Tips for building a better training relationship

[Wrath]

What are some of the ways we can build a stronger, more positive, attentive and enthusastic training relationship with our dogs?

The stock answers are to make the training experience more positive and fun for both you and your dog, to set them up for success and work at their pace, and to not use corrective measures for behaviors the dog hasn't solidly learned yet.

Would anyone like to relate their specific methods for doing these sort of things or other ways that they've helped their dog work harder during training sessions?

[DNeff]

Sorry in advance for the length, but I'm kind of passionate about this subject!

My training is about enthusiasm and fun. I try to approach every exercise as a game I want to play with my dog. I make sure my attitude and enthusiasm matches what I would like to see from my dog.

One of the great benefits of clicker training is your dog has the impression they are in control of getting you to distribute treats. Because of this my dog shows up to a training session excited to work. He wants to do something that will earn him treats. It's my job to make that task, fun, fast paced and exciting.

Start each session with a goal. Have a plan on how to train each exercise so it more closely resembles a game. You always want to set your dog up to be the winner of the game.

I do several quick repetitions of an exercise and then move on. I try not to dwell on or drill anything. Three reps is usually the most I will do. I do a lot of racing my dog, baited targets, and tossing food or toys for speed. I try to do stationary exercises followed by moving (heeling, retrieving) and alternate the two, rather than let the dog get too bored.

We have several games we play between "training". I mix in play every 5-10 minutes, I chase him, tug with his leash, goose the nubbie, etc... I have several movements and noises on cue that will create excitement in him and get him revved up. I use those also for releases or to get him ready for heeling. The fun is always happening any time, any place!

I like to do lots of jackpots, tons of talking up my dog, and a minimum of 30 seconds of praise, especially on difficult exercises he has done correctly.

I keep my reward ratio high. Especially on difficult or more intense behaviors. I reward attention all the time!!! If I have a dog on the end of a leash, he has my full attention. Even if I am talking with someone else, if he isn't in a settle, I stay tuned in to him and I expect the same in return.

I make it a point to reward effort and enthusiasm and not just a perfectly completed exercise. I always give my dog the benefit of the doubt.

For mistakes I use a NRM (oops), end the exercise and set up again. I keep my mood light, especially for difficult or stressful exercises. If needed I make some part of the exercise easier or help him out. I don't let him fail more than twice before changing something.

I make sure to read my dog all the time. I look for signs of stress, confusion or just general overload. Learning to read your dog and adjust your training accordingly is critical for a successful training session and a successful competition dog.

Keep sessions short (30 minutes for a mature dog, doing moderate stress exercises), 10 minutes or less for high stress or super difficult exercises. I end on a high note, when my dog is still asking for more.

And most importantly I enjoy my dog and the fact that he is willingly participating in this great sport with me.

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Rottlva]

Dawn, Excellent!!!!!!! When you are in the ring, and you need to maintain composure, are there more subtle things you do to keep Riven jazzed? My problem is I'm fun, loud and silly,when training but nerves get the best of me, and under stress, I tend to get quiet (at shows)....

What a revitalizing look at training... I also play " goose the nubbie", but I call it "pump the stump"....

If you don't mind, I'd love to print out this page and keep it in my training bag. You've given me some excellent advice!!!!!

[DNeff]

I am also more reserved in the ring, not too mention really nervous!!! :o

I make a special point to try to help Riven maintain his up attitude and not get sucked down by my stress. I have several hand signals I use during play. I pair the hand signal with the start of a game.

I make my hand in to the shape of a claw and pretend to go for him, I then say "I'm gonna get you!" That usually develops in to a great game of chase. In the ring, I just make my hand in to the claw and don't use my verbal. This always gets him going!

I also do a signal with two hand together which Riven jumps to. That is also a cue that a game is coming. In the ring, I use that signal to release him out a finished position.

I also use a verbal of "reaaadddddyy, reeaaaaddddyyy?!!??!" before I release to a toy, a thrown treat or his dinner bowl. All high caliber rewards. I then use this verbal (said quietly to him) as we set up in the ring to shift his attitude.

In training and matches practice your "revving" signal without the game to judge it's effectiveness. If your dog is too excited to work or is ready to take off you may want to find something a little more subtle.

Feel free to print it out. That's why I shared it, so that others could use the info! Thanks for the good feedback!

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Wrath]

Great response Dawn, much appreciated.

I find it very difficult to instigate play with Jaxom. We used to do the "I'm gonna get you" thing, followed by a brisk game of tag, but here lately he just doesn't seem interested in playing. The rope was once a coveted item but he seems to have lost most of his interest in it as an active toy, he'd rather recline at the base of our coach and calmly tear strings off of the ends. Outside, he'd rather plod around in circles with his nose glued to the ground than do anything else. *sigh*

I do give lots of praise and treat rewards, but he seems to only half-heartedly accept them and it's difficult to make training exercises into a game when he doesn't really seem to relish playing fun games (tug, chase, etc) anymore. Perhaps it's the heat outside that's sapping his energy, or maybe it's me that needs to make an attitude adjustment. I honestly can see how I could be more positive and enthusiastic though...I'm already humiliating myself enough ;P

[DNeff]

First off I would only use certain toys for training. Pick three of his favorite toys and put them away. These extra cool toys only come out to train and no other time.

What kind of treats do you use and do you cut back on his dinner the night you train?

In the beginning with young dogs especially I use extra smelly, extra yummy treats. Salmon treats, bacon, rollover, cheese tortellini, liver muffins, cat food, baby food (liver), etc...

I always make Riven work for his rewards. I not a big believer in just handing over food. I make him run after it, jump for it, push in to me, drive forward for it, etc... rarely is it just delivered in to his waiting mouth. Try doing this with Jaxom.

Here's a great link to training a motivating toy by Susan Garrett. It works really well if you follow through and do the steps!!!
http://www.clickerdogs.com/article.asp?aid=28

Also Nancy Gyes has a tug she invented that holds food, it's another awesome training tool. Her article is very similar to Susan's but deals specifically with the tug n treat.
http://www.powerpawsagility.com/articles/tugntreat.html

Clean Run's store has some awesome toys and the tug n treat that Nancy talks about. Here's their link:
http://www.cleanrun.com/category.cfm?Category=11

If it's hot outside train some indoors or try to train later at night or earlier in the morning.

What type of exercises are you working on? Perhaps I could lend some ideas.

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[rottnkidd]

Excellent posts Dawn! I agree about reserving specific toys for a
specific acitivity. I also use different leashes or collars, and definitely different food, depending on the activity. In Obed training I'll use hot dogs, baked liver, cheese, or jerky. Any my girl has a special toy that is brought out only during Obed training. She doesn't play with this toy at any other time.
For tracking I used a special squeak toy that I could drag along the ground to encourage her to keep her nose down. For tracking food I've used meatballs, sausage, pot roast, meatloaf.
In Herding verbal praise is all I've used, and maybe a special treat on the way home, after she's cooled and calmed down.
She's 'learned' just by sight, that a certain collar means a certain task, and if she sees me gathering up the harness and the 40' lead, she's heading for the car because she knows we're going to the meadows! I use food in training, but I do keep her guessing. Sometimes I won't use any food during a training exercise, just lots of praise and mixing up the training with play, but when I break her out then she gets a jackpot!
I agree with Dawn about having a plan and knowing exactly what you'll be working on 'before' you start; and be sure to have everything you'll need so the training time isn't interrupted.
Best wishes -
kathy

[jessaroo]

Dawn, you are my idol! :D
A good book I referred to when I was training my obedience dog was PLAY TRAINING YOUR DOG by Patricia Gail Burnham. That helped me to get away from the boring & tedious repetitions and rote work that we were experiencing in class. Also I think you have to observe your dog and determine what motivates them the most. Could BE food, maybe not. I didn't get the results I wanted with food. My dog focused more on the food than on me and would run the gauntlet of exercises hoping to hit on the right one to get the treat. But she was OBSESSED with her tennis ball. so much so that she took it with her EVERYWHERE, even out to potty. And if she happened to leave it outside she'd stand by the door until I let her out to get it! But I digress. Seeing that, I started using her ball as the sole motivator. And it didn't seem to lessen the effect that she was allowed to keep it with her when we weren't training. I'd give her the ball after successfully completing an exercise and when finished a session we'd have a fun game of fetch. Probably unorthodox and undisciplined by some standards, but it worked well for me.

[Mick Trainer]

I dont want too get too involved in this thread at present due too time contraints but thought I'd add something for those having problems in the comp ring.

Once the dog has learnt all broken down pieces of the routine start simply lengthening the time that the dog must perform before it gets it's reward (especially if toy based and you are working the dog in drive). For instance we should be rewarding fristly as soon as the dog performs the desired behavior and we do this for a time until the dog performs the action as soon as the trigger is given. But once we have this we dont reward the first time or if the behavior is not 100% correct. For the comp ring simply continue this so that the dog will perform the whole routine without needing to be re-enforced to keep the dog up. Once the dog is in drive and working the longer you go without giving the reward the harder it should work through frustration. Look at all the top performing dog's at a trial. The handlers are not working them outside the ring, they stand there dead still. This lets the dog load and come into the ring going "yeah lets go and if conditioned correctly this will continue for the whole trial. If you are having troubles keeping the dog up then in the training stages we are not re-enforcing randomly enough and too frequently.

Mick.