Clicking Progress

[lmevans]

Wayhey!!!!   Noosa is nearly clipped!   havent taken any pics coz she looks like the rats have been at her!   But she is standing quietly for the clippers (having been a raving loon the first time I tried it - full on panic and tantrums, in a 17.1 heavy this aint funny!)

Its taken me four sessions with the clippers and a few target clicking sessions in between. I started on bits she was okay with - her quarters and rump - and moved on to the more ticklish bits later - up the ribs and shoulders. She gets a click and treat each time she stands still. I dont mind her chucking her head around and lashing her tail just now - the four feet on the floor is our first goal!!!  later when she is happier with it all we'll work on keeping the head still and being really quiet.

So far we have clipped out her rump, back and rib cage, leaving a fluffy saddle patch. We are slowly working our way up her soulders now - getting anywhere near her head leads to a relapse of panic!  so each inch further up her shoulders and neck is progress.

I'll provide pics when she is looking less moth eaten!

Lucie xx

[lmevans]

Oooh yes, nearly forgot.....


....one of my wild colts is now happy being handled and is wearing a headcollar!!!

L xx

[CLT]

Wow Lucie you are clickertastic

I'll be waiting with baited breath to hear if you manage to get up towards Noosa's head.  If you pull it off I think that'll be enough inspiration for me to give it a go with Doug.

Caron

[Anna]

Great work, Lucy!!!!

By the way - I think you did a fantastic job on Danny and Fanta!   If I ever need Merlin clipped, I will get you to do it, please!

[Becky holden]

Sounds like you've been having lots of success!!  
Well done!

Becky    

[lmevans]

this morning we have progressed onto the mains clippers - bigger, more noisy and complete with cable and wide blades to tickle all the more


also involves walking to my house half a mile away and standing tied up to my lorry in the driveway - very exciting, scary, alien and out of the ordinary

took us back a few steps, but managed to get her to stand for her rump and ribs to be re-clipped (the battery clippers leave way too much hair still on!), and even managed to creep my way down towards her belly and do her butt cheeks and up either side of her tail - which she wouldn't let me do at all last week!


Huge clicks and pockets fulls of treats all round!

than the bag spoilt it all by barging me thoroughly and standing squarely on my foot on the way home!!!

Lucie xx

[MostlySunny]

Thats fab news Lucie.. apart from your foot!  I hope it mends soon!  
Clicker training does seem to have amazing results. I can't wait to watch the videos my mum has lined up for me!