The Homework Thread!!!

CorvusCorax

CorvusCorax

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What are we working on at the moment? This can be a motivational thread, we can post updates, positive and negative!!!

-Speak & Quit
-Giving up certain things without being a whiny whiner
-General control - sitting and being calm when coming in and out of rooms/through doorways, not charging ahead in a frenzy
-Ignoring distractions. And sheep poo :p
 
Still trying to cheer mine up. :(
Working on her sendaway, she will do the full distance across the field as long as her ball is on the cone, now trying to get a down . Building up gradually from being right next to the cone, got to about 10 yards away so far with lots of clicker and sweeties.
 
The thing i'm working on with me, is my patience I expect immediate results and get frustrated when I don't get them.
I really need to sort out his heel work, he's getting too strong for nan and granddad to manage so isn't being walked as much as he should and because he's so full of energy he's then starting to misbehave and be a little toe rag. His recalls Okay for a dog his age, so i'm not too concerned about that.

Oo, i'm also working on trying to get him to see / interact with as many dogs as possible. He's petrified of dogs, for some reason. He's never been attacked, bitten or anything similar to that so I don't know why he does it, but he runs around with his tail firmly tucked between his legs. So he's introduced to a dog, I have a brief chat with the owner then we walk away and he's rewarded.
 
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Ricoh:

- Increasing time and distance on both down and sit stays
- 'Settle' with no whinging
- Completely ignores other dogs in training class so hoping to start seeing progress on walks too. Problem is it's very rewarding for him, we see another dog on a walk, he howls, other dog passes by, 'yeah, I told him, he went away, I win!'
- Not goading his sister when in harness

Dax:

- Object discrimination for agility, working on plonking her in front of two possible obstacles and sending her to them by name only
- Sort of related but 'pushing' out to obstacles, I thought this was a wall we'd hit but saw some progress last week
- A fully independent weave, i.e me not walking alongside and poles fully upright (V weaves, nearly there)
- Continuing to be a chilled-out angelic dog the likes of which I've never known before :p
 
MM, you need a balldropper!

Brontie, know exactly what you mean, actually my biggest homework is being nice and calm and relaxed and knowing when to walk away/put him away.

Nick try rewarding him *while* you're talking to the other person as well, just passing him the food as you chat :)

And best boo boo of last week was gatecrashing a teenage boys' seaside kick-about, one minute we were doing heelwork, the next he was doing a mean dribble :o :o :o
 
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We are currently working on object recognition.

I have had to switch tactics a couple of times and am now working on a training style similar to what they used on Alex the parrot.
 
We are not working on anything new atm but from day one have taught to sit and wait by door before we go out for a walk . The release word is okay ,this also works on our very steep stairs they would almost knock you down in their haste to get up and down and I thought I wouldnt live to see another day unless Inipped it in the bud. They very politely sit at foot of stairs and wait until okay. Same for getting in and out of cars.

When we have other dogs staying they also pick it up very quickly and I can have 5 dogs all sitting waiting at the door.

The watch me command is a perfect opportunity to sit out in the garden with a cup of tea and cllicker and treats. I always say watch me and point to my eyes and try to hold their gaze as long as possible.
 
Speak - Tried all sorts to get her excited enough to make a noise (want to teach this command so I can then teach "quiet" if that makes sense) after what seems like an age we are finally having some success if i hold the ball thrower over my shoulder and give the command continually. The last few times she has eventually let out a quick bark and I immediately throw. Any tips gratefully received here.

Old dog (GSP X) barked at door, I shouted speak excitedly a couple of times and she pretty much had it, this one not so simple :confused:
 
Bop! said:
Speak - Tried all sorts to get her excited enough to make a noise (want to teach this command so I can then teach "quiet" if that makes sense) after what seems like an age we are finally having some success if i hold the ball thrower over my shoulder and give the command continually. The last few times she has eventually let out a quick bark and I immediately throw. Any tips gratefully received here.

Old dog (GSP X) barked at door, I shouted speak excitedly a couple of times and she pretty much had it, this one not so simple :confused:
Click to expand...

Does she make any sound at all when you get her excited? even a squeak?
Click and treat any sounds a shape it.
By repeating the command you are wearing it out.
 
We are still working on meeting new dogs and saying hello without melting into the ground. The meet up was a bit full on so i'm not too bothered about that little set back. She was a wee bit over enthusiastic meeting a GSD this morning :o

Oh and pulling.... I feel like I will be working on this for the rest of Bs life :o

Recall is really getting there (especially when her daddy dearest is around) and now has off lead time on walks!!
 
Yikes I just googled ball dropper CC, £200 :eek: might pass on that just now thanks!
I think I might try and teach Evie to speak, I was discussing at the bbq she very rarely barks now she is on her own, lets people walk to the back door and only barks when they knock. Presumably as a burglar wouldn't knock she wouldn't bark at them :(
 
We are working on play dead (very useful at the vets for him having his tummy looked at), wait - because he keeps trying to knock me up/down the stairs into the house with his hat, he knows sit we now need nice square sits instead of slouchy ones, he knows off meaning get off what ever he's on
We need to work on him being left alone and his crate training but that's on hold til his stitches are out and his hat is off cos he kept getting stuck in the crate
 
We are and I fear shall be for some time working on "no squealing/lungeing/barking/dragging mum/ turning oneself inside out at the sight of another dog"..... working at a distance

Down stays longer than 1 min......
Sit at a distance
Leave it- with regards to tuggy toys!!
 
We are working on 'no whiny whiny whiny whining when I'm having a snuggly moment on the sofa with the blokey':rolleyes:

And no joining in either!:eek:

He's getting there:D
 
Millie - Would like to have mre commands like down (I'm finding that impossible with her, whereas really easy with Suzy...), and I'd like to increase her walking to heel off lead - not sure how to go about that one at the moment, she's so tiny i end up with a sore back, or she's jumping up at me...

Suzy - Continuing her work on recall, and getting her to focus on me more, she is still very excited when we come across other dogs, so persevering with that too. The bigger plan is to introducer her to agility.
 
Working on recall for Zak, who has not been off lead for months and now he's allowed 10 minutes off, is very reluctant to come back.

I'm also training him to ignore other dogs: he's caught on very quickly. :)

Both are being trained to stop barking: neither of the first two barked so it's a bit odd!

Zak's also learned to leave anything, including food on the floor or hand until told to take it. Bear is nearly there with that.
 
I have so much homework I really should start a whole new thread. Any tips on how to deal with a dog who hates a dog who completely loves the first dog despite repeatedly getting warned off much appreciated lok
 
1. Not being a pain at other peoples houses.... Most of the time he now doesn't cry (although only trust him at 1 other house overnight!). But it would be nice if he would settle and sleep and not be constantly on the go. He just gets ignored by the way.....

2. For agility.... "touch" and stay with the nose on it. At the moment he is a nodding dog. Trainer wants him to keep his nose on it longer.

3. For agility.... Weave poles. We've have to change tactics because he wouldn't take his eyes off the ball to run through it. So it's walk through first pole "click" come back through second "treat". He's getting that very quickly
 
Rescue terror - cracked the yapping at everything, now working on not getting hysterical at other dogs when he's on a lead. All ideas gratefully received!
Recall is great as long as there are no dogs around - you can guess what happens if there are :o which is why he's on a long line. Off lead he is ok with other dogs but a bit bossy, on lead he will have the head off them...

Rottie - just the everlasting reminding of his manners as he is the original pee taker if he spots a weakness in somebody but 99% of the time he's a good boy :D It's only taken 71/2 years to get to this point.

Old JRT (also known as The Madam) well, at a month off 21 I've given up and only really object to food theft especially if it's from your hand :D
 
Following this evening's class, Ricoh's homework is to be desensitised to the bum bag - every time my hand goes in it he pings up into a sit if he was down or comes hurtling over if he was in a sit stay. Bum bag is now empty and treats are held behind my back. :p
 
For the 'speak' with less drivey dogs (mine is not hard to wind up :o) you can stake them/tie them up (make sure on a harness or a broad/flat collar) and tease them with a ball or a toy they really like, keeping it active and just out of reach.

BC I heart training jackets (bodywarmers with four big pockets on the front and back and two up top so the dog never knows where stuff is coming from!!)
 
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Problem is I am using wet smelly high value things - chicken, tuna cake, liver cake, spam (:o), a jacket would be standing up and walking away by itself after a warm day. :p

Some progress today in that I can leave him in a sit or down, walk away, step over him, circle round and generally march about and ignore him for up to a minute in with three other dogs. :)

ETA: So long as I don't touch the bum bag. :p
 
cbmcts said:
Rescue terror - cracked the yapping at everything, now working on not getting hysterical at other dogs when he's on a lead. All ideas gratefully received!
Click to expand...

I Have a lab sized mongrel who is hysterical at other dogs too- we are currently stalking other dogs at a distance, he sees a dog (and does not react) click treat, repeat every 2 secs until dog is out of eye sight, stalk next person, slowly decrease distance, if the dog reacts you are too close. Yes you need a hell of a lot of treats- but after only a week it is working.
 
Tyson - Working on going out of sight when he is in a stay, and him not coming to find me :o Also, staying in a sit (or a down) when in a stay, and not swapping between the two.

Bryony - Keeping her concentrating on her handler and not on other dogs that may or may not be near her. Getting the ball back from her once she's had it thrown as her recall reward.

Me - Staying firm with Tyson, and not giving in when I see his cute little squishy little face looking up at me from the floor, because hes not allowed on the sofa anymore :(
 
Bumpity bump. :D

Today Ricoh has learnt to lie down and speak with me at a good distance, at least 10 feet, did this plus sit/down stays while two other dogs worked close by him, plus recalls at the full length of a 25ft line around other dogs. Super impressed as I've never managed to get Dax to sit or down at a distance, she has to come and sit on my feet instead. :rolleyes:

He is still lunging and whinging at dogs on walks but to a lesser extent and not the horrible siren-wail he used to do, just a yowly whinge.

Dax learnt how to do a flick-flack last week, is doing an increasingly speedy weave with authentic leg-paddling motion and is basically continuing to be an angelic specimen. :)
 
I am soooooo wishing I hadn't taught 'speak' :o :p
Am going to use a new word like 'hush' or 'quiet' as I think quit is too similar to 'sit' and he hits the deck and keeps on barking...clever little sod!!!

Getting there with the control work, but he does get himself in a tizzy when he knows there is food on the go and it takes him ages to calm down and I have to stand there trying to be patient while he turns himself inside out :p

Like Dax, B has pretty much been elevated to sainthood since the new arrival!!!
 
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