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!
WOW! Congrats on that accomplishment with Deenah and Ringo - this is at the top of my goal list, but we are still oh-so-far away from this.
ReplyDeleteAnd with Ringo's mat-pawing...it may be frustrating, but you've definitely got the skills and the patience to change the behavior. Keep up the good work!
I enjoy your updates very much.