Weekly Dog Training Update: Aug 27

Because we’ve had less than zero luck trying to use BAT (behavior adjustment training) in the real world with dogs (because the ones we run into have their own issues), I tried doing a little BAT work with Lilly and this one black-and-white horse who loves to run out and follow us (along the fence line) on our walks.

His OMG-a-dog! response is very dog-like, for an equine friend, so I figured it might be a chance to at least play with BAT.

After working on a little BAT with our dog trainer (Gigi Moss) a few weeks ago, it helped a TON to see this BAT/calming signal video from Irith Bloom (The Sophisticated Dog) that Edie Jarolim at Will My Dog Hate Me posted last week.

Because my biggest question about BAT, as it applies to Lilly, is what exactly am I waiting to see from her before I give her the “functional reward” of moving away from what she sees/reacts to?

1-2-3 — Bat Girl

I only tried it a few times, but when the horse first ran up to us, Lilly did her usual 3-steps, then “do something” routine. So, I waited her out, and when she looked away from the horse, I said YES! and we walked away from the horse.

The second time, she turned her head MUCH faster, and again we walked away.

The third time, Lilly not only looked away, but she licked her lips (which is a nice calming signal).

I didn’t want to overdo it, so we went ahead on the rest of our walk, but it was nice to practice even a few BAT situations.