positive reinforcement

 
wombat went to her first obedience school lesson today. it was a private lesson where we are learning how to train her not to be aggressive with other dogs. the woman who runs the training sessions bases everything on positive reinforcement. it seems like its gonna work. it'll just take time and patience but we're gonna give it a go. we got her fitted for a "gentle leader" which seems to fit her much better than the halti which would go up into her eye when she pulled. she also got a muzzle so now we can feel safer taking her near other dogs knowing she can't hurt them (of course, people are going to be more scared of her now too but she's really a very gentle, loving dog around people). it was pretty amazing when the trainer would take her on a walk around cuz wombat just did exactly as she should (i think she sees the trainer as the "treat lady" cuz she knew the woman for an hour and right from the start she was getting really good chicken treats). she did pretty good when me and zac each gave it a go but it was like magic when jenny (the trainer) took her. we're gonna slowly introduce her to other dogs (from a distance) and just keep feeding treats as a reward when she looks to us or doesn't get aggressive. eventually she'll make the association of "other dog=i get treats". hopefully we'll be able to get her to be friendly with other dogs this way (or at least be able to sit at a cafe and know she won't try to lunge if a dog comes past).
i took her for a walk tonite on her new gentle leader with some treats and she did pretty well (although she didn't like my tofu dog bits as much as the chicken things the trainer gave her. i'm gonna make her some peanut butter biscuits and see if that works as well as chicken otherwise we may have to buy some of this chicken/rice stuff the trainer used). now we just gotta train her on getting used to the muzzle so we can use that (we gotta spend a nite putting peanut butter in the end of it so she sticks her own face in it and gets used to putting it on and sees it as a good thing instead of a punishment).