In an attempt to improve Lilly's training....always the Recall :......I thought I would work on the "look at me" part of her training as a first step. I think Lilly actually does this to ME on a walk - she stops and looks back, waits until she sees me looking up towards her, then moves on. Me, on the other hand, well I am still working on it. I realise that what I want is for her to LOOK at me when I call her name. Currently she doesn't I know I can get her to look at me at close quarters by bringing a treat to my face - then I can C+T for instance. But should I use another word to look at me e.g. "Lookie" or should I use her name which would be most logical (to me)? And when do I say the word/name - AS she looks at me, when I click? Not sure I quite have hoisted that in. At the moment I am calling "Lilly" and not clicking until she looks at me, but so far this is either in the house (when I have her full attention anyway if I move anywhere) or on a walk (where using her name draws a blank unless I have her attention with a treat and bring it to my face). I am keen to try C+T, though Sophie isn't which makes it slightly tricky. And OH, well...... I couldn't find the previous discussion about this, and not sure if it quite covered this bit. Any helpful advice?
Re: "Look at me" If, when out on a walk, you are trying to get her - on a signal - to stop what she is doing, and look at you for instructions, that sounds like the stop whistle really. Only you are using a verbal command instead of the stop whistle. I think, anyway. If so, that starts with associating your signal with something amazing which she thinks can't be missed. Then you get her to do it close to you, then at a tiny distance, and so on. If you are really after a recall, you might just want to start with associating your recall signal with something amazing. The close quarters "watch me" is a bit different - it's easy to clicker train, then just proof (in vet's surgery etc). I've recently started using a "click click" tongue sound with Chalie which means I'm changing direction - "so get your head out of the neighbour's recycling box, we're leaving" I C&T when he responds and gives me his attention. But that's also close quarters on a lead. Not much help, sorry.
Re: "Look at me" I taught Sam the Look at Me whilst lead walking Jac . I was having problems with him pulling towards other dogs , so armed with treats , I would get him to sit, then hold a treat close to my face and say Look at Me , he did do and so got the treat . I didnt even attempt off lead Look at Me until we had worked on the onlead version and got it pretty much sorted
Re: "Look at me" [quote author=JulieT link=topic=3811.msg43446#msg43446 date=1388334811] If, when out on a walk, you are trying to get her - on a signal - to stop what she is doing, and look at you for instructions, that sounds like the stop whistle really. Only you are using a verbal command instead of the stop whistle. I think, anyway. If so, that starts with associating your signal with something amazing which she thinks can't be missed. Then you get her to do it close to you, then at a tiny distance, and so on. If you are really after a recall, you might just want to start with associating your recall signal with something amazing. The close quarters "watch me" is a bit different - it's easy to clicker train, then just proof (in vet's surgery etc). I've recently started using a "click click" tongue sound with Chalie which means I'm changing direction - "so get your head out of the neighbour's recycling box, we're leaving" I C&T when he responds and gives me his attention. But that's also close quarters on a lead. Not much help, sorry. [/quote] I would say the same. Why not teach the stop whistle rather than a 'look at me' at distance. And Jac, there is no way in this world that I would shout 'lookie' across a field I would rather let the dog scout on into the next county. : ;D
Re: "Look at me" I agree with both Julie and Kate. If I was you I'd start with C&T what you already have so indoors where it's easy to get her attention then like Kate while she's on a lead. Say her name as soon as she makes eye contact C&T. You can then make it harder indoors first by saying her name when she's not expecting it or doing something. The better she gets start saying her name with harder distractions to get her attention from. Then move outdoors but start simply again. As she improves start lowering your hand. First hold treat at your face, then chest, waist etc. C&T on eye contact even if it's brief she will soon catch on. The next bit at distance is when it gets difficult and I'm still working on it with the stop whistle : Good luck Jen
Re: "Look at me" we have mastered the recall to a fine heart, so i have moved onto the stop whistle,its going much better than i thought it would.......he seems to be responding really well to training,......all in all he is growing up so fast
Re: "Look at me" Do you use the whistle for recall Jac? if so why not train the stop whistle as this really does get your dog to stop/sit and look at you for instructions. Heidrun advised Jen and I to use the stop whistle before putting the bowl of food down and I also blow stop at gates, stiles etc. so you can start at a close distance. I also train 'look at me' when giving a chew, sit, before sending for a retrieve of a ball etc. and any other opportunities that arise. Just for the record I wouldn't shout 'lookie' either ;D ;D
Re: "Look at me" This makes sense to me too, to use stop whistle for distance and C&T for eye contact in response to name indoors. After all, she can make eye contact without necessarily moving her head and it's easy to see when that happens at close quarters. You need a bigger and easily observable response at a distance. Sort of on the same subject but distorting it slightly (sorry, Jac), can anyone tell me how to best extend the length of that gaze?? Brew knows she has to be released from the sit to go to her bowl when her food goes down, and to start with she was released when she made eye contact with me. I want her to look at me for longer, and now her gaze flicks rapidly between me and her bowl... I release her when I judge her gaze is steady on me for just that little bit longer, but she is a drooler and the floor is usually wet at this point... Any ideas??? Clare
Re: "Look at me" Clare, my dogs have to look at me for as long as I ask before the bowl goes down that way they will gaze away knowing what is coming
Re: "Look at me" Thank you ;D ;D ;D ;D Trying to stop laughing.......I shall abandon all ideas of another "look at me" cue ;D ;D ;D OK...so....Lilly is good at waiting for her release cue at mealtimes, so getting her to look at me, say her name, then C+T with the T being the release for food? At other times inside, wait til she looks, say name, C+T. Outside on lead, ditto. Abandon the distance "look at me" and do more work on the stop whistle. And, Helen, whistle recall is fine but not at all proofed against any form of wildlife and the retrieve is still a very fragile thing and only consistently works for short periods on the beach and in the back garden. That's a plan. Thanks guys.
Re: "Look at me" [quote author=ClareJ link=topic=3811.msg43457#msg43457 date=1388338098] I want her to look at me for longer, and now her gaze flicks rapidly between me and her bowl... [/quote] Only 2 thoughts - you could try making your eyes "soft", half closing them - this is easier for dogs, apparently. It works with Charlie, anyway. We C&T watch me with kibble, we do it before feeding too - but that always has the edge of desperation to it, it's SO hard for him, to wait for that food! We found it easier to lengthen the gaze at first just in quiet, relaxed, C&T sessions.
Re: "Look at me" [quote author=charlie link=topic=3811.msg43459#msg43459 date=1388338301] Clare, my dogs have to look at me for as long as I ask before the bowl goes down that way they will gaze away knowing what is coming [/quote] Hmm... the bowl is down, she just has to sit and wait to be released to move forward to it... so just wait until I get constant attention as opposed to trying to increase that attention span incrementally?? If you hear reports of flooding in Paisley, you'll know it was a sea of drool and it didn't work. I'll try the 'soft' eyes too - Thanks, Julie. To be honest, I'm fairly pleased she'll sit and wait, food is SUCH a big deal!! And Jacqui, we should have let you skip across the countryside shouting 'Lookie!' ;D ;D Clare
Re: "Look at me" You have my deepest sympathies with the lack of retrieving but keep going it will come, like with Charlie it's finding the 'thing' - maybe try a squeeky snake? ;D it helped and now Charlie retrieves a dummy
Re: "Look at me" Clare, I think the problem with the bowl already on the floor is when her attention span is less and flicking from you to the bowl. Try not putting it down and that way you can increase her gaze on you as you have the goodies. Just my thoughts but maybe worth a try Works here. Lots of drooling here too :
Re: "Look at me" [quote author=heidrun link=topic=3811.msg43451#msg43451 date=1388336872] There is no way in this world that I would shout 'lookie' across a field I would rather let the dog scout on into the next county. : ;D [/quote] ;D ;D ;D Jac - I never gave up my "is that for meeeeee?" command for handing over the dummy, I say lookie would be cool. But only if it works like a dream. 8) Best choose something else until you've nailed it. ;D
Re: "Look at me" Over the years I've been using "This way" as my command of choice .... inevitably we were about to turn off to one side or the other
Re: "Look at me" Should've added it was no prob to turn back on myself for a few steps until they came if we weren't actually planning to go off one way or the other
Re: "Look at me" [quote author=JulieT link=topic=3811.msg43476#msg43476 date=1388341673] I never gave up my "is that for meeeeee?" command [/quote] I rather liked that...... ;D
Re: "Look at me" Suddenly realises I'm talking about a different command entirely than the thread is actually about .... sorry, am ever a dippy mare
