[Dailydrool] Mila's ramp training

[Val lbrewerzwick via Dailydrool]

This is Mariah again.  I promised an update on Mila's ramp training.  You may recall, Mila wants up on the human bed at night to sleep.  which is allowed. But, unlike both Ipo and myself, each of us being part gazelle, Mila doesn't simply fly up and down.  So the grown human son built a fabulous ramp to the bed, which Ipo now uses to conserve energy.  I still fly.  But Mila thought the ramp too scary.  Treats placed along the ramp and multiple trials of Mom walking Mila up the ramp by the collar finally got her to consider the possibility.  But onLy if Mom walked her up, which she would command by barking.  mom followed one drooler's advice and ignored the barking.  Mila learned to stop barking, lay down, and then try again a half hour later, and a half hour after that, and so on into the night.  Mom started punching Mila to the base of the ramp, and then she would scamper up.  mom is trying to pair this with a verbal command and hand signal, "Up the ramp" with a big arm sweep like "c'mon in, y'all".  Not working, but Mom and Mila have gotten to the point where, after Mila barks, if Mom touches Mila on the shoulder, then Mila goes up the ramp.  Once (just once) Mila went up by herself.  MOm thinks Mila thinks Mila needs to be given permission to believe Mila can go up the ramp, and is hoping a verbal command will someday work.  this has been going on for over a month now.  I think they are both stark raving mad,  and it is a good thing that Mom never pursued a career as a dog trainer.  MAriah. Vlbzwick at yahoo.com