ok, so my dog hates my driving....

Oh, my poor little puppy gets awful motionsickness - at least she did the first couple of times in my car, she is 5 months now, and I think she has overcome it - lots of puppies get motionsick, and most outgrow it.

But she definitely does not like my car - my husband's car...no problem. So dear Hubby logically finds ample opportunity to comment on women and driving skills.

Well, now, I don't want to end up with a full grown 30 kg dog that has to be hassled into the car, so I started clicking her into the car: I.e.: Clicking for getting closer and closer, then for closeness while car open, then for putting her front paws up on the edge of the box - I don't want her to jump in by herself (yet), I will lift her backend up, but I do want her to help by putting her front paws up. It took about 4 sessions (of 5 minutes each), and now she does it - I still have to click each step towards the car - and she isn't too thrilled - but the moment those front paws hit the box-edge and she gets the jackpot handfull - she just looks so amazingly proud, it is the best look I ever saw! The final lifting up is easy, then another small handful and off we are - with a dog that just lies down to doze... a month ago she would be barking all the way.

In my mind the settling down (and the proud "look I did it" - look) indicates that the clicking approach has helped her overcome her mental fear/reservations about the car - the physical discomfort: the motionsickness, went away as she aged a bit, but the memory of the car being a place that makes one feel bad lingered on. As someone prone to motionsickness myself, I certainly empatize with her on that one. But I am certain that we are well on the way to dissipate the feeling in her. Giving her the feeling of control, that she isn't dragged to the car, but allowed to approach in her own time must be helpful too.

On another note: (just bragging again, lol)

The puppy class we attend is traditional, not too harsh, but still big on the leash corrections. (I am using the "just say no" approach when asked to do things i don't want to do)

Yesterday we were asked to walk loose leash in a zig zag pattern... after the zigzag pattern we were to walk across quite a large square of heavy white plastic. The trainers gave no indication on how to accomplish the exercise - just "walk over that". I noticed several pups being lured across, either by food or by the owner walking backwards and jollying them, ok, fine enough - they got over, although none of the pups seemed the least bit happy about it. One owner just kept walking: as his pup stopped to look at the plastic it was literally dragged across. Almost sideways as it struggled the leash. Urk.

I decided to let my pup decide how we were going  to do this. I walked up to and one step onto the plastic, (trying to ooze confidence "this is not dangerous") As expected she stopped at the edge of the plastic - I stopped to avoid tensing the line. She sniffed the plastic, she looked at my feet standing on it . Then she looked up at me, took eyecontact and - in an almost demonstrative way - lifted her right front paw in the highest arch possible and literally slapped it down on the plastic - still holding the eye contact. "Is this what you want me to do?" "yep" (c/t) and we walked confidently straigth over - she was heeling very nicely too, tail wagging and all. C/t again at the middle and walking off - and that was it.

The most sad thing is actually that while my pup and I are quietly walking around having these little glory moments, not only are the rest of the class having one long struggle with their pups, but both owners and trainers are totally oblivious to what my pup and I are doing - they simply never notice things like the little exchange I just described. How sad - think how much fun they are missing.

Only one lesson left at the puppy class. I have been going with the purpose of socialization. I am looking for a more positive place, or a clickertrainer, it could be nice to go to training and actually learn something (apart from how I am not going to do) At least I am so lucky that I am not dependent on finding a class...we can do homeschooling  just fine if needed.