(VICT) Re: my bilingual dog
- From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 10:53:58 -0700
Rox,
/lol/ I can just see Mill'E watching you sign, catching every word. =
Yup, a
smart dog is a scary dog. Mitzi isn't bilingual, but she does pick =
things
up from casual conversation and will act on what she hears whether I =
mean
her to or not. She will also respond to my musings around the house. =
"Now,
where's the... Oh! Good dog!" Sometimes she responds better to a =
muttered
question than an actual "find it" command. Silly poodle!
I'm trying to think how I indicate to her that I'm just gabbing with =
some
human and that she should take a chill pill and let us get on with it...
She's learned to do that so well that I still panic once in a while =
because
she has "disappeared." It's one of those behaviors that just snapped =
into
place with maturity, along with all the zillion other things I've been
nagging her about for all these months. /smile/ She's learned to =
interpret
my body language and tone, I guess, but I use "wait" as the verbal cue =
that
she needs to just hang until I'm ready to move on.
Would that sort of command work with Mill'E? I see it as a variation on
"stay" or "down" or any of the other commands for some form of =
stillness.
If that makes sense. Stillness not being Mitzi's strong suit -- until
recently, she had to really try and couldn't always manage -- we've =
worked
towards it gradually, so I seem to have a number of nuanced commands to
indicate which variety of stillness I'm looking for....
I think I just confessed to rank heresy. /smile/ I've been reading a
fascinating discussion on another list about the use of commands to =
convey
various concepts (like find, straight, halt, etc.). Does it all boil =
down
to the four basic commands (or three, even)? Or do our dogs grasp the
vocabularies we use to indicate our wishes on a more refined basis?
Now I'm just rambling. But my best suggestion is to coin a separate =
command
and hand signal to indicate that it's time for her to just watch while =
you
get on with your business. It's something that you could start using =
around
the house then gradually work in for more complex settings.
Just some thoughts. HTH
Tami Smith-Kinney
-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of The =
Pawpower
Pack
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 8:24 PM
To: vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: (VICT) my bilingual dog
One of the first behaviors I taught my dog mill'E as a clicker trainer =
was a
hand target; we have three main ones. One is where she touches the tip =
of
an index finger which I use as a pointer and the other is a palm-touch =
and
the third is a fist-touch. Each has their own uses.
Mill'E also loves to watch me when I am using ASL (American Sign =
Language)
with other D/deaf or interpreters.
She especially likes it when I talk about her and stares extra hard at =
me
during those times.
The problem I'm having is that when I do a sign like "where" or "sample" =
or
"windy" which involve hand positions like the various hand target cues =
she
thinks I'm cueing her to target which interrupts me and is driving me =
rather
mad, if the truth were to be told.
I have at least 3 interpreted conferences/meetings in the next month and =
I
need to figure out how to make clear to her when I want her to target =
and
when I want her to just watch me "talking" or sleep.
Anyone have any ideas?=20
iyie yie yie
Smart dogs; can't live with 'em; can't live without 'em.
I'm trying to c/t for laying still and not moving but when I do the =
target
motion she has stopped responding to it and I think she's confused; heck =
I'm
confused!
Ideas, anyone?
Thanks!
Rox and the "Kitchen Bitches"
Bristol, Gracy, Mill'E
"Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business =
better
than we do." ~Michel de Montaigne
pawpower@xxxxxxx
windows messenger: Brisomania@xxxxxxxxxxx
AIM: brissysgirl
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