[Alpha]

I haven't posted any updates really in awhile, but as some of you may remember, Roxy has a problem with being touched by strangers. Of course this makes it impossible to compete in obedience, as in Novice (CD) one of the excercises is to be examined by the judge.

We've tried all kinds of methods, from heavily rewarding to correction based.

Some of which had been more successful than others, but no method had produced a solid SFE.

A few weeks ago, I had come up with something new to try. After placing Roxy in a stand in front, my trainer would approach. As soon as Roxy went to *look* at my trainer, (watching the approaching "judge" was always followed by snarling/growling) I took of running backwards whooping and hollering. We did it off leash.

By the third time, Roxy had figured out I was running backwards, so she stopped looking at my trainer. Then, as soon as my trainer touched her back, I took off running, so she had no time to think about what was going on.

Fast forward: The past two lessons, we've done at least 7 full SFE. Perfect 30's in an obedience ring. The next step is to try it with someone other than my trainer!

But it's the most successful method we've used so far! With the CKC thinking about adding mixed breeds, it's also a great time for her to come around!

So I'm crossing my fingers, but not planning for any trials just yet!

[Dogstar]

Woo! Congrats- I really think the stand for exam is the MOST annoying obedience exercise in existance to teach- and I have a dog who is trained to free-stack for the conformation ring! We're still fighting with distance on the SFE. What made you think of using the distraction like that? (And how do you keep her from anticipating?

[sydney-the-cattle-dog]

Congrats on the progress!

I know how good breakthroughs can feel. The distraction idea is interesting. Was your trainer eventually able to touch Roxy without the distraction or are you still working through that part?

[Alpha]

Dogstar, she has been anticipating pretty bad, but I've just been letting it slide. Mainly the handful of times we mix up that we do full SFE, she'll break a few steps when I'm on my way back, but I don't think we'll have any trouble reinforcing the stay command later on. I guess you just need to compromise sometimes Once she's doing 100% with the examining, I'll start laying down the rules for the stay again. I'd rather keep her drive and motivation up and have her break a few steps, than shut her down by giving a stern stay command. I kind of, get her amped up too, like I'll, jolt like I'm going to run but I won't just to keep her eyes on me, if she's drifting just a little. It's funny, because she jolts too, like "Oh gosh, she's going, NO she isn't... OH here she goes.. nope not yet.. WAHOO!" LOL

My trainer has done full out examinations, similar to ones they would do in UD. Very firm, groping almost! LOL

I guess what made me eventually think of it, was just twisting the "watch me" excercise. We had been trying to incorporate the watch me during the SFE to break her thought process. If she can't look at them, she can't bite them right?

But she would break the command, often. And if she didn't break the command, she would still lick her lips in nervousness, or curl her lip. Still grounds to be disqualified.

On another forum a few months ago we'd been discussing NILIF, and I had posted how I preferred rewarding default behaviours. When I was re-reading my post, a light went off! Instead of ASKING for her to watch me, what can I do, so she just *does*?!?!

Running backwards whooping and hollering, then rewarding at the other end of the ring is pretty hardcore motivation! LOL. I suppose it's comparable to people who drop the leash and walk the other way, just amped up a bit. As SOON as your not looking, I'm going to take off! SO you'd better be watching me all the time!

Roxy *hated* the SFE as well before. Just not happy, but now her tail wags as she waits for me to reward, and her eyes rarely even look to my trainer as she approaches now. Tongues out looking goofy.

[OC_Spirit]

That's an awesome break through!! Congrats!!

[Alpha]

Thanks Ren!

I'm awfully pleased about it! Happy that the method worked, and even more proud of myself for coming up with it on my own! LOL

Trainers from all different sides of the spectrum have given me ideas but nope it was ME that figured it out! I guess it helps that I live with the bitch, but whatever! ROFL

And of course the first time I plan on filming it, my camera dies Go figure! But this Thursday is our agility lesson, but we usually do a few SFE as well as either dog only goes to school once a week. I'm charging the camera and getting a video of it! Probably a few, one to show how we're working on it, than another to show the finished product... well what will eventually be a finished product! Right now it's just thrown in there once in awhile to surprise her, and because she's so excited about me rewarding, she behaves. There's a phrase for it, reward system.. varying rewards.. I forget! LOL

You know how hard we've worked on this problem Ren, and for soooo long it seems.. lol. But we've finally figured it out! It's times like these I'm almost thankful that Roxy wasn't the easiest dog in the world to train. She made me learn about all different kinds of methods, how to apply them, when to apply them... lol. She's been a great teacher!