Just had an awesome session with Rocky & tarps! I will spread hay on the track with a tarp like ikea bag, he HATES it. He wont go near it & seems afraid even if I walk by him with it.
So I decided to see if I could get him accustomed to tarps in general, I grabbed a little tarp that isn't as light duty as a normal tarp, so it doesn't make AS much noise.
I had thrown the tarp on the ground while I was deciding which donk to train first, Daisy went to the tarp right away, Rock was about 20' away, Daisy quickly goes over and stomps the tarp, which scares rocky.
I did a quick sesh with Daisy (more on that later) then I brought Rocky in. I had him haltered but decided to let him work at liberty. I spread the tarp out & stepped back. Rocky went over and sniffed it, C/T. He did that a few times and got reinforced. Then I stopped clicking, lol, waiting for more! He quickly offered pawing it, the first time he kinda scared himself, but my timing was awesome and I got it right when he made contact.
He pawed it a few more times & got reinforced, then I decided he would only get reinforced for placing the foot on it ( not beating it to death!). He quickly figured that out. Then he offered TWO feet! After he had the two fronts on, I kinda suggested to him to put the backs on, I have a little hand signal that means 'come here', I was standing on the opposite side of the tarp & gave him the signal. He was a little unsure about putting his backs on, but he quickly got it. I was sooooo proud!
After that I picked the tarp up & held it up real high, so the entire length of the tarp was exposed. He touched it pretty quickly. I kept doing this, making the tarp into different shapes. I then balled the tarp up, making it as small as possible, had him touch it, then I touched his neck with it, c/t. I made it a bit bigger, had him touch it with his nose, then touched his neck with it. I did both sides, starting from the beginning (aka tarp balled up real small) then got to the point where the tarp was folded in quarters. By the end I was able to flop the tarp on his neck/shoulder area. Reinforcing him for standing still.
Before i quick I worked on manners, he has a tendency to get a little grabby if he thinks he might get a treat - even with no click. He got that right away too! It only took two times of me ignoring his grabbiness, and waiting til his head was in position. I ended his session by having him walk over the tarp one last time with extra praises at the end.
Daisy did a review, I asked her for a go forward cue & she remembered right away. I worked on getting her past two steps lol. She still wants to offer just two, then stop & wait. I also did backing & moving her hindquarters. She did great! I also worked on her hatred of having her sides groomed, I did petting since i did not have a brush with me. First the criteria was to stand quietly while I petted her sides, then it was to have a 'smile' (putting her ears forward). She seemed like she was starting to get it!
So I decided to see if I could get him accustomed to tarps in general, I grabbed a little tarp that isn't as light duty as a normal tarp, so it doesn't make AS much noise.
I had thrown the tarp on the ground while I was deciding which donk to train first, Daisy went to the tarp right away, Rock was about 20' away, Daisy quickly goes over and stomps the tarp, which scares rocky.
I did a quick sesh with Daisy (more on that later) then I brought Rocky in. I had him haltered but decided to let him work at liberty. I spread the tarp out & stepped back. Rocky went over and sniffed it, C/T. He did that a few times and got reinforced. Then I stopped clicking, lol, waiting for more! He quickly offered pawing it, the first time he kinda scared himself, but my timing was awesome and I got it right when he made contact.
He pawed it a few more times & got reinforced, then I decided he would only get reinforced for placing the foot on it ( not beating it to death!). He quickly figured that out. Then he offered TWO feet! After he had the two fronts on, I kinda suggested to him to put the backs on, I have a little hand signal that means 'come here', I was standing on the opposite side of the tarp & gave him the signal. He was a little unsure about putting his backs on, but he quickly got it. I was sooooo proud!
After that I picked the tarp up & held it up real high, so the entire length of the tarp was exposed. He touched it pretty quickly. I kept doing this, making the tarp into different shapes. I then balled the tarp up, making it as small as possible, had him touch it, then I touched his neck with it, c/t. I made it a bit bigger, had him touch it with his nose, then touched his neck with it. I did both sides, starting from the beginning (aka tarp balled up real small) then got to the point where the tarp was folded in quarters. By the end I was able to flop the tarp on his neck/shoulder area. Reinforcing him for standing still.
Before i quick I worked on manners, he has a tendency to get a little grabby if he thinks he might get a treat - even with no click. He got that right away too! It only took two times of me ignoring his grabbiness, and waiting til his head was in position. I ended his session by having him walk over the tarp one last time with extra praises at the end.
Daisy did a review, I asked her for a go forward cue & she remembered right away. I worked on getting her past two steps lol. She still wants to offer just two, then stop & wait. I also did backing & moving her hindquarters. She did great! I also worked on her hatred of having her sides groomed, I did petting since i did not have a brush with me. First the criteria was to stand quietly while I petted her sides, then it was to have a 'smile' (putting her ears forward). She seemed like she was starting to get it!
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