Boxing..progress!

Thought it was time to push the boundaries a little with Bailarina's box training. She was now completely comfortable with the loading, standing on and being moved about and reversing off.

So next step was to tackle the part that had sent her into orbit when she travelled down - gates / partitions.

I don't use the partition in my box, but have the two side loading wings that have to be closed up before the ramp can be lifted and I wanted to gently and slowly add these to the mix.

I needed the help of superhubby Gi, so duly press-ganged into service he came down to the yard this evening ;-)

Loading went well, Bally took her time but moved on up the ramp when asked and straight on. Once she was settled I asked Gi to start moving the first gate across. As soon as B heard it and sensed it coming across behind her she had a slight tap dancing moment, but calmed down enough to stand still but tense and wary. I got Gi to move it back to release the pressure on her, lots of praise, then across again until it was almost closed behind her.

Another tap dance, but minimal, and Bally calmed down as I stroked and talked to her - again she was still tense and wary, but once she stood nice and still I got Gi to open it completely. I gave B loads of praise and let her stand with no pressure again for a few minutes.

I wanted to try again, but this time I moved B across the box at more of an angle and let her turn her head to see what Gi was doing to see if that gave her a little more confidence to deal with the situation.
Again she just gave a little start as he began to move it and the gate squeaked a bit (a case for some WD40!) but this time she was happier to watch him close it completely behind her...success!!! I can see that just as we've slowly acclimatised her to being on the box and accepting the strange feeling of movement whilst still we need to repeat this stage several times until it's just another accepted part of the process.

I'd actually prepped Gi as to what to do / expect if she found it too much and made a run for it, so we were prepared for the worst but bless her Baby B was less tense / stressed with this new step than she was over the initial standing on the box and feeling it move as she moved, so I'm hoping this slow patient approach really will pay dividends when we have to take the big leap of actually moving!! (not to mention the rather huge one of closing the ramp)

Going by how well it went today and her acceptance of feeling closed in on the box I'm feeling more confident that we'll crack it eventually.

Onwards and upwards with those little baby steps