training tools
This is what I am going to be teaching Jubilee and Hunter next. I've been doing similar work, with a concrete block, with Lynx and Oda, for agility training. In their case, I'm working toward teaching them 2-on/2-off for agility contact foundation training (so they will end up with 2 feet on and 2 feet off an obstacle).
In Jubilee's case particularly, she has beautiful focus and has the basic understanding of what heeling is, but she does it with her body at about a 45 degree angle to mine. So, I need a way to communicate to her how I want her to align herself in relation to me. This training "trick" will actually give me a very nice tool to show her how to position herself. Once she's able to move where I want her too, I can reward the behavior consistently.
Jubilee has been trained with toy and food, using "yes" instead of a clicker. She's somewhat food motivated, but extremely ball motivated, so I've trained her mostly offleash with Yes/throwtheball as her marker and reward.
Hunter is a bit different--she's a little more accurate and careful, but a bit less enthusiastic. A lot of that is probably because I've done some classes with Jubilee for the socialization and the different experiences, so Jubilee's had more work with her. Hmm. I think I should do some food training with Hunter to help her get more desire to work for the reward as opposed to just "desire for the ball/reward."
In heeling, though, as it stands now, Hunter is less angled in relation to my line, but she tends to move forward and wide. So, for her, the brickwork will be less specifically useful, but I think I can move from the "get in" to "get out" and "get back" -- moving backwards.
With a few more communication tools, I think they both will end up much more solid in their heeling work. My goal with both of them is more herding training and titles--and a BH.
Also, doesn't this look like fun? :)
In Jubilee's case particularly, she has beautiful focus and has the basic understanding of what heeling is, but she does it with her body at about a 45 degree angle to mine. So, I need a way to communicate to her how I want her to align herself in relation to me. This training "trick" will actually give me a very nice tool to show her how to position herself. Once she's able to move where I want her too, I can reward the behavior consistently.
Jubilee has been trained with toy and food, using "yes" instead of a clicker. She's somewhat food motivated, but extremely ball motivated, so I've trained her mostly offleash with Yes/throwtheball as her marker and reward.
Hunter is a bit different--she's a little more accurate and careful, but a bit less enthusiastic. A lot of that is probably because I've done some classes with Jubilee for the socialization and the different experiences, so Jubilee's had more work with her. Hmm. I think I should do some food training with Hunter to help her get more desire to work for the reward as opposed to just "desire for the ball/reward."
In heeling, though, as it stands now, Hunter is less angled in relation to my line, but she tends to move forward and wide. So, for her, the brickwork will be less specifically useful, but I think I can move from the "get in" to "get out" and "get back" -- moving backwards.
With a few more communication tools, I think they both will end up much more solid in their heeling work. My goal with both of them is more herding training and titles--and a BH.
Also, doesn't this look like fun? :)
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