"Jackson Drive."
This is the area we have been using for training lately. As mentioned in an earlier post, this is a paved area about 20 feet wide and about 1/3-mile long through what will probably be a housing development someday. Right now it is an ideal area for early training of Jackson during wet weather as it gives us plenty of room to work in with no distractions other than an occasional Jackrabbit.
The top photo is the trainer's view of Jackson sitting still for a few milliseconds. The center photo is of Jackson taking an unscheduled swim in a small pond during playtime. The last photo is “Jackson Drive” -my name for the area. The sign has been drawn in.
Today we concentrated on the sit-stay again. Jackson does not like to sit very long. He will place his butt on the ground just long enough to solicit a treat. He sits a little better at my side before given the command to heel. It looks like we’ll have to keep working on the sit-stay every day for a while.
We ended today’s session with an extended heel exercise. We crossed back over the road leading to this area, to where I parked my car. Here, there are a few paved blocks, with sidewalks, in a new development where just a handful of houses have been built –none in the area we walked. We were able to practice one of the more important aspects of the heel routine: stopping and sitting at each curb before crossing the street. The idea is that when the trainer halts, the trainee should halt and sit immediately. Jackson, having learned to watch my every move carefully, does pretty well in the halting category but still doesn’t automatically sit. I have to hold his collar and push down on his hind quarters to get him to the sitting position. After praising him, we again resume the heel.
The top photo is the trainer's view of Jackson sitting still for a few milliseconds. The center photo is of Jackson taking an unscheduled swim in a small pond during playtime. The last photo is “Jackson Drive” -my name for the area. The sign has been drawn in.
Today we concentrated on the sit-stay again. Jackson does not like to sit very long. He will place his butt on the ground just long enough to solicit a treat. He sits a little better at my side before given the command to heel. It looks like we’ll have to keep working on the sit-stay every day for a while.
We ended today’s session with an extended heel exercise. We crossed back over the road leading to this area, to where I parked my car. Here, there are a few paved blocks, with sidewalks, in a new development where just a handful of houses have been built –none in the area we walked. We were able to practice one of the more important aspects of the heel routine: stopping and sitting at each curb before crossing the street. The idea is that when the trainer halts, the trainee should halt and sit immediately. Jackson, having learned to watch my every move carefully, does pretty well in the halting category but still doesn’t automatically sit. I have to hold his collar and push down on his hind quarters to get him to the sitting position. After praising him, we again resume the heel.
Near the end of the session, another Jackrabbit suddenly appeared about 20 feet ahead and to the right of us. He hopped and ran away toward "Jackson Drive." Again, Jackson made a move in front of me toward Mr. Jackrabbit but went right back to the heel position after colliding with my left knee.
In all, he is doing very well. We look forward to tomorrow.
1 comment:
That answers my question if he will like the river this summer!! He is a true lab...
Thanks Dad
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