This girl is smart, smart, smart! I've never done clicker training before. I got one today, and got some super tasty organic chicken breast packed in water (in other words REALLY HARD TO RESIST!) and we sat on the floor. At first she obviously attacked my hand trying so hard to get it and I started off by clicking as soon as she stopped biting/pawing. Give chicken. Did that a few times. Then waited until she sat. Then waited until she scooted back and sat. Then waited until she looked at my face instead. That's where I left it and we repeated that for a few minutes - she would look at my face every time instead. When should I start adding the 'leave it' cue? The video I watched said wait until the next session. This was only about a 10 minute session. I could have the chicken open-palm laying on the floor and she'd look at my face. I'm shocked!!
Bless her! The general thought is that you don't add the verbal cue until you would happily gamble £100 on your dog giving the behaviour through your physical cues. For me, I think "leave it" is a really important behaviour to have, but what is even more valuable is the uncued leave. So, in this case, as much as teaching "leave it" means "come away from that dead seagull you're munching on" is an important thing to teach, if you can teach them to walk away from something disgusting without being asked, that's even more valuable. So use Premack as much as you can and don't rush, in this case, to add a verbal cue.
That's what I was taught too but this is the first time I've ever seen any one post the same thing. Love that little video of her stretching, so cute.
