Foundations Week 4
Nose Target - New Behavior
This exercise and video are meant to be fun and inspirational. This trainer has always wanted her dog to weave a figure 8 pattern around her legs. She set out to accomplish the task using targeting. In this video you will see how far she gets with 3 short sessions on 4 different days.
She does get a little excited and impatient sometimes. On Day 1 you will hear her give a whistle to get her dog's attention. On Day 3 you will see her snap her fingers and point where she wants the dog to go. The dog obviously forgave her for being impatient!
On Day 4 the trainer especially liked the behavior offered. She tossed down several treats at once after the click.This is called a jackpot. By the end of Day 4 she can't resist verbally cheering him on although she has stopped verbally cuing him to touch her hand most of the time. It is amazing progress for a total of 12 little training sessions.
Think about the tricks you have always wished your dog could do. Surely one of them would be a breeze with the use of targeting. We can't wait to see what you do.
She does get a little excited and impatient sometimes. On Day 1 you will hear her give a whistle to get her dog's attention. On Day 3 you will see her snap her fingers and point where she wants the dog to go. The dog obviously forgave her for being impatient!
On Day 4 the trainer especially liked the behavior offered. She tossed down several treats at once after the click.This is called a jackpot. By the end of Day 4 she can't resist verbally cheering him on although she has stopped verbally cuing him to touch her hand most of the time. It is amazing progress for a total of 12 little training sessions.
Think about the tricks you have always wished your dog could do. Surely one of them would be a breeze with the use of targeting. We can't wait to see what you do.
Polite Walking - Duration
The method to add duration to polite walking isn't really any different from adding duration to eye contact. Vary the number of steps you take before the click and treat. Sometimes take 1 or 2 more steps, sometimes take a few less steps.
In this video you can hear a neighbor dog complaining because he can't join them for a walk. The trainer wanted more space so she could demonstrate taking more steps. We don't recommend starting to increase duration with such a huge distraction as being outside or around other barking dogs. This particular dog has been doing the exercise for a long time, so it was not a problem for him.
Take note that you hear the trainer say 'Let's go' each time before she starts to move. She also does a great job of keep her treat hand at her waist instead of down in the dog's face while they are walking
In this video you can hear a neighbor dog complaining because he can't join them for a walk. The trainer wanted more space so she could demonstrate taking more steps. We don't recommend starting to increase duration with such a huge distraction as being outside or around other barking dogs. This particular dog has been doing the exercise for a long time, so it was not a problem for him.
Take note that you hear the trainer say 'Let's go' each time before she starts to move. She also does a great job of keep her treat hand at her waist instead of down in the dog's face while they are walking
Sit - Lured
At our meeting we teach members to train the sit behavior with a target. The method used in this video is luring. The owner had rescued the pup exactly one week before this video was filmed. They were not aware of the dog being introduced to any training. After a quick session of charging the clicker, the owner began to work on luring the sit.
It did not take many clicks for the dog to figure out the behavior. The trainer learns an important lesson about treat placement. Tossing the treat away from the dog instead of placing it in the dog's mouth sets the dog up to repeat the desired behavior. This can be a very useful technique, especially when training stationary behaviors like Sit and Down.
It did not take many clicks for the dog to figure out the behavior. The trainer learns an important lesson about treat placement. Tossing the treat away from the dog instead of placing it in the dog's mouth sets the dog up to repeat the desired behavior. This can be a very useful technique, especially when training stationary behaviors like Sit and Down.
Sit - Add Cue & Remove Target or Lure
When removing the target or lure, sometimes we can just stop making the motion with the target or treat hand. The dog will try the last rewarded behavior because he wants another treat. Sometimes we have to fade the target or lure. This means we make the motion smaller and smaller until it isn't necessary any more. In the video you will see the trainer is able to stop all hand motions, and the dog offers the sit to get another treat. The trainer says nothing and keeps her hands very still while waiting for the dog to offer a sit.
When we add a verbal cue, it is important to be able to predict that the behavior is about to happen. We want to say the cue right before the behavior starts. For the sit watch the muscles in the back half of the dog. You may see the muscles in the back or legs twitch as the dog prepares to move. Sometimes the dog gives it away by starting to look up at you. The order we want it to happen is verbal cue (say 'Sit'), behavior (dog sits), click, and treat.
When we add a verbal cue, it is important to be able to predict that the behavior is about to happen. We want to say the cue right before the behavior starts. For the sit watch the muscles in the back half of the dog. You may see the muscles in the back or legs twitch as the dog prepares to move. Sometimes the dog gives it away by starting to look up at you. The order we want it to happen is verbal cue (say 'Sit'), behavior (dog sits), click, and treat.