I love to shape behaviors. I love to see a dog think and figure out the game. I love to see what my dogs can come up with. Shaping is what really differentiates clicker trainers from traditional trainers. I *want* my dog to try new things and not wait to be told or shown what to do. The traditional trainer doesn't want the dog to do anything unless they are told to. It's just a different mindset.
Remember the first part of the retrieve work where I had Zane just bite the dumbbell or articles? Step 2 is learning to pick it up off the floor. Just another shaping exercise. You'll see Bella and Emily come in for some distractions, and you'll see a touch of resource guarding from Zane.
After a break, I pulled out a box lid. I didn't have a picture in my mind of what I wanted him to do with the box. I just watched what he offered and picked one. I went with two-in-two-out - like the agility contact behavior two-on-two-off, but for this it's two rear feet in the box.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Good day at the park
This morning we went to Rally practice. Bella practiced, then Zane came out to hang around with the other dogs. He did beautifully! He met two new German Shepherds, a new Sheltie, and a new Vizla. No hint of fear aggression. He acted very appropriately and submissively to the adult dogs. He approached calmly and let them sniff him. He sniffed Wally, the Australian Terrier, and tried to play with Rusty, the BC that he knows already. He was also able to give eye contact and worked on downs with them all around him.
This evening I grabbed some chicken and decided to see if I could shape Zane to pick up the grabber arm he likes. At first he was totally focused on me. Then he looked at it - click. Then he pawed it a couple of times - click. Then he nosed it - click. He did put his mouth on it a couple of times, got distracted by the kitten several times, and stared at me a lot. But he did eventually start to pick it up. He would immediately drop it, so I had to time clicks very carefully. I was pleased with what he did. He's learning to learn.
This evening I grabbed some chicken and decided to see if I could shape Zane to pick up the grabber arm he likes. At first he was totally focused on me. Then he looked at it - click. Then he pawed it a couple of times - click. Then he nosed it - click. He did put his mouth on it a couple of times, got distracted by the kitten several times, and stared at me a lot. But he did eventually start to pick it up. He would immediately drop it, so I had to time clicks very carefully. I was pleased with what he did. He's learning to learn.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Relaxation Protocol
Tonight I decided to video Zane doing the Relaxation Protocol Day 1. And of course, I had his head chopped off on the video, so we had to film it again. Poor puppy. He was getting a bit tired and distracted the second time. That's a lot of work!
The Relaxation Protocol is a beautiful thing. Each day gets harder and harder. Within each day, it starts easy, gets harder, gets easy, gets harder, and ends easy. When working on a behavior, remember the 3 D's - Distance, Duration, Distractions. You can work on one at a time until it is fluent at that level. In the RP, if you add distance, the time is short. If you increase time, you stay close. If you add a distraction, it's short and you are close. As days go by, they do start combining, but Day 1 starts off easy.
The Relaxation Protocol is a beautiful thing. Each day gets harder and harder. Within each day, it starts easy, gets harder, gets easy, gets harder, and ends easy. When working on a behavior, remember the 3 D's - Distance, Duration, Distractions. You can work on one at a time until it is fluent at that level. In the RP, if you add distance, the time is short. If you increase time, you stay close. If you add a distraction, it's short and you are close. As days go by, they do start combining, but Day 1 starts off easy.
Vet Day!
Today was Zane's last vet visit for awhile. He was 21.2 lb. Discussed the parvo issue with the vet, and she told me that the manufacturer they use believes in their vaccine and will cover the costs of treatment if your dog gets parvo after receiving two of their doses. She also told me that last Tuesday, they had 5 parvo puppies in the clinic. Parvo is still rolling strong here. And the family who had the sick puppy. . . they've lost two of the three. I'm assuming they've had no vaccinations.
I also measured Zane - 15. 75".
He went to Bella's agility lesson this morning. He practiced his sits, downs, eye contact, and hand push before class. After class he got to meet a new puppy. This was a very exuberant puppy in an x-pen, and we just sat outside the x-pen. Zane sniffed and got chicken. Things seemed to go ok, then Zane started barking. It wasn't a nice, excited "let's play" bark, so I moved him back and we played "look at that" with the puppy. I'm hoping that given a couple of intros, Zane will be ready to play with him.
After Zane's vet visit, he had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He got bit by a harvester ant. He started whining and limping, so I assumed he had a sticker in his foot. But no. . . the ant was still stuck to him, still biting. I pulled him off, but he was whining and limping for at least 30 minutes. He laid in my lap like the most pitiful little thing. He's fine now. But I do admit those things hurt! And they can hurt a long time. I got bit by one, and for 2 weeks the nerve below where I was bit twitched on and off.
This evening we played a bit with free-stacking. He needs some work there. Actually, he's not that bad. . . he's challenged with a handler who isn't as good at the conformation stuff as the obedience and agility stuff.
There is a plastic toy "grabber arm" that one of my daughter's left out in the yard. Zane likes to pick it up. So I started to click every time he did. Now he gets the game and will pick it up for a click/treat. Who thought of learning a retrieve with a large plastic toy? But since he picks it up naturally, I can capture the pick up and work from there.
I also measured Zane - 15. 75".
He went to Bella's agility lesson this morning. He practiced his sits, downs, eye contact, and hand push before class. After class he got to meet a new puppy. This was a very exuberant puppy in an x-pen, and we just sat outside the x-pen. Zane sniffed and got chicken. Things seemed to go ok, then Zane started barking. It wasn't a nice, excited "let's play" bark, so I moved him back and we played "look at that" with the puppy. I'm hoping that given a couple of intros, Zane will be ready to play with him.
After Zane's vet visit, he had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He got bit by a harvester ant. He started whining and limping, so I assumed he had a sticker in his foot. But no. . . the ant was still stuck to him, still biting. I pulled him off, but he was whining and limping for at least 30 minutes. He laid in my lap like the most pitiful little thing. He's fine now. But I do admit those things hurt! And they can hurt a long time. I got bit by one, and for 2 weeks the nerve below where I was bit twitched on and off.
This evening we played a bit with free-stacking. He needs some work there. Actually, he's not that bad. . . he's challenged with a handler who isn't as good at the conformation stuff as the obedience and agility stuff.
There is a plastic toy "grabber arm" that one of my daughter's left out in the yard. Zane likes to pick it up. So I started to click every time he did. Now he gets the game and will pick it up for a click/treat. Who thought of learning a retrieve with a large plastic toy? But since he picks it up naturally, I can capture the pick up and work from there.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Zane - 16 weeks
This evening, Zane got a bath, some practice on the Happy Legs, some practice gaiting (need to work on that - he needs to focus forward), and then practice at self-stacking, then stacking on the table. I need to video the self-stacking to see how we're doing!
He was being much more difficult than usual with the stacking tonight. He wanted the cheese, and that's all there was to it!
He was being much more difficult than usual with the stacking tonight. He wanted the cheese, and that's all there was to it!
Companion?
I'm currently listening to the book Through a Dog's Eye. The author talks about the CBTI - Canine Behavior Type Index. You can take the test at http://www.petconnectgame.com.
The test says that Zane is SGM - a companion. Here's what they say about a companion:
I'm not sure I got the correct results, but I think it's probably close. Zane is very serious - so the "rarely serious" doesn't fit. Clever? He's definitely not as quick as Bella at learning. But I also don't think he'll have the imagination to come up with all the variations I don't want. Like I've said before, it's going to be interesting to see how he matures.
Remember the Relaxation Protocol? After our 2nd try at it that was disastrous with all the distractions that occurred, I decided to drop it for a bit. After working chair fronts, sits, and downs today, I decided to try it again. Did Day 1. He passed it for both sit and down! Good boy! Now on to Day 2.
He's still practicing his mat work for his breakfast. He's very good at it. "You just want me to lie here on this cushion? Got it! My kind of job!"
Bad mommy forgot to give him his lunch today. He cleaned his dinner bowl. Maybe he needs to send me to my crate.
The test says that Zane is SGM - a companion. Here's what they say about a companion:
The Companion has the softest, most charming character for a family pet. They are funny, silly, laid back, subservient and obedient. It is rarely serious, is everyone's friend and its favourite pastime is to 'ride' the couch. The most unobjectionable combination of traits. Do not expect it to be a strong watch dog, athlete, or seem especially clever.
I'm not sure I got the correct results, but I think it's probably close. Zane is very serious - so the "rarely serious" doesn't fit. Clever? He's definitely not as quick as Bella at learning. But I also don't think he'll have the imagination to come up with all the variations I don't want. Like I've said before, it's going to be interesting to see how he matures.
Remember the Relaxation Protocol? After our 2nd try at it that was disastrous with all the distractions that occurred, I decided to drop it for a bit. After working chair fronts, sits, and downs today, I decided to try it again. Did Day 1. He passed it for both sit and down! Good boy! Now on to Day 2.
He's still practicing his mat work for his breakfast. He's very good at it. "You just want me to lie here on this cushion? Got it! My kind of job!"
Bad mommy forgot to give him his lunch today. He cleaned his dinner bowl. Maybe he needs to send me to my crate.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Agility fun
Earlier this week I lowered my teeter as much as it would go. Zane loves the wobble board, so I figured he'd have no issues with the teeter. I was right! He runs right down it, eating treats along the way.
Today we went to our agility lesson, and Zane got to participate. First he did stride work. This is not jump work. It is to teach him how to adjust his stride according to what's in front of him. As a puppy, our main goal is to find his stride and work that, not make him adjust yet. His stride was a little longer than we expected!
He also got to work the chute. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab the camera for it. The first time through (open chute), he did slow down on the new surface. But he made it through to play with a tug toy. The boy loves to tug! He did it 3 more times, getting faster every time. The last time he beat me to the end! The chute was held open, but on the last run, the middle was sagging a little. Doesn't phase him!
On the obedience front he's working on chair fronts and hand pushes for heeling.
For the chair fronts, I sit on the edge of a chair and extend my legs to form a chute. The first couple of times I will lure to get him between my legs and close. While he's there, I hold a hand out to each side and expect eye contact. After a couple of lures, I just hold my hands above my legs and expect him to come in, focused on the middle of my body away from my hands. How many times have you seen people who have dogs who can front when their hands are in front, but have no clue what to do when the hands are at their sides? I want the hands at the side to be his cue to focus up and middle. He's getting the idea!
One funny story from tonight. I cut the tip of my finger pretty bad yesterday. I have a bandaid on it, and before doing the chair fronts I washed dishes. The bandaid was wet, came loose, and started flapping. When Zane grabbed for the treat in that hand, he grabbed the bandaid and swallowed it right down. New training treat? I'm sure it will come out tomorrow.
For the hand push, I want him pushing into my hand with his nose. When his pushes get strong enough, I'll start letting that push "move" me. I'll step forward, and he'll step forward to continue his push. This will build drive for the heel. For now, I'm just standing still waiting for him to fully understand what I want.
Today we went to our agility lesson, and Zane got to participate. First he did stride work. This is not jump work. It is to teach him how to adjust his stride according to what's in front of him. As a puppy, our main goal is to find his stride and work that, not make him adjust yet. His stride was a little longer than we expected!
He also got to work the chute. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab the camera for it. The first time through (open chute), he did slow down on the new surface. But he made it through to play with a tug toy. The boy loves to tug! He did it 3 more times, getting faster every time. The last time he beat me to the end! The chute was held open, but on the last run, the middle was sagging a little. Doesn't phase him!
On the obedience front he's working on chair fronts and hand pushes for heeling.
For the chair fronts, I sit on the edge of a chair and extend my legs to form a chute. The first couple of times I will lure to get him between my legs and close. While he's there, I hold a hand out to each side and expect eye contact. After a couple of lures, I just hold my hands above my legs and expect him to come in, focused on the middle of my body away from my hands. How many times have you seen people who have dogs who can front when their hands are in front, but have no clue what to do when the hands are at their sides? I want the hands at the side to be his cue to focus up and middle. He's getting the idea!
One funny story from tonight. I cut the tip of my finger pretty bad yesterday. I have a bandaid on it, and before doing the chair fronts I washed dishes. The bandaid was wet, came loose, and started flapping. When Zane grabbed for the treat in that hand, he grabbed the bandaid and swallowed it right down. New training treat? I'm sure it will come out tomorrow.
For the hand push, I want him pushing into my hand with his nose. When his pushes get strong enough, I'll start letting that push "move" me. I'll step forward, and he'll step forward to continue his push. This will build drive for the heel. For now, I'm just standing still waiting for him to fully understand what I want.
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