Dinner time with Dylan - and a new friend 🐓
Dylan has learnt to not chase chooks, cats and many other critters. Which is a very good thing! 😇 A few days ago a poor, lone rooster was dumped at the property we're minding - and this afternoon was ready to dine at the same time as Dylan.
Puppy with puppy playing in the park. 🐕🐶😊❤
THE TOSSER
Nothing like an early morning dip before a spot of Kong tossing!
(sardine & salmon in the Kong)
Georgie : Adding distance to retrieve
A visit from Aunty Emily on Saturday was Georgie's chance to show off his new skills. In our last few training sessions he has learned 3 cues - "fetch", "bring" and "give". He's also learned to go further afield ... and to negotiate his way around Penny's tendency to resource guard. Hence the oversized tennis balls - Penny can fit only one in her mouth at a time! You're a very smart young bloke George!
Groovin' with Jazz Giants '58 on Satdynite! 😎😎
Penny, Paisley & Georgie
Along with the Macaws, I am minding three very lovely, untrained dogs. Working three at once is fun - if a little chaotic! This is our 3rd session. Penny the Lab just loves a ball and the wading pool downstairs ... the perfect reward sans food treats - which she definitely doesn't need! Little Shih Tzu, Paisley, is rewarded for sitting quietly. Georgie, the 8 month old BC, is learning to retrieve. It is just fabulous to see him begin to think. Clicker training really rocks! Next session I'll start adding the cues.
Bath after Work
Getting better acquainted with Belle ... and the bathing beauties!
Belle & Enzo
Getting more comfortable with each other ...
Hi folks,
Banjo here. I'm starting my lessons on loose leash walking. First of all I learned how to target Michele's hand - which means every time she says "touch" and I put my big, wet nose against her palm I get a yummy treat. It's really easy! Then my treat is placed right where she wants me to be - on her left side. So far, so good ... even if the kookaburras were laughing at me!
Love & licks,
Banjo 🐶🐾🐾
DYLAN : LOOK AT THAT
LEARNING TO NOT CHASE
Today we encountered a mob of lovely wallabies @ Palmetum Botanic Gardens. Such pretty little creatures who stayed, obligingly, still while Dylan and I played the "Look At That" game. Dylan was certainly very interested, but he remained fairly calm. I marked his good behaviour with a word - YIP - and rewarded him with liver treat. Good little bloke! (Ace camera work by Ace:)
BEACH RECALL
BEACH RECALL : LAYLA & SHERMAN
These two are now starting to develop a recall - even from the distraction of other people & other dogs. They have learned this by following Dylan's excellent recall skills. It takes time and patience to train a reliable recall. Remember to praise/reward your dog every time they simply "check in with you", and ALWAYS be ready to reward - with high value treats - correct response on a cued recall. Good work kids!
LAYLA : FETCH
Layla is learning to Fetch. This is our 6th session on this behaviour. Layla is an intense, food obsessed young girl (around 18 months old) with a very short concentration span. I have been using her evening meal as training treats - whilst feeding Sherman, sitting quietly beside me, at the same time. Initially, Layla was reluctant to engage in the Fetch game at all. Today, for the first time, she even retrieved the ball from the garden downstairs - very pleasing!!
SCRATCH BOARD : LAYLA
Toe nails need regular attention to keep them short. If they get too long, the dog's posture and gait is adversely affected. Teaching our dogs to use a scratch board is really helpful - and lots of fun! This is Layla's second session with the scratch board. She's a super duper fast learner.
It was a bit tricky "keeping my eye on the ball" whilst rewarding the other two pups, at the same time, for remaining quiet & calm. One at a time, without distractions, is preferable!
"Nail Maintenance for Dogs" is a fabulous Facebook group, well worth joining. Great information and great support!
SHAPING BEHAVIOUR
101 THINGS TO DO WITH A BOX is a wonderful shaping game to play with your dog. Devised by Karen Pryor, the Box Game encourages dogs to think, and to offer behaviour - which is at the very heart of clicker training.
This is Layla's introduction to the game, and she's picking it up fast! I began by clicking & treating her for simply looking at the box. My game plan was for her to "paw" the box in this first session. However, she caught on so quickly that I was able to raise my criteria and shape her to actually get into the box. Shaping behaviour is very exciting - for the trainer and the learner alike! Criteria is raised in tiny increments, building towards the final behaviour. I saw Layla's wheels turning, and her 'light bulb' realization about what was required to earn her reward.
It didn't take long for her to offer the exact behaviour I was shaping! The full session lasted just under 5 minutes. Even with the distraction of Dylan barking at the front door, Layla (who is a big barker) chose to remain focussed on the job at hand. Wow! What a smart young lady!
In our next session with the box, my criteria will be different ... that's the fun of 101 Things To Do With A Box. It's limited only by your imagination, and your dog's willingness to engage with you.
Sherman was being rewarded for waiting patiently by my side. It will be his turn to play this afternoon, while Layla is rewarded for remaining quiet and calm.
We ended the session after Dylan (a veteran of the Box Game) who had been keeping sentinel at the door, decided to photo bomb us. I also noticed him yawn - a sign of mild stress.
https://clickertraining.com/101-things-to-do-with-a-box
Clicker Training : Ball & Cone Practice
Dylan adores his blue ball so much that he sometimes loses focus during our training game, and doesn't respond to my cues. Using a clicker to brush up any behaviour is absolutely the best way to communicate with him. I am always amazed at how clear and effective the clicker is. Here we're working to separate the "putting" and the "taking" of the ball - which he had chained together. You can see the chain in the second last repetition. Using the clicker also reminds me to pay attention to the timing of my cues, in order to set him up for success.
Just love this dear little guy .... and love clicker training! :)
