Dog training thread

[Squawkers]

I really want to teach willow to hold items in her mouth, but in all the methods I've seen it goes off the dog naturally wanting to grab an item and rewarding. Willow won't just grab items. Any suggestions

I like this

Although watching the first bit of it again it does have more of the dog wanting to do it than I remembered. I like the concept though. I think if you did it with one of her toys that she likes it would probably work

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I really want to teach willow to hold items in her mouth, but in all the methods I've seen it goes off the dog naturally wanting to grab a item and rewarding. Willow won't just grab items. Any suggestions

Teach her a hold with something fun. Denver wont pick up random items including her leash. So i attached a fun toy to it. And every once and awhile she will grab it without a toy. We are still working on this. But i had taught her to hold a bottle(toy to her item to me). Then eventually started making her hold other objects. And praising after even a second. Because she likes to spit things out.... its a work in progress. But all the things i found online didnt work. She isnt that motivated by objects. Food on the other hand is a different situation

 

[Nym]

I really want to teach willow to hold items in her mouth, but in all the methods I've seen it goes off the dog naturally wanting to grab a item and rewarding. Willow won't just grab items. Any suggestions

Many others would say your dog is worth million$$ lol.

You could try putting some roast beef in a old sock. tie a knot in it and leave it where you can see it. Wait for her to start carrying it around, shaking it before rewarding her with some cheese or other fave treat. Making sure the dog is hungry will at least get some action. Try it a few times a day before putting a command to it.

Edi liked shaking my socks apart when I rolled them, so I just started rewarding her for shaking them apart. Five years later she will bring me a sock to let me know she's hungry, usually before a walk. She's very practical.

Hodge is Always! hungry.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You just want to reward her for picking it up to begin with, right? Holding is another command and shaking would be a third command. Teach one thing at a time. You don't always want her to shake things. People usually train that out as it's a bad habit.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Typo, sorry, teach ONE thing at a time.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

To add she also knows a grab command. I taught that after hold. Ill say grab the bottle and she will.

 

[Nym]

Another trick could be using the treat toilet roll / teabag box etc. If you have a command for her to return a ball to your hand, you could use that to get her to bring the empty roll or box. Increase the distance each time and say hold as she's bringing it / carrying it to you. Work it in very simple layers. Hodge will hold the empty milk carton because I'm usually at the computer when he brings it to me. I know he's there but I ignore him while saying hold on ... hold on ... until I'm finished doing what I'm doing. then I say 'in the hand' and get up to get his reward. Hold on (holding) the milk carton = roast beef / chicken necks etc.

 

[Nym]

You just want to reward her for picking it up to begin with, right? Holding is another command and shaking would be a third command. Teach one thing at a time. You don't always want her to shake things. People usually train that out as it's a bad habit.

I get what you're saying re the shaking. Shaking is a good sign initially as it shows drive and Willow may shake shake it in an attempt to get the roast beef out - the sock is only a test object at this stage. My dog was only shaking the rolled socks apart before returning them to me. She was a puppy at the time and no longer shakes / kills a sock before bringing it to me..

I hope this makes sense haha

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I quoted all the posts and skimmed, but I will reread more thoroughly and reply tomorrow! Thanks guys!

 

[Folly's place]

I read this thread today, it's been a good fun read! Lots of good advice and interesting stories.
About transitioning to off lead at a distance: long ago I had experience training a Chessie for bird work, and a GSHP for field bird work. Different types of field work, but the transition from 6' leash, to 20' rope, to off lead, included a 'shock collar' that gave me a 200' to 300' foot 'leash', and made a big difference, especially for that madly enthusiastic pointer!
He needed to know that I could always reach out and touch him.
Now we have rescue dogs with very sad back stories, and a whole different set of issues, and I'm much less motivated to work hard at training. And almost all the local trainers are 'cookie and harness' folks, not what works for either me or my dogs!!! Just recently I found a trainer nearby who will work with difficult dogs, and is fine with the prong collar necessary for both of my doggies.
One from a fighting dog abusive situation, and the other was living in an abandoned junkyard until rescued. Issues, you bet!
Mary