Millie--Indoor Article Practice.
First time doing this, and in spite of numerous difficulties I think she made some progress
- She was frantic, FRANTIC, after the other dogs had gotten their food and she hadn't. It took her some time to calm down enough to even pay attention to what was on the floor.
- Timing. I didn't always click at the right moment, and I kept knocking the lightweight container of food around. Sometimes I suspect I shouldn't have clicked at all.
- Camera--positioned too low, so that Millie's body is blocking the action. I only realized this morning that the GoPro does not have a threaded hole for mounting to a tripod, so I had to put it on a chair. I've got a tripod mount coming on Saturday.
Nonetheless she started to get the idea. She did things right several times in a row after minute 16.
First click was perfect. When she was standing still, and then whined, she trotted right over the article—that could have been a click. In general, your click timing is good. Don’t reach for the food—she is SO tuned into your hands that the second you reach up, she’s all about the food. So only reach up after the click. BTW, I adore the energy, the barking, the offered downs, the energy. This dog could be trained to do anything.
ReplyDeleteIf she’s racing around, just pick the article up, set it back down when she’s heading your way. Pointing at it is a bad idea—just pick it up and let her notice it going down. Odds are, she will check it out and you’ll have a click point.
I’m sure you known you missed 2 click opportunities on the green thing, and then you pointed. Better to click a weak indication (we can build on that) than to point. But most of your clicks are fine, I’d say click more! Head moving towards article? Click!
She’s not beside herself—she is TOTALLY into this game. If she’s racing around touches the article behind you—CLICK! She is correct!! We aren’t training obedience to the article you want, we are teaching indication of any article she finds!
Gee, I”m seeing an awful lot of offered downs in this sequence. Just sayin.
OH, try not to stare at her—stare at the article. 8’14”-perfect time to pick it up and set it back down. When she’s stuck in a down, just toss a cookie. She actually downed after you missed a click—I think she was confused.
And then you start picking it up too much—pick it up when she’s not playing the game, set it down when she returns. Let’s not set it down as a cue. What I’m really impressed with here is her resilience—she just keeps wagging, and keeps trying. OMG. And offered down ON THE ARTICLE. Huh.
OK, CLlCK EARLY—anticipate the nose touch. If you’re wrong, you still clicked the nose going towards the article. If you’re late, you end up clicking the nose leaving the article….
Nope, don’t need to modify. Maybe give her a bit more food when she’s correct so the session doesn’t last so long, but be patient. SHe’s trying SO HARD. I want you to capture that energy and enthusiasm—that’s what you WANT her to feel when she scents an article! And you can sit in a chair or on a stool!
Review this yourself, and look for the places she was “close enough” and you waited. If you can tighten that up (that’s a Ralph skill, not a Millie skill), I think she’ll progress faster and you’ll be less frustrated. DID you see that head snap for the green article at the end??? She’s starting to figure it out. Hang in there!
So excited that you and Millie are enjoying games!
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