Trick Training Part I

      I learned a lot about a dog’s mind when I tried trick training.  I don’t know who has learned more – the dog or me!

      It’s been several  months since I’ve appeared in this blog. My computer went kaput. But it’s fixed now.

      During the months  I’ve been away, we haven’t been just sitting around at home doing nothing. I’m still training the dogs – and this time I’m getting better at it. Or wiser at it.

      Trick training has expanded my bonding with my boys at home. In agility, it’s only Spot that I bond with. So training the other 2 dogs some tricks helped me reach out to Packy and Toby.

      I’m not very good at repetitive and consistent efforts because when I get bored, I stop doing it. Trick training is just that – repetitive and consistent! So I thought of a way to get around this – by arranging a “mini training” session after my lunch and dinner.  With biscuit jar ready at the kitchen counter, when I stand up after meals I reach for the jar and call the dogs one by one for their lesson.

      The dogs do one trick three times only. That’s all they do. Even if it’s not perfectly done (especially if it’s a new trick), as long as they get close to the goal desired that’s good enough. They get a treat afterward. It’s to give them the idea what they’re doing is right. After the third practice, it’s over.
      But this session is after my lunch and dinner so they practice their trick 6 times a day. Not bad. Keeps the training fresh. We finish before they tire of it. I find them looking forward for the next session.   

Lessons in Patience

      Spot’s first tricks were to learn to shake hands upon command and to carry a basket.” Of course, the dog didn’t know what I wanted him to do when I’d say, “Shake hands.” So when I’d say “Shake hands,” I’d get his right paw up and shake it. “Good boy!” I’d exclaim, followed by a biscuit in his mouth.  Soon, Spot caught on. On the third day after lunch, when I called him and he sat before me, I said, “Shake hands,” his paw went up for a handshake! What a great feeling. I was getting through to the dog.

      “Hold the basket” took a long time. I almost gave up on it. He’d push out with his tongue anything I'd put in his mouth. Oh boy, that meant there were more commands BEFORE the "Hold" command.
       So I have to get manual about this. I’d command, “Open,” pry his mouth apart and put a rolled newspaper in. “Hold,” would be the next command as I’d clamp his snout shut (in the beginning the dog would struggle to push it out).  When I feel his mouth relax, it’s the “Good boy!” praise.  I ready the biscuit and let him spit the paper out so he can get his reward.

      If the praise comes in at the wrong time I might reinforce the wrong action. I’d console myself that it’s just 3 repeats after meals. But those 3 have to be done right.
      Finally, Spot started to hold the newspaper in. He was beginning to understand. We moved from rolled newspaper to rubber ball to empty plastic bottle then finally a small basket.

      The next step was to work on his holding the basket a few seconds longer each time. Spot knew how to “Stay” so I’d leave the dog in the Sit/Stay position and let some time pass to build his endurance with that foreign object in his mouth.

A camera conscious Spot practices the Long Hold.

      As the dog got adept at holding the basket longer, it was time for the next step: the “heel” command. But alas, the dog would drop the basket before he takes any step forward.  I must have lost my patience a few times because I thought the dog was uncoordinated. But the learning curve was on my side. Should Spot skulk away upset, I’d brace myself to call him back in a cheerful tone, to erase any bad memories.  

      A dog should have fun while training. If he muddles through a lesson it means the training is going too fast.  You have to backtrack. Maybe some steps are being skipped.
      I broke the heeling action into smaller pieces. How 'bout one step at a time?
      Next time, I told the dog to “Heel” while he was holding the basket, I helped him take one step forward only. Then I quickly got the basket. Praise and reward at once. Three repetitions only. Then I ended the session.     

      As the dog became more comfortable with his one step forward, next session it was two steps.  Three times only. Then we ended the training.

      After a few sessions the dog understood that I wanted him to follow me around. He followed me round the dining table but when we got to the counter where the biscuit jar was, he dropped the basket at my feet. I added the "Give" command to cap the action: I'd give the command and quickly get the basket before he drops it. Then a reward.

      One morning, I took the basket  to the park during our agility training to practice the dog in a new environment. After Spot took the basket from me he turned and walked through the ribbed tunnel as I followed him on the outside. He emerged with the basket still in his mouth. He accompanied me back to the table where the treats were, sat in front of me and upon my command, gave me the basket. This simple trick is composed of 6 commands (“Open,” “Hold,” “Stay,” “Heel,” “Sit,” and “Give”), each command worked on individually, then finally merged together to form one smooth action.