Human keeps training dog, despite stress

I have spent the past week in backslide mode. Bad attitude, stress about having too much to do in too little time. -The usual.-

We did go to my parent’s the other day, and Amika did SUPER with having my Dad and I in the pool. She played with the giant tennis ball almost to the point of exhaustion. Then she popped it with a tooth. That was the end of the ball, but we got her other toys out. She did very little panic mode stress stuff. I think maybe the homeopathic / herbal stuff is working.

Yesterday I was particularly stressed. Had been for a couple of days. The reason was an upcoming meeting- going to a proffessional group for the first time, and I didn’t know anyone or what sort of people they’d be. I was afraid I wouln’t fit in, yada yada. I stopped and did some meditation and calming, and then loaded Amika up.

I have organised another session with a professional dog trainer. This one will be on new turf. So I wanted to get Amika out in a new place. To KISS, I went to the Calisthenics centre car park, which is just across the creek from the usual spot. We went there once befrore quite a while ago. In my mind, the important thing was that I was going to take this dog for a walk.

I started by getting her into her Canny Collar, taking her out with attention. Rewarding re-orients and walking around in circles a little before setting off. I did not ask for heeling- we’ve been working on that in the front and back yard. Yet I think it has paid off in her being able to pay better attention to where I am.

Amika did good- putting her nose down and sniffing, but being conscious of the length of the lead and where I was. She reoriented, and I also marked and rewarded her just noticing me (stopping or slight head / ear turns). And I walked briskly!

We walked out and back again. At the car, I grabbed the big tennis ball and the long line. No harness, no tyre (we’d done that the day before). More very attentive walking back to the shdy trees (she wanted that ball!) and I hooked us up to the long line and removed the head collar.

Amika did great. I had a tough time sending her to sniff because she was very focussed on the ball. Eventually she got the idea (I do want her to check out the environment!) and I rewarded with a small ball toss when she came back or responed to her name.

We spent a little time sitting / laying in the shade (middle of a warm day) before heading home. I really liked her focus.