I'll Probably be Kicked Out of Class -- The Project - Day 17

First, the good news.  My plan for Gimme to get better benefit from the class worked very well.  I had planned to prop the door open so I could work in the hallway, but the instructor objected.  As it turned out, the room we use has a door that adjoins to a small conference room, and the connecting door is right there in the alcove where I set up tonight.  So I propped that door open and Gimme and I spent much time in there.  I kept her in the car until all the dogs had settled down and stopped their barking and growling and such.  Then after she came in the only dog noise she had to contend with was the one that whined through the whole class (the owner has been training with this instructor [Mr. Dinosaur] for over a year, her dog knows almost nothing and is not a happy worker by any stretch of the imagination).

Gimme was able to do a lot of work in the conference room and was showing me some of her best stuff.  Then we'd come out into the alcove just off the main room and work.  Gimme got some peanut butter bones, but didn't need as much as before.  She was able to do some relaxation protocol.  And she was able to play tug with me, which she couldn't do last week.  At one point, we even took one turn heeling around the room "with" the class.  I hugged the wall where I could and was very careful not to get too close to the other dogs (mostly stressed out and handled by clueless people).  When they did fast heeling, we sought a corner and practiced one-step-sit heeling.  Gimme did pretty good.  Overall I was very pleased with how she did.

So, why am I gonna get kicked out of class?  Tonight was problem solving night. 

The instructor is, at best a dinosaur - and I'm only there to take advantage of the opportunity to train in that environment.  I wouldn't use his methods for anything.  I hate that I'm supporting him financially, but I need the environment and there is no place else to go. 

The instructor thinks because he no longer trains using the strict Koehler method that he's a gentle trainer.  He promotes himself as a reward-based trainer, but then on the first night of class said that a prong collar is the original "gentle leader".  He used his 15yo limping dog in a prong collar as the standard to which the class should aspire.  He taught the class how to do a "motivational leash pop", again using his old dog to demo the technique (my heart breaks for poor old Eddie).  Of course, the instructor is completely clueless about how stressed his dog is and makes excuses for his dog aggression problem. 

I've told him before that I thought a "motivational leash pop" makes about as much sense as a "motivational face slap" --- "here, let me demonstrate".  But it doesn't sink in.  He's so far behind the times it would be funny if he wasn't screwing up the relationship between so many people and their poor innocent dogs.  He's been teaching for the City of Olympia parks and recreation for 20 years and hasn't changed a thing.  I keep hoping he'll retire...

I managed to stay silent through all the stupid advice he gave out.  Even though some of it gives the owners a 50-50 chance of getting bitten.  Even though one very young GSD who came to class just out of control, is now coming on a prong collar (upon Mr. Dinosaur's advice), is still out of control, dragging the owner and is now exhibiting the beginnings of aggressive behavior.  I have to admit I almost lost it when he told the woman with the 5 month old miniature poodle, that nips her children when they try to pick it up that, "You should get rid of him and get another dog.  That's inappropriate behavior for a poodle and can never be tolerated.  I'm serious, you should get rid of him."  The kids that are trying to pick the dog up are 5 and 6, so you can imagine the picture of what being "picked up" is like for the dog.

Anyway, I hung around a bit longer after class than I needed to and gave the poodle owner one of Ursula's business cards and suggested she contact her.  Unfortunately the owner of the whiny dog saw me talking to her and will likely report back to Mr. Dinosaur.  I know that's a fo-paw to refer his students to other people, but I'm willing to take my licks.    Actually he probably won't even say anything to me, since he's been enamored of me for years.  I think I could kill someone in class, leave a dead body laying in a pool of blood in the middle of the room and provided I cleaned up the mess at the end of class, he wouldn't say anything.  Honestly I'm not going to test that theory...  <eg>

We walked on the fort today, which Gimme thoroughly enjoyed, not having gotten any walks over the weekend.  Since we got to class earlier than necessary, we took a short walk on the boardwalk before class.

Peach - head under a chair
Gimme still didnt' think the cue for this behavior applied to my white plastic chair.  So we shaped it over again and went through the drill of putting it on cue again.  Then I switched to another chair and started over.  It went a little faster this time, but I realize in hindsight that I didn't go through the drill of putting that chair on cue.  Also I think the session may have lasted too long, because she was acting confused when I tried mixing in other behaviors.  I do know that I sometimes push forward too fast.  So will drop back a bit next time I work this.  Take my time if shaping is needed and re-attach cues to each of them. 

Its good that I get to re-learn this stuff on behaviors where it doesn't matter.

Apple - back into a box, back feet only
Orange - get onto a small perch with all four feet
Grape - dead bug (on back, feet in the air)
Melon - push cube with nose
Not trained today.