So last week our instructor commented on what a nice job I was doing with Risa. Today's class... well.... the COMPLETE opposite! Risa and I just couldn't do anything right. We have been working on fronts using a 6 foot leash. The instructor informed us that we should be doing it at 20 feet by now.
I kept messing up the heeling because I don't hold the food right, don't hold my arm correctly, don't walk right, don't pace correctly, etc. Then to make things worse, Risa was super restless... She wouldn't sit still and was doing her whining and crying and trying to get treats. Out of all of this comes the realization of everything that I am doing wrong. I was getting so frustrated at Risa, and then I see how I am doing everything wrong and ultimately messing her up. WHen she does her whining, barking, trying to get attention, I click and treat for the moments when she gets quiet. Well, Risa has me totally trained. I think I'm treating for her to be quiet, and she's training ME by acting up so that she can then get the treats between her whining and barking. I'm frustrated at myself for not doing a better job. I am an educator and educational researcher, and everything really "clicked" for me tonight. I realized that I've totally reached that state of
cognitive dissonance that is so uncomfortable.. but so necessary.. when certain types of learning occur. I was TOTALLY feeling that dissonance tonight! One thing that makes me feel better is the fact that it's a sign of learning.
