Clicker Training Archives - Page 33 of 46

Off to School

December 10, 2009

Talos is just turning eight months old – an adolescent. And just like human teenagers, we're seeing some behavior changes. Some are good, some not so good.

One not-so-good example: he's barking and lunging at other dogs. He wants to play, but is getting frustrated because I won't let him go to the dogs right away.

I don't let him visit the other dogs for a number of reasons:

When he's with his for-good person, he can't visit every dog he sees.
Not every dog wants a huge cow-like dog in his face.
He can't visit another dog if he's going to pull me to get there.

That's enough reasons, right?

It's very difficult for me to find a training class during the day. I teach classes every night, but can't take him because I'm working – I've got to work with my clients.

Thankfully, one of my dog-training friends (who is an excellent trainer to boot) offers daytime classes and offered us a spot in her beginner level course on Fridays. So starting tomorrow, Talos is enrolled in remedial good manners classes!

I think it will take several sessions for us to get this behavior under control. But at least we're starting early. If you notice a behavior you'd rather not see in your dog, don't wait to see if it will get better! Talk to a qualified positive reinforcement trainer and enroll in a class or get some in-home training.

Behaviors don't get better with time. In fact, they normally get worse. So do yourself (and your dog) a favor and nip it in the bud before the problem grows into something unmanageable.

Working Hard

December 4, 2009

After teaching class last night, I loaded three dogs in the Element and headed for Virginia. Today, Talos and I spent all day in Charlottesville working with the good folks at Service Dogs of Virginia. We worked on typical balance dog skills:

loose leash walking
settling quietly on a mat in public
eye contact
pivoting left and right
backing up
attention/eye contact

We started out in the training center, where distractions are minimal and can be easily controlled.Talos showed off his skills (and the areas that still need more work!) and learned some new ones, too. Then it was off the the Charlottesville mall, filled with holiday shoppers, twinkling lights, larger-than-life window displays, and lots (and lots) of kids.

There were three Great Danes – two in training (Talos and his brother, Gryphon), and a two-year old working Great Dane named Arrow with his person, Valerie.We got the chance to take the dogs into Santa's Circle and the big man himself actually took time to talk to the dogs. Talos was not fazed by the jolly man in red (he was a real Santa – beard and all!).

Three giant dogs make quite a spectacle no matter where they are, but put them in the center of a food court and it gets a little chaotic very quickly!Everyone has a question, everyone wants to pet the dogs. It was a great socialization experience for the dogs. With repeated experiences like this, the dogs quickly learn to settle down and ignore all the hullabaloo. It's really something to see a Dane sleeping soundly in the middle of the mall while a small crowd gathers with cameras, children, and questions.

In the end, though, that's exactly what the dogs need to do. They need to become so accustomed to that scenario that it almost becomes boring to them. Their partner, the person who needs the dog, relies on the Dane for balance and support. The Danes need to focus on their person, the pace, and the requests of their person. The dogs can't do their jobs if they are distracted by squealing children, gasps of passersby, twinkling lights, loud music, or roaming groups of teens.

Tomorrow, Talos has the day off and it's Nemo's turn to work.Despite the forecasted drenching rain/snow and temperatures in the 30's, Nemo and I are headed to a tracking workshop in Richmond, VA. This could get tricky – Nemo's not a fan of the cold. To be fair, he's single-coated. Unlike the Labs, who are triple-coated, Nemo gets cold very quickly. It's like us going out into the weather without a coat – we can't take it very long.

In a pinch, I'll take Tango with me.I'll assess the weather tomorrow morning and make a "game time decision." Tango would very happily trudge through the rain and wouldn't even notice the temperatures. But Nemo's got a nose on him that just won't quit. I think he'd be great at tracking and I really want to give it a go with Nemo.

In any event, the day will be spent learning alongside a dog. It's the coolest way to spend the day.

Anger Management

November 24, 2009

Have you ever tried to learn from someone who was angry?

It's not much fun. My dogs will confirm.

I was working with my dogs today, training some new behaviors, when I found myself getting frusrated, impatient, and (dare I say it…), angry.

I immediately put the clicker and the food down, released the dog, and went into a different room to take a break.

The dogs all followed me for which I was grateful. It meant they didn't take my frustration personally. I don't know why I was frustrated, perhaps it's this silly sinus infection I'm dealing with. Or the meds that I'm on to fight it. Or this dratted grey, cold, and rainy weather. Or that I have 101 things to get done.

Whatever the reason, I stopped training. It's not productive, it's not fun, it's not efficient to train when you're angry.

I wasn't mad at the dog, I was simply frustrated. But the poor dog doesn't know that my actions aren't directed toward him any more than the cashier can't know that you were short with her because you just had a run-in with a co-worker.

So make sure training is always fun. For everyone: you and the dog. If either of you is getting frustrated, it's so easy to step away. Simply put the clicker down and go do something else. It works wonders for the training, for you, for the dog, for your relationship.

Travel Time

November 20, 2009

I'm leaving behind my dogs and my husband in a few hours to travel to Dallas, TX for the weekend. I'm part of the faculty at Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior (KPA) and I'm delivering Workshop 3 this weekend.

From the Academy's website:

We teach our students to be skilled trainers and effective teachers using force-free methods. This is not just because we're nice (though we are), but because we understand the history and use of punishment in training, and we believe that Karen Pryor Academy's approach is more powerful in every meaningful dimension.

We believe that great teachers possess both a solid knowledge of the science that governs learning, and honed practical abilities in both training animals and teaching other people to train animals. We also believe in giving our graduates the skills to succeed in their profession. Our curriculum weaves best business practices together with best training practices, and we have innovative post-graduate programs that give our alumni continuing support for financial success.

Each Dog Trainer Academy consists of on-line learning as well as in-person, weekend-long workshops. Students bring their own dogs with them to the workshop to show off what they've learned. This weekend is an especially fun workshop: the students will be working with untrained dogs and their people, teaching basic good manners. It's fun for the dogs, the owners, the students, and for me – it's a really fun weekend.

It's not enough to know about dogs, to know about behavior. To be an effective trainer, you've got to be able to teach people. Too many trainers are in this profession because they love dogs. It's not enough to just love dogs. You must enjoy the people who are at the other end of the leash as well! And effectively communicate and teach the person. Without the person, we have no chance of helping the dog.

It's a fantastic – but exhausting – experience. I can't wait to catch my flight today and arrive in Dallas this evening. But, know too, how happy I'll be to get back here early Monday morning so I can see my own dogs and my husband!

The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown Down

November 18, 2009

Karen Pryor wrote a great piece on being a change maker:

Here's a biologist's look at the process of making changes.

What people do when you start to institute a change (in chronological order):

Ignore you
Pretend to agree, but actually do nothing
Resist, delay, obstruct
Openly attack you (the dangerous phase, but also a sign that change is starting)
Absorb
Utilize
Take credit
Proselytize

What people say in the process of accepting the change:

"That might work for your population but not for mine." (absorbing)
"I can use it, but not for anything important." (absorbing and utilizing)
"Some of my people can use it if they feel they need to." (utilizing)
"Oh yes, we've been doing that for years, it's quite good." (utilizing and taking credit)
"We've come up with a really incredible program; you should try it." (taking credit and proselytizing).

A few days ago, I read an email from a very good trainer who said that Labs could learn with the clicker, but it doesn't work so well with big, slow dogs like Danes. It would never work for a Dane, she said.

I'm not sure where to start discussing the inaccuracies of that statement. The clicker isn't a gadget, a fad, or a newfangled method. It's pure, undadulterated behavior science. It operates on the rules of behavior. People who say things like the trainer did in that email simply don't understand the science of behavior.

What does that mean for me (and Talos)? That means I'm considering the gauntlet thrown! I'm always up for a challenge and I always need motivation, so I took that statement as a challenge. Of course I use clicker training. And of course I'm training the Great Dane, Talos exclusively with clicker training.

So over the next few weeks, I'm going to document (with video) just how slow and pokey Talos is (shouldn't come as any surprise to regular readers of this blog!) and then document just how well the click works to speed up behavior. Yes, even in a slow poke Dane.

Should be fun – I love a challenge!

Make-At-Home Cheap (And Easy) Dog Training Treats

November 13, 2009

In this economy, saving a little bit of money is a good thing. One way to save some scratch is to make your own dog training treats. Keep an eye on your grocery store flyer for sales on hot dogs. If they’re $1.00 per pack or less, pick up four or five packs. I’ll show you how to turn those hot dogs into cheap and easy dog training treats your dog will love.

This is an entire pack of hot dogs, just as they came out of the package.

Slice the hot dog in half, lengthwise.

Then flip the slippery sucker over and slice him again lengthwise (making four quarters).

Next, chop the hot dogs into pea-sized bits.

This is an entire pack of hot dogs diced (eight hot dogs).

Line a paper plate with a paper towel, then place the hot dogs on the plate in a single, even layer.

Cover the hot dogs with another paper towel and put the whole shebang in the microwave.

Cook the hot dogs on high for about 8 – 10 minutes. Depending on your microwave strength, you may have to add or subtract time. This is after about 12 minutes in my microwave. I’ll state the obvious: WATCH YOUR MICROWAVE. Microwave strength varies, so don’t leave these unattended. Check every few minutes to be sure the hot dogs don’t burn.

After cooking, let the hot dog pieces cool, then store in a zipper-locked plastic bag.

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