I've been playing with Satin on a regular basis - about 15-20 minute sessions every day.
She still tests me every step of the way and I wonder if she always will. She's very smart and therefore easily bored and challenging to challenge! And when I do challenge her mind she gets feisty. Sometimes it is hard to stay positive, but I found something that works for me!
Yesterday I had Satin on the 12' line just working on her send and returns. She's under the impression that when I send her she's required to GO GO GO GO and I will be upset if she stops. She has a good memory - I haven't lunged her like this for at least 7 years. But she sees the string on the end of the carrot stick and gets annoyed.
So I have been veeery gently sending her at a walk, letting her go about 10 steps and then asking her to disengage and return. She loves to come back to me (because it means she can stand still and not expend energy!). Then I ask her to back and send again. We do this a few times and she starts to realize that she can't predict what I am going to ask her - this is when she starts really getting into it. I have to be on my toes and make sure that she doesn't think I am going to punish her. When she anticipates a send and starts to turn before I ask her to, I gently ask her to stop and back. When she finally gets it I let her stand still.
To stay positive I put the radio on pretty loud and I do a lot of dancing and jigging. It keeps me in a good mood even when Satin is crowding my space or being bored. I try not to let her mood dictate mine!
She's getting calmer at the trot, too. Usually she throws a big hissy fit when I ask her to trot - and the fit sometimes turns into right brain craziness where she tries to pull away and escape the situation. Lots of friendly games, lots of rewards.
I feel like we are in the slow, muddy phase of our journey. Bogged down by habits and past experiences. Hoping we can pull ourselves out of it and move on.
