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My dog is just so f-en smart that I have to write up a brag!

I started clicker training her to retrieve a dumbell.

First session was on Wednesday. On Thursday I did one session, very short as I had no time.

On Friday she was taking the dumbell in her mouth but I couldnt get her to hold it for any period of time.

Well today she is retrieving it from a sit at heel postion, brings it back and sits in front of me. She is slow but no chewing, will release it when I say "give", if I dont say "give" she will hold it for about 20 sec.

I am absolutly amazed. Here is a linky to the video http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpWqq0ji6KQ

This is all at home and the only distraction is Rex, that would really want to learn as well and he on occasion races her to the dumbell ;-) but doesnt pick it up

So when was the last time you had a jaw drop moment at how smart your dog is? Share your story.

Edited by Monelite
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I'm constantly wowed by my pup. It's so cool watching them learn.

Not a huge level of difficulty but we did hand touches today. I didn't time it but it couldn't have taken longer than 1 minute for him to work it out. So cute the way he bops my hand with his nose.

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So when was the last time you had a jaw drop moment at how smart your dog is? Share your story.

Just about every time I train, he astounds me with how fast he learns things, he usually grasps things in 2 or 3 repetitions & is proficient at them after only 1 or 2 short training sessions. The times he doesnt you can guarantee that it's something that I am doing that is confusing him.

I have thought I have had clever dogs before but I've never had one like him, he's one in a million. :)

Edited by MrsD
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Can I just say that I am sooooooooooooo jealous! Compared that, my dogs must the dumbest of the bunch (but that is said with extraordinary love). Took Stormy six months to learn how to sit :) but then again, sitting isn't natural for her (sighthound cross). Murphy did surprise me when he learnt to sit within a week (we adopted him at 18 mths of age).

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Can I just say that I am sooooooooooooo jealous! Compared that, my dogs must the dumbest of the bunch (but that is said with extraordinary love). Took Stormy six months to learn how to sit ;) but then again, sitting isn't natural for her (sighthound cross). Murphy did surprise me when he learnt to sit within a week (we adopted him at 18 mths of age).

:) I can relate to that!!!

My Goldie took weeks to learn how to "shake hands" and yet my female GSD offered her paw the day we brought her home at 8 weeks.

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Thats great Monelite :)

Cosmo wows me every time i take her out to do scent detection and she does it ;) Despite no regular practice :D We used her for a demo on Saturday and she searched so well and so independently, even people searches using people she would normally just go silly with. And Georgie wows me each time we do agility- for a dog that would never even walk across a trampoline bed! Cosmo just makes me tired doing agility- too dam fast :laugh:

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I took it a bit further yesterday, she now fetches (runs) across the room and I have a VERY long room.

I took it outside as well and she picked it up from the gorund but fetching from a distance she was more interested in chasing possums. Error on my part I had her off lead and with no collar on.

We shall work on that in due course

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Thanks PAX, I will.

I went back a bit - just to picking it up, but as soon I realised that I cant block her from taking off chasing Rex or chcking out the near by bushes I finished - no point.

Will try tonight again, on lead and from the beggining.

Im still proud tho, and in the house she runs to the dumbell now and runs back to me. :eek:

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I took it a bit further yesterday, she now fetches (runs) across the room and I have a VERY long room.

I took it outside as well and she picked it up from the gorund but fetching from a distance she was more interested in chasing possums. Error on my part I had her off lead and with no collar on.

We shall work on that in due course

shorten the distance and very well done. I have a manic ball chaser so yesterday was asking for the odd drop or sit in play plus a cute bit of heel work. I like to mix play and work. I am thinking as the possum would be play (or drive) that you could get something she would like to play with between work sessions. I mean short work, short play.

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Ok Ill be honest. :(

I went outside did a pick up and hold which she did very well and than went onto the fetch.

She went to it pawed it and took off after Rex, I called her back to me and told her to get it she didnt and took off after something else, I yelled for her to get back she did and I was angry.

Not that she didnt fetch but that she just blew me off. TWICE!

Got her to drop stay with an angry voice, calmed a bit down, I than slapped myself on a forehead, got her to come, pick up the dumbell but I dont think my voice was happy, and than said break - go and do what you bloody want, Im in no mood and you are abviously too busy today.

But than at home after dinner we did really well.

I just need to slap myslef a bit sometimes, I expect bloody miracles all the time, she can deliver a miracle on occoasion and than I want to capitalise on that. Silly handler!!!!! :eek:

Edited by Monelite
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I yelled for her to get back she did and I was angry

you can be angry, sometimes we can't help it but use profanities in a sweet talk way, the dog doesn't know you are cross, you sound happy, then you will laugh at yourself and start to relax :laugh: use baby speak and always reward a recall. Never train if you are out of sorts. Stop training and play for a few minutes, then grab a coffee and read DOL.

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You need to plan and set it up so she will suceed, you want to make the retrieve a fun special job not a punishment.

Don't do it yet where there are distractions and lock Rex in the house. :laugh:

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Oh nooo I cant lock him up, he howls the neighbourhood down and all she wants to do is go and help him in his distress LOL

they are fine, after first 2 minutes of sillyness together he goes his own way and she sticks with me. He is no issue. Im the issue!!

Plan - thats right plan, I never have one :laugh:

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Plan - thats right plan, I never have one :)

Training is supposed to be fluid. That said, sometimes it is two "steps" forward, one step back.

But a plan is a plan..........we know the plan, the dogs do not. Train the best we can.

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