I'd love to be sat here writing oh me and Star are having a marvellous summer, but that would be if we weren't currently living in monsoon season! The weather has just been weird, we go from boiling hot and humid to cold and windy in the space of a day and the rain has been unbelievable. It's so unpredictable, I literally went out to do some training with Star this evening and by the time I'd fed the sheep it was bucketing down and we had to dive into the field shelter. The other freaky thing about this year is the horse flies, they are monsters. I don't think I've seen such big ones. Star does a very nice little pivot around to show me where the offending fly has landed so I can swat it off. I've spent a fortune on fly sprays none of which seem to be much of a deterrent.
We're facing another training problem of treat supply. The local feed store had to send back the last batch as there was something wrong with them and haven't had any since, which has been weeks. Normally I pick up a couple of bucket loads at a time but we're running short and I can't find a suitable alternative apart from bits of carrot. Star has her hooves crossed they get some in soon as if you don't remember to use all the carrot it gets a bit messy in the treat bag.
When we have been training I've been working on changes of pace with her at my shoulder, the stay and come, and also chasing the tiger. Star is not a natural chaser, it's taken several sessions for her to become confident in what we're doing and start to pick up some pace when I move the lure along. Now she's got the hang of it I'm starting to flick it about a bit more although I've discovered it's not a windy day game as the unpredictability is a bit too much for her at the moment and she gets spooked.
The other thing with Star is when she came to me she had a fear of whips and sticks. Whips aren't something I use during training and if one has come out of the cupboard she starts to get very anxious. I managed to introduce her to a stick disguised as a target with a plastic bottle on the end and I've been using that stick to play chase the tiger. I'd like to be able to build up to moving and flicking stuff around her legs, so since she's comfortable with the stick now decided at the end of a session to gradually start to touch her with it. Even though I was going as slowly as I could I could still see Star getting really anxious and she was flinching before it even got to her. The thing with Star is she winds herself up a bit like a coiled spring so I did a couple of light touches on her shoulder and leg, told her how brilliant she was and headed back to get her jackpot. It had obviously been so tense that by the time she got into the corral she virtually took off the floor releasing all that pent up energy. Second session with it she was much better so I'll continue to take it gradually at whatever pace she's comfortable with.
Perhaps Star would like some ginger biscuits as treats. At least they won't go rotten in your reward bag but they may go a bit soft so she'll have to have the lot!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your icky weather. We'd been without rain for months but we're finally getting some. Thank goodness. Everything was dying and we were having fires break out. We needed this.
ReplyDeleteI hope it improves for you soon and I hope they get the treats in. It's so frustrating having to find something new.
It sounds like you're making good progress with the whip. You could try clicking before the whip gets close enough to make her flinch and then gradually get closer until you can touch her. I don't think it will take her long once she realizes it won't hurt her. She's really smart. :) Keep up the great work!
Good news is I've found an alternative treat which is actually far more economical than the other ones.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a great idea about clicking before the whip touches her, thanks! :)