Thursday, September 30, 2010

Fun Way to Get Into the Car

Kayla's interpretation of loading up into the car. Only a chocolate, only a chocolate!



Keep training and keep it fun!!

Wave!


Goal: have your dog wave his/her paw at you

This is a variation on the high five. If your dog has a solid high five you can place your hand up as if to ask for a high five, but keep your hand just out of reach. If your dog won't offer the behavior on hand cue alone you may do what's called 'new cue, old cue'. Raise your hand and cue 'wave' then 'high five' or whatever else your high five word is. Pretty soon your dog will be offering the behavior on the cue 'wave' and you can drop the old cue.

As you progress you can move your hand higher and higher, eventually ending in a standing position and perhaps even adding distance. If the wave begins to go limp, just got back to some close reps and remember to really reward those rockin' waves with special stuff.

Weave Through the Legs


Goal: have the dog weave through your legs as you walk forward

You'll want to use your verbal marker for this one. Having treats in both hands and your dog in front of you, step forward the right leg. With your right hand on the backside of your leg lure your dog's head through your leg. If you've done it right your dog should be on your right side facing the same direction as you. Now repeat with the left leg. Continue repeating this pattern until you run out of space or room.

When your dog is not hesitating to go through your legs you may add you cue and asking for two or three passes before rewarding.

Back Up!

Goal: get your dog to walk backwards

Start with a handful of small treats. They should be small enough so that you can rapid fire feed them. Have your dog in a stand in front of you, put both of your hands together down at your dog's nose level between your legs. Slowly begin to walk into your dog and click and treat (c/t) the moment your dog takes a step back. You should be watching the back feet and clicking for thoses feet moving. As your dog gets better at it you can chain two or three steps together before clicking.

In the mean time, think about the cue and hand signal you want to use. When your dog is beginning to step backwards when you step into them you can fade the food lure and add your word. Keeping your hands in that low position will help the dog as well, just don't have any food in them. Only ask for three or four steps before clicking. As your dog gets faster and faster you can ask for more steps and move your hands to where you want them to end up.

If your dogs begins to fade to one side, step back to recenter and begin again, just ask for fewer steps. Try to always feed in a stand to prevent the falling into a sit.