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Post by Aussienot on Feb 13, 2005 1:05:43 GMT -5
Everyone like me who is old enough to remember, start whistling the theme to Lassie. (I tried to find an MP3 of it, no luck). I used shaping and much cheese to create the "Lassie" trick. I first taught targeting my hand with his paw - 'yes' ing and rewarding even the slightest leg lift. (Because of his high prey drive, clickers are a no go zone.) Then I faded the hand target, gradually shaping the hold the paw in mid air . In the learning stage, he would slap me with his paw several times hoping for a reward, leaving bruises all over my legs - not rewarding the unwanted behavior left me unable to wear short skirts. However the unwanted behavior gradually diminshed. Now on the command 'Lassie' and a flat hand signal just in front of this nose, I can get him to hold up one foot while I whistle the entire tune. Getting far enough away to get a photo was a whole 'nuther training experience. Now he will Lassie even outside - Lassie in the Grassy. (Well, we thought it was funny. Don't let the serious look fool you, this dog has a wicked sense of humor)
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Post by FourPawsTwoFeet on Feb 13, 2005 2:07:48 GMT -5
;D That's an awesome trick! Finn pulls off the Lassie look very well too, he's got the broad chest, the alert ears, and those deep soulful eyes - very impressive. He looks like one very proud, happy dog. Do you mind if I try this one too? Coop is big on using his paws (and eating cheese) so he may enjoy it.
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Post by Aussienot on Feb 13, 2005 2:26:18 GMT -5
Please do try it with Cooper! I'd love to see other dogs doing it, just to take the Mickey out of the original.
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Post by Nicole on Feb 13, 2005 12:33:37 GMT -5
That is great. I love that picture of Finn!! I am going to have to try to teach that....maybe incorporate it into our dance routine somehow!! ;D
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BeTrue
Trained
Banned
Posts: 217
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Post by BeTrue on Feb 13, 2005 14:25:51 GMT -5
Finn does it so well... I tought it to my lab by accident. I was trying to teach him to wave on command, but not matter how hard I tried, he just wouldn't flex his paw out far enough. So, I turned it into what I called "paw" which looked very similair to Finn's Lassie. I cheated, and still haven't tought him to wave. ;D
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Post by Brooke on Feb 14, 2005 18:17:14 GMT -5
I'm sorry this is just hilarious though.. I'm really laughing! Sailor maybe.... but it's just funny to see Finn doing this. I don't mean that in the he's dumb way... I mean it in he's such a goofball way. You are so awesome Linda!! I LOVE the picture!! and yes... I'm still laughing...
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 25, 2005 21:03:43 GMT -5
It seems I've created a monster. Now I can't stop Finn from doing the Lassie EVERY time he sits.
I've tried ignoring it, I've tried saying NO, and moving him out of the sit and resitting him, I've tried turning my back and ignoring him and rewarding the second he gives up and his foot hits the ground, but he's still doing it. I've tried treating as soon as he sits and doing many quick sits in a row, I've tried waiting for the unrewarded offered behavior to dimish . . . and he's still doing it.
Last week at training he did the Lassie for 1 minute in the Sit stay. It broke up the class in laughter, and to his credit he did stay, but I am really freaking out. It was done as a joke, and I'm feeling the boomarang effect of karma. I can't tell if the two positions are irrevokably linked in his mind, or if he's just having me on.
Any ideas on getting him to do this only on command? I don't want to extinguish the behavior, but I don't want him offering it.
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