Today I took Dorica along a trail on our land. It bordered a steep drop-off into deep forest and at that point, she reused to walk! I have seen this in her before - it seems she is afraid of heights! No amount of coaxing could make her advance - typical donkey thing! And unfortunately, a trait they become known for.
After asking her to target my hand, clicking and treating her several times for any tiny step forward, I decided to let her go back the way we had come and walk around so that we approached the trail from the opposite direction. Short trail.
Same thing happened but eventually (it took awhile and patience!) I was able to lead her through.
Tomorrow I will take the same route and see if she is more confident.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
frustrations & rewards!
Argh ... nothing in life is a straight line ... it's a zig zag! And working with animals, one has to remember that they are not machines - they have good days and bad days and who knows why ... just like us!
So Ringo has again been frustrating me - mat work - he sees the mat and instantly responds by standing on it - fabulous! But then the pawing starts! I must have reinforced that somehow and unknowingly. So now I must figure out a way to undo what I must have taught!
But I have also been working with Deenah and Ringo simultaneously and that had been grand! Tonight I led both of them back to the barn at liberty from the meadow, Ringo on my right, Deenah on my left. I asked them to match my pace - they did! I asked them to "whoa" - they DID! both together - click treat!
Walk on - they did - together, matching my pace again. "Whoa" - they did - together - it was beautiful!
So Ringo has again been frustrating me - mat work - he sees the mat and instantly responds by standing on it - fabulous! But then the pawing starts! I must have reinforced that somehow and unknowingly. So now I must figure out a way to undo what I must have taught!
But I have also been working with Deenah and Ringo simultaneously and that had been grand! Tonight I led both of them back to the barn at liberty from the meadow, Ringo on my right, Deenah on my left. I asked them to match my pace - they did! I asked them to "whoa" - they DID! both together - click treat!
Walk on - they did - together, matching my pace again. "Whoa" - they did - together - it was beautiful!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Training notes, June 9
I have been working every day for the past week or so with at least two donkeys. Got myself a binder with an index too and have started to write down my notes about each facet of the work with entries for each donkey.
The benefits of having a plan and keeping notes was really emphasized at Clicker Expo ... good trainers develop goals and work backwards, breaking training down into small steps and building towards the goal - which by the way, could take a long time!
With Ringo, I feel I have created some tension and insecurity between us - I have lacked confidence around him and so have been jumpy and reactive. My mistrust in him creates his mistrust in me - I hope to undo this pattern and the only way, I feel is with dedicated, consistent work. Every day! At least a few minutes spend on mat work or something!
If I can spend this summer working every day and making notes, I KNOW we will both benefit hugely. I can already feel the difference!
The benefits of having a plan and keeping notes was really emphasized at Clicker Expo ... good trainers develop goals and work backwards, breaking training down into small steps and building towards the goal - which by the way, could take a long time!
With Ringo, I feel I have created some tension and insecurity between us - I have lacked confidence around him and so have been jumpy and reactive. My mistrust in him creates his mistrust in me - I hope to undo this pattern and the only way, I feel is with dedicated, consistent work. Every day! At least a few minutes spend on mat work or something!
If I can spend this summer working every day and making notes, I KNOW we will both benefit hugely. I can already feel the difference!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Slow feeder - further thoughts ...
The donkeys have had the slow feeder for a couple of weeks now. They have learned to pick up the lid and reposition it! Ringo can get his teeth around the metal grid, pick up the lid and put it down again on an angle so that it no longer completely covers the hay ... amazing! He can't remove it, but repositioning it defeats the purpose of the slow feeder.
They have also figured out a way to coax rather large bites out at one time.
The next model will have a smaller grid ... 2 " x 2" instead of 2" x 4" and the lid needs to fit inside more tightly. This would work better on a container that is the same width top and bottom. That seems hard to find, so a custom built box may be the answer.
It also needs to be bolted in two places to the fence or stall or it needs to be so heavy that the donkeys can't budge it.
They have also figured out a way to coax rather large bites out at one time.
The next model will have a smaller grid ... 2 " x 2" instead of 2" x 4" and the lid needs to fit inside more tightly. This would work better on a container that is the same width top and bottom. That seems hard to find, so a custom built box may be the answer.
It also needs to be bolted in two places to the fence or stall or it needs to be so heavy that the donkeys can't budge it.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Working with Sola
Sola Wolff from Seattle was here this past weekend. She is a gifted young trainer who impressed me the first time I saw her working with her mules last October.
At breakfast the first morning she was here, I confessed that I have been thinking about finding another home for Ringo! He has been intimidating me lately and I haven't been able to work through it very successfully, rather, I felt we were getting stuck. I felt sorry that I don't take him out for the walks that he loves and am reactive to him pushing me around.
Sola listened carefully and encouraged me to do what I feel is best. Then we went out for our first lesson with the donkeys. Well, what was so incredible about this weekend was that Sola showed me an entirely different picture of Ringo and taught me some new skills for working with him. She was so impressed by him and it was amazing to watch him respond to her clear direction and light touch with willingness and intelligence!
What I learned:
1. Shoulder yielding is THE big news! I had been working on getting Ringo to move his hips back but he was still too much "in my face." But getting him step over with his shoulder is the key and he does it easily.
2. Alex says that to "change" a behaviour, you can teach a different behaviour that is incompatible to the one you don't want. Ringo has been tossing his head and bopping me with his nose. That has been making me nervous as he can snap at me too. Sola showed me how to gently lay my hand on the bridge of his nose and ask him to let me hold it there for just a second. Yes? Click and treat! Then "can I put both hands around your nose?" ... yes?, click and treat .... and variations of this. Now he comes up to me and instead of throwing his nose around, he holds it quietly for me to touch ... brilliant!
3. Mat work - much more focus needed here for both of us - build duration by layering criteria.
4. Grass eating on a walk - well eating grass is an equine's dream, so rather than prohibit that, we decided to teach him when he can and can't eat. Ask him to stand on grass, shorten the lead rope so that if he drops his head he can't reach the ground, hold the lead softly with both hands at my stomach ... easy boy. If he stands quietly for a moment, say "Good Boy!" and that's the signal that he can drop his head and eat a few mouthfuls. Allow him to do that for 2 or 3 bites, then raise his haed, shorten the lead again and stand or walk on. Repeat. It was amazing to see how fast he caught on the "the grass game!"
5. Pacing - vary the pace of my walk, slow motion to fast and ask him to match my pace. Teaches awareness and helps if he wants to run downhill. He learns to walk at the speed that I dictate.
6. Bracing - this is my body posture needed to help me hold my ground in case Ringo tries to leave!
I need to extend my leg nearest to him but centre my weight back and over my bent outside leg, knee aligned over hip so that I am leaning away but standing perpendicular to his shoulder. This involves some dancing around on my part! Meanwhile I have slid my left hand down the lead rope and rotated my shoulder and elbow, bringing my elbow towards my core. Sound complicated? It IS! And not at all graceful yet but it does work!
At breakfast the first morning she was here, I confessed that I have been thinking about finding another home for Ringo! He has been intimidating me lately and I haven't been able to work through it very successfully, rather, I felt we were getting stuck. I felt sorry that I don't take him out for the walks that he loves and am reactive to him pushing me around.
Sola listened carefully and encouraged me to do what I feel is best. Then we went out for our first lesson with the donkeys. Well, what was so incredible about this weekend was that Sola showed me an entirely different picture of Ringo and taught me some new skills for working with him. She was so impressed by him and it was amazing to watch him respond to her clear direction and light touch with willingness and intelligence!
What I learned:
1. Shoulder yielding is THE big news! I had been working on getting Ringo to move his hips back but he was still too much "in my face." But getting him step over with his shoulder is the key and he does it easily.
2. Alex says that to "change" a behaviour, you can teach a different behaviour that is incompatible to the one you don't want. Ringo has been tossing his head and bopping me with his nose. That has been making me nervous as he can snap at me too. Sola showed me how to gently lay my hand on the bridge of his nose and ask him to let me hold it there for just a second. Yes? Click and treat! Then "can I put both hands around your nose?" ... yes?, click and treat .... and variations of this. Now he comes up to me and instead of throwing his nose around, he holds it quietly for me to touch ... brilliant!
3. Mat work - much more focus needed here for both of us - build duration by layering criteria.
4. Grass eating on a walk - well eating grass is an equine's dream, so rather than prohibit that, we decided to teach him when he can and can't eat. Ask him to stand on grass, shorten the lead rope so that if he drops his head he can't reach the ground, hold the lead softly with both hands at my stomach ... easy boy. If he stands quietly for a moment, say "Good Boy!" and that's the signal that he can drop his head and eat a few mouthfuls. Allow him to do that for 2 or 3 bites, then raise his haed, shorten the lead again and stand or walk on. Repeat. It was amazing to see how fast he caught on the "the grass game!"
5. Pacing - vary the pace of my walk, slow motion to fast and ask him to match my pace. Teaches awareness and helps if he wants to run downhill. He learns to walk at the speed that I dictate.
6. Bracing - this is my body posture needed to help me hold my ground in case Ringo tries to leave!
I need to extend my leg nearest to him but centre my weight back and over my bent outside leg, knee aligned over hip so that I am leaning away but standing perpendicular to his shoulder. This involves some dancing around on my part! Meanwhile I have slid my left hand down the lead rope and rotated my shoulder and elbow, bringing my elbow towards my core. Sound complicated? It IS! And not at all graceful yet but it does work!
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