Hand Touches

[laffi]

OK, my dogs know how to target my hand, but I am having troubles teaching them to keep on touching (stay connected with my hand) until released.

They will do multiple touches but when I rise criteria they just start licking my hand and doing other crazy stuff (nothing remotely close to a longer touch).

Any suggestions?

Btw I do try to give them food near the hand they are targeting.

[The Spotted Devil]

You've made me want to try this with Zig - will let you know how we go

[leopuppy04]

Same here TSD - I'm going to try tonight too!!!!

Gosh - that video camera is getting a work out tonight!!!!

[laffi]

Please try and let me know how you go!

Esp if your dogs start to:

paw the target

play hockey with the target

lick the target

or get even more creative ;)

Edited April 15, 2008 by laffi

[cramet]

just do x10 at 5 to 10 seconds when all ten are done with out a mistake (reward with food when no mistake is made)

when done do another x10 and adding 5 to 10 sec with out a mistake and follow that method

if your dog makes a mistake start from the start

and always finish on a high for the dog

there would be others but thats all i can think off at the moment

Edited April 15, 2008 by cramet

[The Spotted Devil]

laffi - in the middle of trying it now with 2 very short clicker sessions - I *think* he's starting to get the idea but is not volunteering it yet. I have switched to using the back of my hand as a different cue - whether he picks that up or not I started by placing my hand gently on his nose and clicking when he held his head still. I tried to do it when he was lying down/standing/sitting/watching me or not so he didn't think he was getting rewarded for something he knows.

And yes, he's whined, licked, pawed and even play bowed to try and get a response I'll give him a break and try again later - he works better that way

PMSL - he's just targeted the sleeping cats and can't work out why he didn't get a reward ;)

Edited April 15, 2008 by The Spotted Devil

[laffi]

laffi - in the middle of trying it now with 2 very short clicker sessions - I *think* he's starting to get the idea but is not volunteering it yet. I have switched to using the back of my hand as a different cue - whether he picks that up or not I started by placing my hand gently on his nose and clicking when he held his head still. I tried to do it when he was lying down/standing/sitting/watching me or not so he didn't think he was getting rewarded for something he knows.

And yes, he's whined, licked, pawed and even play bowed to try and get a response I'll give him a break and try again later - he works better that way ;)

I think it's a great idea to:

- use the back of your hand

- hold it and click when he is still (doing all different stuff)

I think you are up to something. Can't wait to get home and try it now!

[leopuppy04]

or get even more creative ;)

Does picking up the target and handing it to you count as more creative?!?!

ETA - ok - HATE people that WORK from home.... huh TSD.... shouldn't you have uni work to do!?!?! I remember *back in the day* that MY course certainly left me NO time to lax off.....

Edited April 15, 2008 by leopuppy04

[JulesP]

Brock was touching other people's targets last night, which was kind-of cute!!

[The Spotted Devil]

LOL JulesP that's gorgeous

LP - gave myself a day off today after doing my Honours project proposal presentation yesterday as well as handing in another essay. Of course I decided to duck out and do a few things early and got stuck in peak hour traffic for 3 hours waiting for a tow truck for my car didn't I

[The Spotted Devil]

I think he's got it! Just offered it a couple of times and looked mightily surprised when I gave him a jackpot

Will give him another break

ETA: When he nearly got it I verbally praised him, which made him try even harder!

Edited April 15, 2008 by The Spotted Devil

[JulesP]

Brock is very polite with his nose and only wanted to do gentle quick touches.

Poppy was happy to keep her nose on my hand for quite a while. She isn't a real licker and just sniffed a bit. I used verbal encouragement to keep her in that position.

ETA both dogs already do touching. Was just looking at extending the touch.

Edited April 15, 2008 by JulesP

[ness]

Hmm I tried it at heel and as expected I got a nose touch to the leg rather than to the hand. But she would hold duration on that without a problem.

ETA. LP cos i am working from home as well.

Edited April 15, 2008 by ness

[ShellyBeggs]

Are you training with a clicker?

In general have you taught either.........

hold/freeze

or

a release word from position

If so, can you incorporate either of these?

Maybe start incorporating into a trick the dog knows well............and then add to this one.

I have the opposite problem with Ranger.........he keeps his paw touching my hand by just curling over his toes and digging his claws in. Ouch!

[The Spotted Devil]

SB reminded me.....I used 'watch' to stop Zig moving his head like a clown at the fair

[helen]

Ignore the licking, try and reward before the dog licks and very gradually increase the length of time the dog targets.

You may have more luck starting with a target stick or with a round plastic lid, then transferring the behaviour to your hand - some dogs have more succes to begin with with one item but not the other, so your dog might be brilliant with a plastic lid but not your hand at the beginning, just try different targets

[laffi]

How is it going everybody?

We had a good session yesterday. I tried to hold my hand touching their nose. Midge wasn't a big fan and was waking backwards a little but after a while she got an idea, so she was trying to push my hand more and for (slightly) longer. Laffi is getting better too, although still licking sometimes.

I did notice that if I don't click, but bring the reward when they are still targeting it helps a lot.

(if I click they move their head towards me and it's not what I want)

[The Spotted Devil]

Haven't tried today....Zig is still sleeping Glad you're having some success laffi

[whatevah]

http://synalia.com/overview-of-sats-bridge-and-target/

There was a lady called Kayce Cover who came out a few years ago, and she taught duration by doing bridge and target training. I found it a bit complicated but read the above link. I remember about something where you move your hand towards the dog or slightly vibrate it and keep saying a letter such as "x" continually while the dog is doing what you want. I remember something intermediate bridges etc. Like I said I found it very confusing. So read the above link.