Ms. Ziggy has decided that she doesn't like the clicker.
Was trying to work on Dr. Karen Overall's Protocol for Relaxation* and Ziggy was doing ok. Usually she whips through all that like nobody's business and it feels silly to even do the "sit 5 seconds. sit 10 seconds" sort of things. But for whatever reason today after a few of the steps, she decided she was done. I tried to come back to it an hour later and I noticed her ears go back with the clicker and she would not listen or do anything I asked. So I put it away and asked her to sit and then she obeyed.
Great.
Yes, the clicker has only ever been used appropriately. I'm very careful with it and don't use it much. She's never expressed an aversion to it before.
It's just so hard when no expert can help. This relaxation protocol is supposed to help her learn to calm when stressed.
And yet, she is a wonderful dog. Today she wanted exercise but it was fucking 97 degrees out. We played frisbee a few times but it wasn't fun for either of us really, both seeking shade. But she goes out on her own and pushes around the bucket, growling and howling at it. She comes back in panting, ready to relax again. I've been so lucky with dogs who do not take their energy out in destructive ways, but go outside and get their ya-yas out alone when there's no other option.
How can I help her learn to keep her reactivity in check the same way?
*Found here: http://www.dogdaysnw.com/doc/Protocol_for_Relaxation-_Karen_Overall.pdf.
Was trying to work on Dr. Karen Overall's Protocol for Relaxation* and Ziggy was doing ok. Usually she whips through all that like nobody's business and it feels silly to even do the "sit 5 seconds. sit 10 seconds" sort of things. But for whatever reason today after a few of the steps, she decided she was done. I tried to come back to it an hour later and I noticed her ears go back with the clicker and she would not listen or do anything I asked. So I put it away and asked her to sit and then she obeyed.
Great.
Yes, the clicker has only ever been used appropriately. I'm very careful with it and don't use it much. She's never expressed an aversion to it before.
It's just so hard when no expert can help. This relaxation protocol is supposed to help her learn to calm when stressed.
And yet, she is a wonderful dog. Today she wanted exercise but it was fucking 97 degrees out. We played frisbee a few times but it wasn't fun for either of us really, both seeking shade. But she goes out on her own and pushes around the bucket, growling and howling at it. She comes back in panting, ready to relax again. I've been so lucky with dogs who do not take their energy out in destructive ways, but go outside and get their ya-yas out alone when there's no other option.
How can I help her learn to keep her reactivity in check the same way?
*Found here: http://www.dogdaysnw.com/doc/Protocol_for_Relaxation-_Karen_Overall.pdf.
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