I got there early, waaaaay early, so Kathy and I talked about our prop for "can". She thinks it is too high for Gimme to learn the behavior on and it might need to be a bigger diameter. She gave me a shorter prop to play with before class started. I spent some time getting Gimme used to just getting on with her back feet and by the time I finished, she was able to take a pivoting step or two at a time. So, clearly its not too small in diameter, which is great since its very close to the size of our intended prop. Kathy also gave me some better ideas for how to both stabilize and weight our prop, which I hope to get done this weekend. Meanwhile, I'm certain I have a detergent bucket I sawed off short to use as a outdoor water dish which should be the perfect size for the initial part of training the rear pivot.
Today's class was mostly about charging up our training so the dog is very eager to play the game. Kathy set up two simple courses of 8 stations, with a line of gating between them.
~ The first time out, we were to do our start-work routine, approach the first station (a right or left side heel sign) and break off for a big party.
~ The second time we were to do our start-work routine, approach the first station, take one step past it and break off for a big party.
~ The third time we were to do our start-work routine, then work the course, with a party-reward following each station. If the dog did a station poorly, we were to do what was needed so they could do it right and earn the party-reward.
Kathy was careful to select pairs of dogs who wouldn't be likely to create problems for the dogs with issues. We have six dogs in class and three of them have issues. The way it was set up, the dogs should not be closer than 30' to each other, but of course its always possible as each team has different timing. I really appreciate how thoughtful Kathy is. Gimme did very well paired up with Jazzie, a laid-back Sheltie. She looked at her briefly at first and then ignored her. After we did our course, Kathy had me coach the handlers on our side of the room, while she worked with the two beginners one at a time.
After this exercise we were each given a margarine lid and instructed to use it like a bait plate in special bowl style. We started with very simple exercises and then released our dog to reward from the lid. Gimme seemed to find the lid very distracting, so I had to work a bit farther away from it so she could resist the distraction. As I recall we had this issue with special bowl. Naturally she was doing brilliantly, until Kathy came over to watch. I really should get back to doing more special bowl work. I liked the results I was getting and then kind of got away from it when I was working on other things.
For our last exercise, we worked one of the courses, one at a time. Kathy set up a bait plate strategically located for each station, so we could release the dog to it for a reward. The four more advanced dogs did the full courses; the two beginners did an abbreviated course of 4 simple stations. If the dog did a station poorly, we were to do what was needed so they could do it right and earn the reward.
Naturally I think Gimme did the best. There were a couple of places where she had difficulty, but with a little help she was able to get it right and earn her reward.
I really do have to get back to training the special bowl. In case you've forgotten what its about, you can read what we did before at:
http://atozdals.blogspot.com/2014/05/special-bowl.html
http://atozdals.blogspot.com/2014/05/special-bowl_24.html
http://atozdals.blogspot.com/2014/05/special-bowl-2.html
http://atozdals.blogspot.com/2014/07/more-special-bowl.html
Showing posts with label Special Bowl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Special Bowl. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Monday, July 28, 2014
Agility (6/4)
So sorry to be so far behind. I've been having some computer woes. I downloaded some recommended software and it came bundled with a bunch of PUP (potentially unwanted programs). "Potential" my arse. They should be called CRAP (completely repulsive absurd programs). They completely messed up my system. I got one removed, but the other was giving me problems. Meanwhile I had to download an upgraded version of another program to make iTunes and company work well and it offered another toolbar and search program - which I declined and then it downloaded it anyway. So altogether I've spent a dozen hours getting rid of this junk and am behind on everything computer because it was too annoying to do things. BTW my younger brother was thrilled to learn I'd purchased an iPod Touch. He says I've now caught up to 2002 and he can't wait to see what I'll do next!
So about agility class. It was interesting. I brought Gimme's special bowl and decided to incorporate it in our course. Things did not go well initially... she self served once when she wasn't supposed to and almost did a second time. The second time around it went much better when I realized I was expecting her to generalize what she knows about special bowl, despite never having used it anywhere except my living room and the front yard. So when I took some time to give her a refresher about what special bowl means and "yes Gimme, the rules still apply in the agility building", things went much better.
When I get the videos... you'll noticed I yell "no" at her a couple of times. I don't have any intention of using it in my training, but still it pops out. Its stupid really - it has no affect on her behavior, she keeps going. I'm not convinced she believes the n-word applies to her. And what is even more stupid is, if I were able to stay in training mode (as opposed to reacting mode) and called her name, she would turn on a thin dime to come to me.
So about agility class. It was interesting. I brought Gimme's special bowl and decided to incorporate it in our course. Things did not go well initially... she self served once when she wasn't supposed to and almost did a second time. The second time around it went much better when I realized I was expecting her to generalize what she knows about special bowl, despite never having used it anywhere except my living room and the front yard. So when I took some time to give her a refresher about what special bowl means and "yes Gimme, the rules still apply in the agility building", things went much better.
When I get the videos... you'll noticed I yell "no" at her a couple of times. I don't have any intention of using it in my training, but still it pops out. Its stupid really - it has no affect on her behavior, she keeps going. I'm not convinced she believes the n-word applies to her. And what is even more stupid is, if I were able to stay in training mode (as opposed to reacting mode) and called her name, she would turn on a thin dime to come to me.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
More Special Bowl
For the last week we've been doing a bunch of extra walking to get caught up on our mileage goal. Between walking and yard work, my knees have really been hurting. So decided today we'd just do a training session outside.
I decided to get back to working on special bowl, which we haven't trained in almost six weeks. I picked it up off the shelf and Gimme got really excited. Clearly she remembered it.
Our training session wasn't anything special in what we worked on, but more about doing some little smidgen of obedience stuff and then releasing Gimme to special bowl. I clearly need to do more obedience outside. I wish I had set up the video camera.
I also wish I had planned more clearly what I was going to work on, instead of just noodling around. Twice I put treats in the bowl and Gimme, initiated "yours" on her own right after I filled it, snagging the treats before I could interrupt her. I think these were caused by lack of clarity on my part, but I was sure I'd damaged our training. To make it clearer after that, I put her on a standing "wait" about six feet from the bowl as I walked over to drop treats in. It didn't cause any lasting problem.
Then we'd do a simple exercise part and I'd click, then cue "yours". On two occasions, Gimme decided she'd done enough and started to dash to special bowl without the cue. I was able to interrupt her by calling her name. Then we'd do something else, click and "yours". After that she didn't try it again. We've done training before where a container of treats was at nose level and she had to work for me to give her some, without self rewarding. She has a really good work ethic and learned that lesson well, though we haven't done it in a long time. I like special bowl better - I think its clearer. So today was just part of her evolving understanding. Clearly we have to work some more before she's ready to heel right by it.
We also did a smidgen of personal play, followed by a release to special bowl. I did figure out that I do use my body different when I'm pushing at her with my right hand. I feel comfortable when I am doing the first push with my right hand. But once we have started playing and she's moving too and could move unpredictably (potentially causing a finger jam), then I tense up and she changes too. She reads me too well. This will take time.
I decided to get back to working on special bowl, which we haven't trained in almost six weeks. I picked it up off the shelf and Gimme got really excited. Clearly she remembered it.
Our training session wasn't anything special in what we worked on, but more about doing some little smidgen of obedience stuff and then releasing Gimme to special bowl. I clearly need to do more obedience outside. I wish I had set up the video camera.
I also wish I had planned more clearly what I was going to work on, instead of just noodling around. Twice I put treats in the bowl and Gimme, initiated "yours" on her own right after I filled it, snagging the treats before I could interrupt her. I think these were caused by lack of clarity on my part, but I was sure I'd damaged our training. To make it clearer after that, I put her on a standing "wait" about six feet from the bowl as I walked over to drop treats in. It didn't cause any lasting problem.
Then we'd do a simple exercise part and I'd click, then cue "yours". On two occasions, Gimme decided she'd done enough and started to dash to special bowl without the cue. I was able to interrupt her by calling her name. Then we'd do something else, click and "yours". After that she didn't try it again. We've done training before where a container of treats was at nose level and she had to work for me to give her some, without self rewarding. She has a really good work ethic and learned that lesson well, though we haven't done it in a long time. I like special bowl better - I think its clearer. So today was just part of her evolving understanding. Clearly we have to work some more before she's ready to heel right by it.
We also did a smidgen of personal play, followed by a release to special bowl. I did figure out that I do use my body different when I'm pushing at her with my right hand. I feel comfortable when I am doing the first push with my right hand. But once we have started playing and she's moving too and could move unpredictably (potentially causing a finger jam), then I tense up and she changes too. She reads me too well. This will take time.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Special Bowl (3)
A quick note... I solved Gimme's uncertainty about releasing to her special bowl by increasing the value of the treats in there. I had been using up some peanut butter chips which were inadvertently melted into one large clump, and then broken into chunks. Gimme loves her PB chips, but she really LOOOOVES peanut butter from the jar.
Once I was using a bit of PB from the jar in the bottom of the bowl (with some cheese pieces and commercial treats on top for volume), she only hesitated once. Suddenly the word "yours" had dramatic relevance to her. We alternated off and on between charging and self-control.
Eye contact turned out not to be a factor. She quickly learned to offer me behavior to get her "yours" release, though the palm "touch" was hard because it meant she had to move a little away from the bowl. She offered me "sit", "down" and "pretty" to earn the "yours".
The hardest trial was the time I cued her to "heel" and moved away. She was primed to dive on the bowl and for the briefest instant, as she lunged toward the bowl, I thought I'd set too big of a challenge, but she caught herself and turned to heel with me for a couple of feet, It wasn't her best heeling, but I was very pleased with her effort and released her to "yours" the moment she was well into position.
Interestingly she finds this much more exciting than knowing I will reward her with PB from my treat pouch. I believe the dash to special bowl increases the value to her. I look forward to working some more with this... and then to see what comes next on the DVD set.
Cool beans, I say...
Once I was using a bit of PB from the jar in the bottom of the bowl (with some cheese pieces and commercial treats on top for volume), she only hesitated once. Suddenly the word "yours" had dramatic relevance to her. We alternated off and on between charging and self-control.
Eye contact turned out not to be a factor. She quickly learned to offer me behavior to get her "yours" release, though the palm "touch" was hard because it meant she had to move a little away from the bowl. She offered me "sit", "down" and "pretty" to earn the "yours".
The hardest trial was the time I cued her to "heel" and moved away. She was primed to dive on the bowl and for the briefest instant, as she lunged toward the bowl, I thought I'd set too big of a challenge, but she caught herself and turned to heel with me for a couple of feet, It wasn't her best heeling, but I was very pleased with her effort and released her to "yours" the moment she was well into position.
Interestingly she finds this much more exciting than knowing I will reward her with PB from my treat pouch. I believe the dash to special bowl increases the value to her. I look forward to working some more with this... and then to see what comes next on the DVD set.
Cool beans, I say...
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Special Bowl (2)
As I mentioned, we are training special bowl "yours" as shown in the Hannah Branigan DVD series Obedience Fundamentals. Gimme loves her special bowl already. She gets really high value treats there.
I've prepared this little movie of our training today. This includes all the trials, I only edited out the dead time getting treats (durn finger really slows me up.)
Clearly she gets the charging the bowl aspect - run to bowl, eat treats...
She has a little difficulty with the self-control aspect and not about the self-control. Rather she has trouble being sure she really can release on cue. I wasn't giving her any stay/wait cue, I think she's just trying to do what I want; self-control is something we've worked a lot. For some reason it wasn't immediately clear to her. The directions didn't include using a clicker, still, I decided to try it to reinforce her going to the bowl on cue. Despite my crappy timing, after a couple of tries I am able to leave out the extraneous body cues.
I can't tell from watching this, but I wonder if I'm unintentionally sending her a mixed message with eye contact. I'll be aware of the possibility next time and see if it makes a difference. If you see anything, let me know.
I've prepared this little movie of our training today. This includes all the trials, I only edited out the dead time getting treats (durn finger really slows me up.)
Clearly she gets the charging the bowl aspect - run to bowl, eat treats...
She has a little difficulty with the self-control aspect and not about the self-control. Rather she has trouble being sure she really can release on cue. I wasn't giving her any stay/wait cue, I think she's just trying to do what I want; self-control is something we've worked a lot. For some reason it wasn't immediately clear to her. The directions didn't include using a clicker, still, I decided to try it to reinforce her going to the bowl on cue. Despite my crappy timing, after a couple of tries I am able to leave out the extraneous body cues.
I can't tell from watching this, but I wonder if I'm unintentionally sending her a mixed message with eye contact. I'll be aware of the possibility next time and see if it makes a difference. If you see anything, let me know.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Special Bowl (1)
First, I did a session of indicator training. Gimme got to do 45 repetitions of the easiest step, 15 with each odor. It was a little challenging for me, to figure out how to do it and make it similar enough, as well as efficient and timely, given my current limitation. I guess I did okay, because she remembered right away and did great.
Later we did a session on special bowl training, an idea I got from my Hannah Branigan DVD set, Obedience FUNdamentals. This is our second session and Gimme totally loves it. I'm going to try to video what we are doing. I think its a very exciting and powerful concept, full of potential.
I have to tell a funny story about it. I was just talking to my non-dog friend, Linda, using the speaker phone. I was telling her about special bowl, how it worked and how much fun Gimme was having with it. Gimme was snoozing next to me on the couch, for all appearances sound asleep. I told Linda that Hannah uses the cue "get it", but it already means something else to Gimme, so I've been using "Y-O-U-R-S". Linda repeated out loud the word I just spelled - now remember, we're on speaker phone.
Gimme's head popped up, immediately alert to the possibilities and starts looking around for her special bowl, clearly flummoxed that I hadn't even moved from the couch.
Special bowl nowhere to be seen ---
what's the world coming to?
Later we did a session on special bowl training, an idea I got from my Hannah Branigan DVD set, Obedience FUNdamentals. This is our second session and Gimme totally loves it. I'm going to try to video what we are doing. I think its a very exciting and powerful concept, full of potential.
I have to tell a funny story about it. I was just talking to my non-dog friend, Linda, using the speaker phone. I was telling her about special bowl, how it worked and how much fun Gimme was having with it. Gimme was snoozing next to me on the couch, for all appearances sound asleep. I told Linda that Hannah uses the cue "get it", but it already means something else to Gimme, so I've been using "Y-O-U-R-S". Linda repeated out loud the word I just spelled - now remember, we're on speaker phone.
Gimme's head popped up, immediately alert to the possibilities and starts looking around for her special bowl, clearly flummoxed that I hadn't even moved from the couch.
Special bowl nowhere to be seen ---
what's the world coming to?
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