02/01/2024
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Happy 2024 guys! One of my personal resolutions for this year is to share a lot more of our training and my thoughts. So, here comes a wrap-up post on what Project Good Dog (aka Miška and Smejko) has been up to in the past year!
2023 was all about embracing a flow-y rhythm in our training journey. We ditched the last attempts to follow linear paths and day-to-day plans which can sometimes overlook feelings and feedback. Instead, we adventured loads and pushed some boundaries in a thoughtful, but a lot more playful and flexible way. We loved the process, too. It seems that letting go of neat training plans and protocols was a good choice for the time being - Smejo is entering 2024 more confident, more level-headed and less anxious, I am a better (also a bit more level-headed?) handler, and together we are a better team.
Rather that sticking to just one strategy, we roughly alternated between two main approaches to easing Smejo's anxiety and reactivity - emotion change and emotion suppression. There was no grand plan to this, but it worked a treat.
Changing the emotion is The Big Goal to achieve, but it is bloody difficult to do well. The aim is to help the dog FEEL better about a trigger (usually by pairing it with something pleasurable), so that they can act better. Suppression of emotions on the the other hand is all about the ability to ignore external and internal distractions, THINK clearer, and as a result act better. It is usually built from basic obedience by progressively increasing pressure as well as motivation, a great relationship being a non-negotiable pre requisite. Suppression has a bad reputation because it supposedly only addresses the symptom, and not the cause of the problem. But do a bit of both, guided by the dog's responses, and the two approaches complement each other - suppression opens up a new window of opportunity to change emotions, and vice versa.
I was also trying to carefully undo some of Smejko dependence on my guidance (and lets face it, my urge to keep him close!) which I have been so meticulously building for the last two years. There has been more free time, opportunities to make his own choices and plenty of confidence building. We will be building up on this work in bit more structured manner this year, following the Braveheart book by Alex Lato.
We also experimented with "doggy mindfulness" - conditioned relaxation, Jo-rosie's dog yoga and body awareness exercises. We ended up practicing the bits and pieces I can confidently teach and Smejo enjoys. It is amazing to see how this training can steady Smejo's mind and open up a new channel for communication between us. It also thoroughly challenges me as a trainer. I never thought I would be trying to put facial expressions on a cue!
Last January, we joined a canicross club. To be honest, I was slacking it from July onwards, but it has been a game changer in giving Smejo an opportunity to be a in a group of dogs. In Summer we also started a new dog sport NOCA Dog Sport with our one and only Jordan Swankie! It pushed us to revisit obedience basics and nosework. We gave nosework a go shortly after Smejo joined our family, but it was not the right time. Back then, I just sucked at creating any clarity for him, and Smejo had no mindspace for it due to the emotional mess he has been in. But now? Oh boy 🙂
Another big theme in 2023 was silent and tactile communication between Smejko and I. It started with revisiting and cleaning up our lead communication thanks to Chad Mackin’s fabulous workshop. Who knew there was soo much more to long line work! Well, I didnt, but sure as hell am I glad I know now. Next I would like us to take this further by teaching tactile commands. The work on silent communication also continues with increased awareness of the body language "chat" between humans and dogs, but I have so much more to learn on this front.
We met so many amazing people and dogs on the way, and built beautiful connections.
And the best thing about 2023 for me? We were repeatedly complimented for the relationship Smejdy-boy and I have. ❤️
Bring on 2024, we are ready for ya!
