The Training of Monster Man

misstrouble

how many commands should I introduce a day? Just one? I don't want him to get bored doing the same commands a million times, but I don't want to overwhelm him either.....

Jump around, talk in a sing-song voice, promote a happy energy about yourself that the dog will pick up on.

Swith up treats. Some days use food other days use toys and still other days use voice praise. Dont practice for to long, give him breaks to rest.

Most importantly if you get frustrated LEAVE. Dont try to train when you are frustrated because your dog will pick up on it and become upset.

GOOD LUCK!

I think as far as how many commands to introduce depends upon what works best for Sam.  Ari gets really bored fairly quickly doing too much repetition of the same thing.  Then again this is also the dog that got sit, touch, and shake in under an hour.  Down took weeks, however, and we are working on increasing the stays and getting reliable recalls.  For Ari what works best is starting off with really yummy treats, and once the command is solid subsituting praise for food, and recently I introduce using a tug toy as a reward which is working out better than I ever hoped.  Keep it fun, keep it light and always end on a good note!  When Ari and I first started out I think I only did two commands at a time - but it least it gave us some variety.  At first training session were maaaybe 5 minutes long.  These days we can do almost a solid hour at a time, depending if she's had enough physical exertion prior. 

If you feel frustrated, take a step back and try another day - just try to end the training session on a positive note - it helps keep the idea of training in the dogs mind as something fun and rewarding.  

I had to step away today, I was trying to transfer the 'Touch' command from my hand to a post-it note, which was on my hand....my smart boy nosed the post-it out of the way and touched my hand. So, I stepped away for a few mins to let him play more before I took him out to learn 'Left'.

He does pick up fairly quickly....'Down' took him a few weeks too, yet 'Sit' 'Stay' 'Touch' and 'Drop It' were all learned in minutes.

Any tips on how to transfer 'Touch' from my hand to something else?

misstrouble

Any tips on how to transfer 'Touch' from my hand to something else?

Sounds like you're teaching a form of target training.  This might help:  http://www.wagntrain.com/Target.htm 

I started using a Click Stick, which has a built in clicker and a collapsible rod with a green ball on the end.  If you don't reward for touching your hand but do click for getting closer to the post it note and eventually only click/treat for actually touching the post it note, they tend to figure it out.  It's one of those learning exercises where they  really have to use their noggin that helps tire them out on rainy days.  

Woobie is my fast learner and could easily pick up 2 or 3 commands in a day and retain them, so I think it depends on your dog and how quickly they pick things up and how they learn.  If I show him what I want and tie it to a word, he gets it quick.  But if I do the learning type activities with him like 101 things to do with a box, he shuts down.  OTOH, Indie doesn't do well with me showing him as much as he does with the figuring it out himself games like the box, he LOVES the box game and you can see him working that brain BIG TIME.  Just depends on the dog I think. 

Have fun, teaching them and watching them learn new things is such fun and they really LOVE it.  All I have to say now is "Want to work?" and mine get all excited! 

BCMixs

 

Sounds like you're teaching a form of target training.

Opps, I wrote the wrong word! LOL! His command is actually 'Target'

Thanks for the links, I'm going to check them out later....it's to late to read all the info on those pages!

Today we worked for about an hour. Sit, stay, down, come. Thats about all we did, I added in Target and Left a few times to switch it up.

I'm very proud of my Monster thou! He did 'Come' so well! I had him on his 4ft leash, and in the entrence of the neighborhood(not ever our yard!!) -- I told him 'Sam Down' *click, treat* 'Sam, Stay'.....then walked off about 30ft! He stayed! He's NEVER done that before, he used to stay until I turned my back, and then ZOOOOOOOOM! I'm so proud! And and and, on top of that he actually came when I called him!! He ran to me at that! I;m so proud of him!!

 Good boy Sam! I think he's just happy to be working and spending time with his person.

It can take a dog weeks to learn a new command. I would not start training a new command till your dog has mastered the last one. The trick is to keep it interesting by you being interested in it. If you become bored with the training your dog will sens it too and become bored.

I would not do this- I would work on many different behaviors at once. It shouldn't take weeks per command if you're using a clicker; we usually have the dog understanding all of the basic obedience commands within two weeks, and then you just need to proof. Do many very short training sessions per day and really mix it up. Sit, down, come, spin, touch, you're done.

He picks up quickly, all I have to do is change up the routine.

Any one know of a great backpack? I'd like to get a nice one for him.

Wooo! He's learned how to f-o-c-u-s! wee! Finally! I can get his attention and keep it! Thank you Pedigree Good Bites(Multi-Vitamin)! He looooooooooooves 'em! So, that's what I'm usiing from now on, they're a little chunky, but he like them. Next Petsmart trip, I'm going to get the Skin & Coat and the Hips & Joints too. I know they probably won't help but it's something different.

I'm wanting to try agility with him, he's got the speed and focus, but not the training yet. He does know quite a few tricks now thou!

Sit
Pretty(as in sit pretty)
Dance
Hup
Off
Down
Heel
Target
Hi-5 (or Gi'me 5)
Shake

I'm working on roll-over. Anyone know any more commands that could be nice to add?

Edit - and a good backpack for hiking....

How about .............................................................................................................

over [a low bar]

under [a table or blanket stretched between two obstacles] 

creep [down, then creep along the ground]

Tena

He does crawl sometimes - I tryed to put a cue to it, but he looks at me like he's lost, so I just have to take it slow. Once he's got something, he's got it for life. I worked for 5 minutes on Shake on night, and then I didn't work it again for a week - he knew it thou!

Those all great, I think I'll set up the make-shift jumps tonight - nice and low!

Leave it is a VERY useful command to teach! Sounds like Sam is doing great and is a fast learner.  I have no experience with backpacks, so no recommendations. 

I break up training into short segments.  I'll work on sit for a few minutes, then down and then I usually work on a command that involves movement for the dog.  Then back to a sit or down.  I think it keeps the dogs interested.  The minute I notice a dog seeming to get bored or restless (this is in early training stages) I change gears and throw a ball or play tug for a minute and then go back to training.  I have three dogs so I switch out dogs often, some outside and some inside. If I start to get frustrated or inpatient I throw the ball or play tug.  Dogs are so tuned in to our feelings that they know when we are not really into "it" and this affects their learning. My dogs love to train and we do a little every day because they consider it great fun.  Even a few minutes is very valuable. 

misstrouble

I tryed to put a cue to it, but he looks at me like he's lost,

Say down then drag the treat along the ground in front of his paws saying creep.Reward him for just a few scootches at first.

Tena