Plan:

• Lazy Leash, Zen, Recalls, Focus, Settle, Handling on random rotation daily. (LL, Z, R, F all with distraction criteria; S as duration and cue; Handling basics.)
• Monday review day; cone-to-cone, right pivot, cold testing old levels.
• Tuesday and Wednesday progress skills; Sidestepping.

Heeling and Formal obedience

Sidestepping – another session of Fronts. Cones general work. Some more stimulus control needed; when I ask for a sidestep in front of me, he spins into heel – and when I ask for a heel he stands at about a 30 degree angle with only his shoulder nearby. At least the front on a pivot-platform is coming along.

Home Obedience and Steps to Success

Loose Leash past a treat on the road. The first attempt was a fail – we were too close and he grabbed it. The second, I moved away every time he tried going for it. Once he figured the requirement he snuck past it, tightly clinging to my leg, as if it would jump out at him. Did some work indoors as well – closely related to Zen.

Started Handling – chin rest while touching head, ears, muzzle. Starting to stroke the sides of his muzzle in preparation for tooth-checks, and stroking down all four legs. And a double-cue of chin-rest + paw.

Cold testing basic touch and down. Of course he can do those.

Trick training

Current tricks we are working on; slalom, high five, paw lift in time with feet, jump over legs and arms, sit pretty. Settle as a part of play dead/ roll over.

Managed a second of Sit Pretty for reverse luring. (I ask for a behaviour with one hand, and the other holds out a treat. If the behaviour stops before I say so, the treat goes away.) Introduced jumping over my leg behind me as well. He loves jumping! Managed paw lift on only physical cues. It’s not transferred to only feet yet, but he’s on the right track.

Social

Saw a neighbour go out to their mailbox, maybe 30+ meters away. Able to defuse him from Orange (stiff, raised tail-root) to Yellow (listening to me and turning away), by taking a few steps backwards.

Baby stroller was too much for him – after that he lost focus completely and rushed at every single bird and trailer.

At least he observed the garbage man calmly at 20 meters.

Rally training was cancelled, because the signs needed upgrading – they’d drowned in the rain last week…