I'm not going to lie. Parker had me really nervous this week. I've spoken with several different trainers who, like therapists, all had a different perspective and way of handling Parker. I like to think that Nick and I are intelligent and well trained people and we have been listening closely and learning from each person we come in contact with. We generally ascribe to a more behavioral approach to things and that is the main angle that we are using with Parker. Positive reinforcement, rewarding the behavior we want and attempting to ignore behavior we don't want are some strategies we are using. I've learned from working with people with Autism that no 2 people respond the same way to a given behavior plan. What works for one will not necessarily work for another. So we're taking an individualized approached and really working hard to study Parker and use what will work best in his individual case.
We've started controlling his food intake. I struggled with this initially, but after talking with Ed in Frenchtown NJ on Wednesday and processing through it with Nick, we've developed our own plan with Parker. Ed made it quite clear that Parker is too comfortable and full and therefore won't work as easily. Which was totally true after thinking it through. He's turned down hot dog, chicken liver, and hearts on me. He recommended that Parker work for every single morsel of food that he eats to gain more control over him. (From a different perspective, this also reinforces that people are good and that good things come from people and to be nice to them : ) He suggested 1 meal a day with lots of training.... We're still feeding 2 meals, but they are much lighter. He works for at least 1/2 of his meal by doing things: crate up, sit, down, stay, look, come, touch, etc etc. 1 or 2 pieces of kibble at a time. Then he usually gets a 1/4 of his meal in his bowl with the last 1/4 used while we're walking. Although this morning he got 1/2 and 1/2 with some on the walk as well. His heel and looks are coming along out and about now.
One of Sarah's recommendations was using NILIF (Nothing in life is free.) The main premise behind this is that the dog is expected to do something before he gets what he wants. If he wants to be petted, I asked him to sit or touch (I really like that fun one). If he wants to go out, he sits or waits before he's given the ok to go through the door way. Fortunately he was asked to do something to get something about 85% of the time anyways. Now we've just upped it to 100%. He loves to "touch" my hands and just like Sarah said, I can get him moving around without touching him : )
He works so much better being slightly more hungry. He's more motivated and actually better behaved overall. He has filled out so nicely and his coat is so beautiful that I don't feel badly about leaving him a tad on the hungry side. He wants to please and I think he is enjoying his job of working hard. I do make sure the leash is on him when we're working so if I need him to come or "crate up" I can help him following through. Generally, he doesn't need any help.
We had company over last night and I was nervous. Much to my surprise, Parker was amazing. He had no major issues with Nate, who has a full face of hair. He actually seemed to PREFER him and sat by him at dinner and kept a close eye on him, not in a nervous way, but in a companion-like way. Then Christina and Ben joined us later and again, no issues and he seemed to really enjoy Ben's company. I kept the leash on him and had them drop or hand some treats to him. Everyone made him do something before they petted him and he listened like a pro.
Parker is a morning dog. There is no way around it. He konks out on his bed in the living room (even last night with 5 of us playing games and laughing and being loud) around 9:30, 10ish at night. He's slightly grumpy at night in the way that he just wants to sleep and be left alone. But man, 5:30 am comes around and that dog is ready to bounce of the walls! He is so happy and happy and happy that it's morning time! It's a new day and he is ready to seize it with a walk and food and love and all the great things that a dog enjoys.
Ok so this is long winded and probably boring, but I enjoy it.
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