It'sYerChoice – Tugging and the Food Bowl, Part 3

EEEEE-hah!!!

Attempt #1: Luna sits on the doormat. I put her food in her dish. I put the dish on the counter. I have the tug and go to Luna on the doormat. I slap the tug on the ground while saying ‘’Geddit!” Luna pounces on the tug, then goes past me to try to get into the kitchen to see where her food is. I block her for a moment, release her and point at the doormat. She sits on the doormat. I slap the tug on the ground while saying “Geddit!” Luna pounces on the tug, then grabs it and starts tugging very strongly. Whahoo! I tug her into the kitchen, grab her dish off the counter, move to her eating spot in the kitchen and put the dish down – she lets go of the tug!!

I put her dish back on the counter and point to the doormat again. She sits on the doormat.

Attempt #2: Luna sits on the doormat. I slap the tug on the ground while saying “Geddit!” Luna screams at me (“Lemme get the food mommy!”) and pounces on the tug, again engaging in a good strong game of tug. I tug her into the kitchen, grab her dish off the counter, move to her eating spot in the kitchen and put the dish down. Luna keeps on tugging! I say “Out!” and she drops the toy and looks at me expectantly. “OK!” and Luna dives for her food.

EEE-hah!

New crate

I ordered a crate for Susan Garrett's Crate Games. I used to have one years ago, but because I still live with my parents who HATE the crate, I no longer had one. Then I learned about Susan Ailsby's reasons for crates, the Crate behaviour in the Levels, and then Susan Garrett's Crate Games. Combine that with knowing that Luna loves to sleep in a den-like place, and I really wanted to have a crate again!

It arrived today, I assembled it, put a nice thick pad in it, tossed Luna's rawhide sticks in there and asked her to check it out. The first time, she went in, then came out again. Kind of like; 'Oh look, a crate. Whatever.' The second time she went in, laid down and went right to sleep. Whoohoo!

Here she is in her new den, her ears pricked because I'm taking the picture;

The only downside for now; it will have to stay in my bedroom at all times. Ah well... There's just enough room to play Crate Games. ;-)

Susan Garrett's Recallers Course 2.0

Random cuteness; Luna at 3 months, her first time in the park. "You're my mommy, I'll stick right with you!"

Plan to do our first 5-minute session tonight, we'll work on 3 of the games that Susan considers Critical Core games.

Problem; I don't have a crate anymore. Would love to have one, but nowhere to put it at the moment. So, I'm thinking of doing Susan's Crate Games with a specific mat. My criteria would be that Luna's front paws must be within the confines of the mat at all times, and instead of touching the crate door as a cue to Sit, I'd touch the mat with my right foot and that would be the cue to Sit. That's my plan for now. Hope to work it tomorrow, and I'll report on how it went!

I've also just made a list of reinforcers for Luna, rated in order of value and separated into three categories; food, toys and activities. Interesting! If I'm even half right with my assessment of value, and I'll admit I'm not 100% sure, Luna has LOTS of high value rewards. Cool! I'm sure that's the product of nearly 6 years of working together, but still. A nice surprise!

Off to go train!