Sometimes to get the behaviour that we want (e.g., take your paws off), it can be useful to teach the opposite behaviour (in this case - paws on) so that you can teach them the biomechanics that are involved in that cue.
I'm at a garden centre, generalising the behaviour to various items.
How closely do you watch your dog when they are playing?
I like using the It's your choice game to make grooming easy and relaxed.
The game is - treat in closed fist, dog allowed to try whatever they want to get it, but only open hand when they pull back.
Once they are good, you can leave your hand open and they wait till you mark and let them take it. (If they try taking it early, simply close your fist).
When they enjoy this game, add one brush as a distraction while they play it, building up the amount of time they accept the grooming before you let them take the treat.
Molly isn't sure about anything being done to her, but this game gives her a focus and I've taught her she can move away at anytime she likes and I'll stop until she is ready for more.
LOVE doing scent work with Molly. I get to watch my dog showing off her natural skills
We had a few spare minutes so I took her in the garden for some quick searches. Here she is indicating on a clove.
We haven't practiced this much recently due to lots of agility work so I'm super pleased how well she did.
It is really important to me to keep learning - there are always ingenious ways to teach the same thing or new ways of looking at old problems that I love discussing with like minded trainers.
Today was about learning more about how my dog moves through jumps and challenging her to change lead leg or stride length when needed. So interesting and I've come away super motivated!
Every day is a training opportunity! Even a little shopping trip to the garden centre. I used the interesting smelling things in the wildlife section to practice Molly's leave cue.
If you ask your dog to leave and they "don't listen" - ask yourself if you've taught them what it means to leave and have you practiced with a wide range of objects to generalize their understanding?
I decided to do a little training to help Molly walk nicely when with my house mate using her stick.
I purposefully reward her away from my body as I don't want her getting under foot!
I broke her walking down into basic elements (e.g., getting comfortable walking near me with stick moving) before putting them all together.
When you're throat is sore with tonsillitis - train silently!
I tried training Molly using hand signals and swapped her verbal marker cue (yes) for a physical one (thumbs up). I added thumbs down for when she didn't get it right.
Was pleased how well she adapted!
Tricks are not only fun to teach and help increase your bond with your dog. They can also have practical uses.
Toweling off my touch sensitive dog would be a lot harder without them! I use "play dead" so I can get to her belly in a way that is comfortable for her and ask for her paws to wipe them (she HATES having them held).
Anyone want to learn how to get their dog to do this?
I'm offering 121 on Friday afternoons in Dorking
Molly was very fearful of the hoover. With gradual exposure and using play/training she now looks forward to "helping" with the housework.
