Hi, We had got Sit, Drop, Look, Go Play etc. pretty sorted. Trained these seperatly. I started to pair a Sit with a Go Play or Drop with Go Play. No time gap yet as I wanted to pair first then add time. But recently she has decided that if I ask for a Sit, Drop or a Look and just before I say Go Play or want to add time into it she will then drop or lay down etc. It can litteraly be just a second. Anyone got any idea of how to rectify this? Thanks
I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'pair' Sit/Drop with Go Play? Do you mean you are using Go Play as a release from the position you have asked for? If you haven't got any duration to the position, and you are saying Sit-GoPlay you'll end up with Sit meaning Go Play, because if you do it often enough, she'll anticipate the Go Play on Sit (this is how you change a cue). I don't quite understand what you mean when you say she does a drop after you've said Sit, Drop, Look...do you mean she lies down after you say Sit?
Try and explain a bit better. When we started training we would do 10 sits in a session. Then another session of drops/down. Once she got these I would mix the ie:3 of sit then 3 of down etc. The release command (go play) was on its onw without asking for anything prior. Using place mat which is working as she will either sit or drop on own. Got that from you JulieT after my last question of release command. I am now pairing them accordingly. But what is happening, if I ask for a Sit, then count a few seconds to get a duration prior to giving the release command, Vanilla will then either lay down and relax or or on all four knees tucked undet ready to pounce (hope that makes sense) etc. It is as if she is getting frustrated.
Ok, I see. Well, you can try to use a clicker as a release at first to get some duration in the Sit. I think that comes first, really. You need her to Sit and hold the position. A clicker will allow you to mark very precisely the position she is in, and hopefully in this way she will hold it. You can then add your release and click for that (but do that later, after you have a good Sit). So, Sit, C&T, Sit, C&T etc. do 5 or 6 reps, have a break. Repeat, have a break. On the 3rd set of reps try adding just one second (just one, don't be tempted to add 2, 3, or 5) before the click. Repeat, build up SLOWLY. If she changes position before you click, you've tried for too much time, go back a step. Don't mix up Sits, and Downs and so on - keep them separate. It's far too soon to be doing that if she can't hold a sit for even a few seconds and particularly if she is going into a down from a sit when you want something else. Once you have a bit of duration, then you can Sit - duration - release - click on the release. By the way, your Sit should be exactly as you want it before you start all this. Straight, legs tucked in, etc. Because you get what you click for.
Sorry - to use the clicker as a release, you throw the treat away from the dog. If you don't want the clicker to act as a release, you feed in position. You have to be consistent with this, otherwise you confuse the dog.
Thanks. She sits perfectly, ie:legs tucked etc. Will stop the mixing for now. Wait until she is a bit older. I will just use the clicker for the release and remove the words I have been using. I have been throwing the treat away for the release already so will continue with that. Thanks for the advise Back to basics for a while, until resolved before it gets worse
Yesterday, I watched a video of myself doing some training with Willow in the early weeks. What a mess! I was mixing up all sorts of behaviours. She did so well, little love. But, I wanted to grab a rolled up newspaper and hit myself round the head a few times, watching it back!
watching videos of me training with Coco, I'm surprised he can do anything! He is a very understanding and forgiving dog.
Looks like a camera might be in order to help me more than anything. Get that in duty free in a couple of weeks...thanks all
