Happy 6 Month Birthday to Breeze and her littermates! I was able to catch her standing still in the yard. It's a miracle! One of these days I'll get someone to help me take photos so I can actually stack her!
Last week Breeze was demo puppy for competition obedience, learning to "get in the box" and stand. (The box is a rectangle of PVC downspouts.) Using behavior modification (lure into box with food, feed while in box, then add a command word, then ask her to do the behavior without the lure, etc.) she learned to get in the box, stand still and remain in the box while I backed away. All this training was done in a few minute demo in front of the class. I was able to get a few feet away from the box, and if Breeze came out of the box she knew to put herself back. Unrewarded behavior will extinguish itself!
Later in the week she demo'd the same concept with proofing. Her favorite person in the whole world (Spencer) was a distraction. He was walking around the box using a toy to entice Breeze to come out of the box and follow him. Breeze demonstrated great self-control. She ignored Spencer and remained in the box as I backed several feet away from her! One very bright little dog!
We are also working on our obedience stand/drop/sit in the box, to teach muscle memory and proper body positioning. Learning the sit and drop positions in a box helps prevent confusion when we do breed ring work. What's interesting about Breeze is her extremely high level of opposition reflex! Holding a treat above her nose as I said "Sit" did not work. She was bound and determined to stand. As I gently used my left hand to tuck her rear, her opposition muscles really kicked in. We've done a few short repetitions over the past few days and she is more relaxed but has yet to sit on her own on command. I've never experienced this degree of determination in a puppy before! I know it'll happen when it happens...I'm not concerned...just amused!
And I'm sure there will be many more "firsts" when it comes to training Breeze! We've only just begun!
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