The Power of YES

Just a quicky 'here I am' update -

As mentioned in the previous post, I've been weaning the doglet off of food training in preparation for shows - when we can't use ANY food. :]

So far so good -

I've been making sure I train him when he want to 'play'. This is usually late, just before bedtime. Usually, this is after I've changed into my favorite nightshirt and am prepping my computer. He comes running up with toys and bounces around with bright eyes <- So I take advantage of the moment and put him through a few quick exercises.

Last night, it was off lead heeling with attention and quick sits. Each time he did something perfect, I said "YES" in a loud happy tone. This "YES" is the exact same method that clicker trainers use - they click their button thingy every time the dog does something perfect.

Like with the clicker, when you start doing the "YES" thing - it always precedes a treat or you have a PARTY BREAK (stopping the training, clapping your hands, patting him, and encouraging dog to bounce around like a goofball).

Like with the clicker, when the dog 'gets' a training exercise, you start weaning him off the food or 'party break'. This could be giving him a treat/party every other perfect sit and so forth, until you are only giving the treat/partying at the end of an exercise. In my dog's case, the party includes a few toss/retrieves of his favorite toy.

Ideally, you want your dog to enjoy training like mine does. The way you get that is by making that training time short, positive, and rewarding to him. And again, aim for those times of the day when the dog is 'on' and wants attention.

Special crow - dog's fronts are getting solid. No more leans left or right. Yay.

Random Brag

Thanks to Christmas and other stuff the last two months, I have not been training my dog. In fact, I did not train him since the week before Christmas which was our last class at the obedience club. We are off until spring (I chose to do so to save money + I didn't want to be driving around at night in winter). Being off for four months means that I did not feel inspired to train every day, so I let that slide.

Until last week, when I realized I have about a month left before my dude and I go back into dog classes.

To my enormous relief and amusement, the dog not only did not forget anything, but he literally shines as he zooms along through all of the exercises.

There is one thing we were working on prior to the break - while turning or doing figure 8's, it is important to get the dog so he is using his whole body and turning with you.

Admittedly, this whole deal... ugh. I HATED it, because I always walk too fast and that encourages him to walk fast. In order to train the total-turn thing, it is important for both dog and trainer to be going tick...tock...tick slow.

I don't recall suddenly learning how to walk slower without concentrating on it, but the doglet has suddenly begun to turn the way he should. Perfectly. It's like he's been thinking about it for the past two months. :)

So his trial routine is solid, except for the dratted stays. But even there I have high hopes of smoothing those over by summer.

The thing I REALLY want to brag about -

Last winter, we had this assignment at dog class to teach our dogs a new trick. It didn't matter WHAT we taught the dogs or how 'amazing' it was. The teacher just wanted to see us figuring out the teaching method on our own.

For our trick, I chose 'limp'. It was a lot harder than I expected, and took three weeks to teach the trick to the point where I was not holding his paw anymore.

I never did build distance from him, but that isn't important.

What is important is I threw the command at him the other day after not practicing it in at least six months or so and dude! He did a perfect limp across the room at my side. He actually brings his left leg as high as his head as he three-legs it. It is so adorable.

*loves having a smart dog*