3-7-2009

13th of 30 here is what someone who knows something said in response to the video of his OB

Watched this, it looks really nice…one thing to think about, when you’re pivoting, sometimes click and reward when you have focus during the pivot. If you always wait to reward once you’ve stopped & he’s made the sit, then he has the freedom to duck his head or get distracted while you’re moving, b/c he knows the reward comes once he sits and gives focus. You may have to lure him a bit at the beginning to get the consistent focus while you’re pivoting, but do it a few times, and I think he will understand you want focus from the sit in the basic position, thru the pivot and into the sit again in the basic position.

Since I don’t have permission I won’t mention the source, but they are smart and I guarantee they are right.

Did what was suggested in the next session and it worked, imagine that. Had a crappy play session afterwords. Might of had to do with my lack of coordination with the new feeding thru the turn.

3-5-2009

AM 4 minutes clicker training basic position, used chicken stell feeding after every click, say FUSS good FUSS when in proper position

5 minutes of play after clicker, one out with giblaut

PM 4 or 5 minutes clicker training basic position, used chicken still feed after every click, Noah was there which was a nice distraction…freaky guy with dog showedup & I had to Platz Isaac….after that it was just play (they dude is strange and his dog is a basket case).

3-4-2009

Clicker training basic position (shortened it up), used chicken chunks and fed after every click. The attention thing is really coming along nicely, his position isn’t too bad either.

8 solid minutes of play in the backyard with the ball on the string…tug tug.

3-3-2009 (with comments)

Clicker training basic position, video taped the session in the basement (AM)

Clicker training in basic position (PM) field next to jacks

8 solid minutes of play w/ball on string (no letting go, not supper fast).

Had a chance to watch, looks really good overall. Couple of things, I would cut the session in half as far as time goes. A few short sessions throughout the day are better than a long session, esp. at this age. I would do a lot of rewarding for awhile yet, just so that you know you really have the understanding of what you’re asking and you pretty much have his focus 99.9% of the time. Positioning, etc look good and it looks like he is concentrating well.

The video looks good. He seems to really understand the basic position and the focus but you need to put a name to it. You can start to use fuss so he understands that when you give that command that is what he is supposed to do. I would give a reward every time you click. Sometimes you click with no reward. Since you are giving the picture of him sitting and watching you a name, (fuss) you can lure him with food putting your hand a little higher than your hip (generally) and saying fuss taking a step or two, click, reward as long as he is in the correct position (not too far up, forging or too far back, lagging). At this point don’t worry about the focus as that can come later, just make sure he is in the basic position. Putting a leash on the fur saver dead ring might be nice to guide him and just make it more clear to him so things are more clear to him.

Reward from over the dog’s head, not behind him because when you bring your hand around him he looks back and loses focus. We noticed that a lot of times you step into the dog to adjust yourself into the correct position. Don’t do that…. I had a bad habit of doing that with one of my dogs. You want to teach the dog to get into the basic position, not you correct yourself into him.

His platz looks really good. I could not tell from the video if his elbows were down, I assume they were but always watch that. Maybe incorporate a release command in so that after he is done with the platz or whatever, you say free so he know’s it’s ok to break the position.

3-2-2009

First Session in the basement in the AM

• Clicker in position
• kept hands out of the way (where they belong, at sides, not behind me)
• Didn’t say look (shaped)
• Wish head wrap a tad more

Second Session in the backyard way better only 26 more repetitions. There were some kids at the pond playing on the ice (occasionally he would look away and the instant he came back to looking click –> jackpot)

12 minuts of play in the driveway with ball on webbing (didn’t let go)

2-28-2009

Clicker training with hot dogs

Sitting in position (basement) and at the Claudia Romard seminar

• Keep hand where they belong
• feed from left hand
• Adjust myself to the dog
• Currently rewarding every click (need to change that to varied reward)
• Waiting for him without saying look
• He’s looking up, but not too across