Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. An update ( 6.5 weeks in...) where are we in our training with Casper? 1. Well we have a very good sit.. 2. A reliable recall 3. A fair heel (off lead).. but not necessarily on lead.. 4. Stays close off lead All these with fair proofing which needs more work.I am far more confident in the recall with Casper than I am with Benson right now. I think the critical difference here with the two dogs is that we are Caspers world....whereas with Benson the world is far more interesting! ;D So where do we go next with training? I think continuing the proofing, and working on a stop cue. This is really because of the issue of Casper has which is racing off like a bullet when he spots another dog. A stop cue would help, possibly, especially if there is a danger that he cannot see, or the other dog is on a lead for example. When he hares off he is like a bullet, which encourages Benson to run off (unless I have managed to get a stop cue which works with Benson) I am sure two big labs racing towards you on a walk can be fairly intimidating! It has been a fascinating journey with his training, helped enormously by his keenness to please, almost too much at times. The only thing it appears he has been taught previously, is to raise his paw, so when he gets confused, he continually lifts one paw and then the other in the hope he is doing something right, makes me feel a bit sad when he does that. Now that he is more relaxed with us, he is more able to think and to help this process we are trying to help him to choose an action/behaviour...so he wants to do something if that makes sense? All in all, things are going well, an added bonus is this old dog is definitely having a calming effect on Benson, and Benson has definitely helped in showing Casper the fun things in life!
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. That's truly wonderful ! Love to see rescues blossoming If it makes you feel any better Riley, who is frankly spoilt rotten, has a default behaviour which is to sit. If he's ever confused about what I want he sits and looks at me as if to say "is that it? can I have a treat now?" Let it make you happy that he wants to please. It just makes me go how have I confused this poor dog now ! Sorry pup ! ;D ;D ;D
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Such a success story When we got Obi at 9 months his default was to shake hands too. It was very ingrained, so we never asked for it and it gradually diminished.
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Well...I found myself musing this morning over the retreive of a fur dummy the other day...( intended for Benson but inadvertently thrown into a thicket of brambles) Casper actually went straight in their and got it out, the first retrieve he has ever done, just doesn't seem interested usually unless it entails chasing Benson! So I thought, can you really teach an old dog gun doggery?? I have no idea. So I put Benson in the house and took Casper up the lane a little way. Threw one of his toys ( a rubber ball he likes to chew). Nothing. He just looked at me, as if to say what next... ;D Threw it again...and nothing, just wasn't at all interested. Then I thought, lets try a rabbit fur ball. Threw the ball, and it dropped out of sight. Casper got some idea where it went, but still sat by my side looking at me, did n;t respond to "back" my usual cue. So I used "go on then Casper" as that is his usual release cue. Off he goes like a bullet... He hunts around a bit and brings it more or less back to me...but he gets a little anxious at this point, so I dig out a bit of liver cake and gently swap the rabbit fur dummy. I give him lots and lots of praise. Did it again, and the same thing. not the best delivery, but brings it back to a recall whistle, no problem to gently ease it from him, his mouth is so soft, especially with a big piece of liver cake! Every day I find this lovely dog more and more remarkable!
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. That's brill! Could he be steady to thrown balls and toys and is waiting for a "fetch" cue? Which is not back but might be something else? What a great boy...
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=8180.msg125156#msg125156 date=1416392671] That's brill! Could he be steady to thrown balls and toys and is waiting for a "fetch" cue? Which is not back but might be something else? What a great boy... [/quote] I think you are probably right, could be steady. I will just need to work out what that is..or create a new one. I am going to try a short memory later and see what happens
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Well I have been googling irish dog training looking for commonly used commands...found that the most popular ones are these... Shet Da Fec Ep
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=8180.msg125167#msg125167 date=1416395302] Fec [/quote] Pretty commonly heard heard in dubai too, more usually as my dog heads for the horizon ...l
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. [quote author=Dexter link=topic=8180.msg125170#msg125170 date=1416395576] [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=8180.msg125167#msg125167 date=1416395302] Fec [/quote] Pretty commonly heard heard in dubai too, more usually as my dog heads for the horizon ...l [/quote] lol! ;D ;D ;D Just used these in my best Irish accent....Casper is now very waggy tailed...and if a dog could laugh he would have bust his sides... ;D
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Well done Casper Love the words, just can't stop laughing imagining you saying them ;D
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. That's amazing Casper, he really is coming on in leaps and bounds Kate, well done you. My parents were Irish so I could give a few words to be going on with ;D xxx
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Here we go..a short memory retrieve with Casper. I know it probably should have been in a corridor, but with so many leaves it was hard to work out where the footpath went! Used the same rabbit fur dummy that I first used a retrieve with as he seem to like that. Let him see where it went, walked back a bit and sent him out...well, not exactly...he just went! ;D Brought the dummy back to a perfect delivery though. He really seems to enjoy it which is great It is a bit of challenge working two of them though.. I had Benson's lead looped around an old tree trunk, when I turned to get him, he had in his excitement torn the trunk out of the ground and was dragging it behind him.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw5LxoGNIxM
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Way to go with the tree Benson. What are you feeding hi Kate. ;D Casper is doing brilliant Kate. It's great he loves retrieving he sounds like a natural. When I retrieve with my dogs they have their own ball. They will not go for the other ball no matter what. When we use dummies they don't have their own but they've learnt fom only going for their own ball not to go for the others retrieve and so wait their turn. Maybe you could try them together in your garden. When we have new balls I throw them both then let the dogs decide who is having which ball and that's what they stick with. Do you let Benson run in for the ball. If so I'd try throwing both balls allowing benson to run in and get one. When he is on his way back release Casper for his. Alternatively throw a ball for benson and send him then immediately for casper and send him. Keep the turn around quick so they don't have time to get interested in what the other has got. If you can get them to retrieve together like that you can then start to refine it until one sits while the other retrieves.
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Great video...was a bit disappointed you dodging get Benson in dragging his tree stump along
