|
Post by miloooox on Jul 17, 2014 22:38:58 GMT
Hi all, I'm starting to have a problem with Milo and training, he's starting to only listen when I have treats with me. I've had this problem in the past over tricks but didn't really mind as it's just for fun but now it's going to basic obedience. For example today my uncle came around and although Milo gets excited we've nipped his constant jumping up and now he just follows people around, tail waggin' which isn't a problem, but today he went crazy and wouldn't listen to at all! Even when I told him to sit down (which he usually does even if extremely excited) he ignored me! Eventually he came over and sat next to me. I feel as if I have to bribe him to listen and I really want it to stop before it gets too out of hand, any advice?? Thankyou in advance
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Jul 18, 2014 9:12:30 GMT
I'd probably say go back to using treats for now and then start to wean them off. But don't wean him off altogether because then doing whatever you don't want him to will be more reinforcing than coming to you. Use them intermittently, so only give him a treat every few times rather than every time. It'll keep him guessing as to whether he will get a treat or not (like you would do with a recall) Also was your uncle paying him attention? When people come in you could perhaps ask them to ignore him or only say hello to him to acknowledge him until he's calmed down a bit before giving him a fuss. That way the calm behaviour will be reinforced Hth
|
|
|
Post by bextull on Jul 19, 2014 21:40:54 GMT
I second what charlottte said. Just another bit to add myself. Make sure he cannot see the treats. If you use a treat pouch or something similar then I'd suggest putting treats in your pockets instead. Not all of the time but just so he gets the idea that even if you don't have a pouch that you may still have treats. Or try having a few small air tight containers around the house with some treats in so you don't have to carry them around all the time. I've never done it myself as my mam wouldn't be impressed with treats all over the place but it might be worth a try. I know that Oscar used to always associate me having treats with the treat pouch and then when I didn't have it he'd forget all about me. So now I end up finding dog treats in any coat I put on, jumper pocket and jeans pockets. Its safe to assume at this point that I usually have treats on me one way or another.
|
|
|
Post by Jessie99 on Aug 1, 2014 20:14:53 GMT
Like charlotte and Bextull, I would just start to use less treats during training and also use a toy as a reward. What I tend to do during walks with my dogs, is practice tricks and then throw the ball, or I make them sit and stay before throwing the ball. I also ask my dogs to sit and stay at the side of the road before crossing, another thing is sitting and waiting before dinner. They are also made to sit and stay while getting their leads on because when they are all jumping about and Roman, being a vocal dog, tends to howl in excitement - or did before he got used to our routine. Good luck, hope this helps a little!
|
|
|
Post by miloooox on Aug 5, 2014 21:03:49 GMT
charlottte Thankyou for the advice, I will go back to treats for a while and then slowly wean him off. No, my uncle ignores him when he comes in but it doesn't make a difference to Milo- he just goes crazy. I stopped him doing this for a while and he made great progress but now he's resorted back to his old ways, I guess we're back to square one! bextull Thankyou for the advice, what a great idea, I'll just have to get some air tight bags so all my pockets don't stink Jessie99 Thankyou for the advice but sadly a toy wouldn't work for us as Milo has 0 interest in toys, he has a VERY short attention span and gets bored of toys after a few minutes, the only toy he's ever really loved was a teddy pheasant we called 'Nigel' but sadly he lost his head and stuffing a few walks back
|
|
|
Post by bextull on Aug 5, 2014 21:15:40 GMT
Just a small something to add. I remembered this the other day and totally forgot to mention it. Remember that rewards are ANYTHING that have VALUE for the dog. They aren't always things like treats and toys. Sometimes it can be just as rewarding, if not more rewarding, for a dog to be let of the lead to run freely as oppose to getting a treat. Use your environment and the local resources to your advantage. If he wants to sniff a tree and is pulling you towards it, then stop, ask for something from him (sit, or lie down for example) and then allow him to go to the tree as his reward. Before Oscar gets let off the lead in fields I ask for a good 1 or 2 minutes of solid attention from him. I don't mean him just sitting there looking at me. I might ask for him to heel and keep eye contact with me (not for 2 minutes though, maybe 30 seconds at a time with eye contact) or I might as for a few tricks. Then he is let off. It probably wont be too useful inside but outdoors it could help. I always find it interesting to do and I've always found it to be effective. One time Oscar really wanted to chase this bird in the field, he was absolutely fixated on it and wanted nothing more than to race after it. I told him to sit, unclipped his lead, waited for him to look up at me and then immediately told him to go and he shot off like a rocket. To this day, if he sees a bird and he is on the lead and I so much as even think about asking for a sit he's already got his butt on the floor and staring at me like I'm a chicken leg.
|
|
|
Post by miloooox on Aug 5, 2014 21:50:36 GMT
bextull Thankyou that is actually a great idea, Milo loves chasing birds so that could work for us too I never really thought of rewards like that but it's an interesting way to think about it and I think it will really work with Milo, thankyou very much
|
|
|
Post by bextull on Aug 5, 2014 23:19:57 GMT
bextull Thankyou that is actually a great idea, Milo loves chasing birds so that could work for us too I never really thought of rewards like that but it's an interesting way to think about it and I think it will really work with Milo, thankyou very much You are very welcome. Just be sure not to let him chase the birds all the time or you'll end up with an entirely different problem. I rely heavily on environmental rewards when I have Oscar in town because all he wants to do is sniff, not eat food. Its a little funny that we forget about the simplest things. You say reward and we assume praise, food and toys but our dogs must find other things rewarding or they'd be by our sides 24/7.
|
|
|
Post by Jessie99 on Aug 6, 2014 16:25:56 GMT
Oh, I see. Well, as bextull has mentioned in the above comments, you can use the environment and walks as rewards. The simplest things which are valued by your dog can work too, as bextull said
|
|
charlesroast
Newbie
digging out the sleeves
Posts: 31
Animals I love: it depends on how they have been prepared
Pets I own: Dog, fish, cat
|
Post by charlesroast on Sept 3, 2014 13:10:31 GMT
Just a small something to add. I remembered this the other day and totally forgot to mention it. Remember that rewards are ANYTHING that have VALUE for the dog. They aren't always things like treats and toys. Sometimes it can be just as rewarding, if not more rewarding, for a dog to be let of the lead to run freely as oppose to getting a treat. Use your environment and the local resources to your advantage. If he wants to sniff a tree and is pulling you towards it, then stop, ask for something from him (sit, or lie down for example) and then allow him to go to the tree as his reward. Before Oscar gets let off the lead in fields I ask for a good 1 or 2 minutes of solid attention from him. I don't mean him just sitting there looking at me. I might ask for him to heel and keep eye contact with me (not for 2 minutes though, maybe 30 seconds at a time with eye contact) or I might as for a few tricks. Then he is let off. It probably wont be too useful inside but outdoors it could help. I always find it interesting to do and I've always found it to be effective. One time Oscar really wanted to chase this bird in the field, he was absolutely fixated on it and wanted nothing more than to race after it. I told him to sit, unclipped his lead, waited for him to look up at me and then immediately told him to go and he shot off like a rocket. To this day, if he sees a bird and he is on the lead and I so much as even think about asking for a sit he's already got his butt on the floor and staring at me like I'm a chicken leg. Ugh reminds me of the time we got a family of birds in the chimney. I would come back home to Chucko with a five o clock shadow from having his face up the chimney and paw prints leading to and from his feeding station lol. It took many reprimands and treats to get him away from that hearth, but we did it lol. Took two months, but now if something gets into the chimney he will just alternate looking at the chimney and the side of my head, burning a hole in it with his doggy laser eyes lol.
|
|
|
Post by migsy on Sept 3, 2014 14:30:12 GMT
Agree with all the above. Dogs are greedy and they aint daft,notice how many strangers dogs have cottoned on to fact that most people they meet have treats in their pockets,and they know which pocket too! However,I still swear my last two dogs were easier and quicker to train, as at that time treats weren't used at all at our dog training club, just lots of fuss and praise when they 'got it'.We also did training now and then using only hand signals to show how well the dogs had come on for a bit of fun,which amazed and pleased many owners. As the years passed and I took the newly adopted young Skip along,times had changed and treats encouraged.He used to drool copiously when he smelled liver cake,which was actually very amusing to see,as when it first happened,I thought he had eaten something he shouldn't or was sickening for something.He was known at times to refuse if a treat wasn't offered,so the treats can actually be making a rod for your own back.
|
|