Training Talk Thread

[FranVT]

Guys if I'm going to start clicker training, the first thing I do is get Luuka to associate the click with a treat right? I can find lots of youtubes teaching me how to get her to do tricks with a clicker but not so many to teach the basics

[sas]

Ok pookey! I'm just worried changing things so close to our first trial - but I guess anything can happen on the day can't it!

Good luck! It's always a bit nerve wracking trialling for the first time! Even if it's just with a new dog! In the back of my mind, I was SURE that Abby was going to provide some entertainment for on-lookers on the weekend even though I knew we had done the work! But thankfully she proved me wrong!

I went and watched a trial in the weekend and I felt for some of them as their dogs were clearly doing stuff they hadn't expected.

I had taken Dante to get used to the environment and we ended up having to move him away (we were about 5 metres from the ring) as 2 dogs during their heeling pattern stopped and stared at Dante who was just standing there - see, he's a freak show even to other dogs

so it WAS you! I said to Shell that I thought the Dane watching mustve been Dante! I should've cone and said hello!

te he he - who were you?

[megan_]

Guys if I'm going to start clicker training, the first thing I do is get Luuka to associate the click with a treat right? I can find lots of youtubes teaching me how to get her to do tricks with a clicker but not so many to teach the basics

yes - it is called loading the clicker. You need to make sure she *only* associates the click with the treat, and not her surroundings/position with the click - for example, if she is always sitting when you click, she might think that sitting = click = treat (I hope that makes sense). So be sure to "load" the clicker in many different places and when she is doing many different things. That way, the only common thing is "click then treat".

[FranVT]

Okay. That makes sense. Because at this stage she won't associate anything she's doing with the clicker as long as she's doing lots of different things? I should click and treat when she's doing good things anyway though right? How will I know when she is ready to move on to actually training for results with the clicker?

[megan_]

Right - just do lots of clicks and treats in all different kids on environments. As long as she isn't doing anything too bad don't worry about her being good. She looks at the couch - click, treat. She looks at you - click treat. She stands up - click, treat. In fact, I like to click for just doing something - anything - as I use the clicker for free shaping (so I want my dog to try do lots of different things to earn the click).

How will you know if she's ready? Wait for her to be looking away from you. Then click. Wait a second before giving her the treat. If she looks to you for a treat during that second then she is ready - she knows that a click is followed by a treat.

Even after this, I'd still load the clicker in different places/positions.

[Mas1981]

Huski sorry to hear about your run in with the other dog

I have started doing more training with Mason again now that he doesnt have to be at the vet every 5 seconds I have had some success with my sit stays lately, I am starting to think out the box and use some creative ideas

Well are you going to share your creative ideas with us? :D I have a dog who still thinks sitting is optional on occasion, as long as she doesn't move off the spot

I changed my signal and my word and I used a roo bone as a jackpot, he still does lie down now and then but not like he was doing at one stage!

[aussielover]

My puppy (4.5 months) needs a hand signal to do every command except sit.

Is this normal? It is a hand signal NOT a lure I am using just in case anyone might think that is the problem. will she ever be able to understand the words only and how can I help her learn the words?

Thanks

[TerraNik]

te he he - who were you?

The one with the Kelpie that barked in the ring I think she was the only Kelpie that turned up.

[sas]

My puppy (4.5 months) needs a hand signal to do every command except sit.

Is this normal? It is a hand signal NOT a lure I am using just in case anyone might think that is the problem. will she ever be able to understand the words only and how can I help her learn the words?

Thanks

Just a baby, enjoy puppyhood

[sas]

te he he - who were you?

The one with the Kelpie that barked in the ring I think she was the only Kelpie that turned up.

Oh I was commenting to someone on the Kelpie's coat condition, it was beautiful - you won the CCD yes?

[TerraNik]

te he he - who were you?

The one with the Kelpie that barked in the ring I think she was the only Kelpie that turned up.

Oh I was commenting to someone on the Kelpie's coat condition, it was beautiful - you won the CCD yes?

Not quite - we came 2nd.

Abby's coat is glorious! Woof's kelpies are all in amazing condition!

[sas]

te he he - who were you?

The one with the Kelpie that barked in the ring I think she was the only Kelpie that turned up.

Oh I was commenting to someone on the Kelpie's coat condition, it was beautiful - you won the CCD yes?

Not quite - we came 2nd.

Abby's coat is glorious! Woof's kelpies are all in amazing condition!

Congrats on the pass!

[huski]

When is your trial Sas? Sorry if I've missed you mentioning the date before.

Our next trial is Saturday week, so far our down stays have been going well *touch wood*

Daisy has been a little bit nervous (for her) around in your face dogs since Thursday night, but it hasn't seemed to impact on her training;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ij6ju_Ubws

[sas]

When is your trial Sas? Sorry if I've missed you mentioning the date before.

Our next trial is Saturday week, so far our down stays have been going well *touch wood*

Daisy has been a little bit nervous (for her) around in your face dogs since Thursday night, but it hasn't seemed to impact on her training;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ij6ju_Ubws

I didn't say

Daisy is just the cutest! She loves to work for you by the looks of it.

[Mas1981]

Our training has gone very well this week, sit stay sort of fixed and heelwork is not bad at all - all from a dog who I thought would not work so well this week as he has been incredibly itchy. My aim is to do our club comp on 12 september and be promoted to the next class.

[TerraNik]

That's great to hear Mas! It's tough when they're itchy!

Jed had a great night at flyball last night - he is now running in a team and doing his passes without any issues, so I'm very excited about our next comp in 2 weeks! At the end of the night he refused to leave the grounds!!! He wanted to do more!!!!! (he does the same at obedience as well!)

[Mas1981]

That's great to hear Mas! It's tough when they're itchy!

Jed had a great night at flyball last night - he is now running in a team and doing his passes without any issues, so I'm very excited about our next comp in 2 weeks! At the end of the night he refused to leave the grounds!!! He wanted to do more!!!!! (he does the same at obedience as well!)

Great to hear he is so enthusiastic!!

Yeah our last few weeks of training have been a disaster with one thing or another but this week is much much better - I have hope!

[TerraNik]

I hate allergies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :p :D :D :D

Jedi flunked his novice trial today with 30 seconds to go in the down stay. He lifted his chest up to scratch his neck and then lay back down. *sigh*

[huski]

I hate allergies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Jedi flunked his novice trial today with 30 seconds to go in the down stay. He lifted his chest up to scratch his neck and then lay back down. *sigh*

ARGH how frustrating Nik!!!! Poor Jedi How did he go with the rest of the exercises?

[TerraNik]

I hate allergies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Jedi flunked his novice trial today with 30 seconds to go in the down stay. He lifted his chest up to scratch his neck and then lay back down. *sigh*

ARGH how frustrating Nik!!!! Poor Jedi How did he go with the rest of the exercises?

Pretty crap His enthusiasm let him down (Mr Forger!). We were on 181/200 which is the most shocking he's ever done. But hey, it's better than 0/200 because he was scratching through the whole thing! Never mind! We have a double next weekend, so hopefully it all comes together then.