(VICT) Re: Introducing the Toileting Harness
- From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:17:52 -0400
One change for me.
When I buy new items or equipment beds and the like, I rub them on my dog's
back to get the smell on them.
Gwenna and Judson have accepted new equipment quickly this way. As it
smells like them, when they sniff it after I am done. I do this for brushes
too.
Shelley L. Rhodes M.A., VRT, CTVI
and Guinevere, Golden lady Guide
juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
Graduate Alumni Association Board
www.guidedogs.com
More than Any other time, When i hold a beloved book in my hand, my
limitations fall from me, my spirit is free.
- Helen Keller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Edie" <annedie@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 1:02 AM
Subject: (VICT) Introducing the Toileting Harness
Below is a plan for introducing the toileting harness to a dog. I sent this
post to another list last March in response to a question. Please do let me
know if points are unclear, or if something does not work, or you just have
a better way of doing it.
------
Clicker Lesson Plan: Introducing Your Dog to the Use of the Toileting
Harness
I know a few people who have used the relieving harness with their dogs,
mostly for reasons of easier, more efficient clean up. They have had good
success by introducing the new equipment to the dog in a systematic and
positive way.
1. At first, I would just let the dog sniff the new harness, and I would
click and treat each time he does this. Repeat this several times, first
inside your house, then outside, in the place where you regularly relieve
your dog.
2. Then I would just drape the harness over the dog's back, again first in
the house and then in his relieving place, and click and reward, for his
acceptance of the harness.
3. Once he indicates that he understands that the harness is a good thing
and that accepting it earns him treats, then I would move on to loosely
buckling the harness around his waist, without a bag attached, and reward
him for ignoring it for a few seconds. I would gradually fasten the harness
so that it fits more snugly, and gradually lengthen the time he wears the
harness before giving him the reward, until he can comfortably wear just the
harness for long enough to relieve himself.
4. Then I would begin putting the harness on the dog--again without bag
attached--before taking him out to relieve, and leaving it on him while he
relieves. When he relieves himself while wearing the harness, I would make
a fuss over him and give him a special treat.
I would repeat this several times. At some point in this process, the
harness itself will become part of the cue that tells your dog that it is
time to relieve himself, which may make relieving time a quicker, more
efficient process.
5. Once he is accepting the harness, I would do some desensitization to the
type of plastic bags that you will be using. First I might just have the
handles of a bag around my wrist as I take the dog out to relieve, so that
he gets used to the sound of the bag rustling and flapping around.
6. Then I might run the bag over his back, and click and treat for his
accepting and ignoring it.
7. After several repetitions of this, I might put the harness on the dog and
attach the bag to the top hooks and just let it hang there while he relieves
himself.
8. Then I would do the same thing, but also put his tail through the handle
of the bag which I clip to the top of the harness.
During all this introductory process, you will need to continue picking up
after your dog as you always have.
9. Once he is comfortable relieving with the bag attached to the top of the
harness, then I would attach the bag to the bottom and the top of the
harness, as it is meant to be used, and let him walk around and find his
place to relieve as usual. Reward successful relieving with the harness on,
at first with praise and treats, and later with praise and pats.
After a systematic introduction, the relieving harness will probably become
just part of the dog's regular "wardrobe", and he will think no more of it
than he does of his collar or leash.
You might not have to go through all the steps outlined above with your dog.
Guide dogs in general are not too body sensitive, after all, they have to be
comfortable wearing a guide harness, leash, collar (or two,) etc. Many of
them have also worn a cape when they were puppies. So if your dog seems
unconcerned about the harness after a brief introduction, you could try
skipping a step or two. But if he seems concerned or refuses to walk or to
do his business with the harness on, then you know that he needs the task
broken down into more small steps to understand what you want him to do.
As always, when we introduce new equipment to our animals, we want to be
sure to make the new experience a very positive thing.
As for the problem of the dog urinating on the bag, the people who use the
relieving harness usually let the dog urinate before they put on the
harness, so that the problem will be avoided.
Hope this helps. I'm sure Julie J., who sells the harnesses, can answer any
questions you may have about how it can be used and how to train your dog to
accept it. But feel free to contact me on or off list, too.
Best,
Ann
e-mail: annedie@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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