Category: Common Problems ¤
  Author: Dani Weinberg ¤
   Title: Sweetie's Counterconditioning (Using Fun Matches to your Advantage) ¤

Some of you may remember the work I was doing this summer 
counterconditioning ring fear in my 7 year old German Shepherd,
Sweetie.  We had our first session on August 24, at an out-of-town
match, and the second session on September 2 in a partial ring I had
set up in a local park.  The idea was to transform his feelings about
the obedience ring from "fearful place" to "joyous place."  With lots
of help from many of you, I worked at introducing variation into the
activities in the ring (i.e., *not* just doing an entire Open
routine), catching him *before* stress set in (as evidenced by the
position of his ears and tail, his easy movements, etc.), and
jackpotting *inside* the ring by running to different places in the
ring for Super Goodies that mysteriously appeared there.  I saw a lot
of progress in the second session, even though it was a week later
than the first.

Yesterday, we had our third session, and this was now almost 2 months
after the second session.  Rosemary Burtch was my treat dispenser and,
more importantly, support person.  This session took place at a local
fun match.  I had us entered in 4 classes (both Novice and both Open
classes), not exactly sure what I'd do but wanting lots of
opportunities to work on this.  We actually "showed" 3 times, under 3
different judges (though they did very little), for less than 5
minutes in each ring.  Here's what happened.

First time (in a ring set up for Novice):
We did a few close-up Fronts and Finishes just outside the ring and
then I rushed us into the center of the ring for a jackpot.  Then we
did just tiny bits of heeling and setting up in Heel position in
different places (as if to start the next exercise) - interrupting
frequently to rush off somewhere else in the ring where Rosemary had
placed the treat bag.  Sweetie's attitude was just beautiful!  At one
point, though, when we were close to the ring rope, he left me to
visit a dog  just outside the ring.  You may remember that leaving the
ring had been an avoidance behavior of his at trials (we were showing
in Utility).  I immediately turned around and walked away, partway
across the ring, and started loudly and verbally eating "his" Super
Goodies.  The P- worked, and he ran back to me almost immediately. 
(The judge was a little baffled!)  Then we did just a bit more and
left the ring on a high note.

Second time (in a ring set up for Open, with our new, lower jump
heights): This time we got a little flak from the judge who seemed to
take offense that we were going to do something other than an Open
routine in "her" ring.  I was a little rattled by that and it showed
in Sweetie's slightly lowered attitude level.  But he was still
working very nicely.  This time, we did a little longer heeling bits,
a retrieve over the high, a flat retrieve, and a DOR - and he
absolutely nailed them all!

Third time (in a different ring set up for Open):
Same procedure as before, but I decided this time to include a few
Utility exercises.  So we heeled into a Stand several times.  Then I
actually left him in a Signals Stand, went just a few feet away, and
immediately turned and released him with a jackpot of treats.  After a
few more little bits of heeling, we set up again for a Signals Stand. 
This time, I went all the way across the ring.  Rosemary reported the
following:  as I was leaving he started dropping into a down and then
corrected himself back into the stand.  When I turned around to face
him, he took 2 slow steps forward - and then planted himself.  I
paused for a couple of seconds and then released and jackpotted him. 
(You may remember that Signals was his downfall previously!)  I was
absolutely delighted that he was able to experience a little stress
and get past it himself.  We finished this ring experience by doing
Glove #2 - a favorite exercise for him (and his easiest glove).  

And I flew out of the ring!!!

The reaction of bystanders (other exhibitors) was interesting. 
Rosemary reported that she heard some grumbling and some "What's she
doing in there?" spoken critically.  (Of course, she did her best to
explain.)  And, as I said before, Judge #2 was definitely *not* happy
about all this.  That evening, a club member called me on some other
business and started the conversation by saying "I was wondering what
it was you were doing at the match today."  We had a very pleasant
conversation in which I explained, and he told me he had done "the
same thing" with his dog who had also been losing attitude in the ring
- "lots of fun and games in the ring."  It struck me how different
this is from what we do.  It's not specific or precise and not
grounded in theory, so I doubt that he had any idea what he was doing,
if or why it was working, etc.

Plans for the future.  
1)  I intend to carry the Super Goodies with me so that I can fade the
rushing from one place to another in the ring. 2)  In general, I want
to start fading all the extra cues I'm giving Sweetie - movement,
voice, etc. 3)  I will continue to mix up the order of things we do in
the ring, and I'll be working towards getting longer segments of
behavior. 4)  And I'm thinking of going back to training some "good
attitude" behaviors like a tail wag, ears up, etc., since I think that
I can prevent or, at least, diminish internal/mental stress by
reinforcing physical behaviors that are associated with relaxation and
comfort. 

I think what amazes me most (besides the fact that this really works!)
is the duration of the effect, even over a fairly long period of time.
 And admittedly, a large part of the success of all this is because of
my own improved "attitude."  I'm no longer feeling driven and
pressured to show, qualify, get the title, etc.  I think it might
happen, but I'm much more interested in learning how to have a happy
dog in the ring.  And the little Warrior Princess (Puppy Ruby) will
certainly benefit from all this!

Dani     


Dani Weinberg
Albuquerque, NM