(VICT) Re: Retrieve
- From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:36:11 -0700
Dolores,
I think I get it... Now to figure out how to use it. I'm still teaching
the other dog to play after unteaching her how not to play... Sigh.
Getting her to play cooperatively with Mitzi would make my life a lot
easier. We're working on it. We also do mini obedience sessions throughout
the day. I call it competition obedience because the two dogs are competing
for the treats. We've reached the point where the dog I tell to do
something does it, so I can go back and forth. I've added "touch my hand"
to the end of each session. Mitzi and I use the "my hand" command for
positioning in our work, so I'm starting to advance that concept to "touch"
again as Daisy catches up with her. I think I'll try your suggestion when
we're all ready to move to the next step. I need to find ways to keep
Daisy, especially, occupied. She's too unpredictable to take out of the
yard, so I need to find something to occupy her attention and energy to
replace all the frenzied running around and barking. I'm still keeping her
very, very calm whatever we do, but she's starting to get fat. /smile/
One thing I have noticed in our "competition obedience" sessions: Daisy
doesn't actually like our current, healthy, training treats. She only wants
them because Mitzi is getting them and because she associates it with the
click and the positive attention. Huh. I can't tell if she gets the
connection between the behaviors, the click and the treat. Huh. I'm
finding it very odd dealing with two dogs from such different backgrounds.
The real point of our obedience sessions is positive attention, cooperation
and refocusing Daisy's mind from whatever is agitating her at the moment.
The review doesn't hurt Mitzi any, of course, although she still has her
same attitude toward obedience outside those sessions: "Give me a reason,
and I'll consider it." /smile/ I think Rox has dubbed the thinking process
as the "IEC -- internal executive committee." /lol/ Mitzi applies the
behaviors to her work appropriately; but out of harness, she very definitely
has her own mind. A good trait in a guide dog, in my book. Intelligent
disobedience, and all that. /smile/
Tami Smith-Kinney
-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dolores Arste
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 5:50 AM
To: vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: (VICT) Re: Retrieve
>>So how does one find that item that is interesting enough with just the
right feel?<<
Rather than trying to find an item that is interesting, make the item
interesting. By holding it in your hand you can ooh and ahh over it and
develop curiosity about the hot dog.
If the dog is not responsive to this, instead take a hot dog and ooh and ahh
over it. That's the way we would train the show dogs to freeze with ears up
anticipating the goodie.
What you are doing with the verbal ooh's and ahh's is developing a cue that
says "be curious about this thing". At first the thing may simply be the
food. Later the thing will be an object and you will click and reward the
behavior that was developed by the cue.
Seem backwards?
Warmly,
Dolores
www.zenhorsemanship.com
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