Update on Bens seesaw training - I am so proud

Just thought I would update this training, cos I am so happy with my wee man

As I said in another thread Ben is scared of stuff that moves under his feet, the see saw really scared him and he would just spin round in circles barking at it (although we have been training since Jan and he is happy with everything else we had only done it once before)

I had a plank of wood I had painted and sanded up to look like a see saw, it had been sitting in the shed and bent slightly so the ends were abour 1 inch above the ground

Ben already has an idea of 101 things with a box clicker training
so I did that with the plank
He soon trained himself to go and lie down on the end of the plank and not mind the slight movment

I then worked on propping the plank at one end so it was a slope and he trotted up that fine

In class we were leading him up the see saw, and stuffing his face with ham when he was lieing down on the end

Then on sunday I made the plank into the see saw
I led him over it several times with lots of praise and treats

then I put treats over the see saw (which is in my sitting room) he just ate the ones he could reach but at least he went near it by himself

Then I started getting him to go over it just once when we were about to go outside

Then
This morning - the little star
He was excited when I was putting my shoes on knowing a walk was coming, he ran off and did the seesaw by himself tail waqgging the whole way!!
OK so its not the fastest in the world but now he thinks its not a nasty thing
What a clever boy

Well done Ben and you. Isn't it great when they finally do it?
I'm going to have to try your ideas on Dale.

Well done Ben, you brave boy and well done you

Fantastic and well done to you - knowing your dog and knowing how to get him to respond

oh thats great work hun, it does not matter how long it takes you have done it together well done. you should be very proud of all your hard work and big hugs to ben for trying and trying. xxxx

Thanks guys
Yup he really is such a brave boy cos he is scared of lots of things but he works hard to overcome them

Aww what a brave boy!
well done Ben

xXx

And to my mind, that is real courage! Brave boy!