Level 1 testing

Last Thursday Lynn held a L1 testing class. I was at the end of a particularily difficult 2 week period, dealing with a couple of stressful issues. By the time we got to this class I was "not in the game". Tommy picked up on that like stink on skunk. He was performing some behaviors okay, but in general was not particularily interested in anything I was asking of him. As I sat pondering the issues at hand I remembered a class last summer in which Chris pulled herself and her dog out of the process because the dog was over it's threshold. I decided to do the same with myself in Thursday's class. I/we sat and observed the rest of the groups and learned by watching and listening, and not stressing!

In the last few days I have recieved invaluable conseling from a number of the trainers present that day and have come to see we all hit these walls sometime and have to pull back and reassess our position. I know I have heard that a thousand times in class and in Sue's and everyone else's teachings but it never really sank in. This was a HUGE lesson for me. I am the kind who tends to forge ahead. I have pulled back from everything that even approaches L2. I do not work him unless I am relaxed and I have a clear sense of criteria [thank you Lynn]. I keep the sessions short unless he is showing continued enjoyment and offering behaviors I ask of him. It is his willingness to continue I pay attention to now.

As my attitude has changed, so have his skills. He is now, most of time, walking on a loose leash. Even at a ballpark with kids, other dogs and roasting hot dog scents wafting in the wind. I have a real sense of progress and growth for the first time in weeks. I had made the additional mistake of judging our progress by that of other trainers and dogs with whom we spend our training sessions. I was discounting my ability to mask my stress while working with Tommy... he knew! I now see it showed in his behavior.

I find myself excited again to be training, and getting to know L1 behaviors on a new level. I have also discovered, with Beth's assistance exactly what it costs for LL1 from Tommy. I now refer to it as PB/CCLLL1...that being Peanut Butter/Cottage Cheese Loose Leash Level 1. Sometimes I add liver bits to the mix as a surprise element.Which ultimately translates to the acronym PB/CCLLL1+LB's.