tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post7803813898079036283..comments2023-07-19T05:06:28.227-05:00Comments on The Dogs Are Really In Charge: Preparations for Obedience TrialsLaura and The Corgi, Toller, & Duckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06437492165453445126noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-69811626733850970752014-02-22T23:47:28.896-06:002014-02-22T23:47:28.896-06:00Woops, somehow I didn't see your answer to my ...Woops, somehow I didn't see your answer to my question until now. Great answer! "once they're past the initial learning phase, I use a ton of praise and excitement before ever handing over a cookie or toy" -- love this! Will definitely start doing this as well.<br /><br />Thanks again for taking the time to share all this info!Muttsandaklutzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05551047401085562752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-11488526623489302382014-02-10T13:06:26.808-06:002014-02-10T13:06:26.808-06:00Oh my ultimate goal with him? I would love to get...Oh my ultimate goal with him? I would love to get his AKC CD and UD titles. I don't see him ever having the stamina to go further for a UDX and OTCH. But at the very least I'll have a backyard champion!Laura and The Corgi, Toller, & Duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06437492165453445126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-633487048975818102014-02-10T13:04:43.643-06:002014-02-10T13:04:43.643-06:00Jenna,
No I don't think formal obedience trai...Jenna, <br />No I don't think formal obedience training is of any benefit in his every day life. My dogs are pretty much allowed to be hooligans at home as long as they respect the few rules I have :)<br /><br />But I like training obedience. And I like competing as a concrete way to measure progress. Obedience is not naturally high on his list but as I take care of his long list of needs I figure he can throw me a favor. and I sure try very very hard to make it worthwhile for him. I will be ok if we never make it back to the AKC obedience ring but I sure am going to try, for my sake.<br /><br />I know that if I suddenly stopped training obedience with him it is likely that our relationship would take a small hit. Training for a sport forces me to take time out of my day for having fun with just that dog. Otherwise it's all too easy to be lazyLaura and The Corgi, Toller, & Duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06437492165453445126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-82844923869441358802014-02-10T10:51:19.018-06:002014-02-10T10:51:19.018-06:00Awesome post with a lot of meat! What is your ult...Awesome post with a lot of meat! What is your ultimate goal for Vito? Do you think that formal obedience training is also helping in everyday life situations? I ask because there are times when, if I really sat down and thought about what Dot wanted most, going into the obedience ring would not be high on the list. And yet I'm still doing it, for now. Do you consider not continuing or do you think it's beneficial to Vito in other aspects of life?Jenna Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787074975348206652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-82533315901073915922014-02-09T20:39:46.907-06:002014-02-09T20:39:46.907-06:00That is a very good question and one that I don...That is a very good question and one that I don't think I've formally thought about. Short answer is yes, a combination :) Long rambly answer I'm making up below:<br /><br />I make sure that when I'm training my dog, once they're past the initial learning phase, I use a ton of praise and excitement before ever handing over a cookie or toy. My dogs better know they're geniuses from my voice and body. And when handing over the food I try to do so in an interactive way as much as possible- whether that's jumping on me for treat while I pet with the free hand, or chasing the treat like it's a toy back and forth on the ground.<br /><br />Secondly, a lot of the time I try and smoothly transition the personal play I'm trying to build value for (plus tons of praise) back to work. So there's no time for the dog to wonder where their cookie is. And usually the trick can be followed by me running away from the dog/backing quickly away which movement is somewhat of a natural reinforcer to dogs.<br /><br />The things I'm trying to build value for with Vito are all things that either involve movement or oppositional reflex moves. He isn't much of a jumper or spinner, but it's a ton easier to build value for high hand touches and spins then it is to build value for a bow or wave. Of course some dogs just really love certain tricks.<br /><br />You can start by substituting a "game" about half the time you feel the urge to feed a cookie in your training. While it drops the external reward rate in half, usually attitude is much higher.Laura and The Corgi, Toller, & Duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06437492165453445126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-79357728892420283592014-02-09T20:06:41.214-06:002014-02-09T20:06:41.214-06:00First, THANK YOU for this post -- LOVED IT!
I'...First, THANK YOU for this post -- LOVED IT!<br /><br />I've noticed his chest vault in several of your videos -- he especially seems to love doing that and it's pretty neat to watch :)<br /><br />When you talk about building value for things like gentle pushes, spins, etc., can I ask what approach you use to build that value? e.g. rewarding it with something... with what? praise? personal play? something external? a combo of the above? I find it hard to build value for a trick (e.g. spinning) where my dog in the end finds joy in doing the trick itself. I usually end up with "ok now where's my treat"? <br /><br />So so much in this post, great ideas for things to do and work on. I will definitely be referring back to it. Thanks again.<br /><br /><br />Muttsandaklutzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05551047401085562752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-81573760095166657892014-02-09T01:51:41.619-06:002014-02-09T01:51:41.619-06:00You betcha -- Attitude first! Cuz if you don't...You betcha -- Attitude first! Cuz if you don't have Attitude, you'll never get your competition goals like Precision. [as well, losing dog attitude is verrrry demotivating for the handler.]<br />I hope Vito's perscription(s) get all sorted out.Lynnda L in Mplshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09828294382162626789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360711630366485930.post-10718567829000063882014-02-08T17:51:43.353-06:002014-02-08T17:51:43.353-06:00always love reading what you guys are up to - grea...always love reading what you guys are up to - great plan - looking forward to watching the results :Dandreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08911146116540091798noreply@blogger.com