Question About Training

[Bubitty]

Hi Folks!

Need some questions answered!

I have a 6 month old pup who I train about 3-5 times a day, each session about 10 – 15 mins.

I try and mix up what we do so in the morning she does different things to the afternoon and so on. I have a “revision” session where we run through stuff she knows and its just good fun. I also have a “free for all” session where she does stuff and I click what I like and treat.

I want to know how fast I should move onto new things and whether moving on quickly would confuse her in case she hasn’t learnt the first thing “properly”.

For example I have taught her to pick up objects for me. She sits by my foot and runs out to pick up her ball and bring it back to me when I tell her. That was on Tuesday we learned this. This morning she has learned to pick up her squirrel toy as well and did it reliably about 10 times. I am thinking of adding another toy into the mix but am wondering if this is too soon. Should I do ball and squirrel for a few more days and then add another toy and then increase the distance? I don’t want her to get bored though by having to repeatedly pick up ball and squirrel over and over again. Should I try to do this at the park before adding more objects?

Also, I have taught her to run around objects (that’s to a link from Aiden!). We can do virtually any object now. Should I aim to increase the distance? And then try to get her to do it at the park?

I guess my main aim is to not confuse her, bore her, entertain her and to make her be able to do these things fairly reliably!

Any advice/general ideas/tips? What do you folks do?

Would love to do doggy dancing with her but that is another beast to tackle!!!!!!

[Aidan]

Hi Bub, lucky dog being trained throughout the day like this!

There are a few ways to know when to raise the criteria, all involve making sure that you are getting about 80% success. So, do 5 trials of the behaviour you are testing, if she gets 4 out of 5, start making it harder or different. When she can get 4/5 on that, change it again.

Another method is 300 Peck:

http://positivepetzine.com/300_Peck

... which works great for distance or duration criteria (e.g going around the pole, or long stays)

[Serket]

Can't offer any advice, but care to share that link for running around objects?

[Bubitty]

Thanks for the link Aiden!!!! And thanks again for the last link! It has been bookmarked and consulted many times and has provided Bitty with many activities!!!!!

By 5 trials do you mean 4/5 in one session? So say I go home today, she gets squirrel happily 4/5 times, then I can raise the bar?

Serket:

http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Leve...vel/2Level.html

Enjoy! I LOVE this site!!!!!!!!!!

[Serket]

Thanks Bub :nahnah:

I think we need more photos in the GR thread by the way

[kiesha09]

By 5 trials do you mean 4/5 in one session? So say I go home today, she gets squirrel happily 4/5 times, then I can raise the bar?

Yes this is correct.

[Aidan]

By 5 trials do you mean 4/5 in one session? So say I go home today, she gets squirrel happily 4/5 times, then I can raise the bar?

Glad to help Yes, you've got it. You can use the same approach when ticking off your Levels exercises, too.

[Bubitty]

Thanks Bub :nahnah:

I think we need more photos in the GR thread by the way

LOL I am so terrible with photos! I am unable to get a natural shot of her! In every photo she has this “Ohh I am doing a sit stay cuz Mummy told me to!” expression!

[corvus]

I've been using the 300 peck dealy (thanks Aidan!) as well. It's been great for increasing duration for Kivi's stays. Just gives me a little direction so I have a better idea of what I'm doing and what Kivi can do.