Gigi Day 7-Lessons 19-22

Early morning (very foggy):
1. Length of lesson 45 minutes.
2. Objective of lesson is to get Gigi more confident working closer and closer to dogs.
3. Techniques used were the start of the down shaping ala Koehler influenced with heeling and many turns. Also auto sits used.
4. Equipment used was metal training collar (electronic collar has rubbed at some of Gigi's fine skin) and leather 6' leash.
5. Owners not involved yet, though coming to do a bit of training tonight. No homework yet.
6. The fog seemed to actually work in our favor. She did see my other client Cynthia and her two Great Danes (Roxie and Harley) on the beach. She seemed a little nervous, but more interested. This did distract her quite a bit, though she did sit as me and Cynthia talked. Gigi was accomodating during the shaping of the downs. She didn't try to fight back, but she was a bit stiff.

Mid Afternoon (unbearably hot):
1. Lesson length started with 1 hour.
2. Objective is to get Gigi to self relax while in very crowded and busy places.
3. Technique used was to sit back under a shelter about three benches back. This was so as not to alarm the passbyers, especially ones with dogs. Gigi is not quite ready for really close encounters, especially where eye contact with dogs will be involved. Used Bedrock's sit on the dog.
4. Equipment used metal bench, 6' leather lead, and metal chain collar.
5. Owners not involved yet so no homework as yet.
6. Couple of small dogs came by, and Gigi actually jumped up on the bench trying to get to them. This is an instance where I do knock her back down, before continuing to ignore her. It took her 1/2 to go down, and I broke the rules this one time (as I had dogs to let out later at home) and finally put her in a down. She stayed down for periods of time but got up when people or children moved through. Clearly still gets very amped up being in a public place.

Right after sit on the dog:
1. Lesson time was 1 and a half hours.
2. Objective of lesson to have Gigi walking through crowds et without reacting negatively.
3. Technique used is Koehler heel and auto sit.
4. Equipment used is 6' leather lead and metal training collar.
5. Owners not involved yet, so no homework yet.
6. So we walked back and forth. Realitively uneventful walk on the way to sit on the dog. One dog did dart out at us from store, but it was behind us and Gigi did not see it. Way back, Gigi was amped up from seeing the dogs during sit on the dog to begin with. I stupidly did not have my jeans on. I was not requiring Gigi to wear an e-collar because the metal was making her neck break into a rash. (switching to Dogtra immediately) Golden Retriever was hanging out in store door with owner. I had known this was too soon for Gigi, but wanted to have an opinion why when owners came to meet. Golden locked eyes with Gigi and started barking. Gigi went to try to pass in front of me to get the dog, and I gave a correction, as did Gigi. She deflected right on the top of my thigh, and broke skin in two places. So that question was answered, and we will bring Gigi through next time with a muzzle on:)

Late Evening:
1. Lesson length approximately an hour.
2. Objective of lesson is to have owners start to become familiar with ways in which they will need to handle Miss Gigi.
3. Techniques used were heeling and auto sit in the less distracting areas for the owners to become familiar with what she will do.
4. Equipment used was 6' leather lead and metal training collar.
5. Owners not taking Gigi home today, so no homework given per say.
6. Gigi forged ahead a lot with her owners and me. She was very excited they were there, and clearly testing her limits. The beach was extra packed with dogs and kids running all over the place. The dogs were leashed. Gigi did jump up as if to hump at one point when a boy with his dog and bike made a beeline right for me. Otherwise, she didn't try anything except the pulling. Owners starting to use the leash corrections to solve it, and the about turns when Gigi really forges.