[LuckyPup]

Hello all! Your forums have been rather helpful and encouraging! I just got Lucky four weeks ago! He is 9 months old! He is starting dog school soon and so far his adjustment to the new house is going pretty good.

My question if someone could help: Is it better to work on one trick or behavior at a time until they sucessfully understand it? He knows sit, lay and he knows shake (semi, really he shakes everytime your hand goes down when he is sitting), he also knows high five. So should I only work on him shaking when we say it or is it ok to work on drop the ball when he is fetching etc etc?

Thanks for your help! I enjoy reading all of your posts and seeing your beautiful dogs!

 

[The_Artful_Dodger]

I'm not an expert, but I would say you can work on various commands. It will also help keep him interested if he is not always practicing the same trick.

 

[Ambesi]

I'm not an expert, but I would say you can work on various commands. It will also help keep him interested if he is not always practicing the same trick.

I agree! Dogs get bored easily and keeping the training mixed up can keep them interested longer.

 

[LibertyME]

YES! By all means teach lots of different behaviors...

Some behaviors are complex and require the dog to learn different pieces...if you waited for one piece to be perfect before moving on to the next piece...it would take forever to chain the final product all together...

Example turning on a light switch...
Dog had to learn to flip the switch...but he also has to learn how to either put his feet on the wall or put his feet on a chair to reach the switch
Then how to do it when asked and from a distance..

Getting a drink from the fridge...
Has to learn to tug on the door (teach a tug)
Pick up the drink (teach where in the fridge the drink is stored -not to grab the cheese instead!)
Hold it without dropping it (teach a hold)
Bring it to you (teach a deliver to hand or lap or tray)
Close the door (teach a nudge close)
Then how to do it only when asked and from a distance
The 'pieces' are taught separately...then chained together...

My Lexi came to us at nine months and is the best drink retriever in the house! She is weak on closing the darn door!

 

[LuckyPup]

That is great! Thanks! I was worried we would be confusing him with too many different tricks! But that makes COMPLETE sense!

 

[MurphyTeller]

YES! By all means teach lots of different behaviors...
<snip>

Getting a drink from the fridge...
Has to learn to tug on the door (teach a tug)
Pick up the drink (teach where in the fridge the drink is stored -not to grab the cheese instead!)
Hold it without dropping it (teach a hold)
Bring it to you (teach a deliver to hand or lap or tray)
Close the door (teach a nudge close)
Then how to do it only when asked and from a distance
The 'pieces' are taught separately...then chained together...
<snip>

I highly suggest NOT teaching the open a fridge skill - sure they should ultimately only do it on command - but...reality is a little different sometimes...

Erica

 

[LibertyME]

I highly suggest NOT teaching the open a fridge skill - sure they should ultimately only do it on command - but...reality is a little different sometimes...Erica

Agreed...if you have a door with a weak seal and a dog hell-bent on getting a snack...you could have trouble :doh:

All three of mine know how...but <knock wood> they will only when the tuggie is on the door. We have a side-by-side with a tight seal - The girls cant get enough leverage without the tuggie and... well... Trace is tall enough/strong enough, but just hasn't got a clue!

However even with the tuggie in place...Ive not had a problem with them 'shopping'... I do acknowledge that it could come back to bite me

Now the ice maker was a different story!
Liberty wasn't 'taught' how to get ice...she figured it out on her own...I had more trouble teaching the kids to lock the darn ice maker so she couldn't self-reward...every now and again we will catch her contemplating a quick nudge just to see if it is locked! <silly girl!>