Video: Bo Loading and Unloading a Vehicle

'Load up' is the command we use when we want Bo to get into a vehicle. We use this command consistently and we always have him load up in the same way to practice the behavior. In this video, you see him prepare to load up when he gets the command but it takes me pointing to the space before he jumps into the trunk of the car. There was once a time when he wouldn't load up unless I got into the vehicle first and lured him in with a treat. When I presented this challenge to Helen, over a year ago, she taught me to use a running start to get him to load up on his own. This technique was key to getting him to load in the vehicle on his own.



When we started looking at the test items on the Public Access Certification Test (PACT) we started practicing unloading from a vehicle in a consistent manner. The PACT has a test related to how a dog exits a vehicle. When Bo unloads from a vehicle he sits and stays while I turn and close the vehicle door. Once the door is closed I give him the 'okay' command to continue on our way.

Video: Scent Training in the Car at Night

One of the many places we do scent training with Bo is in the car. Tonight, I worked him with a scent sample while a family member was driving. The goal is to teach Bo that a low scent in the car equals an alert, just as a low scent in the house equals an alert. Tonight, we practiced in a moving car when it was dark outside. Other times, we practice in a parked car and in the day light. I had to prompt him for his alert signal, which in the car is a paw on the seat back.  Once he gives his initial alert, I reward him and then present the scent to him again and reward him for placing his paw on the seat. 

What to Pack

An overnight with Bo requires some packing. Our checklist includes:
Freedom Harness
Gentle Leader
Leash
Long Lead
Service vest
Night vest
Water vest
Water ball
Water bringsel
Treat bag
Treats
Alert high value foods - cheese and meat
High value toy for rewarding alerts
Kibble

Peanut butter
Kong
Water bowl
Water bottle
Poop bags
Furminator

Public Access Training

The other night, after exercising Bo, we took him to Fresh Market for public access training. It was late in the evening and there weren't many people shopping, which made it perfect for his first time in the space. He worked through the flowers and produce with ease, so we headed to the butcher shop. His nose was sniffing in the direction of the prepared meats but he responded well to my commands to 'leave' --each time turning his head away from the food and toward me. He kept his nose out of the food case and off the bread and muffins tables, however he did get distracted by everything on the floor. It didn't matter if it was a piece of food or a piece of paper, if it was on the floor he wanted to sniff it. We encountered a grape and it was almost as if he knew it was bad for him. I told him 'leave' and he stopped walking and looked at me. I gave him a nice food reward for his listening.

He walked at my side with one exception when I was turning right and he wanted to turn left. When I looked in the dairy case, he stopped and stood waiting for me to continue walking. He went into a down stay when I dropped his leash to take a pictures of him in the aisles. He appeared to be comfortable working in the space not showing any signs of stress. It was a short yet successful session.

Preparing for the AKC Community Canine Test

We are preparing to take the AKC Community Canine test. This test is the advanced level of the Canine Good Citizen Program. Like the CGC test, it includes 10 test items and food rewards are not permitted.

Our prep class began today at No Monkey Business Dog Training and will go for the next five weeks. Bo will have the experience of practicing the skills with the distractions of other dogs and I will have the opportunity to learn how to practice the skills with him at home and in public. Passing the Community Canine test is the next step on our path to taking the Public Access Certification Test.

Working for Austin

Bo alerted to Austin yesterday while the two were walking on the street in front of our house. This is a big milestone on our journey for a few different reasons. First, it represents Bo's willingness to stop something he enjoys -- taking a walk outside -- to do his job. Second, it represents Bo's ability to generalize his scent training -- just as a low scent indoors equals an alert so does one outside. Third, it represents Austin's ability to recognize and respond appropriately to an alert from Bo.

According to Austin, the alert happened a short time into their walk. Bo had been heeling at Austin's side as the two walked up and down the street. Then all of a sudden, Bo stopped. Austin called Bo and when he did, Bo took one step forward and then pawed and bowed -- his alert chain for a low. Austin recognized the alert and turned back to the house.

I was surprised to hear the two of them back to the house so soon. Austin came bounding in the house with Bo and announced, "Mom, you're never going to believe it, Bo just alerted to me!" We checked and Austin's blood sugar was 74. We treated Bo wildly for alerting to his boy. We rewarded him with Dick Van Pattens' dog food roll, a new high value food reward we just started using last week, plus a game with his favorite toy and tons of love and praise. 

I took these pictures and video today when Austin and Bo were practicing loose leash walking on our street this morning.

It Happened

Note: I'm not sure when I wrote this post. I had written it and never published it. I came across it when I was in the admin view of my blog posts today. It's part of the journey, so I'm publishing it now.)

Last Sunday, for the first time since I set out on this journey, I thought about giving-up. That's right. I thought about throwing in the old proverbial towel and quitting. The thought was fleeting (thankfully) leaving my mind as quickly as it had entered but it happened nonetheless -- making its dirty little mark on our journey.

It's super easy to post about the successes. The fabulous alerts that come in the middle of the night or on the soccer field. The beautiful heel work during a training session at Target. The extended down stays during place work. The impressive self control during leave it exercises. All those things are so easy to write about because they represent achievement, hard work and success. As a result, we hear about them a lot. They are in our FB newsfeed and the blogs and groups we follow. They are inspirational and encouraging but they can also be discouraging. They are discouraging because they can set unrealistic expectations of perfection.

Of course, I could never give-up on these two.