Just joined the site and said hello in the introductions section, but for those that did not read it. 12 month old Lab with delivery problems. After trying everything else would like to try and succeed at The Clicker Trained Retrieve. Important note: - No real problems when I’m sitting down though a tendency to jump up and shove it in my face. So I think this is going to have to be done standing up. Stage One Set the dummy down, she will lift it (immediately) so C&T or set it down before I take her into the back garden? When she goes and gets the reward she will come back to me, knowing what I have in my pocket and probably not go back near the dummy so be prepared for a long wait and possibly the real start to stage one i.e. a glance at the dummy/nose touch etc for those C&T’s if she does not pick it up again straight away? Sorry for the long post but I don’t want to set my pup up to fail on this from the very start and if anyone sees some potential pitfalls from my post feel free to correct me or ask for more info if required.
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve Hi there, can you explain what exactly the problem with the delivery is, please. [quote author=Tillydyes link=topic=1820.msg14302#msg14302 date=1372169250] J Important note: - No real problems when I’m sitting down though a tendency to jump up and shove it in my face. So I think this is going to have to be done standing up. [/quote] This sounds very good to me. I have clicker trained the retrieve with two of my dogs with good results but the other two I have trained by encouraging them to come right in with the dummy by sitting or even lying down to get the dog to jump all over me.
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve [quote author=heidrun link=topic=1820.msg14399#msg14399 date=1372231385] This sounds very good to me. I have clicker trained the retrieve with two of my dogs with good results but the other two I have trained by encouraging them to come right in with the dummy by sitting or even lying down to get the dog to jump all over me. [/quote] A technique I've seen often suggested in class when a dog is not coming right in. Have used it with Riley occasionally but black lab was slightly heavier than cute spanner and I got a bit squashed ;D
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve Hi Tilly I cant give much advice but am interested in your problem as we intermittently also have slight delivery problems. Dont want to hijack your thread, so will post my own.
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve Hi Tilly Is this what you are following? Stage One I am not sure that I understand this? At this stage, when she lifts, you should click, and throw the treat away from the dummy so that she spits out the dummy and goes to collect the treat. Is that what you are doing? If there is a long wait between lifts, she has not yet understood that it is the touching/lifting of the dummy that is earning the treat. Pippa
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve [quote author=heidrun link=topic=1820.msg14399#msg14399 date=1372231385] Hi there, can you explain what exactly the problem with the delivery is, please.[/quote] It does 'sound' good her jumping up when I am sitting but if I am not that fond of a mucky pawed 26kg Lab jumping up on me or carrying a seat about for the rest of my days :-[ So you try to answer your question. ‘When standing’ or ‘kneeling down’ she run’s past and does all the usual common problems you hear of. Running Past. Circling. Dropping her head and turning away. Or dropping it and looking at me. The only difference I know of is the appearance of my hands as they don't appear when I am sitting.
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve You would not have to carry a seat around with you forever, and the jumping up is just a starting point to encourage the dog to come right in so you can give it a fuss before you take the dummy. You say you have tried everything. Can you tell us what you have tried so far? I don't want to talk you out of the clicker training, I am a huge fan of clicker training myself, but sometimes it just takes a minor change in our own behaviour to get a better delivery.
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve [quote author=editor link=topic=1820.msg14414#msg14414 date=1372238785] Hi Tilly Is this what you are following? Stage One I am not sure that I understand this? Pippa [/quote] Hi Pippa, Yes that is the Clicker Training Plan though I have not started it yet. Sorry for the confusion I mean to pre-plant the dummy. My concerns are what I know will happen when I do start. I think she will work it out quite fast on her own.
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve [quote author=heidrun link=topic=1820.msg14427#msg14427 date=1372242876] You would not have to carry a seat around with you forever, and the jumping up is just a starting point to encourage the dog to come right in so you can give it a fuss before you take the dummy. You say you have tried everything. Can you tell us what you have tried so far? I don't want to talk you out of the clicker training, I am a huge fan of clicker training myself, but sometimes it just takes a minor change in our own behaviour to get a better delivery. [/quote] Hi heidrun I lost a long post explaining what I had tried, can't right that out again :'(, it's all textbook stuff. Training lane Back against a wall/fence/hedge The long Walk Turning away Lying down She is avoiding my hands.
Re: The Clicker Trained Retrieve I started both of my dogs in a very small hall area where there were absolutely no distractions and only when I had a good pick up and delivery in that area did I move into my larger kitchen and then eventually out into the garden. Very briefly I had to go back to c&t just a look or nose touch before stepping it up to a proper pick up and delivery to hand whenever I moved to a new more distracting area. With a dog that is otherwise a keen retriever I would stick to placing the dummy on the floor until the dog is totally fluent in picking it up and delivering it to hand before I would go back to longer retrieves again. Expect to hit some stumbling blocks along the way, I certainly did. It helps if you know which food treats your dog values most. For mine it is either hot dogs or dried liver.
