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.
I need to go check out those videos but using the horse seems like a great idea!
I find, in general, that the hardest part of dog training in the real world is the unpredictability of other dogs and other people. I’m working hard with R on being calm as people approach us but so many people insist on hurrying straight over to see him while emitting exciting high pitched exclamations that it’s almost hopeless.
Well, R always has garnered much attention since he was a tiny boy. I remember very well people practically shoving their way past Lilly at class on Pearl Street so that they could fuss on R.
He is so cute, and he has such enthusiasm.
Awesome Roxanne! A perfect situation to use BAT. I’ve tried using it, but like you said, the real world is so unpredictable. I think it works best with situations you can set up–which the horse provided.
Good for you and Lilly!
It sounds like you did everything just right. And I agree, before Irith put together the calming signals video, I was pretty clueless about what to look for and how it works in the real world, even though it was explained to me by Crystal, our trainer, in the midst of a BAT session.