Dog training methods - 2. Luring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19SZTwQkpEw

The next step for most trainers to a more hands off type of training is to lure the dog into the behaviour using some food or a toy.

Examples of this

Sit

Hold a treat in front of the dogs nose then slowly raise it above his head. As the dogs head goes up its bum should go down

Down

Take the treat from the dogs nose slowly down between the dogs paws then sweeping forwards along the floor

Recall

Hold treat or ball out for the dog to see.

This methods is fantastic to motivate the dog, it knows what it is going to get if it does the right thing.

Some people dont like the idea of bribing their dog to work, but sometimes we need a little boost to know what the point is

When you are at a job interview do you ask what the pay is going to be or do you just do the job in the hope the pay will be worth it??

The problems with this methods can be

The dog dosent work if he dosent see the food - this is usually a trainer error, if you ONLY give the dog a treat when you lure him and then dont ever give a treat when you dont lure him then they learn pretty quick there is no point unless you have a treat

The video above explains how to prevent that happening, getting the behaviour then quickly fading out having the lure in your hand, then fading out the hand signal.

If it is already a problem then the best thing to do is for a short while always have treats on you, then if your dog does something amazing for you you can immediately whip out a fantastic reward (no point running to the kitchen - he needs to have the reward right away) then he learns that there is always a chance of a treat and so he tries harder to get that magical treat.

People also complain that the dog learns to look to you too much with this method. This does not have to be the case. With Ben teaching the weaves I lured him, but I noticed at the end of the weave he was always looking to me for his treat

Easily sorted. As he passed the last pole I chuck the treat, then after a short while I hold back with the treat, he naturally drives ahead out of the weave looking for his treat, and I chuck it. He learns to run ahead coming out of the weave

Simples :D

This is a foundation method many trainers use, often along with other methods. It is pretty fast, it makes sense to both the human and the dog, and it makes for a happy focused dog who enjoys training times.

Bens moved up to the big boys class

I also thought about titling this post 'Be careful what you wish for' because after me worrying about the wee boys speed (or lack of it) he has picked up a bit of speed and is working better away from me
Problem is with speed comes mistakes

Waiting on class to start I did the weaves twice, perfect and fast
then in class we did the tyre jump to weaves and he was going to fast and missed the 1st weave
Carol told me to recal him facing him so he didint speed onto the weave and that worked
He did some great turns at quite a distance from me and we managed some pretty cool front crosses but when I tried to cross behind when he was on the A-frame he turned and headed back! have to work on that. I think a big part of it was I didnt expect him to get it right so I hesitated - then he didnt get it right

Really glad tho that both Ben and Darwin really held their own and didnt look too inexperienced in the big boys class
Everyone has different problems

Last night as a beginner

Well today was lots of weaving practise

Ben was totaly excited and bouncing and barking everywhere.

We only have 5 weaves in the house so I am chuffed he can do the 12, not 100% yet, 1, 2, miss a few, but he knows where to go in and that he has to wiggle

Darwin has got quite a turn of speed on the weaves - well done him

and of course looby is like a rocket, and ruddy was doing really well too.. Its good that all that dogs are really getting it

Then some jumping and turns - no prob - Ben was a star and didnt put a paw wrong

Bens agility

We next week is the last week we will be in beginner class - we are moving up

So is Bens pall Darwin - I am really glad about that

Today he did great

I stopped trying to copy the collie handlers and ran like I was running my dog and it worked perfect

almost no mistakes

row of jumps and a tight turn to the weaves - no way things I but the little star runs all the jumps (well plods but I am sure speed will come) then sticks with me for the turn and off out to the weaves

the only thing carol could say was that after about 8 weaves he did look up but then kept going - looking for some reasurance, so we put him in again and when he looked up (at the exact same place) I said 'weave' again in a happy voice and he carried on.

A frame much better today. Last time he was jumping off the contacts (we do a down at the end of the contaccts) then I realised it was because I was stooping down and pointing down and he was jumping over my arm. This time I just stood upright past the A-frame and said down and he ran to the floor and lay down - what a clever boy and a rubbish handler