Prada and I learned a new technique today called back-chaining. Back-chaining works specifically on developing routes that a team will work on a regular basis, such as an office or workplace, college classrooms, church, gym, et cetera. Here’s how it works:
1. Heel the dog and travel sighted-guide with a friend over the entire route, praise the dog lavishly when you get to the destination end-point.
2. Heel back to just outside of the building and work the dog in from there. Praise again upon arrival at destination.
3. Heel back a bit farther; say another 20 yards or so behind your last starting point, then work up to the end and praise.
4. Repeat this until you're working all the way from your starting point (say, a vehicle) to your destination.
Prada and I tried this at a college in Morristown and my girl performed on par. That, of course, means excellently J.
We tried to get into the college’s pool area to introduce Prada to the smells and sounds associated with indoor pools. I am an avid swimmer and UAH’s pool is my gym of choice. Unfortunately, the pool was closed for construction so that will have to wait until I get home, a challenge for me to handle without an instructor handy. (During the time home before I left for UAH again I traveled with my mom to the local YWCA and toured their pool area and exercise rooms. One of the employees most graciously showed us around since I haven’t been there often and Prada only complained once—a very narrow staircase toward the back of the building had rather squeaky boards and she sort of pussy-footed down them as if she didn’t trust them. Other than that, she reacted very well to the sounds and smells of equipment. The pool area was a bit quieter than UAH’s, but more on her adjustment to UAH’s pool later.)
We canceled our night trip because of a thunderstorm. I hope we get a chance to do another one before I leave, though. Otherwise that's just one more thing I'll do when I get home. I'm confident that that won't be an issue for us, but it's always best to give it a try with an instructor hanging over your shoulder if you can.The Final Count-Down
(I tend to be driven to excel, and so being a rookie handler I felt the need to gather feedback from instructors on every little detail. Even today I still struggle with confidence in my handling abilities, but that tends to manifest more when my paranoid little brain imagines someone might insinuate I’m less qualified than I should be. Has this ever actually happened? Fortunately no, and I feel much more secure in our working relationship thanks to the support and encouragement and compliments from those around us.)
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