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Session #1 - around noon
Again I called once before going out, and again Little Man was waiting close to the fence for me. I was holding the spray bottle, so he wouldn't come up to me, but when I sprayed the rag and set the bottle down, he let me walk up to him. I wiped his face, neck, and chest, and he was fine. I had to talk to him a bit in order to get his shoulders, back, and sides, but we did it together! When I was stroking the rag along his withers and down his side, his head was bobbing up and down. I'm not sure what that meant, but at least he didn't run off.
We worked with the rope very briefly. I had him target it, then I rubbed it on his neck and up by his ears. I'm just going to keep doing that until he doesn't pay much attention to it any more, then I'l move on to doing something else with it.
Before I left, I kissed his nose, and laid my cheek against his. He was very still, and let me!
Session #2 - around 7:00 p.m.
I called Little Man before I went out, and by the time I tended the birds he was waiting in the pen for me. As I walked towards the gate he walked over to meet me. I wiped him down, as usual. He was much steadier when I wiped his back and sides. I can't get too far back, but I am so pleased that I can get any of his back and sides!
Then we "played" with the rope. I rubbed his neck and behind his ears with it, then I draped it over his crest, clicked, pulled it off, and treated. Then I left it there, and as soon as I treated him I started barely moving the rope, clicked and treated again. I did this several times, and when he started getting antsy I clicked and pulled it off before treating. Then I slipped the loop over his muzzle, clicked, pulled it off, and treated. Then I left the loop on and repeated the above procedure.
Unfortunately, he turned and started pulling away. I wasn't able to get the loop off, and didn't want to pull, so as he turned completely away from me and started walking off I just dropped the end of the rope. The loop fell off his muzzle, and he stopped and nuzzled it a bit. I left it on the ground, and started talking to him.
Then I moved back a bit so he had plenty of space, and as I talked to him he turned around and came over to me.
I petted him a bit, rubbed his ears, and put my face to his. Then I went over and got the rope, slipped the loop over his muzzle one more time, clicked and treated. He followed me to the gate, and we stood there almost ten minutes. I petted him, and when I would stop he would push his muzzle out to me. When I was scratching behind his ears he was lipping my sleeve.
Again, I never worry that he will bite me, so I'm guessing that was his way of saying "You scratch my ears, I'll scratch your arm!" Or something to that effect.
Session #1 - around 9:30 a.m.
I stuck my head out the door and called Little Man once before I started getting my things together, to give him time to come up. Then I fed the rabbit, and when I looked up he was standing not too far from the fence, waiting for me. I gave him fresh water, then walked out to him. I sprayed the rag, set the bottle down, and walked to him. He had flies on him, and I think he is understanding that the wipe helps them go away.
I wiped his face, neck, chest, shoulders, and even part of his back and sides! I had to click pretty often when I was wiping his sides, but he let me. He was very calm, probably because I didn't take the hula hoop out. He wouldn't let me wipe his left ear, though.
When I was done, I put the rag on the bottle and walked back to him. I petted him for a few minutes. He let me gently rub his left ear, and rub behind both ears. He even lifted his muzzle to my face! I kissed his nose, and laid my face against his. He stood very still, and when I moved my head away he lifted his muzzle again.
Session #2 - around 7:30 p.m.
AGain, I called Little Man once before I got my things. When I looked up from tending the birds and rabbit, he was standing at the gate waiting for me! We went through our usual routine of wiping marigold spray on his face, neck, and chest. He was pretty steady while I wiped his shoulders, but did some backing when I moved towards his back and sides. I talked to him and went slowly, and was able to get wipe part way down his back and on his sides! He still wouldn't let me wipe his left ear, though.
I put the rag down and got the halter. He targeted it, then I slipped it over his muzzle. I rubbed it on his neck and up close to his ears. I slipped it over his muzzle, and held the end up on the left side of his face. He did fine with that, but started to pull his head back when I tried to move the halter up the right side of his face. All in good time; he's getting there!
I wiped him a bit more. Then I showed him how the sprayer worked, clicking when the liquid spurted out. He watched it a couple of times, but when I held it close to him he sidestepped. He is really good at sidestepping! He moved a couple of yards! I put the bottle down, and spent some time just petting him. I rubbed his forehead and ears, and he kept lifting his muzzle up towards my face and working his lips. I was able to rest my forehead against his, and my cheek against the side of his face.
While I was petting him, my husband walked out. Little Man started to back up, but I put my hand on his neck and said, "Whoooa". I had my husband hold out his fist, and Little Man targeted it. After three times, my husband reached up and rubbed Little Man's forehead then left. I petted him a little more, then left. He followed me up to the gate, and I stroked his face then laid my hand on his muzzle.
Session #1 - around noon
I called Little Man one time before I went out; I stuck my head out the sunroom door. Then I got all my gear and went out. I tended to the rabbit and birds first, and when I looked up from petting the rooster, there was Little Man standing at the fence watching me. When I finished with the other animals I went out, and Little Man walked into the pen. I took the marigold spray, the halter, and the hula hoop, and he walked into the "L" portion of the pen when he saw that!
I hung the hoop on a T-post, and went in the pen. I hung the halter on the fence, and set down the bottle and rag. He came back into the other part of the pen, and I went up and petted him. I sprayed the rag and wiped his face. He was a little shy of it still, but he did allow me to wipe him. I wiped his neck and chest, but he backed up almost constantly while I was wiping his shoulders and sides. He was nervous enough I didn't press it too much, but I did try to get as much spray on him as I could; when I went out he had flies and mosquitoes all over him. The spray chased them away from his front, though!
Then I showed him the hula hoop and asked him to touch it. He looked at me like I was crazy, then stared at the hoop. I asked him again, and stood holding the hoop. He slowly stepped up to it and stretched his head out to touch it. He warmed up to it pretty quickly. I held it to the side, down low, up high above eye level.
Then I held it vertically beside his head and asked him to touch it. When he moved his head, he touched it with the side of his face. I held it up so that when he raised his head his forehead touched it. He did very well, and I was pleased that he took to it so quickly. He doesn't love it, but he didn't really shy away.
Then I just petted him for a couple of minutes. He is not letting me really rub his ears now, but he will let me rub behind them. I moved my hand to cup his ears a couple of times, and he got cookies and peppermint treats for that. I kissed his nose and petted him. As I continued to pet him, he was lifting his muzzle up towards my face. I'm wondering if he wanted me to kiss his nose again.
Session #2 -
Little Man was slow to come to me tonight, probably because I took a hoop out. I grabbed a different one, which was bigger and had something inside it that made it rattle. It wasn't the best choice, but I didn't realize it rattled until I was out there. I hung it on the t-post at the pen gate, then went in the pen to pull weeds for the goats. Little Man stopped outside the gate and sniffed the hoop, then backed off a couple of feet and did not come in. So I went out to him.
I wiped him with marigold spray, and he was still shy of having his ears wiped. He was better about letting me wipe his shoulders, but I could only do a few inches behind his shoulders. He kept backing up.
I let him target the hoop, which he did just fine. But when I moved it to his left side, it rattled and he spooked. He ran off several yards, and would not come back. I did walk towards him and ask him to target it, but he just stood there and looked at it suspiciously. I hung it back on the t-post, and walked out to pet him. He let me, but tossed his head and backed up.
I let him target the halter a few times, and also the swinging rope. Then I put it all up and just petted him for a minute. He let me rub behind his ears, but wouldn't let me stroke his ears. I did kiss him on the nose, and talk to him a little bit. Then I left him to graze.
Session #1 - a little after 10:00 a.m.
Little Man was out in the pen, and he and the neighbor's goat were standing next to each other at the fence. He stayed where he was when I went out, so I walked into the pen. He still eyes the spray bottle with suspicion, so I stopped a couple of yards from him, sprayed the rag, and set the bottle down. I wiped his face and neck, then his chest, shoulders, and even his withers and side, right behind his shoulder.
I noticed yesterday, and this morning as well, that when I stroke the rag from his withers down his side, he lifts his head and puts his muzzle close to my shoulder, then works his lips. Hopefully he is telling me that he likes it. He gets very nervous if I get too close to his belly, so I stopped short of that. He was very insistent that I not wipe his ears this morning. But I wanted to get a little solution on them, so I moved pretty quickly from his forehead and did manage to wipe the outside of each ear at least once. I made sure he got a cookie for that.
Then I took the rope and rubbed his neck with it. I looped it over his muzzle, and he stood still while I held it there. He is still very shy about having it up around his eyes and ears. So I decided to use it as a scratcher. I coiled it up and held it in the middle, then I proceeded to use it to scratch behind his ears. He began to calm down, because it obviously felt good. I also rubbed it up on his forehead, below his forelock.
Then I decided to see if he would tolerate the rope over his crest, so I took the single end and draped it over, then rubbed with it. I clicked, pulled it off, and treated. I did it a couple more time, but the third time he really pie eyed, then snorted, turned and ran out of the pen. I guess the pressure was just too much. Or the rope might have pulled his mane a bit. He did not attempt to kick, which is really great! He stopped outside the pen, and I talked to him and walked towards him.
I stopped just at the gate, and held out the rope and asked him to touch it. He hesitated, then walked over and stretched out his neck and touched it. I petted him, then stroked his neck with the rope. Then I gently used it to scratch behind each ear. I finished by looping it over his muzzle one more time.
Then I dropped the rope and petted him a minute. This morning he was really pie eyeing and popping his head up when I moved my hand up to his poll and crest. So I moved to gently rubbing behind each ear. I gave him a large peppermint treat before I left. I was also able to put my face to his several times and kiss his nose.
We have come so far in less than two months! It is amazing that he will let me touch his sides and ears. And I believe he is learning that I am not going to hurt him. I know that one day he will realize that he does not need to be on the defensive when he is with me.
Session #2 - around 7:00 p.m.
Little Man was very jumpy tonight. It was thundering, and gulls were flying overhead, moving inland from the coast. He let me wipe him with marigold spray, but kept moving away when I tried to wipe his shoulders, back and sides. I did finally manage it, but it took a lot of clicking and treating. He did let me lift his muzzle and kiss his nose, though.
I took the halter and lead out, and he targeted it, but was jumpy and suspicious when I tried to stroke him with it or slip it over his muzzle.
Finally I just held it various places and had him target it. Then I had him walk a few feet and target it. Then I just petted him for a minute. I tried to rub his ears, but he kept moving his head and pie eyeing me. He did let me rub right behind them, so I did, and gave him a large peppermint treat.
Session #1 - around 2:00 p.m.
Little Man was fairly close to the fence, so I went out with my gear, including marigold spray and a rag, along with the catch-'em. I sprayed the rag, while he stood watching suspiciously, then walked over to him. I let him touch the rag, then I wiped his face and neck. I went back for more spray, and he did not follow me, but kept watching me. I tried to spray where he could see and hear it. Then I went back and wiped his shoulders and chest, and even managed to wipe his sides behind his shoulders. I even was able to wipe down by his belly, right behind his forelegs. He really quivered his skin, and started to move, so I didn't go any further.
He surprised me by turning his rump towards me several times. I thought perhaps he wanted me to continue wiping, as the spray was working and he had no flies where I had wiped. But I just don't trust him enough to get by those hindquarters. I know he would not kick aggressively. But I also know that he doesn't trust me completely either, and he could easily misinterpret any movement I make. If that happened, not only could I get kicked, but it could cause us to lose ground. So I did not attempt to wipe him any farther, though I did go over some of the same places again.
I held the rag and sprayer just a foot or so in front of him, and sprayed (downwind, of course) so he could see the liquid coming from the sprayer to the rag. Then I set the sprayer down and wiped him with the rag. I also had him target the bottle. He was very suspicious of it, and his targeting was accompanied by much snorting and backing up.
In the middle of all this I worked with the rope just a little. I had him target it, looped it over his muzzle, rubbed it on his neck up by his crest, touched his ears with it, and laid it over his face below his eyes.
I am hoping he will make the connection between the spray/wipe and the fact that there are no flies on him where he was wiped. I really think he understands. But he does not connect it with the spray actually touching him. I'll just save that for when he's ready.
I had the thought that if I tried wiping him over the gate, he might turn his side/rump to me again. Then I could attempt to wipe him with the gate between us. It might make him feel better; I know it would make ME feel better!
Before I left him I stroked his face, and lifted his muzzle up so I could kiss his nose a couple of times. I am still clicking when I do this, though not every time. He is becoming less shy about having my face right in his.
Session #2 - around 7:00 p.m.
Little Man wouldn't walk towards me, but kept grazing. I was holding the spray bottle and rag, and I think that may be why he wouldn't come.
So I walked towards him, stopped a couple of yards away, laid down the rope, and sprayed the rag. Then I walked up to him and asked him to target the rag. He still doesn't like the way it smells, but he targeted it and stood steady. I wiped his face and neck, shoulders and a little on his sides: the same places I was able to wipe this morning. He would not let me wipe his ears tonight, though. And he still did a lot of backing up through the whole thing.
We worked with the rope just a little. He targeted it, and I rubbed it on his face and neck, and looped it around his muzzle. I draped the end over his crest, clicked and pulled it off. After a few times of this I left it there after I clicked and while I was treating him. I was planning to reach under his neck for the end, but as soon as he took his treat he sidestepped away and out from under it. I coiled the rope and gently shook it, asking him to target it. After a brief pause, he walked over and touched it. I rubbed him with it a couple more times, then called it a night.
My daughter was out feeding her rabbit, so I gave her a cookie and told her she could go see if Little Man would take it from her. He wouldn't even take a step towards the fence, so I had her go put it in his bucket, which is hanging on the fence. I'm sure he'll eventually get over there to see what she put in the bucket.
Today was Little Man's day off, but I did go out with the clicker. I wanted to get some marigold spray on him, and didn't want to mess up the progress we have made by trying to do it without the clicker. He stood pretty well, though he tensed when I got to his withers and sides. I only wiped his sides just behind his shoulders. I tried to move the rag down to his leg, but he moved away at that. Once I gave him all his wormer, I stopped wiping and petted him for a minute.
I went out again around 6:00 p.m. or so. I just took a couple of peanut butter crackers with me. I petted him for a few minutes, then gave him a cracker. I asked him to walk with me, and he did. I petted him again and gave him the other cracker. He followed me back to the gate, and I petted him for another minute or so. I noticed that there were not many flies on his face and neck, so the marigold spray worked as far as flies go. However, there were mosquitoes all over him, so I'll have to find something else to repel them.
Session #1 - around 11:30 a.m.
Little Man was fairly close when I walked out, and walked away from me and into the pen. I followed him in. I had him target the bottle of marigold spray, then I walked a few yards away and sprayed the rag. He watched suspiciously. I set the bottle on the ground and walked back to him. I had him target the rag, then I wiped his face, neck, shoulders, even his withers and a little of his back and sides. He tensed, and I watched him carefully, making sure that I clicked and stopped before he "broke".
That's all we worked on this morning, but I was pleased to see the spray seemed to be working, and there were only a couple of insects on him.
Session #2 - around 7:00 p.m.
I took the spray and rag again, along with the catch-'em. I wiped him with the wet rag, then worked with the rope. I continued to stroke it on his face and neck, and up by his ears. He is fine when I loop it around his muzzle, but still uncomfortable when I raise it up towards his eyes and ears. He raises his head and backs away, but will eventually stop when I talk to him and hold the rope still.
I was able to drape the rope over his crest, though he was a bit antsy. I was even able to leave it on him while I treated him, then reach under his neck and grasp the end. I held it for a moment, shook it ever so slightly, clicked and released. I did it again, and tried holding it a little longer.
I waited too long to click, though, and he turned and sidestepped until he was out from under it. I know that it is not a good idea to let an animal pull away, because it teaches him to pull away, but I want him to feel comfortable and not trapped. I know that if we keep working, he will eventually want to stay with me, even with a rope on him. So, I tried again. Again, he pulled away because I didn't click soon enough. I realized I was just pushing too much, draped it over him again, clicked, pulled it off, and stopped that particular activity. I wanted to end with success, though.
I also worked a little bit with leading. He wasn't on the rope, but I held it out and walked away, asking him to follow. I continued walking, and we walked several yards, as I held out the rope and he followed it. I figure if we do this enough, he will be used to following the rope when we do finally come to terms with the rope around his neck or the halter on him.
Once while I was treating him, I was a bit careless and he was a bit quick, and I accidentally ended up with my fingers in his mouth. They bumped his teeth, I pulled my hand back, and he whirled, ran, and kicked a bit. I walked after him, talking to him, but he would not come back to me. I finally stopped a few yards away from him, held out the rope, and asked him to touch it. He just looked at me. I shook it and asked again. He slowly started walking towards it, stretching out his neck and barely bumping it with his muzzle. We worked our way up from there.
I was able to pet him, and stroke him, and rub him with the rope again. I noticed he was even more gentle than usual when he took the treats from my hand. I was able to put my face to his, and kiss him on the nose. He is seeming less uncomfortable with having my face in his.
Once I felt that we had had enough positive interaction to counteract the earlier goof, I petted him one last time and gave him a peppermint treat.
Session #1 - around 2:30 p.m.
I had a migraine last evening, all night, and most of this morning, so I went out late for our first session. Little Man was way out in the far corner of the pasture. Kong was not too far from him, as his current pasture butts up to ours on the other side. I walked out to see Little Man, and he came right up to me when I got out to the corner. I had sprayed the rag with marigold spray, so I wiped and clicked and got a little bit of repellant on his face and neck. I'm not sure how much it actually helped, as we have a pretty good breeze so the pests weren't that bad.
I continued working on touching the rope to his neck and face. He was steady as a rock when I looped it around his muzzle and held it there. He pie eyed and backed up when I put it above his eyes, but I said, "Whoooa", and he stilled. I touched it up around his ears; he is still pie eyeing it, but getting better.
While we were working, the neighbor's cows started mooing and "talking". When they came around the corner of the barn suddenly, Little Man spooked, whirling around and running off a ways. Kong had been standing at the fence watching us. The rancher came around the barn, holding out a treat for Kong. He put a rope on him, and then we talked for a couple of minutes. He said Kong doesn't like the cows, so he has to move him to a different pasture. Kong walked pretty well on the rope, but just as I finished telling the rancher how Kong and Little Man were friends, Little Man walked up to the fence and Kong lunged at him with his teeth bared! So much for friendship! Little Man tossed his head, and because a shrub was between us I couldn't tell if he gave ground or not.
I did find out that Kong doesn't have a name, so I told his "papa" what I call him. We talked a little more, then he took Kong to a different pasture, and I talked to Little Man to get his attention again. The cows were pretty close to the fence, and he watched them for a bit, then he decided to go ahead and get to work. We worked a few more minutes with the rope. I sneaked in a kiss on his nose and a touch of my forehead to his, with appropriate bonus treats. I want him to think of that one-on-one contact as something good.
When I left he followed me for a few steps, then went right back over to his corner and stood next to the fence. He lifted his head and brinnied for Kong, then Kong brayed back from his new pasture. It's interesting how they like each other's company, but didn't seem to get along at the fence.
Session #2 - around 6:30 p.m.
Little Man was way out back; in fact I couldn't even see where he was.
But I called him, and it wasn't long before I saw him walking up. He was covered with mosquitoes. I petted him, then told him to wait a minute. I ran back in and got the marigold spray. He looked suspiciously at the bottle, but targeted it when I asked him to. He targeted it several times, then I began touching it to his face, neck, and shoulders. Then I gave it a trial spray and clicked during the spray. He whirled and jumped away, and ran off several yards. He looked at me accusingly and refused to come get his treat. I set the bottle down by the gate and walked out to treat him. Then I went back and sprayed the rag. He let me wipe his face and neck, with my clicking and treating all the while. I was pleased to see that after I wiped him, there were few if any mosquitoes on his face and neck.
Then I went to the rope. I had him target it, then I touched it to his neck and up by his ears. He still shies and pie eyes me when it touches his ears, but he does steady when I talk to him and hold the rope still against his ears. He also shies when I move the rope up towards his eyes and forehead, but again he steadies when I talk to him and still the rope, then move it very slowly up a bit before clicking.
I did kiss his nose several times, clicking and treating. He did not shy away as he has before. It's funny to see him prick his ears when I put my face to his.
I finished up by rubbing his ears and talking to him, telling him what a good, smart boy he is. When I left, he stood like a statue, with his ears back but not flat, just watching me. I called his name, and he finally moved, dropping his head to graze.
I am pleased that when he does spook or move away, he comes back, or at least lets me approach him again. There was a time when he would shy away and then not let me near him again. All things in good time. We are progressing, and I am so thankful I was led to clicker training!
Session #1 - around 10:30 a.m.
Little Man was way out in t he back of the pasture when I went out. By the time I finished tending the rabbit and birds, he had walked almost up to the fence. I went out and met him. It has been raining for several days, and we have mosquitoes again. So I pulled out the washcloth (which I had not sprayed) and touched it to various parts of the front part of his body: head, ears, neck, chest, shoulder. This afternoon I will spray either marigold spray or lavender on it, and hopefully that will chase away some of those "skeeters".
A funny thing happened while we were working. I large insect was buzzing around my head. It wouldn't go away, and I finally backed away from Little Man so I wouldn't startle him. I was shaking my head and trying to get that insect away from me. Little Man pricked his ears forward and looked at me as though he couldn't figure out what in the world I was doing! It was really funny to see the expression on his face.
Today we worked on the same things as yesterday, mainly targeting a shaking, coiled rope and touching it to his neck and around his ears. He shied and pie eyed a bit as it contacted his ears, but when I stopped moving it and said, "Whoooa", he steadied, though he still kept an eye on it. I petted him for a few minutes. He turned with his tail to me. As he was turning, I was moving. I am wondering if perhaps he wanted me to scratch his rump, but I don't trust him enough to walk up behind him and try to touch him, especially when I reached towards his hips yesterday and he ran. I then walked a few yards and asked him to target the rope. He walked right up to it.
He followed me to the gate. I hung the rope on the gate and petted him and talked to him. He kept bumping the rope and lipping it. I think he wanted to "play" some more. But I just kept talking to him and petting him. He finally turned and started grazing.
I had to go out in the front and retrieve two chickens that had "escaped" from the back yard. Little Man had gone over to get a drink, and was now standing broadside to the fence. I walked out, talking to him. The ground is uneven, and I hit a hump with my foot. Just as I lurched, a chicken made an unusual noise. Little Man snorted, whirled, and ran off several yards. He then turned around and looked at me accusingly. Eventually he will get used to the fact that I am not graceful. I'm certainly giving him lots of opportunity to observe that fact!
Session #2 - around 7:00 p.m.
Little Man was towards the back of the pasture when I walked out. I had heard Kong braying earlier in the day, and noticed that he was in a pasture that is adjacent to the other end of our pasture. So I went out to call him. I don't know where he was, but he eventually came trotting up to the fence! I went out to say hello, and Little Man walked out to me. As I was trying to pet Kong without having his teeth connect with me, I felt a bump on my arm. Little Man was nudging me.
I walked away from the fence, but Little Man seemed content to stay with Kong. I did walk a few steps and hold out the rope and ask him to target it, and every time he would do so. I rubbed it on his neck a few times, as well. He didn't seem to be too focused on work, and turned away to graze after only a couple of minutes. So I told him goodbye, and left him to visit with Kong.
The mosquitoes were very bad, so I will need to remember to spray the rag tomorrow and take it out to wipe on Little Man.
Session #1 - around 11:30 a.m.
Little Man was not too far out when I went out. I talked to him, but he just looked at me. He pawed the ground, and I realized he was getting ready to roll. So he had a good roll while I visited with the nice neighbor's goat, then he walked over. He seemed to barely be favoring that left front leg; it was almost imperceptible. I petted him and rubbed his ears, then we started working.
I took the catch-'em out today, and had him target it. Instead of holding it still, I shook the coil and had him target it while it was moving. He has always been so spooky about getting bumped, even if I was petting him and accidentally barely bumped him with my fingertips. He did really well. I held it to the sides, down low, and above his eye level. I had him walk over to it and target it, too. He was less willing to touch it when it was low, but he did finally do it.
Then I took the coil and, still "shaking" it I touched it to his neck, up by his mane, on his crest, and right behind his ears. He backed up a couple of times, but steadied when I said "whooooa". Then I shook it VERY gently and moved it up his face to his forehead, and towards his forelock. He pie eyed me a little, but steadied and stood for it. We finished up with easy stuff. I had him walk a few steps and target the coiled catch-'em.
In between clicking and treating, I rubbed his forehead and ears, and told him what a good boy he is. I lifted his muzzle up and kissed him on the nose, and clicked when I did it. He pricked his ears forward as if he were really thinking about that! I did the same thing later when I touched my forehead to his, just before I left. I figure he might as well start looking at all contact with me as pleasurable.
He is really appearing to enjoy having his ears rubbed. And today he even held his head low while I rubbed his poll! I decided that I was simply moving too fast with the halter and ropes, so I am going to concentrate on just having fun and playing with them, and getting him used to having them touch him and move while doing it.
I am having so much fun working with him, and I feel that we are really getting to know each other.
Session #2 - around 6:30 p.m.
I am very pleased to see that Little Man was not favoring his left front leg!
This session was pretty much like this morning's. We worked on the same things. When I am shaking the coiled rope, it bumps him when he targets it. But he knows it is moving, and he is the one initiating the contact, so he does not spook when it bumps him. This evening he was lipping it, and I could almost see him smile! I did take it and shake it, and gently bump it against his neck and shoulders, and he did fine. I also touched it to his chest.
The neighboring rancher came walking out by his barn right as we were finished (I had just chained the gate, and we were standing at it while I petted Little Man), and Little Man suddenly was "on guard". His ears were pricked forward, he turned around with his rump near the gate, and stood watching. I wondered if he would allow me to reach out and touch his rump, so I talked to him (he could see me), and reached out my hand. He hesitated, and I could see the skin on his rump flinching, then he moved before my hand made contact. He didn't jump or spook; he just moved away a few steps.
My husband came out and we stood there a few minutes, watching Little Man observe. Then Little Man turned around, walked over to the gate, and let my husband rub his forehead. He tossed his head when my husband's hand went up between his ears, and he turned and walked off to take up another observation post.
Session #1 - a little after 10:00 a.m.
It stormed all morning, so I waited until it was lightning-free until I went out. Little Man was about a third of the way out in the pasture when I went out. He looked at me when I called him, then slowly walked over to me. I watched him carefully, but he did not seem to be favoring his leg this morning. I had only taken out the bucket with his wormer in it, so I didn't have my clicker or the rest of his treats. I mainly wanted to check out his leg.
I petted him, and he tossed his head a bit. I decided that since he seemed to want to work, I might as well give it a try. I rubbed between his ears and tried to click with my tongue. It was pretty pathetic, and he looked at me with an odd expression. But he was very quick to figure out that my poor attempts at tongue clicking meant the treat was forthcoming.
I just rubbed his head and around his ears, tongue clicking (or at least trying) and treating until the wormer was gone. He did move around a bit. I was amazed that he was not completely soaked. He must have been under the thick part of the trees, or else he dried off pretty quickly when it stopped raining. He doesn't tend to like to be touched much when he is wet, so I didn't worry too much about his moving around so much. He wasn't muddy, so he obviously hadn't rolled yet.
Then I petted him a little more, but he did some more head tossing. He was also taking his muzzle and bumping my hand and arm, even lifting his lips and showing his teeth some. He has never given me any indication that he bites, so I don't think that was it, but I'm not sure what he meant by it.
I'm not sure if he wanted me to stop petting him or start clicking and treating him, probably the latter. He followed me to the gate, and I petted him again for a minute. When I went in and chained the gate, he stepped right up to it. I petted him, then bent down and got a handful of grass. He took it, then turned away and started grazing. I think he figured he could get grass on his own.
Session #2 - a little after 7:30 p.m.
Little Man was way out in the back of the pasture. He came up when I called him. I watched him closely as he walked, and he was just barely favoring his left front leg. We worked with my hands for a bit. I rubbed his ears, head and neck, rested my hand on his shoulder, slid my hand down to the top of his leg. He tensed a bit, and backed a bit at first, then steadied and stood still.
Then we went to a new target. I asked him to target a plastic racquet
(a handled scoop that is meant to catch a plastic ball). He pricked his ears forward when I took it off the fence where I had hung it, and targeted it eagerly. I think it is a very good sign that he was not suspicious of an item he has never seen before.
I wanted to observe his movement, so I asked him to walk to it, which he did. In fact, he would start walking as soon as I moved away from him, and I would have to hurry to say, "touch it", because he was right behind me. I held it high, low, to the side.
Then I decided to touch it to him. I touched it to his neck, shoulder, withers, back. He was a little surprised at first, but he quickly figured it wasn't going to hurt him. He did shy just a very little a few times, but when I started at his head or neck and slid it to where I wanted it, he tensed but stood.
When we were done, he followed me to the gate. (I had to drop the racquet over the gate into the yard, he was so eager to keep "playing" with it.) I noticed that his limping was more noticeable, but not really bad. I did try to see if he would let me at least get a good look at his foot, but he backed up every time I attempted to stand beside him.
At least he's not whirling and kicking. I finally gave up and went on in the gate. He stood at the gate and I petted him for a minute. He dropped his head and started drifting off to graze, and I watched his feet. He was definitely favoring the left front. He had it lifted quite a bit, and was gently pawing with it. He was also bumping it with his muzzle.
He started rubbing his muzzle along his other foot too, so the flies may have been bothering him. They were very thick this evening. I did notice his hooves are packed with mud. I wonder if perhaps there is something in the mud that is making his left front foot tender.
Yesterday was Little Man's day off. I took his wormer out before church, and put it in his bucket. I petted him for a minute, then had to leave. I went out yesterday evening and just spent some time with him. We walked around the pasture together for a bit, and I stroked and petted him and rubbed his ears. I gave him a couple of peanut butter crackers before I left.
We only had one session today. It's been storming much of the day, and it is gloomy and wet outside. When Little Man came up (a little after 6:00 p.m.) he appeared to be limping ever so slightly. His front legs and feet appeared normal when I looked at him, but we are not to the point in our relationship where I feel comfortable trying to take a close look. And he probably wouldn't feel comfortable either.
So, I had the lead rope, and we worked on targeting it and having me rub and stroke him with it. I draped it over his neck and that went okay. I stepped back, holding the rope while it lay across his neck, then clicked and slid the rope off. After a few times of that I left it there while I treated him. Then I reached under and grasped the end and held it along with the other part of the rope. He did not like that and started backing up. I went with him, keeping just the lightest bit of tension on the rope, saying "whooooa." But he kept backing up and started pie eyeing me, so I released the end of the rope and let it slide off him.
He circled and came back, willingly targeting the rope. I stroked him with it a few times, and draped it over his neck again. Then I went in the yard and he followed me to the gate. He stood there with me a long time. I stroked and petted him. He had weight on his right front leg, and was resting his left front leg. He lightly pawed his left front hoof repeatedly, and seemed to favor it, getting off it quickly when he did put weight on it. He also kept nudging my arm and lipping it slightly. I felt as though he wanted me to look at it, but I do not think he is ready for that, at least not without being haltered and tied. He finally appeared to give up, and turned around and dropped his head to graze.
I have been working so hard to show him that he can trust me. I think I probably moved a bit too quickly today when I worked with the rope. But when I thought he was limping, I wanted to work on it so we can move closer to his being able to be led and tied. It is possible that his hoof is just packed with mud and is putting some pressure on him. So I will keep a close eye on him, and will have to adjust what we do as we go.
Session #1 - around noon
Little Man was standing at the fence watching me tend to the birds, and when I moved out of his sight to tend the rabbit, he brinnied. :-)
I walked out to the gate, and he walked towards it too. But he stopped short of coming up to me. He turned around and started grazing, so I sat on a dirt pile and waited. He finally walked around and approached from the other side, so I got up and met him.
We worked again on having me touch his ears and rub his poll and crest. After watching the John Lyons video on the head-shy horse, I tried moving my hand faster up to my target. Little Man is now to the point where I can move a little more quickly. Before, any quick move would send him whirling, kicking, and/or running. He did very well today.
The head raising is becoming less pronounced, though it is still there, and his pie-eyeing is much less as well.
Once, we had done been working pretty rapidly, and he had had several treats in quick succession. So while I was waiting for him to finish chewing I was stroking the side of his neck. He angled his head to guide my hand up to his ear! A couple of times, when I wasn't quick enough to resume "working", he stamped his foot. I'm not sure if it was from impatience or flies. He's not really a foot stamper, at least not that I've noticed up till now, but it could have been either one.
I also worked a little with putting both hands on his face. Again, I moved more quickly instead of being so slow and painstaking, though I still started low and ran my hands up his face. He did well, with no pie eyeing or head tossing. And I was able to move and stand beside his head, and reach my right hand over his neck, resting my forearm on his crest and rubbing the other side of his neck with my hand. He did raise his head and pie eye a bit on that, but that lessened as we repeated it.
Again, I interspersed cookie bites and peppermint treats in with the feed, when we did something that was a little higher pressure or when he was very calm about something.
My husband walked out and watched the last couple of minutes. When we were done, Little Man followed me over to the gate. He targeted my husband's hand, for which I clicked and treated, and let him pet him. Then I dropped the clicker (it's on my wrist) and we just visited for a while. Again, he let my husband reach up and rub between his ears! We all probably stood there about ten minutes, with Little Man being petted and praised, and getting an occasional treat.
I went back to finish with the rabbit, and when I looked up, my husband was out in the pasture getting some dirt from a pile (he is filling in some low spots in the back yard). Little Man was right up with him, looking to see what he was doing. My husband was moving slowly and calmly, and Little Man was very calm too.
I feel so encouraged! I think that Little Man is learning to trust me, enough so that he is now letting my husband touch him, because I say it's okay.
Session #2 - a little before 6:30 p.m.
Little Man was pretty close to the gate when I went out. He came towards me, and I met him partway. We worked some more on my touching his ears, poll, and crest. I continued to move my hand faster than I have been, and by the end of the session he was standing steady (with some occasional mini-pie-eyeing) while I cupped my hand around an ear. He still pie eyed me when I moved to stand beside his head and reached my hand over his neck. But I said "Whooooa" until he stilled, then rubbed for a few seconds before clicking. I worked a little bit on clicking as I stepped by his head, as he still prefers me in front of him.
So far so good. He wasn't nearly as shy when I touched his ears, so I decided it was time to touch them WITH something. I pulled out the little, soft, face brush, and gently stroked it down his face. I moved to his cheeks, then his forehead. Then I worked at his neck, just behind his ears. He seemed to like that, and angled his head a bit. By the time we had worked for a while, he was tolerating the brush on the outer portion of his ears. He was better when the brush was still, but I did stroke it quite a bit, as well. Once when I was just petting him, he stamped his foot and swung his rump over so he was facing me head on. Again, I wasn't sure if it was flies, though I didn't see any, or he was having a bit of temper. But he's only stamped when he wasn't getting a treat. I'll have to keep watch and see what transpires.
When we were done, I went in the yard and chained the gate. He followed me over to the gate, and we stood there for quite a while. I stroked and petted him, and before I left, he was angling his head and I was rubbing his ears! I had the flat of my hand facing the inside of his ears, and I rubbed my hand up and down on the edges of his ears. I also rubbed at the base of his ears, with his ears flopping as I rubbed. He was SO calm, and seemed to really enjoy being rubbed and petted. I looked at my watch, and I had been out with him for over half an hour! He is able to stand my company for longer periods of time!
The geese had come out by the gate, to see what was going on. They were standing in a group, watching us, and I scooped up the gander to pet him. Little Man's ears pricked forward and he stepped closer to the gate. I took the gander over, but made sure his face wasn't pointed towards Little Man; I didn't want him to lunge and bite! Little Man sniffed, then decided that a goose wasn't all that interesting.
I am so thrilled that today's lessons were so calm and pleasant. And I think that Little Man enjoyed them too. I hope he is learning that hands can be pleasant, and that food is not the only treat in this world.
Session #1 - Around 3:30 p.m.
My clicker training book came! I spent some time and read through the first part of it, and thought through some of the issues we have been working with. Then I decided what we would work on today and ran out to get started!
Little Man was way out in the back of the pasture. Since the recent rain, the things he won't eat have grown up so tall I couldn't even see him. But he came up when I called. I waited in the pen, but he stopped a couple of yards from the gate and wouldn't come in. So I went out to him. I held out my hand, and as soon as he started to take a step I said, "Come". I figured since he comes up to me anyway, I might as well start getting him used to relating the word to the action. I did this a couple of times, then stroked him on the face.
I worked for a bit on resting my hand on his forehead. As soon as he stilled, I clicked. I gradually increased the intervals, though it wasn't very long. We got to 4 or 5 seconds though, I think. I then moved my hand up to rest between his ears. We repeated, with my clicking when he stilled. I moved from resting my hand to gently rubbing.
Then I worked from the left side of neck, moving my hand up to rest on his poll, again working from resting to rubbing. Then I switched the clicker to my right hand, and used my left hand to work from the right side of his neck. He was a little shy of my left hand, but after I treated him from the left hand the first time, he didn't flinch.
Lastly, I progressed to lightly and quickly running my hand from the base of his ear up the ear, then more slowly, then resting my hand on his ear. Then I repeated with the other ear. When I decided it was time to stop, I fingered his forelock a bit, and it didn't seem to faze him.
I worked the cookie bites and peppermints in between bits of wormer and feed, usually when I increased the difficulty. (I have been trying to do this so the "goodies" don't always and only come last.) I did notice that he didn't turn and walk off after getting a peppermint. I also immediately started petting and stroking him and working as soon as I gave him a special treat, so he knew we were still working.
He was very calm throughout the entire session. I didn't have my watch on, but I'm guessing we spent about 15 minutes. He did raise his head some, and did a little pie eyeing, but it wasn't full blown, and he settled down easily.
A couple of times he moved his head then sidestepped away, but he always came back, and I worked my way up to what I had been trying when he moved. I believe he is learning that my hands are not going to hurt him. He's not too sure about things that I happen to be holding, but I know that eventually he will realize that if I'm holding it, it's okay.
As I was reading the clicker training book, I noticed that in many instances, it took horses several days to figure out what the clicker meant. I remember how Little Man figured out that "clicker means treat" after about five clicks. :-)
He is so smart, and he really wants to please. And I am continually struck by how gentle he is. I wasn't being careful, and I accidentally stuck my fingers in between his lips. He stopped and pulled back when he felt them against his teeth, and gave me an opportunity to reposition my hand. It was very quick, but I know he was aware of what was going on.
He is still preferring that I stand in front of him, but he is not as insistent. Several times I was able to step and stand beside his head, more so on the left side than the right.
Session #2 - around 6:30 p.m.
Little Man came up to meet me, but stood outside the pen and wouldn't come in. I petted the goats for a while, and he moved closer to the gate, but stopped a couple of feet outside it and would come no farther. I didn't want to go out again, because I don't want him to train me to come to him wherever he is.
So I stepped out of the gate and held out my hand. I petted, clicked, treated, and moved backward into the pen. He came into the pen a few feet, and I made sure that we were standing so I was not in between him and the gate.
I continued to work on touching his forehead, poll, and ears, and his forelock and mane a little. He is settling down more. As we were getting to the end (we were running out of feed and treats!) I was just stroking his neck, and he angled his head; he was asking me to rub the base of his ear! I also worked on raising my hand in front of his eyes, which causes him to immediately raise his head and pie eye me. But we'll keep working on that. I was able to stroke his ears and even hold them, with lots of clicking and treating. It is so amazing that I can actually see him thinking "If I just hold out, she'll click and treat me." He KNOWS!
I stopped the session because I ran out of feed and cookies, though I did have some peppermints left. But he followed right behind me to the gate. My daughter came up to ask me something, so I had him target her hand a couple of times. He did, but he wouldn't take peppermint treats from her; so I gave them to him. Then she left and my husband walked up. Little Man let my husband rub his forehead, and even reach his hand up and rub between his ears! I clicked, and let my husband give him some treats. He did this three times.
Then I stood and petted Little Man for a couple of minutes, and left him grazing right beside the gate.
Today was pretty relaxed, and I'm glad I took the pressure of the halter off of us. I'm going to keep working with touching his ears and moving my hands around them. That way when I do finally get that halter up there, any fumbling I do won't bother him as much.
Session #1 - a little after 3:00 p.m.
I think Little Man is doing really well. I have no doubt that he would REALLY be doing well if he had someone who knew what they were doing. But I am trying to learn, and doing so through trial and error, and the excellent advice from listfolks who DO know what they are doing. Today I learned not to try to do too much in one session.
I looked for something else for Little Man to target. I found a large traffic cone, but I thought he might be really shy of it, so I selected a reflector. It was a bit taller than the cone, but only a few inches around. He stood off a ways while I showed it to him. He walked towards it readily when I asked him to touch it, but stopped short of actually touching it. I did click when his muzzle moved towards it. I "helped" him a bit by holding it and leaning it towards him. He touched it every time I did that. I moved it to a couple of different places. After he targeted it about 4 times, I took it and put it over the gate. He still would not approach me when I was standing near the gate.
I took the halter and let him sniff it, then I looped it over his muzzle. He was pretty calm. I did it a couple more times, just to get him relaxed about it before I started moving it up the side of his face. But the third time he suddenly snorted and whirled to the side, I gave him slack in the rope and it finally slipped off his muzzle.
We went back to basics, targeting the halter, stroking the rope gently over the side of his face and neck, gently moving to rest the rope or halter at the base of his ears. When he started backing up and pie eyeing me, I said "whooooa" softly, and as soon as he stopped and held his position I clicked. He got a few peppermint treats for allowing the halter by his ear. We finally worked up to slipping the loop over his muzzle again, and holding it a few seconds. Then we just played "target" for a minute or so. I walked a few steps, held out the halter, and asked him to touch it. He walked over and touched it.
When we were finished playing, I hung the halter on the gate and walked back over to pet him for a minute. I gave him a cookie before I left.
I'm wondering if it may be unrealistic, but I don't want to force the halter on him at all. I want him to eventually have the halter on, but I want it to be very relaxed. I want it to be as close to his idea as possible. I figure that if I continue to move step by step, we will eventually get the halter over his muzzle and up behind his ears. After that, we'll just keep working until he stands for me to knot it.
Session #2 - around 7:00 p.m.
Little Man came up when I called him, but did not come all the way to me. I walked out and petted him, then we targeted the catch-'em. I stroked it on his face and neck, and rested it up by his ears. He pie eyed it a bit, but I said "whoooa" and waited until he stilled, then clicked.
I switched to the halter, but when I turned around Little Man was acting very jumpy. I saw a big reddish brown horsefly on him, so I just draped the halter over my arm and pulled out the washcloth. Unfortunately, I had not sprayed it. But I stroked it on him, and several times brushed the fly off. It kept coming back, which made it difficult for Little Man to concentrate. I ended with resting the cloth up on his forehead, and saying "whoooa" when he started to back up. He stopped, and I clicked and gave him a peppermint treat.
He followed me to the gate, and I petted him for a minute over the gate. I gave him a cookie then laid my hand on his forehead. He stayed by the gate to graze when I walked off.
Session #1 - around 1:00 p.m.
I didn't log right when I came in, as the computer was off. So I don't remember all the details what we did.
It rained all morning, so it was fairly muddy outside. Little Man was pretty clean, considering. He came up when I went out, but stopped a little way off. I walked up to him and stroked his muzzle. We worked with the catch-'em and the regular lead rope today. I had him target them, rubbed them gently on his face and neck, and looped the catch-'em over his muzzle a few times. He seemed spooky this morning, and moved his head around and backed up a lot.
It was thundering, so I didn't stay out too long. I believe I ended with gently rubbing the rope over his cheek and neck, and maybe up around his ears.
Session #2 - a little after 6:00 p.m.
Little Man came up and stopped a little way off. I approached him and stroked his muzzle. I let him target the washcloth, and stroked it gently on his face. I moved gradually up towards his ears, and let the cloth rest against each ear. He raised his head and pie eyed a bit at first, but I held it gently against the base of his ear and talked to him. I clicked when he lowered his head a bit and quit pie eyeing. During this time he got a few little bites of a roll my daughter was feeding the chickens (she gave me part of it for Little Man).
Then we worked with the rope halter. He was very calm, and let me slip it over his muzzle. He stood quietly for a few seconds, and I clicked and removed it, then treated. We continued, and I moved my left hand, holding the free end of the halter, gradually up the right side of his face until my hand was right below his ear. He held his head perfectly still, and looked steadily at me without pie eyeing.
After I treated him with a cookie, I thought I would do it one more time, to really reinforce it. But when I was slipping the halter over his muzzle, he suddenly snorted and jumped back, pulling his muzzle out of the halter. Then he was suddenly nervous and suspicious of the halter. Perhaps I accidentally pulled a hair or something? So I gave him plenty of time to sniff and examine the halter. He even lipped it a few times. I didn't click during this time; I wanted him to take all the time he needed to make sure it was okay.
I didn't want to leave on a negative note, so we worked a little bit more, with my encouraging him to put his head down into the loop. He did move his head down, not actually in the loop though he did move his muzzle towards it, and I was able to slip the halter over his muzzle. I held my hands still for a few seconds, then moved my left hand halfway up the side of his face. I held that for a few seconds, then clicked and treated with a cookie bite.
I hung the halter on the gate, then went back and petted him for a bit. I rubbed around his ears, and stroked his face, then gently patted his neck. Then I took both hands and gently alternated stroking them down the front of his face. I moved them to the sides of his face until I was holding his face in my hands - no pressure, just resting my hands against the sides of his face. I laid my hand on his forehead and rested it there a few seconds, then gave him a cookie and patted his neck.
When I went in, he stayed around the gate to graze.
Session #1 - around noon
Little Man was out by the fence when I went out. He walked up and stopped a few yards away from me. I hung the halter and the catch-'em on the gate, and walked out towards him. He snorted and backed up a bit. I held out the washcloth and asked him to touch it. He snorted and tossed his head, and backed up some more. He did finally touch it, just barely, a couple of times, but remained nervous. So I stuck it in my pocket and reached out to pet him. He tossed his head and backed up.
I talked to him a minute, then walked over to the gate. I deliberately did not turn around for a bit, to give him time to collect himself. He walked up closer, but not right behind me. I took the catch-'em over and asked him to target it, which he did. So we targeted a few times, then I gently laid the rope against his cheek. He pie eyed it, so I slowly moved it down his face until he quit pie eyeing it. Then I held it against his face for a second or two, then clicked.
We kept working. I made a point to keep the rope down where he wasn't nervous, so that I was clicking when he was calmer. I looped it over his muzzle, and he was quite calm about it. I repeated this but moved some of the rope up his right cheek with my left hand. He remained calm each time I did it. I did incorporate the cookie bites and small peppermint treats into the lesson, rather than saving the "big stuff" for the end. When we were done, I petted him for a bit, then gave him a large peppermint treat. He followed me to the gate, and I petted him a little more after chaining the gate. Then I gave him a cookie bite, and laid my hand on his muzzle, then moved it up and rested it on his forehead. When I left, he stayed by the gate to graze.
Session #2 - around 6:15 p.m.
When I went out Little Man walked up towards me, but didn't come to me. I walked in the pen to say hi to the goats, and he stayed outside.
When I walked out, he turned and went the other direction, so I angled and kept walking and talking. We finally ended up in about the same place. I had him target the washcloth, and wiped his face several times until the two big horseflies let go of him.
Then we worked on looping the halter over his muzzle. He remained calm, even when I moved my left hand up about halfway up the right side of his face and laid some of the halter against his cheek. He wouldn't let me approach his ears, though. He started backing up, and began to be wary of the loop. I switched to the catch-'em rope, as I was fumbling a bit with the halter and the catch-'em is easier to maneuver.
I looped it over his muzzle, and once he was successful with that again, I started gently stroking it on his face and neck.
Then I worked on having the rope, held between my hands, come up in front of his face. I figure that while he may be amenable to having the halter over his muzzle, he will not be so agreeable to having it up around his ears or up by his eyes. He raised his head and pie eyed it, and I held it still and talked to him until he moved his head towards the rope. I lowered it just a little so it would touch him, and clicked.
He "checked out" after that, and I turned to see that he was staring at a neighbor walking slowly up and down the street. He watches constantly whenever someone is walking. So I petted him a bit, then gave him a large peppermint treat.
I tried to mix in the cookie bites and small peppermint treats as he did something a bit more difficult during the session.
Afterwards, I went in and got a bit of hay, and brought it out to him.
I laid it by the gate, and he watched me but wouldn't come over. I walked over and gave him a bit of hay, and he slowly moved over towards me. I went in and chained the gate, and leaned on it and talked to him while he ate. He ate a bit, then stopped and lifted his head, pushing his muzzle out towards me. I petted him a bit, then left him to finish his hay.
He is doing well, but I am floundering a bit. I'm not sure exactly where to go, or how much to do. I am looking forward to receiving my clicker training book, so I can learn how to work with him better. I will just keep working on getting him used to the halter/rope touching him all over his neck, head and neck. We're not running a race. I figure I didn't push either of my children to learn how to read. They are both excellent readers, though my son "clicked" at age 7 1/2 and my daughter "clicked" at age 4 1/2. Every child is different, as is every equine. So I figure Little Man will get there, when he is ready.
Yesterday was Little Man's day off, but I did go out to see him a couple of times. When we got home yesterday afaternoon, I went out and petted him. He moved around a lot, perhaps because there was no clicking and treating. I did give him a couple of goodies before I left. Last evening, around 7:30, I went out again, and we walked around the pasture together. Whenever we stopped I petted him, then I would ask him to walk with me again and we would. I was probably only out there about 10 minutes, but he walked right with me. He really likes company and attention, and he is slowly becoming more comfortable with contact. I can hardly believe how far we have come in just a little over a month!
Session #1 - a little before 2:00 p.m.
Little Man was out getting a drink, so I opened the kitchen window and called hello to him. He looked up, and I talked to him a moment. Around 10 or 15 minutes later, I looked out again, and he was standing by the fence. Hi might even have been waiting for me! So I called to him again, and after a couple of minutes I was able to go out.
By the time I got to the gate he was already there, waiting for me. I had him target the washcloth, which he did, even low towards the ground. But when I dropped it on the ground (while his muzzle was down low) he lifted his head and wouldn't touch it. So I picked it up, and moved it to a completely different place, where I held it about his knee level and had him touch it. Then I put it away and pulled out the catch-'em halter/rope. I slipped the loop over his muzzle, and pulled it up a bit, and he stood calmly. I did this several times, then I started taking another part of the rope and touching it to the right side of his face. He did fine with that, too.
So I switched to the rope halter. I slipped the loop over his muzzle, and he did fine. I switched the clicker to my right wrist, so I wouldn't be clicking right by his ear. Then I slipped the loop over his muzzle and with my left hand moved the loose end of the halter up the right side of his face. He did well until I started moving close to his ear. Then he pulled his head up and backed up.
So I took the end of the halter and gently moved it up the side of his face until it was close to his ear, then clicked. I worked my way up until the halter was actually touching his ear. He pie eyed me, but we worked until he held his head still for a second, then I clicked and removed it. Each time he let me touch his ear with it, he got a very small peppermint treat, then I immediately moved to touch his ear again, so he wouldn't think we were done. I did give a large peppermint treat to finish, after the last time he held his position while the halter rested against his ear.
Then I petted him and told him what a good boy he is. When I walked back to the gate he was right behind me. I petted him over the gate for a few minutes, then gave him a cookie bite before I left.
I had the halters hanging on the gate, and whenever I switched from one thing to another I walked over to the gate. We were only a few feet from it. Every time, when I turned around he was right behind me.
As we worked, he did back up, but the next time I went to the gate, he walked right behind me again.
We didn't have a second session today, because I just wasn't able to get outside before we left for swim lessons this evening. But I did go out around 5:00 or so just to say hi. I took a couple of cookie bites with me. As I was walking up to him (I was about six feet away), my foot hit a hump in the ground and I lurched. Little Man snorted, whirled, and ran off. I gave him a few seconds to stand and look at me before I started moving towards him again. But then the mosquito truck came down the country road, and the wind was blowing straight towards me. So I turned around and ran back inside. When I looked out the window, Little Man was back up at the fence, looking into the yard as if asking "Where did she go?" I felt bad about it, but I didn't want that spray on me. There's always tomorrow.
My husband said he went out in the pasture with the cookies while we were at swim. He said Little Man wouldn't let him near him, and snorted and ran off.
