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02-18-2015, 09:00 PM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 726
| We finally did it In January I went to the Rose City Classic here in Portland. I really enjoy watching the agility and can imagine my Lexi doing it. So we signed up and tonight was our first class. Lexi has taken a basic obedience class and that's it, so I was a bit nervous. I think she will be able to do well with it, but she is not treat motivated at all. So of course, it didn't go like I planned. We are also using a clicker, but gotta have the treat too. I think I will boil up some chicken or lean ground beef and see if that will work. I fed her this morning and then nothing until class. She is the smallest by 20 pounds at least. She seemed to like every thing about the class, but just not very motivated to do what was being taught. But we are going to succeed at this, Lexi and I. And we are going to have fun at it. |
Welcome Guest! | |
02-18-2015, 09:10 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alabama
Posts: 941
| Hi! I've done a lot of training with my dogs and I teach clicker training. My suggestion is to work between now and your next class to find a treat that your dog just can't resist. We've had a lot of success with string cheese but my "secret weapon" is alligator treats. They are horribly stinky but that's what makes them work. I need to go treat shopping this weekend so I'll look for the exact name. Good luck and don't give up on clicker training. It really works!
__________________ Karen and the Kids Sadie and Beemer |
02-18-2015, 10:10 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 726
| Thanks for the advice. I think the clicker training is a great idea, just never used it. I would really appreciate the exact name of the alligator treats. I have tried bison, liver, fish, chicken and freeze dried cheese. The trainer suggested just cutting up low fat string cheese, dried in the frig. I am going to see if I can find something that works. Maybe Lexi was just so excited in the first class. Let me know about the alligator treats. |
02-19-2015, 06:49 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 4,285
| My Cali (under 4 #) does agility. Not because we are good, but because she loves it. She is not treat motivated (she is a service dog) but she loves the praise. I have found she will go for boiled chicken and string cheese if she is hungry. Clicker does not work for her so we did not get into that, but many do use it. Good luck! Enjoy the great bond you will establish with your pup! And.....it is good exercise!
__________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car |
02-19-2015, 09:56 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 726
| A few years ago I was talking to a trainer. She was using a big hunk of boiled liver. Her dog went nuts for it. What do you think of that for a 5 pounder? I am going to get some string cheese, and also boil more chicken. Just cut it into a bit bigger pieces. I use that as a mixer for her daily food. I think Lexi is going to like it. Just curious, do you use a harness during training? I was pretty firm about not wanting to use a collar with a leash. I think it will build a very nice bond between us. |
02-20-2015, 06:10 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alabama
Posts: 941
| I use an easy walk harness on mine for training - or really anything - I don't use a collar. It clips on their chest so it doesn't encourage the "sled dog" pulling. Be sure that you find someone that can fit it properly though. It doesn't go on their neck at all. For treats - there's nothing wrong with liver or chicken. I use very, very small treats. I want it to be just a taste for encouragement and to leave them wanting more. If you use a large piece of something, just give them a little nibble of it. We do that with the string cheese. For example - I use a low fat hot dog for treats. I can get over 200 training treats out of a single hot dog. Also, remember that the extra food you are giving them for treats has calories. You may have to reduce their regular meal by a bit to compensate. I haven't forgotten about finding out the name of the gator treats. We had a snow today (in Alabama!) so I'm planning to go get new treats tomorrow.
__________________ Karen and the Kids Sadie and Beemer |
02-20-2015, 07:02 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 726
| Thanks for your help. We are trying different treats, but I think I've messed up. She seems to be afraid of the sound the clicker makes. She almost won't even sit now because I started using the clicker. I stopped using the clicker and emailed the trainer. Hopefully, she will be able to offer some suggestions. I use a buddy belt harness and needed it already. A little boxer got loose in class and headed straight for Lexi. I got her up and out of the way just in time. I so want her to be able to do agilty. It looks like the dogs have so much fun. Baby steps, right? |
02-20-2015, 07:48 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alabama
Posts: 941
| Absolutely! Baby steps is right! Here's a couple of suggestions. Try wrapping the clicker in masking tape. It really mutes the sound. They also make different clickers that make different amounts of sound. We've even had some people that have to use the click of a ball point pen for a while. Be sure you aren't clicking too close to his ear too. Have you "charged " the clicker? To do that click for no reason. Your dog will naturally turn to see what it was. Give him a treat. Click and treat a few times for no reason several times a day. Soon he will whip his head around whenever you click. That's when you know the clicker is "charged". If you just can't get him to accept the clicker you can use a very short "yes" to mark the behavior. The beauty of the clicker is that it marks the exact split second you get the behavior you want. Timing takes some practice but it's a great marker. Good luck and let me know how it's going! Also if you go to my user page there's a little video of me working with Sadie when she first started agility. I made a bunch of mini equipment for her.
__________________ Karen and the Kids Sadie and Beemer |
02-20-2015, 08:35 PM | #9 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 726
| You really seem like you know what your talking about. I will try the ball point pen. Good idea. Also I'll see if I can find a different clicker and tape the one I have. I just have to get her responding to me at all without being afraid I'm going to click! I am not sure I know how to access your videos. I would like to see them. Thanks so much for all your suggestions. |
02-20-2015, 08:47 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alabama
Posts: 941
| Just click on my name. It will take you to my YT home page. The video is on the right side. I think it starts playing automatically. Remember this was when we first started! We just do it for fun - we don't compete. I think agility develops more confidence and as strong a bond as anything. They have to trust you to do things that they aren't sure of. In the video, Sadie was very afraid of the teeter. It took a lot of trust in me for her to do it when I asked.
__________________ Karen and the Kids Sadie and Beemer |
02-20-2015, 08:48 PM | #11 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 726
| Ok I figured out how to see the video. Wow. That was when you first started? I can't imagine being that good at it. Good job. I can't wait! Your pup is adorable. |
02-20-2015, 08:48 PM | #12 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alabama
Posts: 941
| I'm so sorry! I've been saying him all along. I just noticed the "her"!
__________________ Karen and the Kids Sadie and Beemer |
02-20-2015, 08:52 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alabama
Posts: 941
| Thanks! She's very special to me. We are a therapy team. Right now she's having some health issues we have to get through. I'm taking her to Auburn Vet school on Monday for tests. Keep us in your thoughts.
__________________ Karen and the Kids Sadie and Beemer |
02-21-2015, 12:35 PM | #14 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 726
| Sending good thoughts and hugs! I need an agilty mentor so get better soon Sadie! |
02-22-2015, 08:01 AM | #15 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| How fun for Lexi and you! I am envious and would love to do this with my boys. Looking forward to hearing more about your progress.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
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