corvus Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 I was messing around with Erik with the clicker last night trying to shape a front foot crossover (is that what it's called?) into his sideways walk. Just for fun. He's kind of short and I was finding it hard to see what his feet were doing. I ended up sitting on the ground so I could see his feet better. Is this a problem with my observation skills? I feel like other people I've seen clicker training short dogs don't have this? Anyone experienced it or something like it? I had trouble seeing Kivi's back feet for hip targeting around all his fluff as well, so I taught it initially with big movements and then shaped it back to smaller, more controlled movements. I feel like that was pretty messy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 Barbara Suckling (used to be quite well known dog trainer, now retired) told me she had mirrors stuck all over the walls of her training area to help with this sort of problem (and other problems). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted May 14, 2010 Author Share Posted May 14, 2010 Ha! Brilliant! Filming only let's you know how many times you messed up after the fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubitty Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 ohhh what is a crossover and a sideways walk??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted May 14, 2010 Author Share Posted May 14, 2010 I dunno, Bub! Maybe they have real names. Sideways walk is just walking sideways. I was trying to shape him to walk sideways by crossing one front paw right over the other rather than just meeting the other. Does that make sense? Like horses do in dressage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubitty Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 I have no idea what dressage is! Is it like if I walk side ways. Left leg to the left and the pull the right leg to meet up with the left leg? I am so unfocused! Supposed to teach Bitty to carry a basket with food but when I hear possible sideways walking my ears perk up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted May 14, 2010 Author Share Posted May 14, 2010 (edited) Currently he's doing what you describe, with the left foot leading left and the right (front) foot coming to meet it. What I'm shaping is the right front foot crossing past the left front foot instead of just meeting it. I tried to find a video but somehow I couldn't! ETA Now get back to that basket! I'm like that. I get excitable and never quite perfect anything because I've raced off to try something else. Edited May 14, 2010 by corvus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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