I have a lot of critters. Far too many, really. Sometimes we have to get stuff done, and figuring out how to make that happen makes my brain hurt. For some reason, I’m pretty good at getting critters to do what I want, but I want to be better at it.
I’m thinking of taking a Karen Pryor foundations course. I don’t particularly want a career in dog training, but I’ve seen a bunch of stuff where she communicates with dolphins, chickens and even fish.
But mostly, I have six dogs, and I’m in a new place, new sounds, new smells, new territory. Everyone is nervous and I want to make it more relaxed and happy for all concerned, especially me.
I’ve read a lot of her books (Don’t shoot the Dog, Reaching the Animal Mind). I took a basic clicker training course with Bjarki a few years ago. It didn’t go well. He couldn’t understand why he wasn’t there to play with the other dogs, and both of us got frustrated and quit. I remain intrigued, though.
I found someone sort of local from her website, and she suggests doing some basic training here at my place. I think I’m going to schedule it for after the new year. That gives me time to save my pennies and get better sorted to have someone here for an hour of instruction and the rest of the farm allows that to happen with minimal interference. (tricky!)