Zig's foundation class:
Did a better job of being motivating. A new schnauzer in class necessitated me working harder at being fun and keeping Zig with me. We've got two on two off phone book. We've got good jump drive over the standards. We've got the beginnings of circle work. We're getting very good stays even in front of the jump (which he desperately wants to take). We've got tug! We get distracto-pants during the last minutes esp when he's waiting to run his mini courses.
Grown up agility
The class I'm in is not challenging enough for us right now. Tried to spice it up by adding some distance practice but the course really wasn't set up for it, didn't work too well. I think most of the people in the class run AKC novice which is much different than where we are. Which is who knows? I know I want more distance work, I wish I'd done more foundation work with Griff-especially jump work. Need to start puppy jump grids more vigorously with Zigster. Weaves and contacts were especially good tonight. Not a bobble at the startline. Why only when I can least afford it (ie, colors run that he blew) does he break his stay???
I want an incredibly toy driven dog for my next puppy. I've decided.
Showing posts with label puppy training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puppy training. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Class notes
Problem areas:
1. Playground monitor-Zig occasionally still defaults to herding behavior and tries to bust up other dogs' playtimes.
2. Leave it-haven't worked it at all
3. Still doesn't like hands over the head. At all.
Good stuff
1. Sat and greeted two strange men outside of class very politely.
2. Worked for a strange MAN quite well (this was actually a little annoying, as the guy was shoving sausage in Zig's face to keep him with him, but I suppose the practice was good for Zig, so I'll try not to be too annoyed.)
3. Nice off leash heeling.
Stays still so-so.
1. Playground monitor-Zig occasionally still defaults to herding behavior and tries to bust up other dogs' playtimes.
2. Leave it-haven't worked it at all
3. Still doesn't like hands over the head. At all.
Good stuff
1. Sat and greeted two strange men outside of class very politely.
2. Worked for a strange MAN quite well (this was actually a little annoying, as the guy was shoving sausage in Zig's face to keep him with him, but I suppose the practice was good for Zig, so I'll try not to be too annoyed.)
3. Nice off leash heeling.
Stays still so-so.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Puppy intermediate class
Holy moley, wish I had video of my puppy heeling all around the room at class today off leash,around the other puppies, balls being thrown, treats being dropped...such a good boy.
He met a four year old Aussie owned by our instructor today and it was like instant breed recognition. He leapt for him like "hey, we're related!" Got a little reprimand from Sawyer for that, but took it well. And, he made friends with the Blue Lacy that he was snarky with from week one...boy that pup changed in personality! Not at all leaping at other pups' heads like night one. I've never met a Blue Lacy before, they are cute.
I'm so pleased that he is so much less concerned about being in a room full of other pups now. He is more relaxed, happy to interact but prefers to work if it's working time....such a good little man.
Got to get some updated pics. Here's a cameraphone one with big brother.
He met a four year old Aussie owned by our instructor today and it was like instant breed recognition. He leapt for him like "hey, we're related!" Got a little reprimand from Sawyer for that, but took it well. And, he made friends with the Blue Lacy that he was snarky with from week one...boy that pup changed in personality! Not at all leaping at other pups' heads like night one. I've never met a Blue Lacy before, they are cute.
I'm so pleased that he is so much less concerned about being in a room full of other pups now. He is more relaxed, happy to interact but prefers to work if it's working time....such a good little man.
Got to get some updated pics. Here's a cameraphone one with big brother.
Ziggy Intermed and Griff
So after complaining about a. lack of toy drive and b. driving time to class, I decided to skip agility on Monday and work Griff at home, so we did some jump work and stay practice (while I cleaned my car in the front of the house). Griff wanted to inform me that my last complaints about his lack of tug drive are bullshit, so he happily did long downstays and heeling for retrieves and then tug games. So there, he sez.
I did not brag on the pupper either. Last week in PI, we had loose leash walking practice, which Zig did, off leash, in heel, around the other pups and people. Only occasional distractions when someone couldn't remember we don't walk our dogs right up on top of another dog. He also played during free play and only tried to herd twice! Beautiful recalls out of play as well. He's S-M-A-R-T. He loves his fur tuggie (only gets it during training) and was happy to work quite hard for it. So yay for Zig too. We'll see how tonight's class goes. He spent ten good minutes retrieving his babble ball last night, so he'd like me to mention that my concern about his retrieve is perhaps not warranted (well, he sez bullshit too, but I told him he was too young for such language).
Agility foundations was cancelled for this week, so I really should spend some time trying to free shape two back paws on the phone book some more, but this exercise frustrates me so I put it off.
Zig is getting longer than he is tall, I hope it's just a freakish growth spurt and not a sign that he'll be longer backed.
This rain is making me nervous that our engagement photos on Saturday will be of two wet people and four wet dogs. Awesome.
And in totally non-dog-news, I am glad Glee didn't jump the shark with its original songs episode. I was worried. But Blane and Kurt storyline was so sweet, and I thought Lea Michele was much more Rachel from early season one, slightly off-putting but endearing. The original songs, well, the good ones were the outtakes (Trouty Mouth? Big Ass Heart? Hell to the No! greatness!) I must say, Sue needs to get back to the Cheerios where she belongs. And we need more Artie, and Mercedes needs some romance in her storyline! Do I sound like a fan dork? Sorry.
I did not brag on the pupper either. Last week in PI, we had loose leash walking practice, which Zig did, off leash, in heel, around the other pups and people. Only occasional distractions when someone couldn't remember we don't walk our dogs right up on top of another dog. He also played during free play and only tried to herd twice! Beautiful recalls out of play as well. He's S-M-A-R-T. He loves his fur tuggie (only gets it during training) and was happy to work quite hard for it. So yay for Zig too. We'll see how tonight's class goes. He spent ten good minutes retrieving his babble ball last night, so he'd like me to mention that my concern about his retrieve is perhaps not warranted (well, he sez bullshit too, but I told him he was too young for such language).
Agility foundations was cancelled for this week, so I really should spend some time trying to free shape two back paws on the phone book some more, but this exercise frustrates me so I put it off.
Zig is getting longer than he is tall, I hope it's just a freakish growth spurt and not a sign that he'll be longer backed.
This rain is making me nervous that our engagement photos on Saturday will be of two wet people and four wet dogs. Awesome.
And in totally non-dog-news, I am glad Glee didn't jump the shark with its original songs episode. I was worried. But Blane and Kurt storyline was so sweet, and I thought Lea Michele was much more Rachel from early season one, slightly off-putting but endearing. The original songs, well, the good ones were the outtakes (Trouty Mouth? Big Ass Heart? Hell to the No! greatness!) I must say, Sue needs to get back to the Cheerios where she belongs. And we need more Artie, and Mercedes needs some romance in her storyline! Do I sound like a fan dork? Sorry.
Monday, March 14, 2011
shaping frustration
Playing more shaping games with Zig, and finding he is not what I'd call a fiend at throwing behaviors. Since we've played so much on two on two off phone book work, his first attempt is to put paws on the object, then walk over it. If that doesn't work, he'll sit or lay down by it, as if to say, see how good I'm being! I was trying to shape him to pick up an object (in this case a light nylon bag). We got two feet on, walking on, four feet on, nosing the bag, then scooting the bag with a foot. The funny thing is, he will pick up anything off the floor, especially things he shouldn't all the time. He would not, however, even attempt to mouth the bag flat on the floor. When I held it up, he did put his mouth on the strap, which I clicked and rewarded, but as soon as it was down on the floor, here went the two feet on again. He just doesn't seem motivated enough to throw many behaviors out there, or have I rewarded him too much for stationary calm behavior?
It's frustrating, I really want a better retrieve and more retrieve drive, and I figured shaping the pick up and give would be a good place to start, but apparently he's not going to greet frustration by trying different things, but by laying down and offering good dog behavior. Seems a silly thing to complain about, but sometimes I worry he is growing up to be too mellow?!?
Sounds nuts, but Guinness stopped wanting to play with anything by the age of 2 and never found it particularly reinforcing. Zoe likes to play by herself and will tug but I never could use it much as a reinforcement because her shyness issues made her shut down in classes. Griff will retrieve well and I can use a ball as a reinforcer in class, a tug is less reliable. Zig seems to prefer to tug, but outside doesn't think toys are of much interest. *Sigh* I really wanted a toy nut.
In other news, driving is getting really old and it's going to cost me Griff's agility class I think. Since it's an hour to work each way, it is becoming harder to get motivated to drive an hour on my day off to Griff's class. If I could time it with work it might be easier, but then he'd have to spend 10 hrs in the car or time in the clinic, and I'd rather he not have to be exposed to that environment. *sigh* I guess I'll have to start putting out feelers for a closer class.
Even with complete lack of training Dad, John and I ran the Shamrock Run Sunday. Worst feeling race I've ever run although I don't think our time was much different than last time. Next year I really want to do the 15 K since they get medals. My knees were being assholes but that seems to be what I'll have to deal with if I want to run at all.
Crappy cell phone pic pre-race.
It's frustrating, I really want a better retrieve and more retrieve drive, and I figured shaping the pick up and give would be a good place to start, but apparently he's not going to greet frustration by trying different things, but by laying down and offering good dog behavior. Seems a silly thing to complain about, but sometimes I worry he is growing up to be too mellow?!?
Sounds nuts, but Guinness stopped wanting to play with anything by the age of 2 and never found it particularly reinforcing. Zoe likes to play by herself and will tug but I never could use it much as a reinforcement because her shyness issues made her shut down in classes. Griff will retrieve well and I can use a ball as a reinforcer in class, a tug is less reliable. Zig seems to prefer to tug, but outside doesn't think toys are of much interest. *Sigh* I really wanted a toy nut.
In other news, driving is getting really old and it's going to cost me Griff's agility class I think. Since it's an hour to work each way, it is becoming harder to get motivated to drive an hour on my day off to Griff's class. If I could time it with work it might be easier, but then he'd have to spend 10 hrs in the car or time in the clinic, and I'd rather he not have to be exposed to that environment. *sigh* I guess I'll have to start putting out feelers for a closer class.
Even with complete lack of training Dad, John and I ran the Shamrock Run Sunday. Worst feeling race I've ever run although I don't think our time was much different than last time. Next year I really want to do the 15 K since they get medals. My knees were being assholes but that seems to be what I'll have to deal with if I want to run at all.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Ziggy update-5 months
So, Zig has so far successfully completed puppy kindergarten, puppy intermediate, and is in puppy agility foundations. He's a good little worker. He was way more distracted in puppy intermediate than in pk or at agility class, I think because he knew playtime was imminent, or because there was a super-sketch puppy (8 months) in that class that jumped him twice (the second time was totally due to the trainer's bad judgement and my own, damn). He's the picture of focus at agility foundations. So cute.
So far, he's the kind of pup who can work for an hour straight. He prefers food rewards but will work for special toys or play time with mom more and more. He is a bit inhibited at first to play so we work on it in short spurts (this is out and about, at home play is no problem).
He's finally figuring out shaping-am working on him lowering his head in between his paws and he's getting it quickly. He got two on two off on the contact object quickly. He will throw behaviors at me if he's not sure what I want, which is cute, but need to work on thinking more and not just going thru his repertoire.
My main concerns at this point are: a bit of insecurity around groups of new dogs (he defaults to herding type behavior if he gets stressed). A tendency to food-guard against the other dogs (with chewies in kennel, not if training in groups). A tendency to focus a lot on playtime with his siblings and less with me (my fault). Ongoing socialization with strangers-just need to keep it up. A tendency to startle at sudden environmental changes-the garbage can at class spooked him but we worked through it. He's still obsessed with plastic objects and trading happens multiple times a day.
He's still a shrimp but is up to about 30 lbs, I am happy for him to get his weight slowly and stay rangey, less stress on growing joints.
Would like to start him in a rally class but having trouble finding one...the only one at HGL where we have been training is on a night I work late. Maybe at his agility basics facility?
So far, he's the kind of pup who can work for an hour straight. He prefers food rewards but will work for special toys or play time with mom more and more. He is a bit inhibited at first to play so we work on it in short spurts (this is out and about, at home play is no problem).
He's finally figuring out shaping-am working on him lowering his head in between his paws and he's getting it quickly. He got two on two off on the contact object quickly. He will throw behaviors at me if he's not sure what I want, which is cute, but need to work on thinking more and not just going thru his repertoire.
My main concerns at this point are: a bit of insecurity around groups of new dogs (he defaults to herding type behavior if he gets stressed). A tendency to food-guard against the other dogs (with chewies in kennel, not if training in groups). A tendency to focus a lot on playtime with his siblings and less with me (my fault). Ongoing socialization with strangers-just need to keep it up. A tendency to startle at sudden environmental changes-the garbage can at class spooked him but we worked through it. He's still obsessed with plastic objects and trading happens multiple times a day.
He's still a shrimp but is up to about 30 lbs, I am happy for him to get his weight slowly and stay rangey, less stress on growing joints.
Would like to start him in a rally class but having trouble finding one...the only one at HGL where we have been training is on a night I work late. Maybe at his agility basics facility?
Friday, November 19, 2010
Train that puppy!
I realize I need a more structured plan for Zig's ongoing education.
1. Ongoing socialization: trips to Starbucks, pet store, friends' houses, Home Depot.
2. Scheduled interaction time at HGL and puppy romps at OHS.
3. Sit/down verbal cues.
4. Sit in heel position, step and sit back in heel.
5. LLW-non heel
6. recalls with increased distraction
7. leave it/drop it
8. wait
9. shaping-this is hard for him!
10. Hand targeting
11. nose targeting a target on the ground
12. paw targeting/shake
13. tug toy training
14. retrieving
I taught Griffin, now a huge ball dog, how to retrieve using Jean Donaldson's approach of food rewards for interest and shaping a full retrieve. Zig is not responsive to Patricia McConnell's method , if I move away from him he drops the ball rather than bringing it with him when he comes to me. I'm wondering though if I use treat reinforcement if he'll detach from the ball altogether and be too focused on the treats (he loves them). I've been using a toy with a tail attached and tugging with him for bringing it back, but he doesn't do this yet as a true retrieve, just as an opportunity to get his toy. He has a tendency to want to run away with toys/stolen items. I've been working on exchanges but he doesn't yet have that "see what I have mom, isn't it cool" attitude. Potential resource guarding!!! Must work on this more. I really want him to like retrieving, so I'm torn about how to procede.
Jump grids-wonder if I can make puppy bumps from PVC pipe. Can't afford the premade ones!
Wish I had a bigger back yard. Would love to work tunnels with him but mine is so big it doesn't fit in the tiny matchbox yard I have.
Greeting people has been going so well. He is actively soliciting attention from many strangers. Still would prefer they didn't pat him on the head.
We did a play session last week at HGL with adult dogs. He was a typical puppy-tried to herd a few dogs, but took correction well, was polite to adults, played tug with a little chi/iggy mix and had fun, but dropped when he was told. I think it's good for him to interact with more socially savvy dogs rather than pups who can't tell him he's being too much.
Sometimes I feel like I've got poor training skills! It's been so long since I've had a completely untrained dog, I forget all the things he doesn't know.
1. Ongoing socialization: trips to Starbucks, pet store, friends' houses, Home Depot.
2. Scheduled interaction time at HGL and puppy romps at OHS.
3. Sit/down verbal cues.
4. Sit in heel position, step and sit back in heel.
5. LLW-non heel
6. recalls with increased distraction
7. leave it/drop it
8. wait
9. shaping-this is hard for him!
10. Hand targeting
11. nose targeting a target on the ground
12. paw targeting/shake
13. tug toy training
14. retrieving
I taught Griffin, now a huge ball dog, how to retrieve using Jean Donaldson's approach of food rewards for interest and shaping a full retrieve. Zig is not responsive to Patricia McConnell's method , if I move away from him he drops the ball rather than bringing it with him when he comes to me. I'm wondering though if I use treat reinforcement if he'll detach from the ball altogether and be too focused on the treats (he loves them). I've been using a toy with a tail attached and tugging with him for bringing it back, but he doesn't do this yet as a true retrieve, just as an opportunity to get his toy. He has a tendency to want to run away with toys/stolen items. I've been working on exchanges but he doesn't yet have that "see what I have mom, isn't it cool" attitude. Potential resource guarding!!! Must work on this more. I really want him to like retrieving, so I'm torn about how to procede.
Jump grids-wonder if I can make puppy bumps from PVC pipe. Can't afford the premade ones!
Wish I had a bigger back yard. Would love to work tunnels with him but mine is so big it doesn't fit in the tiny matchbox yard I have.
Greeting people has been going so well. He is actively soliciting attention from many strangers. Still would prefer they didn't pat him on the head.
We did a play session last week at HGL with adult dogs. He was a typical puppy-tried to herd a few dogs, but took correction well, was polite to adults, played tug with a little chi/iggy mix and had fun, but dropped when he was told. I think it's good for him to interact with more socially savvy dogs rather than pups who can't tell him he's being too much.
Sometimes I feel like I've got poor training skills! It's been so long since I've had a completely untrained dog, I forget all the things he doesn't know.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
ten -pupdate
Ziggy did well with social stuff so far this week. Better greeting of people including a cute little boy today. Zig seemed to like him! He is pretty dependent on me out and about right now, but I anticipate this changing a lot with age. He picked up hand targeting quickly today during our first session (did my hand smell too much like food tho?)
Concerns: toy drive. Tug drive is good, but he will get tired of toys long before food right now. I really wanted a pup who loved to play with me. He loves to play with the big dogs. I wonder if I need to restrict that right now? I feel like the argument for restricting interaction with other dogs are tenuous, but I am concerned if he thinks they are the only fun ones to play with.
Need to do more shaping exercises to help limber up and get him to try new behaviors.
Concerns: toy drive. Tug drive is good, but he will get tired of toys long before food right now. I really wanted a pup who loved to play with me. He loves to play with the big dogs. I wonder if I need to restrict that right now? I feel like the argument for restricting interaction with other dogs are tenuous, but I am concerned if he thinks they are the only fun ones to play with.
Need to do more shaping exercises to help limber up and get him to try new behaviors.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
puppy raising diaries...
9 weeks:
Sit: verbal cue in house, automatic sit often
Down: hand signal
Come: solid in house and yard
Potty training: two accidents (after hard play, whoops)
Chew training: velociraptor!
Socialization: greeting people well, does not like hand over head. Greets other dogs well, polite to adults, polite to pups, will play with larger pups, interested in cats, wants to play with Squid. Fidget hates, will run from and pup wants to run after (bad)!
Toys: loves tugs, will sit for a chance to re-engage in play.
Crate: sleeps through the night quietly, rides quietly in the car, barks if placed in crate during day but will settle.
Zigs getting coffee today.
Sit: verbal cue in house, automatic sit often
Down: hand signal
Come: solid in house and yard
Potty training: two accidents (after hard play, whoops)
Chew training: velociraptor!
Socialization: greeting people well, does not like hand over head. Greets other dogs well, polite to adults, polite to pups, will play with larger pups, interested in cats, wants to play with Squid. Fidget hates, will run from and pup wants to run after (bad)!
Toys: loves tugs, will sit for a chance to re-engage in play.
Crate: sleeps through the night quietly, rides quietly in the car, barks if placed in crate during day but will settle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)