Jasper 7mo Aussie
Yesterday and this morning I did some specified training w Jasper via spying on him through closed windows. It expanded on our “leave-it” training, and I was able to thwart him grabbing anything inappropriate w his mouth. He accepted correction from this “invisible force” while humans “not in the house” I could also reward him for going for the dog-appropriate items to chew, verbally, and it seems to be congealing 👍
His bolting out the front door is also one of his most serious issues.
While he hadn’t learned down and down stay yet, then its application to the front door to
a) keep him from bolting &
b) keep him from jumping on guests/ heading calm submissive patience and obedience while humans greet humans at the door, he does know come when called now, from afar- so running off no longer accompanies bolting 👍
- His leash pulling is his 3rd most limiting behavioral issue (major pulling). He gets 4 walks daily (+ 2 additional outings to the backyard just for potty). This is incredibly improved as of this mornings walk – I did not have to work as hard to gain his compliance. It was mostly reminders today. That’s also been in-part, an emotional response, seeking flight. But he gained emotional comfort and still pulled… layered dilemma there…looking pretty good this morning 👍
He appears better acclimated on a whole today. So I also anticipate being able to resume command work, particularly the work that yields a down stay at the front door
Good overnight, good morning
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Also, a critical element to resolving anxiety and anxiety related destructive chewing was physical exercise. I went from 1 daily romp in the field at my dead end to 2 daily romps:
(1) in the morning to start his day w more beta-endorphins in his bloodstream (a result of physical exercise)
& (2) another at night to dispel pent-up anxiety energy / send another shot of beta-endorphins to his bloodstream, to help him wind down for night-time sleep. The addition of the morning run proved very valuable!
Vocalizations diminishing while he’s not the center of attention, more laying down in the full-recumbent position (which includes head laying on ground) expressing comfort in a vulnerable position
I believe we rounded his first corner- but still not at the home-stretch (I used to train thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses… thus the above expression!)
But I’m proud of the work he’s accomplished and my life got easier managing him
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GREAT today w “leash-pulling” -so much so I tried him off leash in the big field, 1-house down the block. Guys were out playing frisbee- and while he momentarily demanded that they make him the star attraction, he came when called (long-distance recall) & he almost hopped in their van, but when I made my vocal correction from ~100′ away- he stopped in his tracks and immediately returned to my side- HUGE- that he now listens so well, that engaging outdoor distractions could not thwart his obedience 👍
His primary focus in training:
•leash – skills
•off-leash skills
-using the command “LET”S GO” to start the working walk & “WAIT”, in rapid-fire sequence, to instill *CALM SUBMISSIVE OBEDIENCE *
•long distance recall: he initially had the tendency to bolt out of the door, and then take flight. A lot of that was emotional anxiety, and difficulty acclimating to a new environment and being without Max.
•BARKING: predominantly while gated, kenneled, separated. He has the need for constant babysitting, until Porter more readily accepted him. Porter and Cyrus have left. This is another area that needs continued training. Also recommending 2-3 days for that. I’m not thinking your daughter has another pet at home and would like to educate him in self-placating, for when she’s at work, errands or w friends. He’s likely to bark for hours, before tiring.
•DOWN : still needs work to get the down promptly, & without food lure… this is one area id like to continue with, either through home lessons or continuing boarding training
•DOWN-STAY: particularly in application at the front door, to thwart jumping on guests (he should also not be “the main attraction” when guests arrive) and bolting out of the open door. If he’s never been to your daughter’s house or isn’t bonded to your daughter yet, he could have run off (likely not while you two are there. Aussies bond tightly). This area too could use 2-3 more days of boarding training to cement, or daily practice at your home, after a lesson
•COME + auto sit: thwarts jumping helps settle him for leashing (he gets highly excitable during leashing)
•sustained SIT & DOWN, and waiting to be released from these commands. Builds *CALM SUBMISSIVE OBEDIENCE*
•release command “OK”
(Not my favorite word for release, but its the word VIP uses. I had issues adopting that as the release command, and my employer wanted to beat me into saying it! Now that I’ve accepted the vernacular, I must stick with it. I recommend changing it to RELEASE, OVER, DONE, FREE…etc. something said less frequently in conversation than “ok” you’d simply start by saying “OK…FREE” etc, until eventually dropping the ok
-release from all obedience commands i.e.: SIT, DOWN, STAY, and also from the working-walk command of LET’S GO. That allows him to smell, urinate, defecate, romp, etc, while walking on leash or off.
•LEAVE-IT, for destructive chewing (also an anxiety-based behavior) Aussies also have anxiety tendencies. That can lead to fear-reactions, anxiety-barking, and fear-biting if left without intervention.
Forward this to your daughter, please. She may call with questions
If you would, please consider 2-3 more days of boarding training. While he may be nicely settled and comfortable in your home, with his familiar family, and constant companionship of Max, he could become quite anxious when you leave CA, and its just ge and your daughter. Particularly if he’s left home alone.
Ps- he also worked “mind your business” as it relates to competition w other dogs, & infringing on neighbors, strangers, while leash walking
Now that he has full access to the house, I’m seeing kitchen behaviors that have not been addressed at all. He is constantly under-foot, jumps on the counter, and attempts to jump up towards food I’m carrying
Since today is authentically day 6 of a 5-day package, and tomorrow morning will be day 7, (the first night being the most demanding, and Id hoped to not train Monday, outside of dog acclimations) I’ll not broach new topics unless we decide to keep him in boarding training for 2-3 more days.
We can also work with that in a home-lesson. I’m recommending 3-5 home lessons if we don’t continue with boarding training. When I do the work, he learns then practices, then perfects. You’ll be the ones doing practicing and perfecting, and I think you’ll need my support to achieve success before he goes to your daughter.
JILL SILVER
Dog trainer
561-313-2803 direct line
561-692-3644(DOGG) message center