I miss videos from some participants... I hope you're still posting it, it really doesn't matter if you're not finished with the trick just yet, you can always do that later, but it's good to have some directions, that's why I would like to see everybody's videos!
But well, it's time for a new to-do list:
1. see in what situations your dog gets really crazy and exited or runs as mad and name it
2. make the front feet target lower&lower and smaller&smaller and then fade it completely, still circling away from the dog and have him follow your leg. Then, add movements to the side, forward and backward and reward your dog for being glued to the leg
3. side version of 2on2off: try to get side legs (the two left or the two right legs) on an object. The easiest is to choose an object that is angled (I put a pillow under the angle against the sofa or a wall), so that the dog can't climb on it with all 4 feet. Because of 2on2off, they will probably try hind feet on, but position yourself next to an object so that the dog is parallel to it and will probably first try just one hind foot (it helps if you have a pee trick down already!): reward a couple of times so that he keeps it there as opposed to try to put the other hind leg on too and then see if you can get front foot on too. You can tell them to paw touch your hand that you keep close to an object and eventually fade the hand to have both feet on an object. Jackpot if the dog puts both feet on at the same time (vs. first hind, then front). Do it with both sides right from the start, you want to build muscle and balance on both sides.
4. one object into another: shape the dog to pick up an object, then to carry it around, then to carry it in the direction of another object, then to let it go close to it and eventually to actually put it in another object. I usually start directly with two bowls of the same size, but to make it easier, you can also use a toy and a box or something similar. Do try it with a bowl too, though, they require more precision.
5. I see many started that already, seeing the video I posted on the website - those that didn't, start with hug the pole/umbrella trick, first clicking for any paw touch, then for sliding to the side and then for going more&more around the object, the final goal is a firm hug with one or both front feet around the object - see this video
6. stays with distractions: tell the dog to sit or down and continue with proofing the stay until the release word as we were discussing in 2on2off case in the last lesson: have them stay in a position with you running passed them, throwing toys and treats, making different hand gestures etc. - then say "go" (sometimes standing still, sometimes while moving) and reward, preferably with a toy as you want a fast start out of the position on "go"
What are your thoughts on a word like “Ready”? I’ve played games with her where essentially I’ll either randomly take off running, or have someone hold her for a minute as I start to run, and I always preference it with “Ready?”
Because of it I end up having two different ways to break a stay “Ready” (pause) “Ok” where she bursts out of the stay, or a just “Ok” where it’s a lazy break. Do you think that should simply be a tone of voice difference? Or is the extra word ok?
(I realize I can and will still do all above exercises, just seems like a similar topic and wondering whether to break her stay wiht Ready-Ok or just Ok and start pushing that for speed)
Sure, that’s perfectly o.k., you can use the words that way!
I’m looking forward to this ‘to do’ list -- sounds like a good challenge 🙂
Grace and i have a little foster kid -- Glenda -- coming to stay with us. Apparently she has had a rough time and is skinny and v timid. I’m really looking forward to taking her through our puppy class exercises 🙂 She’s a 6 month old kelpie and her ears are nearly as tall as her …
Camilla,
Are you fostering her from a shelter of something like that? She looks gorgeous! and I love her hears!!!
Hi Eva, yeah I’m fostering her through a rescue group called Australian working dog rescue. She is gorgeous -- v v scared of everything but doing well. It has been Very hard work but rewarding 🙂
Yikes I feel behind. I will post another video and start working on this session.
ohhh then I am not the only one 🙂
feels like everyone else is taking giant steps compared to our small steps !!
We’re behind, too. Still working on backing up. I don’t know how we can progress to putting back and front paw on an object without knowing what to do with backfeet. I need help. Anyone?
Jennifer,
This worked for me… I had problems too with Darwing backing up and I eventually succeed by starting to have him in front of me and pretending to trow a toy to him…he would step back preparing himself to catch it up… then I clicked for that and rewarded with the toy. As well, When playing with him to tug of war I stepped in front of him and he would back up a little step too tugging with the toy and I clicked that too and let it have the toy… At the end I wouldnt let him have the toy till he backed up by himself…
I hope this helps you…
Thanks for trying to help, Eva. When he wants something he sits or even lies down and waits patiently, he is not very pushy.
Yeah, every dog is different, anyway, good luck with it! I am sure you will get there!
Yes, that’s a very good idea! When the dog is tugging, he is pulling backwards and if you step after him, you will get a step backwards that you can click and reward by letting them win the toy or you could even give a treat if he prefers that! Just try and see how it goes, he might make the connection it’s the same thing.
Well, your back is definitely good enough that you could try to put a blanket or a pillow behind him and see if he will step on it and click&reward that. It might even help with his back up as such, so just go for it. Once he knows it’s about stepping on a pillow, make it somewhat higher by putting something underneath and then you’re good to go and can start with side legs!
Will he stand in front of you? What about simple body pressure from you. If he stands in front of you, lean forward and see if he steps back away from the pressure. Sometimes it’s just a little lean, they think you’re going to move more and they step back. I have a soft boy who had no sit at the time so it worked well. With dogs who sit quickly it’s harder.
Thank you all for comments and suggestions! One of those things must work. He walks backwards in left heel position, that’s what he knows, but didn’t really make the connection that he could do it without my leg. Then I only put a flat piece of cardboard on the floor and he looked startled/surprised when he stepped on it. I will try the blanket, definitely something very low, and I think either the tugging or just throwing kibble at him should work, anything but a sit!
This is somewhat ironic that the obedience training is literally coming back to bite us in the butt! 🙂
No problem, take your time, it’s never good to push for more as the dog offers. I’m thinking to give you a week off from 18-22nd April anyway as I’m having a camp here that week and it might be impossible for me to keep up with all the comments, so if everybody would agree, we would have a break that week and then simply prolong the class by one week? That would allow everybody who is a little behind on things to catch up and others to master the tricks some more if wanted or just focus on playing for that week… Would that work?
It’s ok for me.
That’s fine for us too, there’s always something to work on anyway 🙂
I’m fine with a break. We’re behind too. : ) At the beginning I thought 2 weeks was such a long time! But it really goes by too fast!
That’s fine for us. We’ll probably just take a break that week anyways, since I will have house guests from 20.4.-24.4.
My friends asked me to take their 2 Golden Retrievers for the Easter Holidays.
vacation time for me then -- perfect to catch up on some work… a week off to catch up sounds perfect to me 🙂
It’s fine with us too
That would be great for me. im in South Carolina on afamily visit where there is sun but no Nero
I catch up right there with you at the camp 🙂
🙂
yes yes 18-22 off!!!!THAT is PERFECT for us… we are behind also and that is the week Bronagh must decide on where she will go to college next year so good we won’t have to feel so pressured with the tricks as with the college decision!!!!!
That works well for me too 🙂
Also OK for us!! 😀
I think it will be fine. I have lots of things to work on 🙂
I am good with it too, as we have loads to practice….!!! 🙂
Our first attempt to the side legs trick.
Laura & Shape
Well, that went fast!!!
Circling as you can see has hit a snag… I am having a hard time getting him to not leap at me as you can see at the beginning. He is getting better though. He is also not offering the turn, I almost always have to use placement of reward to get him to go all the way around. Thoughts?
PS I am ok with a week off to play Catch up also.
Hm, maybe he got so used to help with this exercise that he is now simply demanding it -- it does looks like that… Maybe you can try with another trick first, leave that one alone a little bit and work on shaping him starting from a head turn away from you to a spin to the left or right -- without any help at all. I think he will get it easier if you don’t help any at the beginning as then he simply starts relying on it. Once he learns to look away from the reward and spin without an object, it might transfer nicely to pivoting on an object as that’s exactly what is missing here. Especially as he tends to throw behaviors together, I think this should work.
Play’s back feet are busy, I feel he really has a great understanding of them. I love his little cartwheel 🙂 I am working on one rear leg lift here.
One thing I am noticing is that he is throwing alot of behaviors together, such as back up, a leg up, lie down, etc. I am trying to get it more in tune.
That was great! Time for side legs!
its okay for me too! Perfect timing for early Easter holiday !
Here are our homework from today. We have also done some heelwork, but did not get it on video.
And here are some seesaw training. I don’t think it’s the noise she is afraid of. In this training session i didn’t see her being afraid or uncertain.
I tried to slam the drawer in the kitchen, when Zushi was there, and she reacted with jumping up an tried to slam it her self 🙂 So i didn’t think it is the noise she is uncertain about.
Wow, very nice stay in 2on2off now! And getting there with side legs! And yes, she seems fine with that board even when it’s not on the carpet… Not sure why she was refusing closing the doors then… Maybe her paw ended in between once? Well, the important thing is that she is fine with it now! 🙂