If it seems that I have been absent for a while, since my last report, you are right. I came really close to bowing out. Samson and I ventured into public for the first time a week ago. It was a disaster...No focus. I couldn't find enough motivation in the world to get him to give me the time of day. The rest of the world was all he wanted, and I was not a part of it. I'd put a treat in front of him and he'd turn his head. I tried a toy...Same thing! If I could, after repeated cues, get him to sit, he sat with his back to me. I went home from PetSmart at an all time low. He was all about every dog at PetSmart and everyone else...Everyone else but me! I took him to Dog Scouts on Saturday and it was worse...Should I have expected anything else? If I could not keep him motivated and focused, all would be lost.
I tried a new tactic. I deprived him of ME. For next 48 hours we didn't work. He was in his crate, or in the yard for a potty break, then back in the crate. Monday night, I got him out and was all business. Any attention he got, he earned. He did great...but that was around my house and in the front acre. The test came today. We were back at PetSmart. He didn't quite get an "A", but he easily got a "B" and he fun doing it. We trained for 45 minutes. There were dogs, kids, people squeaking toys, employees on the floor restocking...you name it. He maintained a down for 4 minutes with an 8 year old squeaking a toy 10 feet away. His sit maintains were strong and focused. I had to repeat a cue or two, but for the most part...He did really well. He was back to the "adoptable" dog I'd grown to love. And to think, I came SOOOO close to pulling the plug this week. We have a saying in Search and Rescue..."Trust your dog, Stupid". If the shoe fits...