On the old boards we had a place for Plans. I'm not sure if I should put this here or Daily Dog, but this place seemed like a more natural fit. Feel free to move it if it's the wrong place!
She is now my dog. We can work on stuff together. The more we train the more connection we will have and the easier all will be. I tried to work with all the fosters that came through here but it's different when you know they have to leave. Now I don't have to hold back. Deep, happy sigh.
1) - Hand feeding kibble by kibble. First waiting for her to sit which she's got really down now after a month of being here. But now it's just piece by piece and she has to look at me first. She gets a warm "Hello Ada" and a kibble. This morning we were able to have me down on my haunches instead of standing for this. No jumping, no rudeness. She's slowly getting the look at me part but she really wants to look at the container of kibble! She'll get there. I want to transition this to her on lead and doing head turns for the kibble.
2) Walking on leash. We've never done that. She gets spayed on Sunday so it will be a bit of a crash course. Today (Friday) I will stock up on hot dog and prepare the treat bag. Planning on Catch my Drift in her patio and in the garage and eventually on the lower patio (a cat safe space which she has to earn). Walking through town with treats to make sure I've got better treats than the friendly people of my town who love to feed any dog they see. (It's a nice town with lots of loose dogs.) The idea of this is when I'm walking her through town on leash maybe she won't feel like she's missing out.
3) Calm and place. Right now she does great on her patio. We get in there and she crates herself and sleeps. No barking, she's golden. But if she's on the lower patio (ie: after bath time) she runs around like an idiot because it smells of cat and bunny (her patio does not have those scents!) After the spay when she's on restrictions and calmer naturally (dare to dream?), we'll start with her on leash down there and start spending quiet time there. I'll put one of her blankets there and start doing place.
4) Mine. Starting now. This will be really useful with the cats on the lower patio.
5) Recall. As she's been a 100% off leash dog up till now it's all been fluid. I need to transition her to dog who can run loose out back (really necessary, she has a ton of energy) but then come and be leashed and come back home. Great treats will be involved. I can no longer say "Ok girl. it's up to you, if you want shelter with me you know where to find me". Now she's my girl and if something happened to her during that time I'd never forgive myself. I need to get/make a long line (I also need to make a plan for what to do if she goes Mountain Goat while on a long line....there's a lot of shrubs and crud on those hills). We'll work on this a lot after surgery.
Ok, does this sound ok? Am I veering off wrong in any directions? Opinions, advice and/or suggestions would be wonderful. I know we won't get to 100% this afternoon, it will be a process and will take time and small steps. I just want to be aiming the boat in the right direction.
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