Training Tidbits

Maxwell is getting the hang of the chair exercise. After about three clicks for ducking his head under the dining chair, he scooted himself under for a jackpot. I toss treats away from the chair to reset him, and he just dives right back under. Tonight we even worked up to me sitting in the chair! I gave treats intermittently while he relaxed, trying to keep the pauses random. He settled nicely, eventually flopping on his side with his head down. I still feel bad that he doesn't have much space, due to the cross-bar, so I won't ask him to put his whole body under our chairs. Head and shoulders is enough for now.

He is also getting very good at CHIN. With me in the chair, he will stand with his chin plastered to my thigh while I rub and pat him all over. I try to pet him differently than normal, like a child or nervous adult might do under stress. If he lifts his chin or shifts his head, I immediately end physical contact and freeze. Once he places his head down again I resume handling, then treat. Tonight I sat cross-legged on the floor for the first time with this behavior. He lay down facing me, put his front paws across my ankles, and planted his chin either on his paws or my lower leg. I was able to rub, pat, and poke him all over, look in both ears, handle his paws, and even briefly look at his teeth! Obviously I didn't ask him to accept all of these for one reward, but it was still pretty amazing. He only broke CHIN for the mouth handling, and even then he settled back down quickly.

Sadie is learning the wave. Yes, like people do at sporting events. I throw my arms up, and she stretches herself up. It's funny to see, because she very quickly gained enthusiasm for this behavior. She stretches to full length, front paws high in the air, and jumps up. Her front paws end up over my head! If I give the body cue less strongly, she responds in kind; no jump, less stretch. Next step is to teach her not to leap at me.

She is also giving very nice bows now. She stretched before we started training (like a play-bow), so I clicked. She immediately began offering shallow bows. I clicked stronger and stronger ones, until she had her front end flat on he ground and her butt in the air. So cute with such a big goofy dog! I had noticed in a previous session that she nearly always ended up stepping on my toes. I assumed it was because she kind of 'walks' into the bow, stepping her front feet out. However, I had an odd thought tonight, which I tested. I kneeled on a chair, so that I was roughly normal height but effectively had no feet. She couldn't bow! Somehow I had accidentally shaped/captured her bow as a targeting behavior on my feet. She pawed the chair, then stood up on the chair with her front feet... After some confusion on her part, and going back to clicking approximations, she did give a few decent bows with me on the chair. Something to think about, for sure!