Chat
I'm glad you're enjoying it! I hope it's helpful. I definitely like to analyze things in detail and writing it all down helps me process it in my own mind and also helps me keep track of both progress and setbacks, what worked and what didn't. I've found that inconsistency often results in confusion, and confusion is the biggest enemy of training. Even the most inefficient training technique will work as long as it's consistent. Phil and I have had to work together recently so that we don't give Finn conflicting signals in his training. Maybe if you and your wife work together while handling the goats you can sync up they way you interact with them so that your goats aren't accidentally being trained differently in your absence.
Phil had a great time with Finn on the patio this morning. Phil is thrilled that Finn is happily leaping through the hula-hoop now. Phil hasn't been able to interest Finn in that trick for at least a year. A lot of folks think teaching circus tricks is a silly waste of time (and maybe it is), but I find it's a great way to teach a goat to "learn how to learn". It helps them tune into our voices, teaches the principles of positive reinforcement, lengthens their attention span, and it's a lot of fun for the goats. It's also fun to show off to folks who don't know how smart goats truly are.
Phil had a great time with Finn on the patio this morning. Phil is thrilled that Finn is happily leaping through the hula-hoop now. Phil hasn't been able to interest Finn in that trick for at least a year. A lot of folks think teaching circus tricks is a silly waste of time (and maybe it is), but I find it's a great way to teach a goat to "learn how to learn". It helps them tune into our voices, teaches the principles of positive reinforcement, lengthens their attention span, and it's a lot of fun for the goats. It's also fun to show off to folks who don't know how smart goats truly are.