Today I decided to take Lexx up to the local park to do some training exercises with him. His focus is normally pretty sporadic but we're improving day by day.
We worked on a lot of heeling and focus exercises today. I'm really really happy with Lexx's heeling progress. He's really learning to keep his focus up on my face and not to crowd me when we're moving forward. He had the most irritating habit of moving almost sideways so that his front paws would get caught up under my left foot. This would cause me to step on his foot every so often, an excuse for him to look like a broken, abused and horribly treated dog, while, obviously ruining his focus. I am pleased that he is learning to stay farther back while just leaving his head at my thigh so that he can look up at me.
Using a jute has been a large breakthrough in his training. His food motivation is increasing all the time, but his prey drive is becoming absolutely amazing and he LOVES to heel for his jute.
Today we worked on right turns cued by my shoulder, which I was surprised that he picked up right away. His only issue now seems to be that when I U turn, he moves too far out from my leg, we'll have to work on it.
I've taken Kim's advice and started working his sits right next to a barrier to prevent him from twisting to the side when we stop. He knows that he has to sit when I stop, but hasn't QUITE picked up the whole "straight" thing.
Our progress on "tuck" sits has been horrendous, he just isn't picking it up at all, and now he gets nervous when he thinks i might tuck his bum for him.
All and all today was a great day, I'm proud of my boy.
here's a picture!
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