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Down Henry's Trail

an overdue update

Henry's Mom here. I can't begin to say how wonderful training has turned things around with Henry and me. It started out with teaching the "focus" (look at me) cue. I'd feel like he would never understand but very slowly he got it and I pushed the cue in itty bitty baby steps until finally he learned it in different situations with different distractions going on.

Next I tackled "come" head on, I was determined to re-teach this cue! I looked through my dozens of pictures of Henry, Jessica and I playing and romping off leash together in the woods, beach and lakes. Not that I could not make on leash walks just as happy and bonding, but it was my dream and belief for Henry to be off leash again-SAFELY.

My determination was daunted when I kept testing Henry and realizing I had failed to teach. However with the help of dogsters, I realized I was moving too fast and expecting too much. It was time to go back to itty bitty baby steps. No, not even steps. We went back to crawling.

I had to change some things about how I trained. I had to force myself not to repeat a command (it didn't matter what command it was) and force myself not to try to raise my voice and expect that to make my dog respond better. I worked on keeping my voice happy with strength and confidence inside me though.

I also tried finding a treat that would motivate Henry outside. I found that rewarding him with a game of tug was a high value reward to Henry. Also string cheese is a very high value reward, and compares to nothing else I've tried.

I used a long clothesline when I took Henry in the fields and woods. I would call him and get no response. But slowly by rewarding him with a game of tug just when he turned his head my way, that started building his foundation for "come".

Dogsters on the behavior forum were so supportive and helpful in our journey, giving me lots of insight and tips, and answering every question I had.

Eventually Henry began to respond to me asking him to "come". I forced myself to stay consistent and not push too fast, and Henry's learning process sped up! He was giving me "come" 50% of the time...then 70%...then 80%...then 90%!! In different scenarios!

I thanked the behavior forum. I'm still thankful. It's not that I didn't enjoy being with Henry when he didn't know cues, it's just that now I can relax because he knows "come". Anything could happen, the leash could break, or I could drop it, or his collar can slip off. I feel a lot safer and relaxed know he has a good recall now. And in the future when it's even more solid, I can take him to the beach again.

Right now I'm still being consistent and letting Henry tell me when it's time to push him a little further, and we're going to get to that 100% one day.

Training Log: A step back- recall trouble

I don't know why but Henry didn't listen to recall today. Inside the house I was looking for him 3 times and was calling him and all 3 times he just stayed where he was and I had to find him. His head and ears were perked up, so he heard me, but he didn't come. Then outside he also didn't listen to recall, even on his clothesline. I wonder what makes him listen so well some days, and then not at all another day. Or maybe he was just comfortable inside where he was and didn't want to move, but I'd still like him to come when I call.

Anyway not a training topic, but I fed the dogs salmon tonight. It was their first big salmon meal, usually I cut the salmon up in little pieces and add it to other meals as an extra but I just gave it all tonight. Henry took a long time to chew it so it was a good meal.

Training log: Alot of days, 2 steps back, 10 steps forward!

It has been a little while since I updated. But I have some wonderful progresses to report! There were also a few setbacks since I last updated, but the strides forward we have taken have made up for the setbacks!

I'll let Henry fill in the first accomplishment:

Hi I am Henry. I love to run! Mom took me and my sister Jessie to the woods. She had me on a long rope called a clothesline. My sister was off leash. Suddenly my sister caught the scent of something good! I know to watch her when she catches a scent. She looks at me. I know it's a good one! Then I smelled it too, and started to run full speed. Mom said "STAY" and I stopped right in my tracks! My whole body was quivering with excitement, but Mom was so proud of me! She said "come" and although I hesitated, I went to Mom!

Me (the mom) typing now:

I was so thrilled with Henry! I did see the deer in the distance, I saw the white of it's tail between all the brown leafless trees leaping away.

Jessie listened to, she ran up the hill toward the deer just a little, then came back to me.

The next day, I started letting Henry off leash at certain spots in the woods that have less deer usually, but the dogs found one again. And this time even though he had no leash or clothesline on, he still stopped again as soon as I said "Stay". He did the same thing again the next day and again today when he wanted to run after a deer.

I still have the problem where I need to repeat "Henry come" before he listens and comes. I know I'm reinforcing it by repeating it though, so I really have to work on just saying "Henry come" once then walking up to him and bringing him to the spot I was in. So he will listen the first time I say come.

But overall I'm really pleased with how the training is going. It's slow and started with baby steps, and I know I have to keep up with this, but it's a rewarding process for both me and Henry.