Re: Play as a reward [quote author=charlie link=topic=9494.msg137168#msg137168 date=1421274210] Come on be honest now, how many of you use "ah ah" or "no" with your dogs? x [/quote] I do, but I don't think it achieves anything much... I think it's more a case of something useless rather than harmful, though (unless you have paired it with something the dog really does find aversive). Having said that I think the bad thing about 'ah ah' etc is that it kind of makes you feel like you are responding to an unwanted behaviour when in fact you are not (in an effective way anyway) and should be instead getting serious and thinking up a positive training solution that would actually work. We are not talking here about yelling at your dog....just using a word that is meant to mean 'don't do that' or 'that's not what I want' in the vague hope that the dog understands English
Re: Play as a reward [quote author=charlie link=topic=9494.msg137168#msg137168 date=1421274210] It's very, very hard not to say those words though. Come on be honest now, how many of you use "ah ah" or "no" with your dogs? x [/quote] I will admit that I do "ah ah" a bit. I also say no if she is being mischievous and won't listen ???
Re: Play as a reward I use 'no' - it simply means 'you don't get anything for that' rather than anything else. Just now (after a long walk) Tatze huffed at the door to go out and play. I said 'no' and she went to her chair. I think it works anyway
Re: Play as a reward So far, so good, although I haven't put them on the end of a whipit stick yet! He absolutely loves his rabbit skin tug, it's a super high value reward for him. Very hard for him to wait for "take it" even. ;D ;D ;D I think the ones without the bungee cord are a bit small to be practical though - my hand is far too close to his teeth!
Re: Play as a reward Oh, the fleece birds are not a success as tug toys, but ok as run around toys (not the absolute best though). I think they will work on the whipit stick.
Re: Play as a reward Ah thanks Julie, I am going to place my order for the large rabbit tuggy, as the toy I cobbled together is working really well but is rather heavy
Re: Play as a reward I talk to mine! I hold it really close, and stroke and talk to it. Charlie's eyes get big as saucers! ;D ;D ;D And it's rationed, kept very special...it's a super reward.
Re: Play as a reward But inside, with no distractions at all...wouldn't he work for kibble? Or at least chicken? :-\
Re: Play as a reward Oh, ok. I'd build it up as a fun game, just as a game. Asking nothing in return. Carefully rationed, with that as the only focus, until he's super keen. And establish the "rules" around tug. If you are going to use it as a high energy reward in exciting circumstances, your hands need to be really safe! I wouldn't hand it out as a reward for sitting on a mat inside, at all.
Re: Play as a reward Oh OK, I was using it when he wouldn't release properly from the mat and the rabbit toy helped with this, but yesterday I didn't need it at all as he released correctly, so will just build it up as a fun game not for place mat training. Thanks
Re: Play as a reward Well, if he is really keen on it, and food doesn't work so well for you outside, there might be merit in "saving it". You can still have lots of fun with it, playing tug. . That's the point. It's fun, fun, fun.
