Kimma has manners?

Yes, that's right!  My little wild child has manners!  She was able to get her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) last weekend.

I, of course, was a nervous wreck.  She could have done a lot of stuff better (her "Out For a Walk" was a bit iffy), but I totally blame it on my nerves.  I was definitely overcompensating and spewing out random commands/kissy noises for no reason...  Ah well!  At least it's done, and I get a cool certificate to hang up somewhere!

As for the agility stuff, we have begun having her on a long string.  It's not like an actual lead, but just a thin, nylon string attached to her collar.  I think that it has really helped us the past few weeks.  Mostly because I know that if she does decide to go run off on her own, I can stop her.

So we have been treating after every obstacle, doing a lot of single jumps, releasing waits from different angles, etc.  All of which is helping.  Plus, I've been rewarding every little positive thing that she does.  Part of her issues probably stemmed from my lack of proofing and fading rewards too quickly.

Another thing that has really picked up is her weave training.  She is now doing 6 weaves outside, FAST.  It's awesome.  Since she still refuses to work for toys, I decided to try putting a bunch of goodies inside of an old treat pouch and throwing that instead.  You'd better believe that when that pouch comes out, she gets excited!  So she gets a mini-meal after doing a set of weaves.  It's building drive, and helping her not to look at me at the end.  We also started adding a jump at the beginning, and continue to work our entries.

Here's a quick video from last weekend (the same day she got her CGC!):

My camera cut out the first weave pole, so you can't see it, but she actually does have a correct entry.

Susan Garrett's Crate Games has also been a big part of life lately.  Well, I guess I should say that attempting to implement Crate Games has been a big part of life...  So far, we have been doing it about 3-4 times a week, hoping that it can help with impulse control and drive, and also make her feel a bit better about the time she spends in her crate.  I wish I knew about this method sooner!

Interestingly enough, the past couple of weeks have been HORRIBLE for Kimma's crate-hatred.  She barks like CRAZY if we are in the room and she is in the crate (say, if I'm doing dishes, cleaning, practicing, stuff where she can't be out anyway), and this causes her to therefore be awake, and she will sometimes pee.   Of course, she gets taken out then (I can either see her doing it if the blanket isn't down, or I hear it or hear her licking it, which is gross), defeating the purpose.  She's been through every crate training method imaginable, but she will not calm down in there unless she is SUPER tired.  It has been frustrating for everyone involved, including Pentti who is probably sick of her voice by now.

I have been diligent with putting the sheet down every time she barks, and lifting it after she's been quiet.  That, and the continuation of Crate Games has been helping.  I think.  Well she's in there now and she's quiet, so that's progress, right?

...Right?????