Taking it more gradually.....

[donnieo]

Just got the DVDs....great work! I think that the in-depth explanation of the mechanics of the exercises has already been a big help. I've been trying to get into my body more when playing, becoming more prey-like, and being aware of any tension (i.e. predator energy) I'm holding so that I can either let go of it or use it in our play.

Watching the DVDs also helped me understand that the best way to practice NDT is slowly and deliberately. I'm definitely going to work harder on building the foundation through pushing and redirection before I ask any more from my dog. I now have a deeper understanding of Natural Dog Training and how it is about fixing the human-dog relationship.

[Margot]

That is a wonderful insight.

When you start a puppy out with NDT what you are doing is not interfering with the establishment of a good dog/human relationship.

[Valerie]

I've learned to back off on different things, as well, especially with the pushing and tug. And it also seems that it varies day to day.

With pushing sometimes she'll give me some strong pushes and sometimes I have to be softer because she backs up or walks away if I don't. I think only once or twice we've gotten up to where she lifts her front legs during the push.

With tug I'm often playing with her while I'm sitting on the ground, standing up I guess I'm still too predator-like, and I have to let go after the first pull. I found I was winning too often when I tried to get her into more intense tugging. I can tell she's pulling harder and longer bit by bit but it is very slow going.

That's why I call her my soft girl. Maybe that's not the right word, maybe it should be trickle girl based on Kevin's metaphor of the energy flowing like water across the ground. I think Eka and I have a small rivulet that can't handle too much flow yet.

[Angelique]

Valerie, I found that when I consistently crate my dog and limit his undesireable activities, I have become his outlet, so much more energy is flowing my way.

[neilsattin]

Thanks Donnieo!

I'm glad to hear that the DVDs are helping you, and that they've inspired the "gradual" approach.

I often encourage people to take half the time that they might otherwise be obsessing about getting things "right" with their dog, and to instead focus that attention inward on the things within themselves that they might be neglecting.



Please keep us posted on your progress!

[donnieo]

Neil;

That is definitely something I need to work on. I just read the latest Bad Dog Lazlo posting and a few things really resonated with me:

1) Things will get worse before they get better - for instance, I've noticed that Jinxsie's leash pulling has gotten more, shall we say, "exuberant". I've come to the realisation that this is a result of her beginning to lose her inhibitions around me. She is becoming less afraid of being corrected.

2) Things could be much, much worse. Overall I'd say that my dog's behavioural issues are minor and I'm really lucky.

3) My personal development is an important key to improving my relationship with my dog. I do spend a lot of time obsessing over Jinxsie's behaviour, and I'm starting to realise how detrimental this is. I'm starting to realise that this obsession comes from lack of trust in her, and letting go of that is part of the process.

Thanks again for the DVDs and all of your guidance thus far.

[Valerie]

Neil, I just read your new blog post today http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2...fe-in-general/ and I had finally started doing some of the obedience techniques because Eka seemed bored and wasn't really pushing or really tugging. I was definitely trying to 'perfect' the push before moving on. Glad I started doing other things.

I don't know if it's related but now when she is inside on a line (thanks Angelique) and I tell her and motion for her to lie down she drops so fast. Maybe she just thinks I'm going to give her food Maybe cause the first time she did it that fast I did give her food because I was so impressed and excited about how fast she did it.

I do have trouble engaging her for a whole 20 min some days. Ok probably more than 1/2. She wanders off to look for food that was dropped she starts sniffing the box and then wanders off. Sometimes it's me that's not really focused and sometimes I wonder if I'm getting excited and ready to go through the paces and drill through everything and it's too much intensity for her?

[neilsattin]

Hi Valerie - Great to hear about your progress (and as a side note, I'm so excited about the community that's forming here on the site).

As for keeping Eka interested for the "whole 20 minutes" - a few thoughts.

That's meant to be a guideline. A loose guideline. Work 5 minutes one session. 10 minutes the next. Or do your "20 minutes" - but see if you can "wander off" (i.e. take a break) before she does. The downtime is important for processing new learning. Of course, and it sounds like you got this from the post, the more variety you can introduce the more fun it'll be for both of you.

[Valerie]

Ha! I'm such a rule follower. I'm seeing more and more what Kevin was talking about how he wants folks to have relationships with their dogs and not worry about the rules.

Ok so try to make sure she's interested longer than I am. I'm seeing how this coordinates with limiting her inside, either with a line or a crate. Because part trying to do 20 min was getting all her energy out so she wouldn't be in that 'try to get into everything' mood when we went back inside. But if she was on a line inside unable to get into (much) trouble, then she would be more excited to get outside and use that energy.

Also I had two RT()M realizations. I've been just feeding her out of a bowl and not a pouch thinking it couldn't be that different, but Kevin talked about the bowl could be causing resistance for another dog. So I could be adding to her resistance to me that way.

Also I would get a big handful of food in my right hand and kind of dole it out as we go. It hit me that this might be similar to not letting her win at tug. I let her eat a little bit out of my hand and then take the rest away to go onto the next thing. There was no consistency in when I'd let her eat everything in my hand and when I would do this doling out thing. I realized in all the videos I've seen the dog is given everything that is in yours or Kevin's hand. From now on I'll let her eat everything out of my hand even if I grab a huge handful.

Get a food pouch already, Val!

[donnieo]

I think that I was in the same boat as you: thinking too much about the "rules" and trying to perfect the basics before moving onto the obedience exercises. I've been trying to go with the flow more as of late by playing a bit, pushing a bit, working on the box, pushing some more, heeling a bit, and playing some more.....

I just re-watched the video of Heel Training with Lazlo on Kevin's site and what I noticed this time around was that Kevin doesn't just practice the heeling. He does a bit of heeling, and when Lazlo gets a bit excited he does a bit of pushing or practices a down-stay. It's very fluid: Kevin is very attuned to Lazlo and feeling out what Lazlo is ready for next. Watch the video, it is very helpful....