“Mornings are hard!”

Yesterday I read that James told Richell “See you tomorrow!” as they parted ways for the day. This morning as I was biting into my bagel while Victoria left for work, she said the same. Seems that this long week and “pandemic time” means that a spouse leaves for work on Blursday and doesn’t return home until Soonsday.

It didn’t take Sachiko long to rebel against our “everyone stays quiet in their crate until fed” training. This morning she was most certainly acting up and throwing a tantrum. I warned Victoria that we’d have days like today where Sachiko regresses or acts out.

Toshirō has been deposed as Beta to Kiyomi’s Alpha as Sachiko tried pushing him out of his spot on the bed last night. Sachiko slept near the pillow at my head all night while Kiyomi slept by Vicky’s side and poor Toshiro slept on the floor.

As if our crate tantrum and Toshiro deposed weren’t enough, Sachiko decided to “pick a fight” with Kiyomi this morning and start wrestling her. Vicky grinned and hoped that Kiyomi would put Sachiko back in her place. I quietly watched. It looks like both our female Shelties are wrestling, playing, and trying to assert themselves over the other.

Sachiko backed down, Kiyomi has been sticking close to me this morning, and Toshiro is back to running Zoomies with Sachiko at an insane pace around the house.

Ken (speaking to Karen) – It didn’t take Sachiko long to rebel against our “everyone stays quiet in their crate until fed” training. This morning she was most certainly acting up and throwing a tantrum. I warned Victoria that we’d have days like today where Sachiko regresses or acts out.

Karen (speaking to Ken) – So, let’s use food here. It is not rebelling, it is more likely an extinction burst – it worked before, let’s try it again. Then they increase it in intensity to see if it will still work. If we give in, then we reinforce the behavior. Therefore, the behavior keeps going.

Behaviors that are reinforced as they happen are behaviors that are more likely to keep going.

So, pup starts barking when you are bringing food, stop and walk away. The moment pup stops barking, toss a little food. Then keep tossing food as you approach.

Sachiko barks, walk away.

Sachiko quiets, toss some food and head towards Sachiko.

Then I work towards asking my pup to be quiet a little longer each time as I bring food.

Quiet brings food, barking gets you to go away.