Starting to learn tricks...a little advice?

[kyancer]

A couple months ago I taught my lil' guy the Sit command. He picked it up very quickly! We have started private training and the next command he is learning is Down. We had him go from a Sit to a Down. He picked that up very quickly as well! But, now he won't Sit. If I tell him to sit he immediately plops to a Down. So, I decided to work on the Sit command again. It took a little while, but he now does a Sit very well. So, when I reintroduced Down, he now Sits....urgh! What am I doing wrong? Does it just take some time for them to sort it all out when they are learning new tricks?

[Dougal&Little]

your dog's a smart cookie. He's guessing what you want after what you last asked for. I would say there are a few things you might like to consider -- your dog may not have realised what the word you are saying is for. when he's actually in the sit or down position make sure you use the word so he associates the position with the word.

Also, dogs pick up on your body language much more than the words you use. Do you use a hand signal at the same time as you ask for the sit? and the down? you might be using similar hand movements and confusing your dog.

also try training the two together and ONLY reward your dog when he give the action you want.

Hope this helps

[kyancer]

Thanks for the advice. He was doing much better today, but he still acted like he was guessing rather then that he really knew what I wanted. He just gets so darn excited because he knows if he gets it right he will get a treat. I don't really use hand positions right now (that I know of). Maybe I should?

[For My Coby]

Funny! Just so you know, you're not alone, I just wrote about this in the Maxi thread. She had sent me her "play dead" technique. So I taught it to Coby less than a week after he learned "shake". (He already knows "sit", "down", and "stay".)

So now, when I go for the treats but before I can get any into my hand, his butt slams onto the floor in a sit, then his paws start flapping all over the place trying to shake, then he flops down in a lay position, and then rolls to his side playing dead - all within about 5 seconds!! Coby has explained to me that waiting for a command is very inefficient. He knows what they all are, so he figures he'll just whip 'em all out to make sure he covers the one I'm looking for!!

I decided that our next trick/command will be "wait till I tell ya".

Hang in there!

[Dougal&Little]

I think using hand signals makes for good reinforcement. I do dog agility and we use both the commands and signals to indicate where to go -- the dogs do need both. I think it's important for the dog when they're learning because then it's doubly clear what you want. My hand movements started out as the lure to get the dog in position and just got less obvious and further away from the dog as time went on.

[Dougal&Little]

Ah the power of positive reinforcement training. The dogs just WANT to work for you. This is known as 'offering' in dog training parlance. Sign of a super smart doggie! You should check out shaping in clicker training and then you can use this offering behaviour to teach the doggie lots of new tricks.

Dixie does her wave "Hi" when she wants a treat. I've tried teaching Dougal to "stand" as well so his butt doesn't snap to the floor everytime the treats come out. It worked on Dixie but Dougal doesn't seem to get the concept of standing.

[For My Coby]

Originally Posted by Dougal&Little

Ah the power of positive reinforcement training. The dogs just WANT to work for you. This is known as 'offering' in dog training parlance. Sign of a super smart doggie! You should check out shaping in clicker training and then you can use this offering behaviour to teach the doggie lots of new tricks.

Dixie does her wave "Hi" when she wants a treat. I've tried teaching Dougal to "stand" as well so his butt doesn't snap to the floor everytime the treats come out. It worked on Dixie but Dougal doesn't seem to get the concept of standing.

Good info and advice. Perhaps rather than "wait til I tell ya", we'll work on "stand" next.

Kyancer, it's tough having a smart doggie, huh? LOL

[kyancer]

That's so funny. I'm glad I'm not alone. He is a smart doggie

I guess I don't know what hand movements I would use for Sit and Down? Any ideas?

We are also currently working on "Place" (go to his mat), but it is such a LONG process! I'm finding it a little overwhelming.

[Dougal&Little]

Originally Posted by kyancer

I guess I don't know what hand movements I would use for Sit and Down? Any ideas?

We are also currently working on "Place" (go to his mat), but it is such a LONG process! I'm finding it a little overwhelming.

Most of my hand movements have developed from where my hand has been to lure the dog into the position.

For Sit I started holding a treat between my index and middle fingers and thumb then luring the dog by taking the treat over their head they'll usually pop their little bottoms down to sit. This sort of evolved into is my two index fingers together in an twisting upwards motion (without the thumb) It's sort of like giving the "victory" sign but fingers together).

Down was hand palm down index and middle fingers straight with ring and pinky fingers curled under (usually storing treats!) then a downwards motion.

Stay is the palm of the hand towards the dog, wait is the same motion but with pinky and ring finger curled under. (Those I learnt from obedience classes).

The only answer for training is consistency and persistence. (I'm not always so good with either.)

[kyancer]

Thanks! Those are some great ideas.

[mainegirl]

We just started training and we are learning patience and focus by making Ozzy stay in his sit for increasing periods of time. We say sit and he sits then we just hold the treat so he can see it. At 20 seconds I give him his "free" commmand "all set" and move the treat away so he gets up and gets the treat. I keep trying to increase the time up to a minute. It's not easy. We have yet to get past 35 seconds but we keep trying The trainer says this teaches him patience so we'll see! The "free" word let's him know that he is not working anymore. This may help for you.