud of Scout and Scott and yourself for all the hard work at setting up all your BAT work for your boys. Brilliant xxx
Re: BAT tips Gosh Jen - most of this BAT business you are doing I skim a bit, but have read enough to know that this is FANTASTIC for your lads! A massive well done for your perseverance. A major breakthrough indeed ;D
Re: BAT tips Thank you all very much. All your enthusiasm, optimism, encouragement and support is wonderful and really appreciated. We have to be realistic though it is only a small step but at least it's in the right direction, yippee, and maybe [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4934.msg74075#msg74075 date=1399320470] Jen, you are doing so, so well. One day, you will bring them to visit me and Charlie in London and show us how it's done (for we need showing after beagle gate this morning). Many, many congratulations. You are going to crack this and have two perfectly normal, lovely, well behaved dogs you can take anywhere. [/quote] doesn't seem quite so impossible. . A lovely idea Julie thank you. ;D
