Two-eyes, Day 2

This was the second session of working with Two-eyes. It would really benefit him to be in a home environment where this sort of work could go on multiple times a day, but we work with what we have! Two-eyes is a wonderful dog in the rough- he has amazing potential and just needs someone to bring it out of him!

I am working with Two-eyes on his bolting issue with doors. We're working to control his impulses so that he can hold back until he's invited through a door. I don't care whether he's sitting, laying down, or standing, but I consider it important for Two-eyes that he wait at every single door until invited through. He's doing very well, and needs one reminder at each door. Soon I think this will be an automatic process for him, so one reminder is not bad- especially after only one training session! However, the action of a person going through the door usually get him, so then he messes up and gets too excited to stay put. It's getting better, and I think he'll be pretty good at it if I can work with him for a week. He's a smart dog, and works well for praise.

Two-eyes is doing well with kennels, too! When I evaluated him, I at first wondered if he had an issue at all- he didn't make a peep. Then I tried again without any distractions, and found out the truth- he's a scared puppy in the kennel when he thinks he's all alone. What we're doing is getting him used to being in the kennel, and slowly lengthening the time that he's in it. As with doors, he is not allowed out of the kennel (even if the kennel door is open) until he's invited.

So Two-eyes and I went upstairs to work today, and he went right into the kennel with a low-value treat (dog biscuit) and the word "Kennel". In there, he got a hotdog chunk, and a couple seconds later, another hotdog chunk. Then, I let him out of the kennel and ignored him. We established a routine- in the kennel he gets lots of praise and attention and hotdogs, and out of the kennel he gets nothing. Two-eyes quickly became wise to this, and about ten minutes into his second session, he was coming back to me, hoping for direction, and pretty easily being led into the kennel again. A couple of times he even went into the kennel all by himself, hoping for attention and goodies (which he received in plenty)!

About 15 minutes into the training session, we upped the ante on Two-eyes. Two-eyes would be told "Kennel" and led into the kennel with the lure of a hot dog slice or piece of biscuit. Then I would close the door and praise and feed him hot dogs through the door for five seconds. Then I would open the door, feed more, and pet him. Then it was "Let's Go!" to let him out of the kennel (the same word I use to let him go through doors) and ignore him until he came back over for more training.

I can tell the kennel is stressful for him, but he is working hard with me to get over it. Sometimes he comes right over to me for play and attention, but most times he runs out of his kennel when he's allowed and shakes off or runs about sniffing. I let him calm himself down and take his time until he's ready for more- when he comes over to me to engage me in his antics, it's time for more kennel work. He's learning that pattern- the only way he gets attention and petting from me is in the kennel or after he waits at a door.

Would an owner have to be so strict? No! But I would recommend training with Two-eyes every hour or so ideally. I plan to start at 5 seconds (which is where he's at right now) and progress up to 30 minutes or an hour in the crate. Once he's good in the crate for a while, I'll begin to leave briefly to get him over that. The key with seperation anxiety is to go slow, and not every potential adoptor for Two-eyes will be able to take that time and not leave him alone for any length of time longer than he's comfortable with, slowly increasing his tolerance until he can handle a normal 4 to 8 hour abscence.