I have changed my mind about this! I taught Tatze to do it as I thought it was cute, she learned both very quickly. Guide Dogs are not allowed for obvious reasons, so Gypsy (5 months) has never been taught to give us her paw. As a consequence many things are easier! It was easier to teach 'all four paws down at all times', easier because she doesn't paw for attention, much easier round small children and toddlers too as her paws have been firmly down for weeks! Who knew? Not me!
Re: Paw and High Five I agree with you - ever since Charlie learned to give a paw (to be fair, I needed it for one of his physio exercises) I've done nothing with it but try to get it properly off cue - impossible since people give him stuff for voluntarily offering a paw. I'll never train it again. Well, unless I need it for physio of course.
Re: Paw and High Five I am currently trailing "give paw" as a replacement behaviour for jumping up to greet people. I am having some success. Molly just loves having her paw held and stroked and will sit quietly whilst this is done.
Re: Paw and High Five Yeah, I'm with you. Our "high five" made the "Touch" exercise as Pippa showed it impossible. As soon as we raised our hand rather than touch with her nose she raised her paw to it. So I had to use a different hand position for "touch" I thought last week, what a shame Gypsy is growing up, she isn't so gorgeously puppyish anymore. But wow! She is growing into an absolutely STUNNING teenager.
Re: Paw and High Five Gypsy is gorgeous, how on earth are you going to be able to give her back! Or do you remain detached for that very reason? Jan
Re: Paw and High Five [quote author=teapot57 link=topic=8499.msg120470#msg120470 date=1414580620] Gypsy is gorgeous, how on earth are you going to be able to give her back! Or do you remain detached for that very reason? Jan [/quote] No - I am totally besotted, attached and in love with her, just as I am with Tatze. It will break my heart when she goes to Big School. Guide Dogs want them to be well bonded with their Puppy Walkers, then their Trainers, then their Owners - the bond is important in each case. The system works really well. Quite a lot of owners have the same heartache when the working dog retires and they are unable to keep two - so they move on after 7 or so years. But the dogs are amazing, adaptable and happy. It's nothing like a rescue dog moving on and learning to trust people - Guide Dogs are well treated and very well cared for at all times, so the transition is far, far more painful for the people than the dogs! But, I would never have met her if she hadn't come to be puppy walked by me - she would have gone to someone else. So I am enjoying the privilege of her company for a year then I simply have to accept that she will move on to the next stage. Then the next pup will be along to distract me! ;D ;D
