Dogs on the Run dot net

It’s now January 2008. Joon’s last entry was on January 15, 2007. Shame on me!

Just because I haven’t written in her blog, it doesn’t mean that I haven’t worked with the dog. I just haven’t shared. We’re not where I want to be, considering it’s been a year, but then there’s life that gets in the way. So it did, and does.

If I look at Joon’s Checklist, we’ve made progress. One thing I’ve learned when working with dogs, especially difficult dogs, is that it’s insanity to do anything but evaluate their progress over the long term. It can be quite frustrating to see improvement when you look at a week, or even a month, but given 3 or 6 months it’s far more obvious that the mountains are moving; the only way to move one of these canine mountains is slowly and deliberately. So over the past year we’ve made huge progress.

Down to details (‘fess-up time): Joon is still not housebroken. Read more…

LONG-TERM GOALS

For Joon to be a stable, happy dog with plenty to keep her occupied physically and mentally, interactive with other dogs and humans, comfortable in her own skin. For her to be a successful agility competitor to the level of her handler’s competence.

SHORT-TERM GOALS (OH MY!)

{Goals to be achieved are in black; goals felt to be achieved in green; and additional goals are in red.}

1. Housebroken.
2. Learn name. [11/26/06]
3. Gain confidence.
4. Play with me – tug, retrieve games – tug – tug. [Note: only one tug has been colored in at this date, 11/26/06 - she's coming along!]
5. Come when called.
6. Other obedience behaviors: sit [11/26/06] – down – stand – stay – walking on lead.
7. Pre-agility behaviors:
   1. Target to hand
   2. Target to object on ground
   3. Spin left and right
   4. Back
   5. Quick down
   6. Directionals (left and right)
   7. “Motivational” stay (1-2-3 or ready-steady-go)
   8. Shadow handling
   9. “Get out” (lateral distance)
   10. “Go on” (forward distance)
   11. “Come in” (like a recall but in motion)
   12. “Through” legs and wrap around leg (for stretches)
   13. “Easy”