"front" "chin" 030113

Here is a quick session.  I'm supposed to be packing to go to my parents' for the weekend, so this is shorter than the others.  Of course, having just checked it, I see its only shorter by 30 seconds.  So six minutes is short and five and a half minutes is very short.  I think I need to get the clock in my head tuned up.

• I started with front to tune it up - using the stool
• first I notice I have an unconscious hand cue to move in closer by bringing both hands with index fingers extended to my center and she knows that one, scoots right in.  I'll have to remember that so I can use it when reattaching "front".
• touching her bumm with my toes has no affect, she may believe I'm proofing her... since we did the toe touches and gentle foot taps for proofing other things, like her "wait"
• I'm curious what you think of "naming the position"...  I'd read that was a good way to teach "heel" and "front" and it worked well with "heel"... though not as well with "front".
• part of the problem may be that she's not as inclined to be as close on the front as I'd like.  what do you think... its her natural spot to sit for a "front" close enough?
• I'd heard about spitting the food to her and it was interesting.  at first I didn't think it was working, but when I did it some more, she did move in closer.
• I thought I did a good job of waiting her out when I tried the spitting... first letting her know food could come from there, and then just waited until she chose to move in closer... after that closer was more frequent.
• spitting worked better when I loaded my mouth with several treats.
• in theory I think I could move her around the room in a sit and not have to sweep the floor myself any more - letting her tail do all the work.
• obviously I need to train myself to make treat delivery lower when doing "chin"