Confusion abounds...

So, Kali and Tina had training class last night. Since last week, Tina seemed so skittish, we decided to trade off. I would work Tina and DH would work Kali. DH has actually worked Kali before, I was sick and couldn't make it to class, so he took her. I haven't worked Tina in a classroom setting in a long while.

Well, that was a disaster. Thankfully we get there early. So the only disaster was their "warm-ups". Rick got a call from work, so he just had to answer it. (I have no clue why he walked into the class and he phone wasn't turned off. After 22 years, you just don't address some things anymore.) Well since he was distracted, Kali was free to go off on a barking-fest to the dogs that were near her, the dogs coming into class, the dogs moving around and practicing themselves.

Which in turn, of course, led Tina to not want to focus on me whatsoever. Since something cool had to be going on over there. Tina needs to work on her confidence in class. That's something thats going to take time. Whereas Kali needs to work on her reactiveness. I opted to take over with Kali. I read her better anyway.

"Alright", says the instructor, "Show me what you learned last week".

Left hand "touch" (nose to hand), right hand "touch". "Sit", "Down". Yea! We got this! You rock Kali!

"Stand" ... epic fail. Mind you, we practiced, ALOT. But imo, "stand" is one of those things that takes a while to 'pop' in a dog's mind. For Kali, it hasn't 'popped' yet. 

Instructor says.. "Use touch to lure them into a 'stand'" Alright, we can do that! BAM, she did it! "Touch" - YES! She did it again!! Now my hand signal for 'touch' is easy .. open hand, pointing downward, palm towards dog. Woohoo! We're touching and moving everywhere!

Alright.. it's time for 'front'. "Practice your 'front' for a while" Kali and I sit down. (Yea, I'll take any chance to sit my butt back down. Besides, Kali's been doing 'front' since she was a puppy. We got this!)

Let's do some work on 'look at that'.  I haven't put it on cue yet. But she knows when we're doing it. It's when I ignore her staring holes into my head. So, she looks away.. click and treat.

Kali gets excited.. you can see it, look away, wait for a click, look back at mom quickly to make sure.. ah geez.. ok, now's the strain.. look away and hope that's enough.. At least, that's how I read her. *click* YES, gimme my treat. That's Kali.

She managed to look around calmly (calmly as in, not barking and fussing at everyone else, yet still anxious for her click n treat) for an average of 5 seconds. We did this ALOT! I should've made note of the time we started.

Okay.. show me your 'front'. BAM! She got it!

Alright.. time for 'finish'. From the 'front', left finish and go behind for left finish.

'Finish' is easy.. though not pretty to look at, but Kali's a work in progress you know.

Now we work on the -from 'front', walk towards my right side, go behind me and end up in a pretty finish back on my left.

Uh- huh... suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure. Juggle clicker, treats and leash... lure your dog behind and around you... and get your feet moving in the right direction...

This just reminded me of how forgiving Brianna really is of me... AND how lucky I am that she catches on quick. (Forgiving because with her, this sequence did cause me to fall down and tangle her up a few times.)

Yea.. moving on.. doggy push-ups... rapid fire 'sit', 'down', 'stand'. I'm thinking, we got this! My bad.. again.. Kali waited for a treat for every position. Tina got it though! Wow, she was FAST and pretty too!

Alright.. let's work on 'stay'. 'finish' 'stay' walk forward.. EPIC FAIL! My hand signal for 'stay' is TOO similar to my hand signal for 'touch'. Kali happily trotted along next to me each time. Alright, I got it.. any open palm towards Kali is 'touch' to her. Now I gotta come up with a way for her realize watch the fingers to know what to do. It's my failing... not hers. I just won't change signals per dog.

Another point for Brianna, I'm sure I confused her too with this.

Another fun one.. 'stay' and walk around your dog. This past week, we practiced 'find my eyes' ALOT. So every time I moved, Kali swung her butt around to maintain eye contact. I was told Tina did too. *sigh*

Looks like I'm going to have polish my creativity to get all this right. Extra treats for my girls for putting up with all this eagerly!