Foundations Week 3
Name Game - Duration
Watch how this trainer varies how long she waits to click AND how long she waits to give the name cue again. The time increments are small but definitely varied longer and shorter. This helps the dog stretch the time he can hold the behavior by making sure he gets to go back and do the easier ones, too. Look at how still her clicker and treat hands are between events and how they return to the same neutral position after the click and treat. Her location is very quiet, and her voice is very calm. Would you have guessed from this video that the dog really does struggle to make eye contact with people?
Name Game - Distractions
This is the same dog as in the Name Game - Duration video. The dog was taught to leave a pile of treats alone long ago. That doesn't mean he wants to take his eyes off of them! When the trainer introduced a distraction (food or toy), she very correctly lowered her expectations or criteria. She doesn't expect the dog to make complete eye contact or maintain the look in her direction for very long. Once the dog can comfortably make eye contact with her while the distraction is present, then she will work to increase the duration. She doesn't work on both criteria at once.
Targeting - Follow the Target
In this video the trainer builds the targeting behavior through a number of short sessions. Since she sees the dog quickly demonstrate the correct behavior, she begins raising the criteria. She varies the target distance from the dog, the target position (high/low/right/left), and the target hand. This helps the dog begin to generalize that the 'Touch' cue (in her case) means put his nose to her hand no matter where it is. She frequently returns to a target position close to the dog. This makes sure it stays easy and rewarding for the dog while he learns.
Polite Walking - Connect the Dots
First the trainer demonstrates the exercise to the owner inside the house. While the distractions are low, the space is too small. The trainer does a very good job returning her treat hand to her waist almost every time instead of luring the dog around with the treats.
When they move outside to the back yard, the trainer demonstrates the exercise while the dog is on a long line. They don't have a fence here, so this allows her to work without needing to handle a leash or worry about the dog running away. The trainer can focus on the treats and clicker.
When they move to the front yard, the owner takes over for the first time. They need to use a leash here, so someone else takes over the clicker while the owner learns how to train the exercise.
Members may need some help figuring out the best way to practice this exercise at home. It is okay for a parent to hold a long line or operate the clicker initially. It is usually best for the person training the dog to do the treating. If someone else treats, the dog will learn to look and move away from the handler when they hear the click.
When they move outside to the back yard, the trainer demonstrates the exercise while the dog is on a long line. They don't have a fence here, so this allows her to work without needing to handle a leash or worry about the dog running away. The trainer can focus on the treats and clicker.
When they move to the front yard, the owner takes over for the first time. They need to use a leash here, so someone else takes over the clicker while the owner learns how to train the exercise.
Members may need some help figuring out the best way to practice this exercise at home. It is okay for a parent to hold a long line or operate the clicker initially. It is usually best for the person training the dog to do the treating. If someone else treats, the dog will learn to look and move away from the handler when they hear the click.