one thing at a time - really really - only one thing at a time

 

I am guilty – woman-can-multitask label that I have worn as a 'compliment' too often.  It does not work!!!  Especially when I project my stuff onto animals while trying to communicate with them.  Not only am I guilty of multi-tasking, I have another confession.  I communicate with humans by expecting them to read my mind. Those that are still around in friendship with me have become really good at reading me and making up what they think I mean.

 

Animal behaviour management is a fun game in self reflection. It has taught me to STOP!  And focus – and see one thing at a time.  Sometimes...

 

It has taken years for me to learn to break behaviours into simple understandable steps. You may think this is fundamental. I would like to challenge you to reconsider. 

 

I learned from some really good people last week. While watching I realised that an animal's attitude to a behaviour is a part of the learning process. At some level I knew this, but I had never considered attitude to be a part of the behaviour I am training.  It is a fundamental thing we need to reinforce separately from the next step we want to focus upon.  It is also the step we need to go back to if the training starts to regress.  It is the first and most important step – because it tells us about confidence, motivation and joy that the animal is experiencing.

 

 

So, I am playing  a clicker game with princess dog Sage. I am so wrapped up in working to get her to turn around to cue that I don't  notice she is becoming distracted – for whatever reason.  Next thing I am frustrated that she is not learning quickly enough.  Until I stop.  See her focus has slid – perhaps for confidence, or she is not having enough fun – and I realise that attitude is primary. 

 

We all know how it feels to be chatting to someone who is not present – busying themselves with a cell phone app or more interested in what they are saying rather than listening to and hearing our concerns.   For an animal - Princess Sage -not only is this rude of me, it is actually punishment.

 

Boom!  Back to basics – back to the reason I work with animals – back to relationship coming first, and tricks etc coming from relationship.  Back to the game.  The enthusiasm.  The telepathic joy between two beings.

If I really love Sage I need to show her the respect she deserves.