my routine, any comments/suggestions?

[yecartmannew]

Ok, so first the disclaimer, I have some physical limitations which I detail more in my post re anti bark spray collars. With that in mind, here goes with my typical playtraining session.......

I do not use the bark collar on these sessions.

We drive to the quiet area. Gizmo is alert but fairly calm looking out of the window, with no barking.

We park up, and he is keen to get out of the car, but will wait untill i get out although he is very excited.

I let him have a couple of minutes for sniffing and toileting.

I then get his attention on me, and we do 1 or 2 pushes. We then start moving doing some heels (which he is doing automatically now that he knows I have the food) interspersed with pushes. I then try to introduce the tug toy. This consists of me waving and sqeaking the toy, while trying to get Gizmo to chase me. I try to this in as prey like manner as possible given that i can't twist and make sudden changes in direction. Problem no 1, I am slow and he is quick so it isn't really chase!

Sometimes he will show an interest so i throw the toy. He will then chase the toy about 50% of the time. If he does i move away in the opposite direction as fast as possible so he then has to get a bit of speed up to catch up with me. Throw toy 2 as far as possible, hope he chases that one, if he does pick up toy 1 and move away again, play tug when he catches up with me (if he will, sometimes he will, sometimes he wont.) problem no 2, how to get him to play all the time.

some more heeling and pushing.

try to get in another game of tug or fetchtug as above.

more heeling and pushing.

By now Gizmo is getting bored so heeling back to the car, another push or 2 before geting in the car, driving home, a push or 2 when we get out of the car and we are home.

I have just had a lightbulb moment while typing this, as I myself am bored! I think I need to start some obedience work with him to liven things up! also if i can get him to stay and then call him to me from increasing distances it will rack up the speed and so hopefully therefore the energy!!!!!!!

erm, just found problem no 3, I havn't started any obedience or box work with him NDT style for a reason. Gizmo is a hairless Chinese crested, and due to having a bald bottom, he will not sit or down on anything cold or hard. At home he will happily sit and down on a rug or cushion, but never on the wood floor, and he never sits or downs outside (Bambi sits at kerbs before crossing a road, Gizmo will not - bambi sits before any reward, Gizmo will not but he does hi-five) so how to create a box that he will sit on. Does anyone think that i may be able to use his bed? it isnt raised but I am thinking maybe the sides of the bed would create the same pyschological barrier that the box creates? I think I will give it a try.

anyone have any thoughts or comments please feel free. I am open to constructive critisism.

Thanks

Tracey

[Sang]

Originally Posted by yecartmannew

I have just had a lightbulb moment while typing this, as I myself am bored! I think I need to start some obedience work with him to liven things up! also if i can get him to stay and then call him to me from increasing distances it will rack up the speed and so hopefully therefore the energy!!!!!!!

Excellent realization Tracey. That will definitely help.

The settle/box work will also be really good for him too. You can always place a towel or something on top of the raised surface to make it better for him.

I wouldn't worry too much right now about trying to get him to play fetch. I would focus more on keeping him attracted to you and maintaining contact with you through pushing and tug. Build that foundation and get it as strong as you possibly can.