Video of today's session:
Showing posts with label inducive retrieve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inducive retrieve. Show all posts
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Working on the db hold
Admittedly, I have not put frequent or regular work into our retreive. Life seems to be spiralling out of control right now, and I am not getting much dog training in at all (which is greatly frustrating). Monday, Fizz was VERY chewy on the wooden db. After speaking with a woman at a trial yesterday, I decided to try a metal utility article today. This yielded excellent results, with only 1 episode of chewing. YAY! :) Tried working the wooden db in, and had good results with it. Plan for this week: find 3 days this week to work twice daily on db holds.
Video of today's session:
Video of today's session:
Monday, October 22, 2012
Working on calm holds
It has been absolutely forever since I updated this blog, and for that I sincerely apologize. We've had many things over the past few months that I thought "I need to get this up on the blog" ........ but somehow life is just running me ragged and I haven't had time/energy to keep up with this. Started Dog Walking in August and dearly love it. However, it's one more thing that uses up my time during the day, and all my other responsibilities to kids, dogs, family, house etc still remain. :)
Fizz and I have been trying to work on a calm hold with the db. Our training in general is very sporadic at this point, often done in 1-2min spurts w/out pre-planning (bad bad trainer!). We've worked on this off and on. What I've seen recently is that the first hold will be calm, and then the subsequent ones will be mouthy, and the bar on my db is getting trashed (and its maple!). I tried bringing out heavier Db's to work with (my SchH1 and SchH2 db's), but still the chewing. And when I look in her eye, it is not stress that I see, but rather "Imp eye" .......playful, mischevious, puppy. Pure and simple: puppy!! Yes, she's 13mos, and many times I get very intense adult-like focus and work. HOWEVER, as Rottweilers go, she's still very young and I have to keep that in mind. I suspect that this issue will resolve itself most easily with maturity, and I refuse to make a problem out of what is not really a true problem.........and so we've not been drilling on this or saying "I must have a hold by X deadline!" and forcing the issue.
I decided today to do a bit of work, using one of her chew bones. It's a very dense rubber nylabone, shaped like some sort of femur. She enjoys chewing on the epicondyles, but will often carry it around the house very calmly. B/c I've seen her carry this calmly of her own accord, I chose to use it for today's training. She'll also carry James' rain boots very calmly, but I suspect I should not encourage that by using them in training. ;)
I've been working with her holding calmly = I say "out" and take the db from her. If no calm hold, no "out" and no reward is available. At times, I'm also using a "yes" to mark the calm hold. If she starts to chew, or lies down with it, I simply take the db away, no negative verbals......simply the loss of opportunity to be rewarded. If you're not calmly holding your db, you have no ability to earn reward. I was happy with how today's session went over all. We'll be taking our alternative db to training this afternoon. :)
Fizz working on db hold
Fizz and I have been trying to work on a calm hold with the db. Our training in general is very sporadic at this point, often done in 1-2min spurts w/out pre-planning (bad bad trainer!). We've worked on this off and on. What I've seen recently is that the first hold will be calm, and then the subsequent ones will be mouthy, and the bar on my db is getting trashed (and its maple!). I tried bringing out heavier Db's to work with (my SchH1 and SchH2 db's), but still the chewing. And when I look in her eye, it is not stress that I see, but rather "Imp eye" .......playful, mischevious, puppy. Pure and simple: puppy!! Yes, she's 13mos, and many times I get very intense adult-like focus and work. HOWEVER, as Rottweilers go, she's still very young and I have to keep that in mind. I suspect that this issue will resolve itself most easily with maturity, and I refuse to make a problem out of what is not really a true problem.........and so we've not been drilling on this or saying "I must have a hold by X deadline!" and forcing the issue.
I decided today to do a bit of work, using one of her chew bones. It's a very dense rubber nylabone, shaped like some sort of femur. She enjoys chewing on the epicondyles, but will often carry it around the house very calmly. B/c I've seen her carry this calmly of her own accord, I chose to use it for today's training. She'll also carry James' rain boots very calmly, but I suspect I should not encourage that by using them in training. ;)
I've been working with her holding calmly = I say "out" and take the db from her. If no calm hold, no "out" and no reward is available. At times, I'm also using a "yes" to mark the calm hold. If she starts to chew, or lies down with it, I simply take the db away, no negative verbals......simply the loss of opportunity to be rewarded. If you're not calmly holding your db, you have no ability to earn reward. I was happy with how today's session went over all. We'll be taking our alternative db to training this afternoon. :)
Fizz working on db hold
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Hold it!
Per my training log, Fizz hasn't seen a dumbell since May 1st (doh!). I brought it with us to class on Monday night and she tried to climb up my side, to get to it. We worked a few reps of take (I think I almost lost fingers!) and then checked on grip.....yep, still firm, and still with pull against me to get it. So I put it on the floor. Fizz has only ever worked her db in the house, in our den specifically. This is by NO means a generalized behavior, but her reaction to simply seeing it in class told me I wasn't anywhere near overfacing her with it. After about 5 floor to hand pick ups, we had a big party and put it away.
Tonight, I pulled out my borrowed book and checked in on what was next: hold. This is the one step that I had trouble with Froli...and the whole reason I learned about clickers in my training many years ago. Even verbal praise from me generated enough excitement in Frol that she got chewy.......so I went to calm/neutral marking via the clicker.
First I checked Fizz's response to my hands on top/bottom of her muzzle. It's not a grab, it's not holding the dog by its face, or any kind of pushing in on gums. Simply gently holding the upper/lower jaws, if dog chooses to pull back, they pull back, no big deal. She turned her head to an angle the first two times, and then just sat there while I "held" her. Praise/reward (food).
Next, I brought the db back into the picture and worked several takes/outs with her, having very nice committed grips. As soon as I started trying to work the hold, she wanted to spit the db to get the food in my hand. In trying to work with the method exactly as written, I chose to work through this tonight. I held the db, held her muzzle, and had a single piece of food in my fingers. I did get 3 or 4 good holds with a committed grip, but otherwise, she was trying to get the food in my fingers.
Currently, when I ask for a take, the food isn't on me at all. Its in a bowl, sitting somewhere nearby. We will try holds again tomorrow, and I will have no food in my hand, but instead, in the bowl as she knows and see if we can get more settled holds, closer together. I think that was the root of our issues tonight, the food being right in my hand.
However, all that said, I'm very happy to see how eager she is for the db after a 2 month layoff from it, and to see how positive her association is with it. Once the hold and deliver to hand are solid, we'll start bringing the db with us many places and work on generalizing the behavior.
Fizz is a really fun puppy and I'm enjoying the journey of our training adventures! :)
Tonight, I pulled out my borrowed book and checked in on what was next: hold. This is the one step that I had trouble with Froli...and the whole reason I learned about clickers in my training many years ago. Even verbal praise from me generated enough excitement in Frol that she got chewy.......so I went to calm/neutral marking via the clicker.
First I checked Fizz's response to my hands on top/bottom of her muzzle. It's not a grab, it's not holding the dog by its face, or any kind of pushing in on gums. Simply gently holding the upper/lower jaws, if dog chooses to pull back, they pull back, no big deal. She turned her head to an angle the first two times, and then just sat there while I "held" her. Praise/reward (food).
Next, I brought the db back into the picture and worked several takes/outs with her, having very nice committed grips. As soon as I started trying to work the hold, she wanted to spit the db to get the food in my hand. In trying to work with the method exactly as written, I chose to work through this tonight. I held the db, held her muzzle, and had a single piece of food in my fingers. I did get 3 or 4 good holds with a committed grip, but otherwise, she was trying to get the food in my fingers.
Currently, when I ask for a take, the food isn't on me at all. Its in a bowl, sitting somewhere nearby. We will try holds again tomorrow, and I will have no food in my hand, but instead, in the bowl as she knows and see if we can get more settled holds, closer together. I think that was the root of our issues tonight, the food being right in my hand.
However, all that said, I'm very happy to see how eager she is for the db after a 2 month layoff from it, and to see how positive her association is with it. Once the hold and deliver to hand are solid, we'll start bringing the db with us many places and work on generalizing the behavior.
Fizz is a really fun puppy and I'm enjoying the journey of our training adventures! :)
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Retrieve - Day 2
We worked a bit last night on lowering the db towards the floor, and Fizz had no problem with it being in any position. Today's goal is to get it on the floor, and have her start lifting it. I'm not looking for a delivery to had yet, that will come. Worked a short session this afternoon with good success. She was willing to work with the db on the floor, and with my had being away from it. I also had the treats behind my back, out of sight, so no obvious lure, as well as a slight delay in reward being built in.
Twice in our session, she actually picked it up. We'll work on this more later, with me waiting out the actual lifting of the db from the floor. It has been my experience when increasing criteria that some increases go smoothly, and others not. Patience is the biggest key in working through such issues. I look forward to seeing how our next session is. :)
Twice in our session, she actually picked it up. We'll work on this more later, with me waiting out the actual lifting of the db from the floor. It has been my experience when increasing criteria that some increases go smoothly, and others not. Patience is the biggest key in working through such issues. I look forward to seeing how our next session is. :)
Friday, March 16, 2012
Adventures and retrieves
Fizz had a morning of adventure, and a lunch time of learning retrieve work. :) We went to a local farm in Sherborn to pick up fresh eggs. They have a petting area there for kids to go in and see the chickens, ducks and rabbits. Fizz was able to go up to the fencing, and the animals were not in the least worried about her. She showed active interest in the birds, but was not coming unglued. I asked to her 'set up,' and then give me 3-4 steps of heeling. She NAILED it! :) :) GOOD GIRLIE!!! She easily and happily left her cool feathered friends to come work with me, and we were all of 2 side-steps away from that fence. Super happy about this! :) She also got to see a few horses up close. Again, actively interested, but not obnoxious, jumping, barking or otherwise alarming the horses.
After the farm, we went to the bank. All of my dogs have spent time in our bank, the folks who work there just adore dogs, and have always been most gracious to my Rottweilers. Fizz got to experience automatic doors (the kind that open with a handicap button). I decided these things absolutely ROCKED for working on 'not bolting out the door.' Not that Fizz has that problem, we established sitting at doors at a young age. BUT.....to be able to sit with your dog at a door, push the button, have the door open, and you and dog are still set up (and you are able to reward the good choice to hold the sit)......totally awesome!! If I owned a training center, I'd have these installed for training purposes! :)
While in the bank, we worked on formal sit durations, and then after visiting a few customers politely, we did a down in another area. Again, very happy and eager to work in a new and distracting environment, without much time to check it out at all. I'm very happy to see how in tune she is to me, and how trusting she is. :)
Finally, after the bank, we came home to lunch. I decided to start Fizz's formal retrieve work today. We're using Sue Sternberg's inducive retrieve. I will not do a force retrieve on my dog, in any form. As I read through the booklet, I knew I was going to struggle with the necessary co-ordination of holding the db, holding the treats (we used broiled chix breast) and trying to pop the db into her mouth. Thankfully, she is a very patient puppy, and not hyper sensitive about her face/body being touched. She kept pushing at my had and getting me all out of position, so there was a lot of wiggling around.
Initially, I started with a wooden db, but quickly decided there wasn't room to get my hands in there where I wanted, and so changed over to a plastic one with a longer bar.
Session 1 was our very first attempt. The goal is manually place the db into her mouth and immediately reward with high value treat. At the end, a 'test' is presented in that the db is shown, and when the dog grabs for it themself (vs. the manual placement), BIG jackpot reward.
Session 2 was about 10 minutes later, after a bit of tug and playing. In this session, I was rewarding her for taking it herself. No more manual placement. She showed great willingness to take it. There was some nosing/licking, but I suspect that will quickly disappear, as it's not being rewarded.
Session 1: (long video, 10 minutes)
Session 2:
After the farm, we went to the bank. All of my dogs have spent time in our bank, the folks who work there just adore dogs, and have always been most gracious to my Rottweilers. Fizz got to experience automatic doors (the kind that open with a handicap button). I decided these things absolutely ROCKED for working on 'not bolting out the door.' Not that Fizz has that problem, we established sitting at doors at a young age. BUT.....to be able to sit with your dog at a door, push the button, have the door open, and you and dog are still set up (and you are able to reward the good choice to hold the sit)......totally awesome!! If I owned a training center, I'd have these installed for training purposes! :)
While in the bank, we worked on formal sit durations, and then after visiting a few customers politely, we did a down in another area. Again, very happy and eager to work in a new and distracting environment, without much time to check it out at all. I'm very happy to see how in tune she is to me, and how trusting she is. :)
Finally, after the bank, we came home to lunch. I decided to start Fizz's formal retrieve work today. We're using Sue Sternberg's inducive retrieve. I will not do a force retrieve on my dog, in any form. As I read through the booklet, I knew I was going to struggle with the necessary co-ordination of holding the db, holding the treats (we used broiled chix breast) and trying to pop the db into her mouth. Thankfully, she is a very patient puppy, and not hyper sensitive about her face/body being touched. She kept pushing at my had and getting me all out of position, so there was a lot of wiggling around.
Initially, I started with a wooden db, but quickly decided there wasn't room to get my hands in there where I wanted, and so changed over to a plastic one with a longer bar.
Session 1 was our very first attempt. The goal is manually place the db into her mouth and immediately reward with high value treat. At the end, a 'test' is presented in that the db is shown, and when the dog grabs for it themself (vs. the manual placement), BIG jackpot reward.
Session 2 was about 10 minutes later, after a bit of tug and playing. In this session, I was rewarding her for taking it herself. No more manual placement. She showed great willingness to take it. There was some nosing/licking, but I suspect that will quickly disappear, as it's not being rewarded.
Session 1: (long video, 10 minutes)
Session 2:
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