(VICT) Re: retreiving, how to teach to grab
- From: "Ann Edie" <annedie@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:04:56 -0400
Hi, Ioana,
I would start by c/t'ing for touching the object, (I would start with a
favorite toy), with his nose. Then after that is consistent, withhold the
c/t until he touches it with his lips or tongue. The licking step you
described is a good stairstep up from just touching with the nose, so that
is clickable, too. When that is consistent, you might get a time when he
opens his mouth a bit more and touches it with his teeth; click and jackpot
that! Try to repeat this and gradually shape it into a take with the teeth.
Once he will hold on for just a second, while you are still holding the toy
too, start saying "out" or "give" just before you think he will let go
anyway; c/t when he releases the toy.
Then you will have the "take" and the "give" behaviors in their first
approximation. You can then work in very small steps to shape the more
complete retrieve behaviors.
If your dog likes a game of tug with a rope or a tug toy, playing with these
can be a great way to encourage the "take", as you hold the toy out to him
and wiggle it around, to invite him to play, and the "give" when you stop
actively pulling and wait for him to lose interest and let go.
The important thing is to c/t each little change that leads in the right
direction, and to keep it fun, even if the intention is for the completed
behavior to be an actual helpful task as well as a fun game.
If the dog actually likes any toss-and-retrieve games, I use this desire to
build in the bring-it-back-right-to-my-hand behavior by never going
searching for the toy if it is held or dropped out of very close range. If
the dog drops the toy or stands too far away, I quickly pretend to lose
interest or to not know where the toy is and turn away or otherwise show the
dog that I think the game is over. He quickly learns that if he wants the
game to continue, he must bring the toy all the way back and make a point of
putting it right in my hand so that I cannot miss the message.
If the game is fun for the dog, it is self-reinforcing. Then clicks and
treats are not necessary; the next toss of the toy and the opportunity to
chase the "prey" is the reinforcer. So the trick is to only continue the
game as long as the dog is really enthusiastic about it. Know when to end
the session. Ending while the dog still is engaged is better than trying to
get that last repetition from him once he has had enough.
Hope that helps. Have fun!
Ann
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ioana Gandrabur" <igandrabur@xxxxxx>
To: "Vi-clickertraining" <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:47 PM
Subject: (VICT) retreiving, how to teach to grab
> Greetings everyone,
> I had sent this some time ago but I think I might have made a mistake when
> I sent it.
>
> I have been interested to teach my dog to retrieve and thatch objects for
> me. It is to important, more like a fun project. Especially bringing toys
> back to me might seem useful. I have read articles referred to in some
> earlier posts about teaching the dog to touch, grab, hold and give from
> the hand and then from the lap and finally further away. I can not seem to
> get him to grab. He touches the object and if I delay clicking he will
> lick it enthusiastically and try to put his paw on it but never grabbing
> it. He does grab toys and brings them to me but only if he feels like it.
> So I don't think he has a sensitive mouth that makes him dislike it.
>
> Any suggestions are appreciated.
>
> Best regards and thanks for the interesting messages.
>
> Ioana and Guide dog Adrian
>
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