Helpful Training Vids (+ vid for CA)

[RealPitBull]

Here is the vid I mentioned in the CM thread:



Also, some other lovely vids by trainer Sarah Owings, certified trainer:

bridgesdogtraining.com/Videos.html

[loverocksalot]

I almost missed this post. Thank you. I do have a few questions.
1. On the re call from the fence line do you wait to click until the dog reaches you? I have heard of people now multiple clicking. Could you click for the looking at you and click when they get to you?
2. The collar grab. I should work on this. Rocky often runs past me on recall which is why I believe I should only click when he gets right to me.
3. Any way I can clicker train to not run out a left open gate? Recently I did it forgot I opened it doing work and later let him out. Watched him sneak to the gate and run as fast as he could as soon as he got there. For the first time ever he came running back when I called him after first investigating to see if neighbors dog was out. It was epic. I made a big deal I did not have food reward in my hand but as soon as we got in I topped off the celebration with a bully stick!

[RealPitBull]

1) I COMPLETELY disagree with those who say you can click multiple times and only treat at the end of a series of clicks. MOST trainers/behaviorists will tell you to do so is detrimental, and devalues the click. A treat should come after EACH click. So click as many times as you want, but treat after each click.

Remember clicker training is about working in tiny increments so waiting until your dog gets to you might be too far of a leap. At first you might click/treat an ear twitch in your direction.....you build up to c/t'ing the whole behavior of dog turning towards and coming to you.

2) Collar grabs are a really great thing to work on with all dogs.

3) You can clicker train ANYthing, literally. Ok, anything the dog is physically and mentally capable of Let me see if I can pull up something on boundary training which is basically what you want - your job will just be easier because your boundary is only the span of an open gate.

[loverocksalot]

Cool Thanks.
How bout this scenario
Rocky is at fence line I want him to come I call he looks at me, I click but he is 200ft away so how can I treat. Can the treat wait till he gets to me cause when he hears a click he is going to run fast as he can to me. (most likely) He takes to click real quick Never allowing for tiny increments.

[RealPitBull]

The click is the "bridge" so yes, although the timing between click and treat should be minimal, it is ok if there is a short delay. My advice would be to move closer to Rocky. Also, when you click you are essentially telling the dog "Yes! You did the behavior I wanted you to do!" So when I say, break it down, this is what I mean:

1) Have an idea in your head of what you want the finished product to be.

2) Break it down into pieces (ear flick in your direction, head turn, moving toward you)

3) You will first only require an ear flick, then C/T. Then you won't C/T until you get the head turn. Then you won't C/T until you get movement toward you. And so on.

4) Clicking is about "shaping" behavior - think of it like modeling a clay statue. It gradually comes into shape and forms a finished piece, it doesn't materialize right away. You mold a base, then a body, then an arm, a leg, etc.

[adoptapitbull]

Do you think this method would work if I have a few of the dogs outside and they're all barking mad at the fence? I don't really want to sit and wait for them to look at me, because a fence fight might happen in the mean time. When this happens now, I go out and say "Come on, let's go inside...treats!" and sometimes I have to walk near them or grab one away.

Also, will the dog start to think "If I go to the fence and bark, as soon as I stop I'll get a treat. So maybe I should go out and start barking."? I could be assuming too much here, but I want to be sure.

Hopefully this won't be an issue in our new place, where we have no neighbors with dogs near our fence. And our place is so high up on a hill that you'd be crazy (or in great shape) to walk your dog up and down our hill!

[RealPitBull]

I wouldn't do it with multiple Pit Bull dogs, no.

If you are working the dog through the process correctly, you won't have the problem of the dog running to the fence barking in order to get a treat.

[adoptapitbull]

OK, that's what I thought. I didn't want to try it with any of the boys out barking.

[loverocksalot]

Well Rocky rings the bell to go outside gets onto deck and turns around to come back in to get a biscuit. He almost always gets a treat for coming home. LOL he mostly plays this game when there are visitors who fall for it like grandma for example.
Well I must get back to training. I have slacked off far too much since Rocky became more of a dog than a zoomie crazed fool. He absolutely loves shaping exercises. Does not take much for him to get it. But for some reason he gets past that gate he shuts it all off and runs as fast as he can. The more I call the faster he runs. It does not happen often but even rarely scares us. Lucky I live on a quiet dead end.
Recently we acquired my dads car. When Rocky saw the car in the driveway he somehow managed to bust out. Never figured out how. He jumped into the back of the car. My son was busy cleaning the car. Rocky thought grandpa and the dogs came to see him. If we hit the key lock and the alarm beeps he thinks they are here and starts freaking and crying and trying to get out to see them. So this could be a good time to work on the boundary training.