superminty Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 (edited) So, to amuse myself over the break (week off ), I have been working through the 2 x 2 weave method with Cash. Had a few little set backs, so after a slightly frustrating session where we achieved nothing and Cash lacked enthusiasm, I decided to give him a break and let my old agility dog, Minty, out for a play on the weaves. I put Minty through a set of 4 weaves a few times. Of course now she is retired she can nail a weave entry from anywhere Cash was still around (usually they are separated during training), just watching, following me around and generally getting in the way Put Minty away, and decided to break it up with Cash by doing a free shaping session using the weave poles, so pretty much right back to basics to see whether I could get some enthusiasm back. Well. The third behaviour he tried (after looking at the poles and touching them with his nose) was weaving (of a sort). I was shocked! Only had two poles out, and all I wanted him to do was go though them in a certain direction. Instead I got a really lovely figure 8 around the poles, wrapping round nice and tight. He has never offered a similar behaviour before in a shaping session, and I have not taught him to weave though my legs or anything similar. It is entirely possible that he watched Minty weaving and though he'd give something similar a go. Wish I'd videoed it! Just wondering whether anyone else's dogs imitate each other? If you let your dogs watch each other when you are training, do you reckon they pick up things the other dog is taught through imitation? Edited January 1, 2011 by superminty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Yes it can definitely happen- i posted a thread not to long ago about my JRT watching a shaping session of a wooden dumbell retrieve and as soon as the other dog was done, he promptly went over and did it himself. We had never done any shaping with a retrieve of any kind or dumbell. I was shocked and thought it was great- he trotted around as if to say "who's the smartest dog in the room now?"! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Yep my youngster learnt a UD box by watching my older girl train . Never even had to teach her just released her from where she was watching Ness and she was sprinting 20-30 paces to go and sit in the box when all we had ever done was 2-3 paces and used a hoop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superminty Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 Aha, I knew I'd read something similar recently! I was really stunned at the complexity of the behaviour - it was not a simple movement! Just like Gilbert's dumbell retrieve. People spend lots of time teaching these things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superminty Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 (edited) Yep my youngster learnt a UD box by watching my older girl train . Never even had to teach her just released her from where she was watching Ness and she was sprinting 20-30 paces to go and sit in the box when all we had ever done was 2-3 paces and used a hoop. I only wish this worked in reverse. I managed to teach a really lovely UD box to Cash (who will never trial) in a few short sessions. With Minty it has taken over a year and she has only recently really got it! Edited January 1, 2011 by superminty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Happens here a lot. I taught my girl Tully to beg and to reinforce for a little while every time she got a treat she begged, after day 2 I went to get Lacy to sit and shake hands for her treat after Tully and she just sat p and begged. It was very cute no teaching neccessary. My youngest just wants to copy the older 3 no matter what they do and does all the time, he is desperate to please and has to copy in a hurry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evolving Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I tried not to teach Alera sit as I wanted her stand to be solid for showing. It took her a few days from being home to sit on command as she watched the others put their bum on the ground and get a treat so she thought it was worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Of course it happens It is an important way for pups to learn, IMO. pups watch older dogs hunting/working sheep/barking at strangers/using a doggy door/training owners ..... and they copy .It may take a while, or they may do it in their own style, but I believe a lot is learned by watching/imitating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 My boy Banjo is imitating my pup Bear but it's naughty things like swimming in the pond and digging Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superminty Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 Did another session this arvo and managed to get a tiny bit of the figure 8 action on video. Bless him for trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelpie-i Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Well done handsome Cash Man!!! Bill Campbell writes of dog's allelomimetic tendencies....a genuine case of monkey see, monkey do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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