Day 2: I'm learning

Today I learned that Chopper doesn't start off at the exact point he left off the day before.  We ended yesterday with a nice bonding moment, Chopper had gained some confidence and was approaching us. He had learned the cue for "outside" and willingly went in an out of the house without cowering.  This morning when I woke up I think perhaps he forgot all that stuff LOL.  He shook and trembled from his blanket when I came into the room. I had to leash him to get him to go outside with me again (he feels very safe on his leash).  And he was too nervous to eat.  After some time he ate a little of his food and then stopped. So I picked up his bowl.  Then he looked interested again, so I held it for him and he ate. Then stopped.  Finally, I figured out that putting it on his blanket was the safest bet of all:

He does love that blanket.

I wanted to resume clicker training after work, and that also didn't start off where it left off.  Yesterday I had him following me a bit at a time.  Today I had to start at the beginning. 

Step 1: find a really smelly cheese and break it into tiny pieces
Step 2: drop a piece on the floor in front of him and leave the room
Step 3: watch for when he tries it and realizes "holy moly that's good"
Step 4: sit on the floor next to him facing away and hold out a piece of cheese.  Click as he takes it.  Repeat a lot.
Step 5: keep repeating Step 4 but make him reach further for the cheese.  Repeat a lot.
Step 6: hold out cheese hand and when he goes to it click, but treat from the other hand. Repeat a lot.
Step 7: at this point he's hooked, start taking a step back, hold out no-longer treat hand for him to touch with nose saying "Come here Chopper". Click and treat from other hand.  Repeat until he's had enough.  Don't forget to treat Kolohe as she's sitting like a dutiful little soldier paying rapt attention.

Notice how he's touching my right hand? Yep, he's a good boy.  After this session he built up confidence and started to peak into the next room of the house.  Then he picked up a toy and started mouthing it.  Then he went into the next room and picked up a second toy and brought it back to his blanket to play with.  And Kolohe didn't even try to steal it back.

And as I'm writing this blog he just moved from his safe blanket and into the unknown living room!  Had to get a shot as Greg jumped up to click and treat :). 

So I'm learning about pacing, and what to expect.  He is teaching me, who knew?