No not really. We did a solid week of puppy classes where they did basic training (most of which he could already do) and just went through the concept of positive reinforcement with us. Since then we just go once a week and it was this week mats were introduced. So he's only done a couple of days on the mat so far. It's probably best to explain the way they've taught us with leave - so I'd show him the treat in my hand, then close my first. He would paw at your hand etc then when stops you mark it and give him the treat. When he is consistent with that you start with the leave cue. It was the same with all the other tricks, you make sure they can do it, then you start the cue - basically so you're not barking random words at them. Is that wrong? I think I'm going to start watching those kikopup YouTube tutorials. We've never had a dog before, and everyone who has who we know is kind of "I'm pack leader, dog whisperer" type trainers and we don't like that. We've been told so many times that we're far too soft and the reason he's still biting us because we refuse to squirt him in the face, or shake something noisy at him or even bite him back. So I'm just using this forum and going to the training class.
At our positive reinforcement training class, we taught "on your mat" by starting with click and treat every time a paw hit the mat. The mat was in our training area and we were standing in front of it. Click and treat every time they walked over it. Then we asked for a sit...click and treat when they hit the mat. Throw a treat away to get them off. Repeat. Somehow all the dogs got it very quickly - they would go to the mat - and click and treat. Then asked for a down - click and treat every time they hit the mat. Then we introduced the cue "on your mat". Click and treat when they would touch the mat - and then increase to sit, then down, on the mat. I hope that makes sense. It's hard to explain by typing it out!
That's right. So you've got to get him going on the mat, but get rid of the treat in advance - otherwise, you'll always need the treat. It's ok to lure a puppy onto a mat a few times (just a few) and give them loads of treats so they think 'hey, going on this mat is a great idea' then you swiftly move on to reinforcing them going on the mat. Then add your cue.
Thank you so much for all your advice! It makes more sense now, can totally see why it felt like we were rewarding bad behaviour - cos we basically were! We've been working on all our previous stuff today and he seems to fine with it all without bribery which is a relief. He'll also now go on his mat without any lure, just a point to the mat. Here's hoping now we've been given a point in the right direction, we'll see little improvements
