Some questions about "look at that" clicker training
Hello all,
My dog is leash-reactive to other dogs, bicyclists, and skateboards. For the last month or so we have been working with a behaviorist to address this. At this point she has us working on the "look at that" clicker training method, where when we see one of his triggers that's at an appropriate distance away (so that it doesn't immediately put him over his threshold), I say "look at that," he does without reacting, and I click and treat. Our behaviorist wants us to try this rather than "watch me," as she thinks it will work better with my dog.
While this has worked pretty well so far, I have a couple of questions. I plan to bring them up with her at our next session, but in the meantime I thought you guys might have some tips.
1. Sometimes, "look at that" turns into "watch me." In other words, I'll see one of his triggers, say "look at that" and point, and instead of looking at "that," he looks at me. I feel obliged to still click and treat for this, as I much prefer his looking at me to his reacting. Really, the only time "look at that" works is when he's already "looking at that" (e.g., when he's seen the bicycle before I have), I see him watching it, and I quickly say "look at that" and click. He looks at me at that point, and I treat. I guess my question here is, is it problematic that "look at that" sometimes translates in his mind to "watch me"? If so, how should I handle this?
2. This is perhaps the more troubling problem. Sometimes, I'll think a trigger is an appropriate distance away, and will say "look at that." He'll look, without reacting for the moment. I'll click. Instead of turning to me to get his treat, he'll continue watching the trigger and sometimes begins to react. What should I do at this point? I have already clicked, and I've heard a click should always go with a treat. But then aren't I just rewarding the reactivity?
Thanks for reading, and for the advice!
My dog is leash-reactive to other dogs, bicyclists, and skateboards. For the last month or so we have been working with a behaviorist to address this. At this point she has us working on the "look at that" clicker training method, where when we see one of his triggers that's at an appropriate distance away (so that it doesn't immediately put him over his threshold), I say "look at that," he does without reacting, and I click and treat. Our behaviorist wants us to try this rather than "watch me," as she thinks it will work better with my dog.
While this has worked pretty well so far, I have a couple of questions. I plan to bring them up with her at our next session, but in the meantime I thought you guys might have some tips.
1. Sometimes, "look at that" turns into "watch me." In other words, I'll see one of his triggers, say "look at that" and point, and instead of looking at "that," he looks at me. I feel obliged to still click and treat for this, as I much prefer his looking at me to his reacting. Really, the only time "look at that" works is when he's already "looking at that" (e.g., when he's seen the bicycle before I have), I see him watching it, and I quickly say "look at that" and click. He looks at me at that point, and I treat. I guess my question here is, is it problematic that "look at that" sometimes translates in his mind to "watch me"? If so, how should I handle this?
2. This is perhaps the more troubling problem. Sometimes, I'll think a trigger is an appropriate distance away, and will say "look at that." He'll look, without reacting for the moment. I'll click. Instead of turning to me to get his treat, he'll continue watching the trigger and sometimes begins to react. What should I do at this point? I have already clicked, and I've heard a click should always go with a treat. But then aren't I just rewarding the reactivity?
Thanks for reading, and for the advice!