I've just started trying off (dropped) lead with Myles. We walk to some open space near the house and I will drop his lead and let him wander a bit. He follows me close by and if I change directions and start to pick up the pace, he will eagerly catch up (and he gets chicken for doing that ) I was thinking he is doing pretty good for being new at this, then I read Pippa's article about being "lead aware" and I realize he is much smarter than me :. But we are still way new and don't have recall so the lead stays on. He is doing good but he loses focus quickly for whatever is on the ground (sticks, pulling up grass, etc). Which ends up with me correcting him (or pulling things out of his mouth, saying "leave it" a lot). So my question is, what should be my purpose for this time with him off lead? Should every second be for training while he is still so distracted by the ground beneath him? And should I keep it short so that he has a chance to stay focused the entire time? I basically just try getting him to follow me, rewarding for that, then will do some sit/stay/release cues with him. But can only get so much out of him before he wants to grab a giant stick. Or should I being going to even less distracting areas (with no sticks) until he's better at that?
Re: Starting with off lead You don't have any behaviour on cue by the sounds of it. So he is free to pick up sticks, stones, etc. - from his point of view, there is nothing to tell him to do otherwise. So don't be correcting him for this, it's just normal behaviour. Your question is a good one - what should your dog be doing? You need to work out exactly what it is that you are trying to train and how you are training it. I do two different things. A) Shape behaviour I want when my dog has free time and B) a training exercise. Shaping behaviour I want usually involves me clicking and treating for his attention on me. But I don't want his attention on me all the time, I just want him to stay close and check in. So I reward attention, but I don't interfere with anything else he is doing although I will give him a cue if necessary (eg change direction, or recall if necessary). Then, if I start a training exercise, I'll give him a cue "Ready" which means I want his attention because we are going to work together. Do my exercise, or exercises, and then end with "Finish" (if I don't say "go free" I expect him to hang around for more stuff). But all of this took months to establish. You've got to work out clearly in your mind what and how you are telling your dog to do and be very consistent, for a long time, to get results. I'd say at first, reward for any attention he gives you and introduce short training sessions that are upbeat, fun and get his attention away from the sticks. The rest of the time, just reward him for choosing you over the sticks. And don't forget games - play with your dog, interact with him so he sees you as a fun person to hang out with.
Re: Starting with off lead Thank you JulieT, very helpful! Just trying to think through how to handle when he picks up sticks/stones, etc (he gets a bit obsessive about this), and with our recent swallowing incident I'm nervous about letting him. Sometimes (only sometimes) if I walk up to him and say leave it, he will drop it and I give him chicken. He will take chicken happily then pick stick back up. My boy loves him some sticks and stones. Is this when you would just try to be more fun, change direction, or give him some other cue? It's hard not to interfere. Thanks for explaining shaping vs training. I have been doing some shaping with him in the house (using a box, which he can now sit in). Here's a pic just for fun
Re: Starting with off lead What a lovely photo Would he carry something else instead? A toy on a rope attached to the lead (so you don't have to keep picking it up)?
Re: Starting with off lead Great pic! Charlie used to be an absolute nightmare with sticks - he still is a bit, he finds sticks a huge distraction. I didn't used to tell him to leave it, there are just too many sticks in the world - I'd have to put myself on a tape and play "leave it leave it leave it.....". It wore off as he got a bit older, but yes, I'd just work on him playing with you rather than getting sticks all the time, but most dogs will pick up sticks, it's what they do.
Re: Starting with off lead Juno loves sticks, whether it is on walks or in the garden (lots of trees surrounding the garden). We just discourage her from chewing them and that they are of a manageable size. We also sometimes take her kong Stix or squeaky balls on a walk and through them for her to fetch. If she is very focussed on the sticks we usually find some nice ones and throw them for her - never going to persuade her to leave sticks so I have fun with her.
Re: Starting with off lead Gorgeous boy! Does remind me a lot of Benson at that age, just hope he doesn't follow in his paws so to speak! ;D Great idea getting him used to shaping games whilst in the house, I am sure this will help with focus outside. We used to be forever taking sticks, bits of gravel out of his mouth. He was terrible in the house for stealing shoes and slippers. We changed this habit into a game, so when he picked up a stick/stone/slipper/shoe we got all excited and encouraged him to bring it back to us as a sort of retrieving game. After a while he became less interested in stones and sticks became a bit more interested in other distractions... :
Re: Starting with off lead If he returns right to the desired stick/stone, you can always lead him off a bit with a treat or if you do find it at all, you can throw the treat away from the stick/stone he's interested in so he moves away from it. It is "luring" but I'm not really trying to make it a cued behaviour when I do it - it's really just getting her to move physically away from whatever she dropped. The drop it is the cue. I like throwing the treat though because that makes you quite interesting (treats fly when I see my mom!) so we tend to do that.
Re: Starting with off lead Thank you all, great ideas and suggestions, will give a try! I'm not aware of Kong sticks, I will have to look those up. Ok my next pressing issue (after our lead walk just now), is greeting people. OUT OF CONTROL
Re: Starting with off lead [quote author=Mylestogo link=topic=10805.msg161045#msg161045 date=1430696977] Thank you all, great ideas and suggestions, will give a try! I'm not aware of Kong sticks, I will have to look those up. Ok my next pressing issue (after our lead walk just now), is greeting people. OUT OF CONTROL [/quote] Here's the kong stix. I bought the small and then the medium for Juno but she is still happy with the small one. Good for walks and in the garden but also good for chewing.... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kong-Safe-Stix-Medium-Colors/dp/B006BU7FQU/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1430750109&sr=8-15&keywords=kong+toys
