Post by Aussienot on Jul 1, 2008 1:23:41 GMT -5
I have begun teaching Tarot to retrieve a dumbell - the formal obedience retrieve. I decided to use shaping, since she will freely offer behaviors and learns best that way.
First session was a click/treat for any interaction with the dumbell. By the end of session one (about 10 minutes) , she was happily taking it in her mouth.
Session two raised the criteria to taking the dumbell, holding it and dropping it into my hand.
Session three was send a short distance to get the dumbell, take it in her mouth, and return to me to drop it in my hand.
So in about 30 minutes over three days, she was taking the dumbell and delivering it to my hand. I was thinking "Sweet".
Session four was sending out for the retrieve, and asking for a sit before dropping the dumbell in my hand. This is where the problem started. She would sit. Then almost immediately she would "high five" her right paw, and in doing this, she knocks the dumbell out of her mouth.
She is happy enough to pick it up again, but as soon as she sits, up comes the paw and out goes the dumbell. She will pick it up as often as I ask, but each time she sits, she knocks it out again.
I decided to lower the criteria to a sit in front, take and hold the dumbell. As soon as she takes the dumbell, up comes the right paw and the dumbell drops.
She will drop and stand with the dumbell in her mouth. She will carry the dumbell while heeling and she has no problem holding it. But for some reason the sit with both front feet on the ground while holding the dumbell has her flummuxed.
I don't think she is intentionally knocking it out of her mouth. On the other hand, she doesn't do the right paw high five in a normal sit.
And it's not something I've taught her, although she does know hand targeting on cue.
I've shown it do a few other traininers, and other than being highly amused, no one contributed any useful ideas.
I've reduced the critia further. Right now I am simply asking for the sit, offering the dumbell, and trying to click/treat in that nano second after she's taken the dumbell but before the right paw comes off the ground. I'm able to do it about 20% of the time. But I'm not sure she's learning not to lift the right paw.
Here's one more clue: She will sit and tug on a toy, and there is no high fiving. Not sure I want her to think of the dumbell as a tug toy, but maybe I can work this in somehow.
Any ideas???
First session was a click/treat for any interaction with the dumbell. By the end of session one (about 10 minutes) , she was happily taking it in her mouth.
Session two raised the criteria to taking the dumbell, holding it and dropping it into my hand.
Session three was send a short distance to get the dumbell, take it in her mouth, and return to me to drop it in my hand.
So in about 30 minutes over three days, she was taking the dumbell and delivering it to my hand. I was thinking "Sweet".
Session four was sending out for the retrieve, and asking for a sit before dropping the dumbell in my hand. This is where the problem started. She would sit. Then almost immediately she would "high five" her right paw, and in doing this, she knocks the dumbell out of her mouth.
She is happy enough to pick it up again, but as soon as she sits, up comes the paw and out goes the dumbell. She will pick it up as often as I ask, but each time she sits, she knocks it out again.
I decided to lower the criteria to a sit in front, take and hold the dumbell. As soon as she takes the dumbell, up comes the right paw and the dumbell drops.
She will drop and stand with the dumbell in her mouth. She will carry the dumbell while heeling and she has no problem holding it. But for some reason the sit with both front feet on the ground while holding the dumbell has her flummuxed.
I don't think she is intentionally knocking it out of her mouth. On the other hand, she doesn't do the right paw high five in a normal sit.
And it's not something I've taught her, although she does know hand targeting on cue.
I've shown it do a few other traininers, and other than being highly amused, no one contributed any useful ideas.
I've reduced the critia further. Right now I am simply asking for the sit, offering the dumbell, and trying to click/treat in that nano second after she's taken the dumbell but before the right paw comes off the ground. I'm able to do it about 20% of the time. But I'm not sure she's learning not to lift the right paw.
Here's one more clue: She will sit and tug on a toy, and there is no high fiving. Not sure I want her to think of the dumbell as a tug toy, but maybe I can work this in somehow.
Any ideas???
