My cold seems to be giving me a little break during the days now. Just recurring at night to keep me awake coughing, but I’m grateful for the improvement!
In the meantime, I’ve had time to do some thinking. I know that one of the areas my training can use improvement is in taking the dogs to places away from home (other than classes), to help them generalize behaviors. For some of the dogs, it isn’t a huge problem, but for others…I think it has the potential to really make me regret my lack of motivation. So, I’m challenging myself to take the dogs to a different place to train, once a week.
Today we went to a place we’ve never trained before. It was great! I took the weaves and jump for Layla, and my friend brought her ring gates to work obedience. Layla came out and did the weaves like a pro. I put her away and worked with Dare for a bit on some obedience and then got Layla out again. I asked for my friend to stand close to where we were weaving to serve as a distraction. I’m super happy to report that Layla went to visit her quickly right away, but once we started weaving, she stayed focused and did great! 
So, maybe we’re on to something. It may not be the newest theory on how to treat acne but I think it might be a successful theory on how to improve our training.
Im glad you are starting to feel better. Diana
It was a good idea to challenge yourself with taking the dogs to a different place to train once a week. Diana keeps telling me to do that more often and somehow each week goes by and we don’t do it! Starting Monday (the new week) I’ll do the challenge with you!!
Good job Layla!!!
Glad to know you are feeling a little better!
This is definitely something I need to work on with Ace. It’s good for him to visit new places just for the sake of learning to be calm no matter where we go but he also needs work on commands in different places. I don’t think people realize that just because a dog can do something at home doesn’t mean she can follow the command somewhere else. They need to learn the command or concept in multiple places.
.-= Lindsay´s last blog ..Dog body language – scratching =-.
Ricky that will be fun to have you join in the challenge! Maybe knowing that someone else is doing it, will motivate us both.
The first trainer I worked with always told the students that if she had a dollar for everytime a student said, “…but they do it at home!” she’d be rich. LOL It’s so true. Yet, it still seems to be so hard to get out and work in different places even when we know we should.
You’re right. Katie will do the chute at home, but not at school. I need to take it with us to the park and see if she’ll do it there.
Glad you’re doing better!
And it still boggles my mind that you can take 5 dogs out without leashes and not have total chaos!
.-= Dawn´s last blog ..A river, more peonies and…Shakespere? =-.