Hi me again. I'm spending a lot of time in the behaviour area at the moment. : Still working on S&S excitement levels with the OH I've just googled calming excited dog. Most of what came up was the usual, ignore the behaviour and click for four feet etc but there was a web site which advised training a calm cue. The idea is you get the dog excited (not hard :) although not wild. Then stop, fold arms and say a cue like settle or calm. When the dog has all four feet down mark and reward. Repeat three times on the fourth only mark and reward if his feet haven't touched you. It's basically click for four feet but I don't think I've ever seen training a cue word before. I'm wondering if I can train a cue for calm the OH could use it and hopefully it might work to make them calmer with him. ??? What do you think ?
Re: Calm down cue It makes sense to me so it could be worth a go but you know I'm no training expert. I'm sure the others will have some more valuable input
Re: Calm down cue Thanks Barbara . I'm thinking it's probably worth a go as well it can't hurt anyway. :
Re: Calm down cue I taught The DivaDog to relax/calm down by stroking her and repeating "Chill time" whenever we saw her awake but relaxed ..... like so many things it sunk in and naturally became a command with no real active training. EDITED TO ADD: should have explained we went from telling her as she relaxed to telling her when she was about to and built it up from there .... not immediately to when she was in full flow from when she was already chilled
Re: Calm down cue Definitely makes sense! Anything that gives dogs greater clarity re. what we are asking can only be good It's just like the 'quiet' cue.
Re: Calm down cue Thanks Roz that's a very good idea and thanks Rachael. I did think of training it like the quiet cue. I had a go yesterday. Unfortunately I can't get them anywhere near as excited as the OH does. They just won't jump up at me or grab me. The most I get is excited wagging and bouncing. Obviously I'm not complaining they know they've not to do those things to me. I decided the OH should train the cue. I explained to him how, his reply, I'll start tomorrow. This is the problem and the response I've been getting for the last three years. :. I've given up many times but I end up getting cross with the dogs because I don't like them behaving like that, which isn't fair on them. Thankfully it's only him they jump up at etc but I was hoping if I can get them controlling their excitement with him it will help with other situations. I will tell him your suggestion Roz. He can't have any excuse for not doing that when they are lying next to him. :
Re: Calm down cue Tatze goes super loopy after a swim, she bum tucks, runs up, jumps up and grabs my coat. Now I'm ready for it and I turn to face her with my hand (palm) out. This works, she sits and waits for a treat. I do say 'calm now', but it's the hand signal that works. For anxious places, like the vet, I stroke her just below the ear, this has a calming effect.
Re: Calm down cue Thanks mags. I will tell him to stroke them just below the ear saying calm while they are lying next to him and hopefully the penny might drop. At the moment him standing arms folded licking his lips (I kid you not :) is stopping them jumping up they just wander around him doing full body wags instead which I suppose is some progress. :
Re: Calm down cue Be really interested to hear how you get on, Jen. I'd love Charlie have an "off" switch! Gosh, that would be wonderful! Charlie's problem is although he knows "relax" and "chill" he isn't capable of obeying when excited. He has to be calm enough in order to concentrate - I think that's why the clicker is so effective, if i mark an instant of calm, he whips round to collect his treat, but a cue word does not have the same effect at all for me. They do work in certain situations - so if he is excited, but I sit in one of my usual chill spots (by the duck pond), and say chill, he'll calm down. If I sit in a new spot though, I have to click for calm and teach "chill" all over again. I guess that's proofing! :
Re: Calm down cue At the moment we arent getting very far with the cue. They are a bit like Charlie Julie when excited they find it difficult to concentrate and follow commands so we will see how well it works. It's no good me trying to explain clicker training to the OH it would be a waste of time. A Phd in physics but a plastic box with a button is beyond him. :
