Re: On lead bad... [quote author=Stacia link=topic=7529.msg105140#msg105140 date=1409151081] He knows if the slip lead comes out, then it is definitely a walk? Just thinking...... [/quote] The slip lead is only ever used to go to a garden remote from my house, on a route where his walking is proofed as close to 100%, or to the postbox, or to another grin an so on. So sometimes it's a walk. Same as for his collar though - it's not always a walk.
Re: On lead bad... I've just been looking at some of her other articles. The one about settle down now is interesting. I like the idea of re thinking. If something isn't working you need to re think what you are doing rather than keep going with the same thing. Going back to the walking speed thing. By trot does she mean the way they walk around at crufts for example? I think my walking speed is probably not right. I naturally walk quite quick. I suppose the dogs trot a bit but not as fast as crufts. :-\
Re: On lead bad... Yes I would definitely class crufts as trotting! I have to be careful with speed as anything much faster than a trot causes Penny's hips to move about and she will start bunny hopping. So when we are on lead it's trotting or slower.
Re: On lead bad... This is a great video for showing the normal gaits, and the one you want to avoid - pacing. https://m.youtube.com/watch?index=14&list=UU7TP7nKA1Dm74ai0BjB6C4A&feature=plcp&v=X7AkrsLd-AQ This is particularly useful if you are worried about bunny hopping - as I am, or was - because the dog at a canter moves its back legs together, so it's useful to see what is normal and not a bunny hop. [quote author=Jen link=topic=7529.msg105157#msg105157 date=1409156397] I like the idea of re thinking. If something isn't working you need to re think what you are doing rather than keep going with the same thing. [/quote] Yup. Two errors then change something.
Re: On lead bad... Well, Obi paces whether he is on lead or off lead. I don't think it's uncommon and what evidence is there that it looks odd to other dogs? I'm not convinced by that bit. Def agree though that it's good to recognise that we need to think about on-lead time as a different kind of experience for our dogs and make accommodations.
Re: On lead bad... [quote author=Oberon link=topic=7529.msg105223#msg105223 date=1409171772] Well, Obi paces whether he is on lead or off lead. I don't think it's uncommon and what evidence is there that it looks odd to other dogs? [/quote] Yes, I think it's safe to say what it looks like to other dogs is the author's opinion.
Re: On lead bad... I think that what definitely looks alarming is another dog straining at the lead and leaning forward in what looks like an aggressive way - I will certainly buy the argument that that looks alarming to any other dog!!
Re: On lead bad... [quote author=Oberon link=topic=7529.msg105263#msg105263 date=1409175353] I think that what definitely looks alarming is another dog straining at the lead and leaning forward in what looks like an aggressive way - I will certainly buy the argument that that looks alarming to any other dog!! [/quote] Yes, I think so too - it depends a bit though. Charlie is most alarmed by small dogs that rush forward, yap barking. If they are on extendable leads - argghhhh. Or growly, bossy, dogs. He hates those. But another labrador, the same age as him, pulling his/her owner over and shouting "Play! Play! Play!" Gets a "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" response from Charlie. Mind, a border Collie would probably faint away on the spot. ;D ;D ;D
Re: On lead bad... Going back to the article 'settle down now' she writes at the start that if we get it right results are almost immediate. If we don't get the results that's when we need to re think. I think she definitely has a point with this one. Yesterday I started with the ignoring and stopping getting his food until scout sat still. This morning he did three quiet little bounces then sat completely still until I put his bowl down !!!! ;D That I think is pretty much an immediate result. ;D Thankfully I have all you to help me re think because I'd re thought it I don't know how many times. : Just have to decide what to re think next.
Re: On lead bad... Yes, I think so too - definitely stopping when I have errors. In the book, she says "to ask for the behaviour again without a change in environment is stupid, thoughtless, training based on a "wing and a prayer" and "nevermind I can't think of anything else to do". Strikes me as a somewhat straightforward person!
Re: On lead bad... 'Change the environment, change the behaviour' is the logical way to train. But people are sometimes very reluctant to follow this rule. A change in environment seems impractical to their personal circumstances so they preserve with what they have always done hoping that one day the behaviour will change. I have most certainly fallen into that trap myself at some stage.
Re: On lead bad... [quote author=Jen link=topic=7529.msg105317#msg105317 date=1409214684] Going back to the article 'settle down now' she writes at the start that if we get it right results are almost immediate. If we don't get the results that's when we need to re think. I think she definitely has a point with this one. Yesterday I started with the ignoring and stopping getting his food until scout sat still. This morning he did three quiet little bounces then sat completely still until I put his bowl down !!!! ;D That I think is pretty much an immediate result. ;D Thankfully I have all you to help me re think because I'd re thought it I don't know how many times. : Just have to decide what to re think next. [/quote] Brill! I love this learning process for person and dog, they are all different, and so are we. Well done both of you.
Re: On lead bad... [quote author=heidrun link=topic=7529.msg105324#msg105324 date=1409216284] 'Change the environment, change the behaviour' is the logical way to train. But people are sometimes very reluctant to follow this rule. A change in environment seems impractical to their personal circumstances so they preserve with what they have always done hoping that one day the behaviour will change. I have most certainly fallen into that trap myself at some stage. [/quote] Even worse, I think I knew I was the cause of the errors, but didn't stop. Yesterday, I was trying to do a bit of "pick up in the middle". I knew I wasn't marking the right behaviour (he was pulling back with the dummy) and I kept on, trying to "play" with it to get it right. Thankfully, I came to my senses and stopped before I had trained him to snatch the dummy off me! The error was that I had not thought through what, exactly, I was going to click for.
Re: On lead bad... In the book, there are 7 "environment" things you can change: Cue delivery Association of cue to behaviour Practice of the association Can the animal physically carry out the behaviour? Is the location secure or comfortable? Absence of mental and physical fatigue Previous experience sufficiently reinforced
