I need a signal of first response to stress - something the family can pick up on too!
Rocky's entrance on week two was quite different from the previous Thursday, my CGC students still wanted to stay and support this effort. First to learn from the experience, second to have the opportunity to work on skills and friendships. Rocky saw me and wagged his tail. He sat as he came in, we returned to the weaving course and played "follow the trainer." The father now clicking at moments of calm control and was now able to walk in aisles with me coming up to say hello.
We moved to a quiet area 25 feet from my neutral dog families. Rocky's stress level increased and I realized the first sign was a subtle wrinkling on the top of his head. If his head muscles drew tight - we were already to level two. Rocky was showing us his first level reaction by the subtle pulsing. Having access to a quiet signal from the top down was valuable for the family. We worked to create the calm before the brain storm. This time I took Rocky for his walk - 20 feet from the neutral dogs (in a penned area) - the method of walking was the same as the weaves, but without the distraction object bowls. Within three rounds he was watching me and waiting for the click instead of reacting. I was beginning to get a relaxtion response. I handed the lead to the father and we played "follow the trainer" around the same paths, by now the CGC canines were playing in their area and ignoring the activity. We always ended in our safe quiet place - sometimes working on sits, downs and lots of relaxtion clicks and treats.
Mom, asked to handle Rocky and we played the first "follow the trainer" and then she walked alone. Note the first timing of the game is fast and as we work toward relaxtion we mix up the walk timing - slower, normal, fast. By now Rocky is walking quickly 12 feet from the other dogs (behind penned area). We end the stress work and move back to the fun weave game in the back of the training area.
Rocky leaves with no reheasals. We have had 8 outbursts.
KNARLWOODS — NATURAL CLASSROOMS FOR SUSTAINED LEARNING
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Rocky - Hope Instead of Fear Aggression
The dogs with the most complex behaviors provide me the most wisdom.
Rocky joined my private sessions snarling as he came into my training environment - a 95 lb pitbull whose next stop was death. "How can I trust this gentle dog with my 7 year old and family? He is mild and sweet in our home. Yet, he is like Jeckle and Hyde when he sees another dog. Can you do something?"
I offered they bring him in from the car. Two CGC (canine good citizen) students volunteered to remain in the area chatting and working with their dogs while I worked with Rocky (50 ft distance, but still scent able and out of sight)
The family purchased a 15 minute 'test drive the trainer 'session. They were right. He entered as a pulling, snarking pit bull. With my pocket full of treats and a clicker to mark calm, I greeted them giving rocky my distance and the family unit a warm welcome. (Note my greeting was not a direct approach but friendly human hellos and canine calming signals as I wove to greet them)
Rocky was curious at this strange human walking, head turning, lip licking behavior - He licked his lips, sat down, turned his head to the side and then faced me with a tilted head. I clicked - he tilted his head the other way looking at me. At ten feet, I did not approach further, the family was loaded up with treats and we talked about "walking in a friendly manner." I asked the father if he had control, he did and I asked for a leadership stand, respectful (firm, kind) voice with a "Let's Go." And we walked as I drew closer chatting with the family we went to a quiet area where I set up a serpentine course with distractions (4 upside down food dishes) to weave through. We spent the next minutes playing following the leader as I made encouraging sounds walking in front of the weaves - the game was fun, fast and controlled. The dog looking between trainer and father for advice.
At the end of each course we moved to a quiet place, Rocky sat where we worked on calm response - handlers given stills in attention, and positive training techniques using clicker - observance, click, treat. We practiced this in multiple areas and then played "weave with the trainer" again. In addition, I removed myself to pet and get dog licks from my two neutral dogs, returning with scent. Rocky was having fun in a stressful environment, under control and happy. We ended the session with a "no rehearsal of bad behaviors".
Come on Rocky, Let's get into the car. With out a peep tail wagging he walked out. End of session one. We had a LONG way to go, but I believed the dog was workable and not ready to be put down. We would work 30 minutes a week for eight weeks. I committed to teach, the family committed to work with Rocky in learning.
What was interesting is the response from my two neutral dogs in the CGC. When Rocky first snarked, both dogs bristled on guard (they were 50 feet away) and both dogs wanted to go toward Rocky and not retreat. The handlers of the two CGC students allowed their dogs to play.
No rehearsal on exit. 25 reactions in 15 minutes.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Remember to Care for Each Other
Positive dog training builds - TRUST and SAFETY to create I DID ITS
which creates more TRUST - more SAFETY and more I DID ITS
When an animal feels safe and trusting they have the capacity to learn and grow and contribute to your life. Join the movement of paw-sitive training - our canine friends depend on it to prevent aggression.
Life is filled with challenging days and struggles. It is the relationships in life that truly matter. Our dog partners provide comfort throught life's storms and hold us safe in their furry type of love.
We in turn must keep them safe and protect them.
which creates more TRUST - more SAFETY and more I DID ITS
When an animal feels safe and trusting they have the capacity to learn and grow and contribute to your life. Join the movement of paw-sitive training - our canine friends depend on it to prevent aggression.
Life is filled with challenging days and struggles. It is the relationships in life that truly matter. Our dog partners provide comfort throught life's storms and hold us safe in their furry type of love.
We in turn must keep them safe and protect them.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
A Gift from an Otter
Poor old angry bear,
Torn and tattered,
banged-up head,
Knocking on brick walls again.
Rest, my bear friend,
The otters are here,
clinging,
So you can float free
For just a short while.
Grab the hand of that small one fuzzy bear,
The one you have hugged so often,
Hug her again, so she too can rest.
We will hold you up,
We will hold you both.
Otter Cynthia
Bear in Mind
The bear is back in my mind
a grizzly wrizzly izzly bear
with a flurry of surly wurly feelings
that want to grow
and growl
and snarl
but they can't
because there is nothing
and nowhere to place
the snarly warly barring teeth
feelings so real.
I have no fairy wand to wave to make life better
- to change what has been done to 45,000 children a year in this country.
Under the hearts of those who may say they love them.
I want to shout loud and clear that
DRINKING
while pregnant must stop
and . . .
that the person you are growing matters.
That this person matters to me
and to ther others who will love
and care
and hold the little he or she.
The bear is back in my mind as I remember when you came
so small,
with arms so thin and legs
so small
you were 'bearly' a northing at all
except a very big voice.
Bear in mind -
A growling raging voice proclaiming your incidious beginning.
And not yet half a year you vomited every thing you tried to eat
until we found the special foods so you could survive.
And the mama bear in my mind went looking for answers
to help you live
and grow.
And you did.
Bear in mind -
A growling raging voice proclaiming you could not be touched
or held
or cuddled
and I wanted
a snuggly
wuggly
buggly child
who I could hold
- and so the mama bear in me found ways to enjoy you
and realize that you loved the best you could
- until we learned about how your body worked
and the sensory issues at twelve
- how could a mother not know or doctors or others so educated
- the bear in mind was there searching
- but not finding
- asking with no answers because I did not have the right questions.
Bear in mind -
A growling raging voice proclaiming that fun things to do
were too intense and yet you my child were the most intense of all
- and I learned to calm and quiet all the grizzly voices in my mind
and not add energy to energy so you could learn
and grow
and go
and do like other children
- and you grew into a giving, loving, forgiving child
woven with the grizzly bears of your mind
we did not understand.
Alien in a world I understood that could not understand you.
With media and advertisement undermining all we said
- because they knew
and we didn't
and they were the truth.
Oh the bear in my mind wants to pound my chest
and more than growl.
Do bears roar?
Bear in mind -
You grew
and you grew
and you grew away
because
we were not who you wanted to be
- could be
- would be
The bears in our minds no longer be silent
- pushing each other away
with our snarls
and growls
and stares.
We were not the MTV family
or the Bratz
or the Glamour girls
- we were happy in our litle den
with our close friends
doing close friend things
- while you my little cub needed to run and explore what you believed was pots of honey at ends of rainbows that did not exist except in the media of music and video.
The bear in my mind watched as you worked your way through your imagination
of Truth with brain injury caused by alcohol to the unborn
- 100% preventable -
I asked my child what happens
when you go around the same tree over
and over
and in her wisdom she shared.
"I fall down like a nut."
I smile.
I laugh.
And I know there is hope.
Bear in mind -
I hope you have come to the end of yourself dear little baby bear
- your spirit still intact
- so that it can change the course of history for others
- you my child are one
- only one of many
- too many
- 45,000 a year too many.
The bear in my mind wants to hybernate
- to go away and sleep it all off as a bad dream but there must be no hybernation
- we mother and father bears must remain awake.
We must embrace the voices of those
45,000 a year
450,000 in ten years
- we must stand together with all our bears in our minds
and change the course of
time.
a grizzly wrizzly izzly bear
with a flurry of surly wurly feelings
that want to grow
and growl
and snarl
but they can't
because there is nothing
and nowhere to place
the snarly warly barring teeth
feelings so real.
I have no fairy wand to wave to make life better
- to change what has been done to 45,000 children a year in this country.
Under the hearts of those who may say they love them.
I want to shout loud and clear that
DRINKING
while pregnant must stop
and . . .
that the person you are growing matters.
That this person matters to me
and to ther others who will love
and care
and hold the little he or she.
The bear is back in my mind as I remember when you came
so small,
with arms so thin and legs
so small
you were 'bearly' a northing at all
except a very big voice.
Bear in mind -
A growling raging voice proclaiming your incidious beginning.
And not yet half a year you vomited every thing you tried to eat
until we found the special foods so you could survive.
And the mama bear in my mind went looking for answers
to help you live
and grow.
And you did.
Bear in mind -
A growling raging voice proclaiming you could not be touched
or held
or cuddled
and I wanted
a snuggly
wuggly
buggly child
who I could hold
- and so the mama bear in me found ways to enjoy you
and realize that you loved the best you could
- until we learned about how your body worked
and the sensory issues at twelve
- how could a mother not know or doctors or others so educated
- the bear in mind was there searching
- but not finding
- asking with no answers because I did not have the right questions.
Bear in mind -
A growling raging voice proclaiming that fun things to do
were too intense and yet you my child were the most intense of all
- and I learned to calm and quiet all the grizzly voices in my mind
and not add energy to energy so you could learn
and grow
and go
and do like other children
- and you grew into a giving, loving, forgiving child
woven with the grizzly bears of your mind
we did not understand.
Alien in a world I understood that could not understand you.
With media and advertisement undermining all we said
- because they knew
and we didn't
and they were the truth.
Oh the bear in my mind wants to pound my chest
and more than growl.
Do bears roar?
Bear in mind -
You grew
and you grew
and you grew away
because
we were not who you wanted to be
- could be
- would be
The bears in our minds no longer be silent
- pushing each other away
with our snarls
and growls
and stares.
We were not the MTV family
or the Bratz
or the Glamour girls
- we were happy in our litle den
with our close friends
doing close friend things
- while you my little cub needed to run and explore what you believed was pots of honey at ends of rainbows that did not exist except in the media of music and video.
The bear in my mind watched as you worked your way through your imagination
of Truth with brain injury caused by alcohol to the unborn
- 100% preventable -
I asked my child what happens
when you go around the same tree over
and over
and in her wisdom she shared.
"I fall down like a nut."
I smile.
I laugh.
And I know there is hope.
Bear in mind -
I hope you have come to the end of yourself dear little baby bear
- your spirit still intact
- so that it can change the course of history for others
- you my child are one
- only one of many
- too many
- 45,000 a year too many.
The bear in my mind wants to hybernate
- to go away and sleep it all off as a bad dream but there must be no hybernation
- we mother and father bears must remain awake.
We must embrace the voices of those
45,000 a year
450,000 in ten years
- we must stand together with all our bears in our minds
and change the course of
time.
Friday, November 9, 2007
AUTUMN COLORS OF FETAL ALCOHOL
With the weather changing
they wear fall colors
in heaven. . . .
a bright orange and warm sweatshirt. . .
a pair of bright orange and warm pants . . .
plodding in slipper
- leaving behind the stupor
laughing with renewed acquaintances
who come
and go
when it gets cold
warm food
- clean sheets
- a shower
for 72 hours a piece of heaven.
I watch my daughter and wonder
- did you decide to come as you say to protect yourself from yourself and the streets and the bus ride home or were you transported
- like so many others.
There is a shipment tomorrow
- some will leave the state hospital awaits its new guests
- guests with thin upper lips and ears not quite right
- guests with beautiful smiles and innocent laughs
- my daughter is the youngest
- most are in for the first cold snap
- Minnesota is hard on the homeless
- those who lost their battle to alcohol before they were born.
I look at the faces
- the placement of the eyes
- once innocent now filled with street pain.
I look at the scars and gashes and nashes of white streaks
on dark skin and dark streaks on white skin
- scars have no mercy
- they remain.
Most are older
- perhaps many have children
- how many children
- it is easy to make a child
when you are lonely.
when you are scared.
when you are hurt.
It is easy to confuse sex with love.
It is easy to hurt a child when you don't understand.
Understanding.
I understand that my daughter is struggling with deep pain as she says hello to people she
met three years ago. She is not afraid of these people
- I have walked with her as before in odd times and odd places
as she recognizes a friendly face
- She says hello
- at a clinic or a store
- or perhaps the back alley on the way into church.
Had it really been three years since she came up the grey elevator to heaven
- for some people
- life on earth is a hellish struggle
- yet they laugh
- and smile here.
For a blink they are safe and warm and clean and the people who work here are good.
Her birth father told her he looks forward to the safety of heaven -
She talked to him this time
- to let him know she was his daughter
no not yet? will he believe it is really she here
the daughter he gave away.
- Perhaps it matters less now.
She knows and understands.
in the span of three years his mind has gone further away
and now once again he is safe
within the structure
and the rules
and the walls
within the boundaries of the orange clothes
and the grey elevator.
Hidden inside the tan building
- surrounded by trees turning orange for autumn - - -
the hopeless who pray to turn orange
before the frozen truth is exposed.
Who dare explore this truth.
Are we smart enough to seek answers.
My daughter smiles her beautiful smile.
Tomorrow her social worker will pick her up.
It will be time to go. . . .
Where?
when you are lonely.
when you are scared.
Where?
they wear fall colors
in heaven. . . .
a bright orange and warm sweatshirt. . .
a pair of bright orange and warm pants . . .
plodding in slipper
- leaving behind the stupor
laughing with renewed acquaintances
who come
and go
when it gets cold
warm food
- clean sheets
- a shower
for 72 hours a piece of heaven.
I watch my daughter and wonder
- did you decide to come as you say to protect yourself from yourself and the streets and the bus ride home or were you transported
- like so many others.
There is a shipment tomorrow
- some will leave the state hospital awaits its new guests
- guests with thin upper lips and ears not quite right
- guests with beautiful smiles and innocent laughs
- my daughter is the youngest
- most are in for the first cold snap
- Minnesota is hard on the homeless
- those who lost their battle to alcohol before they were born.
I look at the faces
- the placement of the eyes
- once innocent now filled with street pain.
I look at the scars and gashes and nashes of white streaks
on dark skin and dark streaks on white skin
- scars have no mercy
- they remain.
Most are older
- perhaps many have children
- how many children
- it is easy to make a child
when you are lonely.
when you are scared.
when you are hurt.
It is easy to confuse sex with love.
It is easy to hurt a child when you don't understand.
Understanding.
I understand that my daughter is struggling with deep pain as she says hello to people she
met three years ago. She is not afraid of these people
- I have walked with her as before in odd times and odd places
as she recognizes a friendly face
- She says hello
- at a clinic or a store
- or perhaps the back alley on the way into church.
Had it really been three years since she came up the grey elevator to heaven
- for some people
- life on earth is a hellish struggle
- yet they laugh
- and smile here.
For a blink they are safe and warm and clean and the people who work here are good.
Her birth father told her he looks forward to the safety of heaven -
She talked to him this time
- to let him know she was his daughter
no not yet? will he believe it is really she here
the daughter he gave away.
- Perhaps it matters less now.
She knows and understands.
in the span of three years his mind has gone further away
and now once again he is safe
within the structure
and the rules
and the walls
within the boundaries of the orange clothes
and the grey elevator.
Hidden inside the tan building
- surrounded by trees turning orange for autumn - - -
the hopeless who pray to turn orange
before the frozen truth is exposed.
Who dare explore this truth.
Are we smart enough to seek answers.
My daughter smiles her beautiful smile.
Tomorrow her social worker will pick her up.
It will be time to go. . . .
Where?
when you are lonely.
when you are scared.
Where?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Man's Best Friend - Limey Boy
Ever since our Life in the FASlane Teen Adult Camp for persons with FASDs (August 3-6, 2007) a young adult with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders has been working with Knarlwoods to develop a Psychiatric Service Dog Program for FASDs.
Today is day two of introduction to PSD (Psychiatric Service Dog) training for Limey and his new handler. Yesterday we spent time being a part of the community.
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