When training around food (like in the forum challenge) we did the exercise and then sent them to the food. Now I'm spending time (feels like an bloody eternity) training Ella to work around toys. We had the first of four sessions at our state dog centre last night. Trial rings were setup with trial-like conditions with a judge and steward in the ring with you but we can use food rewards (which you can't do in a trial). The judge was really helpful and offered lots of advice and encouragement. When we entered the ring I explained that we are having a lot of trouble with toys. She told me that my number one priority was to ensure that Ella didn't get to self reward by sniffing the toys so, even if I had to stick a treat under her nose, I had to get her past. When we got to the toys (figure 8 around cones with toys either side) she was very interested so I ended up rewarding her every two steps for that particular station. The judge said we did a great job as we achieved our aim (like I said, she was very nice) then said that the plan should be to reduce the frequency of the rewards and then the time frame between the stations and when we give the reward so that eventually Ella realises that her reward will come as soon as we leave the ring. So, back to my question. I don't want to use toys like we did in the food challenge as I don't want Ella to begin thinking that we can get through the figure 8 and her reward will be to go and play with the toys. So, when practising at home, I was thinking that I would heel her past the toy then throw a treat out in front, pick up the toy as she runs forward and maybe pull out her tug toy (that we use in training) as she turns back around to have a quick play. What do you think?
That sounds as if it could work. What do you think of the idea of having your tug toy on the ground near the start and when past the station with the toys sending her to get her own tug toy? I wondered if it would reinforce the idea that she can never have the ones at the station but will be rewarded with her own. I suppose then you could do the toy station plus one more station before sending her to her reward tug toy. Then gradually build up to a whole round before getting the toy. I’m just thinking out loud really - it’s what I’ve started to do as a way of stopping Molly from grabbing at her lead in on-lead heelwork.
