Now on to the real story. Dhali is going through a HUGE GINORMOUS EXTREME chewing phase. He has chewed up so, so, so many toys. A mountain of toys. The toy box is getting emptied. I would not be able to fit all the destroyed toys into one picture. Right now he is really into squeaky plastic/rubber toys. He ate the feet off of a bad cuz. I did not know that it was possible to kill a cuz with too much squeaking. He haz killed a cuz. 2 hollee rollers, pear ball, ice cream squeaky, green pepper squeaky, 2 wooly dog tugs, green frog's eyes, big blue and orange ball, orange 8 tug, sheep skin tug (expensive piece of junk, ripped apart when we were tugging), his bear baby blanket and more.
However the most expensive thing he has destroyed!!!
This Chris Christensen wooden pin brush. Thirty-five dollars. $35. Yes, for a dog brush. Yes, for a dog brush made out of WOOD. It works worked so well and I loved it. Now I have to buy a new one.
In other news, I have been doing some thinking since last week's puppy class. Thanks for all the great encouraging comments! I really appreciated it! I'm not going to give up. I realized that I had been lazy with Dhali's training for a few weeks. I have a hard time choosing what I want to teach him. There seem to be SO many things that I want him to learn, that I just end up not doing anything, because I can't decided on what we should start with. I decided to make a dry erase chart with some things I want him to learn. There are 1000 other things I would like to add to the list, but we have to start somewhere. It also keeps me honest with how much we have actually trained. Some times I think we have done so much training, but really we haven't. Now I have a check list!
My goal isn't to work on every single thing every single day. But now I know what we have worked on and when we have worked on it. We are still doing lots of playing and running around and other tricks. But now Dhali is back to working for his dinner and I hope we can work on his ADD-ness. Just a stage, but seriously little guy! The puppy that wanted to work for an hour, now can only do 3 seconds, before he is running off to do something else. He can't even concentrate on a kong stuffed with Primal Raw nuggets for more than 30 seconds, before he's off annoying the cat, wanting to go outside or tearing apart another toy.
He still is a little sweet heart though. He will slow down long enough for a belly rub and petting. He likes to follow me into the bathroom in the morning and sleep snuggled up next to the shower, while I get ready for work.
Cute little bugger.
I printed out a chart from Word and ran it through the $16 laminater (word? machine for lamination) that I bought on Amazon.
Some tricks that we have been working on. Just Dhali. The first video is from the beg. of last month and the last one is from a week or so ago. Look at how big he is now!!! I want to <squeeze> him he's so cute!
I have a bad habit of training WAY too long with him. Bad momma. He is just so willing to work for a long time and I lose track of the time. I never had that problem with Tibby! She would just walk away. Which I am learning, thank you Leslie McDevitt, isn't such a bad thing to do.
I took Dhali with me today when I got my hair cut in Hutchinson. He got to walk in a real downtown, with actually people walking around and lots of traffic. He liked it a lot. His favorite part was jumping (of course), but his 2nd favorite part was looking in all the windows.
Imagine the scene: You are sitting near the window in a very expensive restaurant. As you cut into your free range something with organic something and rustic something else - BAM! A tiny furry head pops up beside you! It was SO FUNNY. I laughed so hard.
Besides looking in the cafe and restaurant windows, he thought the 'lady' wearing the pink feathered dress should get up and come outside to play. Pink feathers! The only thing he didn't like was a display of pumpkins - scary pumpkins! So round and bumpy!
Dhali got to wait in the car on a noisy, busy road while I got my hair cut. And it was dark. Then he got to meet my hair stylist. He was a little surprised to be woken up and taken out to meet a stranger, but it was ok. Then we stopped at a gas station and he walked around, but did not potty. He jumped a lot though. Jump, jump, jump! So cute.
And I almost hit 3 deer and then got rear ended by a semi on the way home. Almost.
Now a video of Dhali cuteness and Tibby too. My Mom asked me not to teach Dhali this trick, but I taught it to him anyway. Tibby follows people around closing doors. It's great unless you want to get something out of the cupboard. Then Tibby is like, "Um, hell-o? I just closed that." Wham! "Now it's closed again. Well, you should have moved your hand faster! I was obviously closing the door - since it's my job and all."
Dhali working on his handstand/back up trick. I think he might actually get this trick! He's doing really, really well. We had a break through yesterday and he realized what I wanted when I said 'back'. He's quick, so I have to pay attention.
I wasn't very hopefully for Tibby to get this trick, but I think Dhali might get very soon! Tonight I tried moving next to him (instead of having him in front of me), but that was too confusing to him. So I tried having him back up from between my legs. He understood that a lot better. Little steps! But he is so rewarding to train! I love it! And he loves it too, so that makes it even more fun!
Two videos from last Monday. First Dhali's first time trying to learn 2o2o. Also in the middle there is a quick little bit of the new trick I taught him. I point at a foot and he lifts it. I LOVE how he doesn't get frustrated and give up - he just keeps on trying! Even when he stops and barks at me, then he will come back and try again. Usually after a bark break something clicks and he'll do whatever I'm asking for. This week the foot trick has progressed to a full wave with both feet and next I want to try to get him to drum - he's done it a couple times by accident. Also his sit up is getting better.
Tibby has been watching him learn this foot trick and now she tries to offer it too :P They're smart.
2nd video is of us playing with a roll of painter's tape. He likes to chase it and tug on it. It was the first thing I could get him to chase and bring back when he was a puppy. It rolls really nicely and fast, which he likes.
I have been wanting to post this all week, but I couldn't find the time. Here is Dhali being totally awesome and a smart fun puppy on Monday! This video makes me soooo happy! He can do a tunnel! He really knows what I want too. And only in a few easy training sessions! :) P.S. Look at me throwing a leash like a real agility person LOL! I watched people doing that on Sat. and couldn't resist doing it myself. It's fun! P.P.S. I got some nice deep holes in my arms/hands from our play session. You can hear me say that we need a toy. Uh, yeah! I'm getting eaten! But I try not to show it, because I don't want Dhali to stop playing.
Yesterday we had a not so great training day, but today he is back to acting like he did in this video. Play, play, play! I think the difference may be the amount of Tibby time he gets. So restrictions are in place. They get to play, but Dhali has to be willing to come to me if I call while he is playing. No come = tied to mommy for a while. Fun for both of us LOL!
Yesterday he was willing to do heeling, ride his skateboard, balance on a ball in front of a busy store. However, later when we went to a park he blew me off - wouldn't come/didn't want to tug. The park was empty. Weird little guy. He might have been too hot....but then again today it was hotter and he was playing like crazy at home. Not sure. Just have to keep on trying different things.
Today I was very happy when we were playing in the living room after a breakfast clicker session, Tibby was resting on her dog bed and Dhali was able to ignore her. We worked our way across the room until we were right next to her and he kept playing with me. He tried to go see her a couple times, but thanks to Mr. Always present Leash he quickly redirected back to playing with me. We will keep working on this every day.
This video is a few days old now, but on Monday Dhali learned how to skateboard! He's getting really good now. I just need to work on my treat delivery so he will stay on the skateboard and continue to push. He does stay on and will push for 3-4 feet, but stops when the treats fall on the floor! I'll have to get another video soon. Very cute!
The only reason I taught him this was due to my cold, so it was good for something! I was feeling really rotten and Dhali wanted to do something!!! (bark, bark, bark), so I got out the skateboard. I wasn't expecting anything, but first try I got a puppy riding a skateboard! Now Dhali is getting very clicker savy - yesterday we started front paws on a ball/balancing. He saw the ball, looked at me and plopped his paw on the ball - click! This morning he progressed to me not holding the ball still and him trying to balance on the ball with 2 feet.
She actually likes this crate. Silly puppy! I've never tried her in this one, because we had such a hard time training with the wire ones. I thought she wouldn't like to be all enclosed!
This is so AMAZING!! These Tibetan Terriers are so smart - they are really like little people! Not like dogs at all! If you are looking for a few new tricks to train your dog or tricks for 2 dogs to do together - check this out!
Seriously so amazing. Ah, it gives me hope! If these dogs could be trained to do this then Tibby can totally learn agility.
I love how she gives them a treat every single time and how they know where their spot is. Also when she had the 2 rings the TT was like, "Hey! That's too high!" They are smart dogs and they don't work for free, but WOW can they work!
I LOVED the doggie congo line at the end. So cute!
We weren't at the top of the class, but we had a lot of fun. We didn't end up with a lot of finished tricks, but we worked on becoming best friends and I think we were successful!
Here is our graduation video. I had to split it into 2 parts, because I was having trouble with youtube.
We are still working on heel and side. We are about 3 lessons behind everyone else in the class. I can see a big difference in the 2 halves of the video. The first part is from June 20th and the second half is from yesterday July 4th.
Also, the 1st one is outside, so Tibby was a little bit more distracted. She was really excited to work yesterday - you can see her little tail wagging! She was so excited that she couldn't remember what to do at first. Then she decided to change things up at the end - heeling was just so boring.
I don't think we are ready to fade the perch yet, but I am still waiting to see what Silvia says. More practice, but maybe by the end of summer we will have it.
Wow, it’s your 5th lesson already! Here is your new list. As we were discussing, I’m underlining the assignments you should focus on in case you’re somewhat behind and don’t have time to focus on all those new tricks. But you sure want to try them all at one point!
1. heeling: make the “glued to the leg” exercise more like heeling: still do different kind of turns, but also some normal forward walking in different speeds (slow, normal, fast) to teach them to adjust and keep the right position in every situation
2. figure 8 backward: tell the dog to go into heel position and start spinning as we were doing on the target, then very suddenly stop and step back with the other leg (if the dog is at left side – with right leg), you can also make a gesture with left hand to try to get them to keep circling below the heeling position, eventually all the way around you leg, so that they come backwards between your legs back into front position. If the dog insists on staying in heel position, you can help with the hand a little bit, lure his head out (left for 90 degrees if the dog is on left side) and say back to have them back up in your direction. Step back with the other leg enough to have them back up between your legs. Reward and tell them to heel on the other side (right) and repeat the process. As soon as you get some smoothness with that, stop rewarding for coming in between, always first tell them to come to the other leg and reward at your side in order to avoid having them back up too far – they need to stay very close to your legs all the time.
3. skateboarding: try to find a skateboard (kids department) and reward for making it move with front feet. Don’t reward 4on, but 2 or 3, the criteria is they make a skateboard move.
4. cik&cap: find a table leg, dog-food container, traffic cone or similar and shape the dog to go around it – first just a step, then two or three circles, both directions (you can reward both right from the start if you are getting it – if not, start with just one, but then on one session, don’t reward that direction anymore but wait for the other)
5. fade the object for side legs: if the dog is already heaving both legs up at the same time, click&reward that before he even touches the object, so that he understands the idea is picking them up, not touching something. At the same time, try changing objects as much as possible. Going to vertical objects shouldn’t be too difficult, then go to “empty” objects like a chair that looks like an object, but doesn’t really offer much support, so at this point, the dog is already free-standing, the object is just there for mental support. Next step in table leg and then you don’t need an object anymore. For free handstand, you go through the same process, only that it takes longer as it’s physically more demanding – you can start working on it, but do not rush it, especially not with young puppies!
6. don’t forget on recalls and playing, stays with distractions (you can combine it all in a really fun game), try the hug on a plastic bottle or something similar that is light enough for the dog to hold it and have them hold it independently, add more steps to backing up from you, tape the 4in the bowl trick again so that I can see to what size you managed to get: the smaller the better!
And most importantly: have fun!
What I said:
"This class has gone by too fast
On this video “heeling”, smaller box, skateboard and cik/cap.
Just like with the perch she only likes to go in one direction for the cik/cap. We had some funny moments while taping this video – Tibby stepped on a piece of hotdog, she tripped me when she wanted to pivot around the perch and she kept getting in the box when I left to get more treats (deleted from the video, but on Tibby’s blog)."
What Silvia said:
"I see heeling is going really well now! I see your lure is already becoming more of a hand signal, that’s good! After you reward for coming into the position, try to not always send her to the other leg, but do 5 or 10 more moves with her on the same side, stepping one little step away from her and having her come in again. That way, she will learn better the importance of staying close to the leg and to follow it when the leg moves away – that’s actually a much more important lesson for future heeling as switching legs.
Nice progression with boxes! She sure doesn’t like that skateboard too much, so take that one slowly, reward whatever she offers and ideally by throwing a treat away, so that she can get away from it as an additional reward for coming close to it For cik&cap, you can again help some to get the other direction. And for her good direction, you could maybe switch to her ball now, to make it more fun for her."
What I said,
" I felt that we were having trouble with the cik/cap. Tibby would just go back a forth around the pole and not go all the way around it. As it usually happens, when I turn the video camera on Tibby starts to do the trick! She only performs for the camera LOL!"
Then I said,
"We have taken some steps backwards in the heeling/perch. Tibby is now back to doing just a few steps in one direction and then a few steps in another direction. I broke her! It sort of frustrating for both of us.
The only trick she really likes is the cupboard door slam. *sigh*"
Then Silvia said,
"Well yes, cik&cap is going really well now! Few more sessions to get more fluency and then you can name it. When did the problem with the perch start? Before you started to work on her coming to the leg? I think things will make much more sense to her when you put yourself into the picture and start clicking for touching you. It’s never good when things gets frustrating… – I think at this point, it’s better to lure as to get frustrated! And since she clearly understands shaping by now, we can cheat a little with this one – try to lure her to do enough steps on a perch to touch you and reward that and after few sessions of rewarding for touching only (no steps in between anymore) – and naming it! – fade the lure into a hand signal and then minimalise that one too. It should be easy as she learned the bahaviour by shaping first, we’re just helping with the final touches – Definitely better as getting frustrated over it!"
Then I said,
"I was still practicing Tibby going around the perch and I started rewarding for left and right turns around the perch. Then Tibby just went back to small steps in one direction and then in the other direction. I will try to use a lure this next week and see what happens.
I can tell Tibby isn’t as excited about the perch, because after a few tries of back/forth movement she will do 2o2o on the perch. She will wait a little bit to see if this is what I want and then she will walk away. She does this even if I am using her favorite ball as a reward.
I just want her to be excited about it again!"
Then Silvia said,
"Sure! As I said, it’s better to help some as to get frustrated over it!"
Also, as a side note I translated for one of the other students. I knew my Spanish would come in handy someday.
And I translated, "She said that when she was starting to train the figure 8 she accidentally stepped on Obelix’s tail, because he is very big. Now when she tries to get to the position to have him pass beneath her legs he gets scared, because he thinks she is going to step on him.
How can she fix this?????
What I said,
"1 I showed you Tibby’s crazy running in that video for the foundations class.
2 Tibby is moving in both directions now. I wait until she is doing good circles in both directions, but what is the next step? We are so far behind that I missed what you told other people.
3 Can’t do yet. Still working on back up 2o2o
4 I don’t think she knows why I’m clicking yet, but this is a fun trick. Also, she likes to steal the bowls
5 Tibby offered to sit up and hold the pole. I don’t know if we are doing this right?
6 I showed you last time - still working on it.
Other things: I have been working a lot with Tibby outside. Just easy tricks. Also, on our walks I bring one of her balls along and when she recalls to me nicely then I throw the ball and we race to it together. Tibby thinks this is super fun! I just want her to get used to working outside.
I had the video all made and ready to put on youtube, but I forgot to save it and my computer ate it! So this is the 2nd time I made the video and I was in a hurry, but almost everything fit in the 2nd time too. I wanted to show you our trip to an agility trial last weekend and Tibby trying to close drawers (she doesn’t like drawers)."
What Silvia said,
"Great job! Congratulations to the other direction! Once you have full circles, position yourself next to the target so that she can’t pass you and click for coming all the way to your leg. Getting there with stepping backwards too, slowly raise that pillow by putting some books underneath. She is picking up those bowls great, time to help her less with the positioning of the other bowl so that she needs to think some more! Getting there with the hug too, you’re doing it right, just select for a paw (or both) deeper&deeper around now. Her doors slams are GREAT, she definitely likes that! Why do you think she doesn’t like drawers, I would guess doors move more and make more sound, that’s why it doesn’t make sense to me? Also, GREAT to hear she likes her ball also outside, we will sure need that for Foundation class!"
Then I posted this second video
I said,
"Watching agility and closing drawers. Tibby really didn’t like closing the drawers. It was the first time we had tried a drawer and it was at my parent’s house. The drawers are also really heavy. There is a big difference between her closing the doors at my house this week and this video (which was done last week). Also I was rewarding with food and Tibby likes her ball better!
We stayed at the agility trial for about 2 1/2 hours. That was long enough for Tibby. She was a little bit whiny. She had her tail wagging the whole time, so I think she was just excited about all the people and dogs. There was one tiny toy poodle that she was obsessed with. The toy poodle and its owners were sitting near us for a while and Tibby stared and stared at it. Then when they left she very intently watched them walk down the stairs and out the door. She was actually the most relaxed when she was watching other dogs run. When the people were moving the equipment around she was the most whiny and trying to walk around. She walked up and down on the seat in front of us and sat there by herself for a while. She ate some treats and pulled her tug toy out of my purse, but didn’t want to tug. Mostly she sat on my lap.
I’ve tried to find places to take Tibby, so she will be comfortable, but it’s difficult to find somewhere like an agility trial - SO many dogs and people. June 1st the street market in my town will start again for summer,. I want to try and take her there every week. She seemed to jump back when the drawers closed and acted like she was scared of them. Yeah I would think the doors were noisier."
Silvia said,
" O.k., I can see now, she doesn’t like the drawers so much, but it doesn’t look too bad, I think she would get used to those too and slammed those just as well as the doors. She sure like that! And her ball She seems perfectly fine with the people and noise, it’s normal it gets somewhat boring for the dog to just sit there, but I don’t think she will have problems with that. Definitely take that as an opportunity to try some fun tricks and ball chasing!"
I miss videos from some participants… I hope you’re still posting it, it really doesn’t matter if you’re not finished with the trick just yet, you can always do that later, but it’s good to have some directions, that’s why I would like to see everybody’s videos!
But well, it’s time for a new to-do list:
1. see in what situations your dog gets really crazy and exited or runs as mad and name it – my “magic” word is “ajde, ajde” and you can really see how much speed they add when hearing it – in agility or when running in the fields. I got it by saying anytime they would be chasing each other in full speed or go crazy and run in circles on a wet grass.
2. make the front feet target lower&lower and smaller&smaller and then fade it completely, still circling away from the dog and have him follow your leg. Then, add movements to the side, forward and backward and reward your dog for being glued to the leg
3. side version of 2on2off: try to get side legs (the two left or the two right legs) on an object. The easiest is to choose an object that is angled (I put a pillow under the angle against the sofa or a wall), so that the dog can’t climb on it with all 4 feet. Because of 2on2off, they will probably try hind feet on, but position yourself next to an object so that the dog is parallel to it and will probably first try just one hind foot (it helps if you have a pee trick down already!): reward a couple of times so that he keeps it there as opposed to try to put the other hind leg on too and then see if you can get front foot on too. You can tell them to paw touch your hand that you keep close to an object and eventually fade the hand to have both feet on an object. Jackpot if the dog puts both feet on at the same time (vs. first hind, then front). Do it with both sides right from the start, you want to build muscle and balance on both sides.
4. one object into another: shape the dog to pick up an object, then to carry it around, then to carry it in the direction of another object, then to let it go close to it and eventually to actually put it in another object. I usually start directly with two bowls of the same size, but to make it easier, you can also use a toy and a box or something similar. Do try it with a bowl too, though, they require more precision.
5. hug the pole/umbrella trick, first clicking for any paw touch, then for sliding to the side and then for going more&more around the object, the final goal is a firm hug with one or both front feet around the object – see this video
6. stays with distractions: tell the dog to sit or down and continue with proofing the stay until the release word as we were practicing in 2on2off position already in the last lesson: have them stay in a position with you running passed them, throwing toys and treats, making different hand gestures etc. – then say “go” (sometimes standing still, sometimes while moving) and reward, preferably with a toy as you want a fast start out of the position on “go”
What I said,
"Our progress so far.
With the bowl into another bowl trick Tibby has started throwing the bowl. I’m not sure what the next step should be to get her to put the bowl into another bowl.
We are still working on pivoting. I really want Tibby to be able to heel someday. Was I moving around too much? What do you think?
We have so many tricks now it is too hard to get them all into a video (or into a training session). Good problem to have -- yay! for lots of tricks!
P.S. I worked hard to talk to Tibby, but I don’t talk very loud, so I hope you can hear it LOL!!"
What Silvia said,
"Yeap, I hear you talking! Very good! You both look happier today! Great progression with the tricks too, I see you’re getting there with left circling too! Position the target to close to the sofa she can’t pass it, it seems to be working well. Veeery cute sit up too! And a really good stay!
For bowl to bowl trick, position them so that she has the most chances to by accident hit the other bowl. Another way to make it easier is to always reward from the other bowl as that makes them move in that direction, in anticipation of the reward That would be called cheating a little, but it usually makes a great difference if you get stuck."
What a classmate Cheryl said,
"Hi!
I love watching you and Tibby work together It does seem that she is a little bit confused/frustrated because she doesn’t know exactly what you want.. Maybe if you can break things down into even smaller baby steps? Summer used to be like Tibby, but now I spend a lot of time in training plans to make everything as simple as possible so she is always succeeding. A training friends once told me to aim for as many clicks per minute as possible, so use an easier criteria. Now Summer seems to understand that a click means to keep repeating the behaviour, and then we build from there.
We also got stuck with the circling behaviour, but when I tried to step into the picture, she liked to stand next to me so we skipped a step. I think Silvia told me it was ok to walk around a little and cheat (like what you did), so its ok! Another tip would be to toss the treat off on your right side, so that when she goes back to the perch, she will turn a bit to the left to face you, you can click for that..
Just wanted to say don’t feel disheartened! When I first started clicker training with Summer it was VERY hard and I was sad everyday. Now we are a happy happy team! Keep up the good work!"
I think we are doing pretty good. Working, working, working. I wish you guys could see some of the puppies in this class. They are SO SMART!! The sideways 2o2o is a stumper for us so far, but some of the pups have it down already. And they are doing amazing handstands. Like everywhere, even in the front seat of a car!
If anyone has any tips on getting the bowl into another bowl let me know. Please!
Or on any of the tricks - input welcome! Suggestions requested! :)
What I wrote,
"I’ve been sad about our lack of progress this week. I did a few short sessions every day with Tibby this week, but she has been acting strange. Nervous? and zero attention span.
I am hoping it is just a stage that she is going through, or spring fever or the heat (it was 89F here today with 100% humidity). She gets frustrated very easily. I’m trying to not put any pressure on her – when she gets frustrated I let her do one of her easy favorite tricks and then end the session.
I think we may get the handstand in 2012 or 2013! Will you have a remedial tricks class for slow teams?
I can’t make Tibby do anything, so if she wants to do it she will, but if she doesn’t…..well, that is the end of it!
I included some of the times when Tibby blows me off (and runs away) or gets frustrated and whines. It doesn’t look like it in the video, but I can tell that she isn’t 100% happy.
After watching the video I can see that Tibby is doing better with her turns on the perch. I saw on the video one time when she offered movement in the other direction, but I missed it. I wait and wait for her to offer movement to the left, but so far I haven’t been able to catch any.
I think we need some help please!"
What a classmate wrote,
" Hi Catalina, i just watched your video and noticed your frustration. I think your tricks looked nice. Perhaps she isn`t yet used to do tricks outside….and for the movement to the left – just treat for right without click and click and treat for left. To have more movement you could perhaps throw a treat near to the bowl and when she comes back with her feet on the perch just try to capture her first movements.
And the sit-up. My dog doesn`t sit up such as long as Tibby does. They are young and they need the muscles to sit up longer. Every short sit-up gives more strength to their back muscles. And her “Back” looked great for me too."
What Silvia wrote,
"I agree with Brigit, you actually did TONS of progress!!! Considering how hard it was for Tibby to just sit straight, she already has great duration in a sit up now! Don’t ask for more as she can do for now, just go slowly with it. Back up is great too, it’s very nice to see she still goes crazy for that ball!
If you never worked with her outside before, your choice of tricks was not the best one, you first have to try some playing, then do some of her favourite tricks in between the play and then slowly go from there.
Also, to make backing up on an object easier, find a wider object so that it’s easier to step on it accidentally. 2on2off in the other direction is sure great! For pivoting in the other direction, you can put your target next to the wall, so that she can’t go the whole circle – maybe she will then step back and you could jackpot that?
Another thing to be careful about is your attitude. It’s probably my fault as I was telling you not to help and not to cheer her into working with you to not push her – BUT when she IS working with you and offering things, do mark it with excitement! I remember that when Le was a puppy and just started to learn about clicker, I needed to accompany every click with a smile and happy voice. I normally talk to my dogs a lot, so I think she though I’m really weird when I took that clicker and stopped talking – she though something was wrong. So I first needed to accompany every click with the voice, but then of course slowly reduced it to only go crazy for jackpots. But letting them know you’re impressed by what they’re doing is very important. It’s not to get the action – it’s to reinforce the action."
I think.....there are a lot of things to remember and it is hard to see everyone else progressing faster than us.
Time for a new to-do list!
1. take your dog to a city center, a store that allows dogs (pet store?) and on a train station
2. position yourself next to a high target and now only click for circling all the way to your leg (don’t click for steps in between) – name it with heel for one side and something else for the other and have a dog follow your leg when you move in a circle around the target away from the dog – then tell him to come to the other side and have him follow the other leg. Use different targets, try it on a very low one too.
3. build your own cavaletti and walk the dog over it – you can use the drawers or boxes of appropriate size and height, put them in a row and walk the dog through.
4. try the other version of 2on2off: instead of having them go on an object and off, stop in a position and wait, let’s try stepping back into 2on2off this time. Position your dog close to a low object behind his back, cue him “back” and reward for stepping on an object or trying to. Slowly, you can have a dog step on higher&higher objects, this is beginning of a handstand, but with young puppies, don’t overdo the height. Instead, you can have them back up stairs for example, to challenge them some more without making it too physically demanding. You need to build balance and strength slowly enough for the dog to never be sore after. You can also teach them a “pee” trick: click when they heave one leg, searching the object – before they find it and name it, it’s a fun one.
5. put your paw target on a drawer or doors or simply shape the paw touch to a drawers/doors and then select for stronger&stronger touches/pushes. The goal is to have the dog slam the doors or drawer with power, to teach them that they control the movement under their feet and the sound and that it’s FUN – my favourite trick for a great see-saw!
6. don’t forget on recalls and playing!!! Also, slowly add duration to a sit up, teach crossing paws with the other paw and fade the target, check if the puppy will stay in 2on2off position until “go” even with distractions (toys and food flying around)
Have fun!
Final version of 2on2off:
Our video of Lesson 3 Week 1
What I said:
"We had an awesome, but lazy week. I only trained with Tibby once (and taped it). I also only used a toy as a reward this week. Amazing! She LOVES these new balls that I bought her. They are made out of felted wool and have a bell inside. She goes crazy for them -- she would kill for one
Tibby and I won a contest! We entered a look a like contest at a walk for animals on Sat. We won $55 and also were interviewed for TV.
Tibby did really well with all the people and animals -- 100′s of people and dogs. We had to ride a bus to get from the parking lot to the event location. Tibby was just fine. It was very noisy and bumpy.
We also went to an agility trial on Friday, but I didn’t get any video of that.
There are only a few things on this video -- our ‘field trip’, back up, close door, baby steps of handstand, cavalleti.
I was feeling like I didn’t know where to start with this lesson (hence the lack of practice), but now I feel like it’s not too hard. It was really fun to PLAY with the ball instead of giving Tibby treats. FUN!!"
What Silvia said:
"Congratulations on winning the contest!!! She doesn’t seem to mind the crowd at all and looks really cool in her rain coat! And wow, she sure looks happier to work for her ball as for treats! Great job! Loved slamming of the door, that was a real slam already! Backing up and babysteps for a handstand are going well too! It’s very easy to progress from here on. Cavaletti would be easier if you set the boxes somewhat further apart to start with, but she sure is doing great, despite a scary bowl!"
What I then asked: "Can I use a toy for all the tricks? For example: How can I use a toy for the pivot/heel excersise? Off to try it......will report back on how it goes :)"
These are the best balls ever! Tibby loves, loves, loves them. She loves them more than hot dogs or steak. She would kill for one of these balls. Really she LOVES them.
They are made of felted wool with a bell inside. I bought them here WebWorks
I used one today for the first time instead of treats when I was training Tibby. She was ecstatic.
She didn't want to stop (working) playing. She learned 100% faster. It was fun.
I wish they were a tiny bit bigger, but otherwise I think they are the best balls ever too.
Things I learned this week – 1 don’t try to train if you are very tired, it doesn’t work. I felt frustrated, Tibby could tell and she wasn’t impressed. Went to bed early and the next day we had awesome progress and FUN!
2 Don’t push Tibby too fast. We haven’t finished the tricks, but we have made a lot of progress. We are still only going counterclockwise on perch and right paw over left for crossed paws."
What Silvia said: "Yeap, those are very important lessons! It’s really no hurry to finish the tricks, you can always do that later. The important part is creating the right attitude and the bond."
I was kind of hoping for a few more ideas from Silvia, but maybe next week. She was very busy this weekend with a seminar.
PuppyII lesson2
As you did so good with your first homework, you’re getting some more this time No worries if you don’t manage to do everything in 2 weeks, you can always come back to those tricks. Post wherever you end up, we learn the most through problems, so you want to post those too!
1. experiment with different toys and ways to play with your dog. Tape his favourite game to give some new ideas to other participants (and me!!!)
2. instead of a plate, find something a little higher this time to give them a better feeling of where to keep their front legs, click first for front feet on an object (should be easy, you want the same thing as on a plate) and then observe hind legs and click for ANY movement (even just a weight shift) and then shape from there to more&more steps around the object. I first click both directions and once I get a quarter of a circle, start clicking one direction only and reward with a head away from me in order to get a full circle. The final goal is full circle in both directions, with you static (don’t help the dog to circle with your movement!) – I think those that have my heeling video can already do that exercise, though
3. take the plate and hold it in different positions to see if the dog understands it’s the same thing even when you hold it higher, under angle, to his left/right etc. Try when he is standing, sitting and lying down. If you didn’t name touching an object with a paw, it’s time to do it now! Also, try to change objects for this exercise, sometimes also use a hand as a paw target. Once he can do all that, you’re ready for next two tricks we will get out of the paw touch:
- crossing paws: tell the puppy to down (or shape it if he doesn’t know it yet), then hold the plate (or, you can use another, smaller and more convenient object, like a plastic lid or a piece of paper) close to left paw and only reward touching it with left paw. Then hold it closer and closer to right paw, still only reward left paw touches, then hold it on right paw and eventually on the other side, jackpoting the touches of left paw on a right paw now in order to eventually get rid of a target.
- sit up: tell the puppy to sit (or shape it if he doesn’t know it yet), then put the plate (or just use the hand if he will recognize that as a target) low enough first that he can reach it with a paw, but then every next time, hold it a little higher – not that high that he would stand up, but high enough that the other leg leaves the ground a little bit too. Jackpot.
4. observe your puppy and try to find situations when he would back up – it usually happens when they’re moving out of your way – or sometimes when you’re working on ignoring the food in the hand. You can try to sit down on the floor with treats in your hand and click first step back with hind foot. Don’t wait for more than one as they usually sit down then. Click&reward the first one and reward by throwing a treat towards the dog. Rewarding at distance will help you add more&more steps and more&more distance from you. At one point, switch to rewarding with a toy, it’s easier to throw.
5. 2on2off – find an object big enough for the dog to go on with all 4 feet easily – maybe just put your first 4in object upside down? – Click for 2-3 legs on and then don’t click the fourth one, you don’t want any duration standing there! Only click again when the dog is leaving the object, try to catch him with 2 front feet on the ground and deliver the treat while he is still in this position. You want them go on an object and off immediately, stopping with front feet on the ground. Click&reward several times for a position, then say “go”/”o.k.”/”free”/whatever your release word will be and throw a treat away so that he needs to leave the position to get it. Do this enough times that the dog starts to expect the thrown treat after “go”, so that then you don’t need to throw it in advance, but only after he leaves the position on “go”. Do not help with body language that you want him to leave after “go” – if he doesn’t know it yet, go back to throwing a treat and progress more slowly.
Another note: I’ll be able to answer your questions this coming week with no problem, but then the week after I have seminars here, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep up. If not, we’ll just add another week to this class.
This is what I said: "We didn’t have space on the video for back up or our game. I will put it on the next one. I hope we did 2on2off right, because I am SUPER proud of how Tibby did with it. On the video it shows her very, very first time ever doing 2on2off. I think she did really well. I would like to eventually be at her side and have her offer 2on2off -- not right in front of her.
Beg is still being a stinker for us. I guess you will see in the video…..
Paw cross is moving along. I started doing left across right, because I got my left and right mixed up! oops!
Perch is fun! During our last session I started to only click for movement to the right, because Tibby was just going back and forth and never around.
*Love watching everyone’s videos!!! I learn so much from watching other people play with their dogs* This is a fun class!
LOL! I mean right paw across left! I got it mixed up again!"
Silvia said: "Wow, that’s really A LOT of a progress! She is really offering now! That straight into 2on2off was amazing (just make sure you use your release word every time you want her to leave – and you can click the leaving on “go” too!), you’re also almost there with paw crossing and the last sit ups were GREAT! Perch is going well too, she even offered a really nice pivot on your 2on2off plank (at 1:21)! She is definitely thinking now!"
Classmates said:
Kristin "Oh my goodness! That is awesome and Tibby is darling!"
Sara "Tibby is SO cute and I think her sits are getting straighter… good job!"
Independent, curious, highly intelligent,clever, mischievous, precocious, strong-minded, playful. Collected from various sources:
1 -Stubbornness. Tibetan Terriers have an independent mind of their own and can be stubborn and manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
2-Suspiciousness or timidity when not socialized enough.
3-"Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much.
4-Lively and playful at times, yet also calm and low-key.
5-Makes a good watchdog but is not aggressive with people.
6-Most are amiable with other animals, though perhaps a bit bossy.
7- The Tibetan Terrier is very stubborn in general and must be shown from Day One that you are in control.
8-An athletic and agile sure-footed climber, and a clever problem-solver who often uses his paws with great adeptness to open doors and hold toys.
9- 1/3 Dog + 1/3 Cat + 1/3 Teenager = 1 Tibetan Terrier
10-Tibetan Terriers are family-oriented: they love to play games and participate in activities with their people.
Patience and a sense of humor are musts for the people of a Tibetan Terrier.
