Webster: STAND: Level 2: Lure & Capture

A Word about Training Location

Why are we holding our mentoring sessions in Balboa Park?

Weekly there are new and different distractions.

Our dogs are learning to handle new and different distractions.

Trainers are learning to handle new and different distractions.

Trainers are learning to remain focused on their dog despite the unexpected.

Unexpected new and different distractions.

Unexpected interaction and interruption by the public.

When we work together in Balboa Park we are handling a microcosm of public access in the life of a service dog team.

As we change locations within Balboa Park, we control our environments.

Soon we will hold our mentoring sessions near and beside the Balboa Park Dog Park.

Soon we will hold our mentoring sessions within the park itself with children, passing dogs, increasing traffic, birds and ducks and music and fortune tellers.

We use Balboa Park to determine threshold.

We use Balboa Park to be aware of our surrounding.

To use stairs and fountains. Buses and statues. Ice cream vendors and groups of school children. Horses and zoo smells. Homeless people and disabled. Surfaces of every description. Restaurants and tourists and weddings and parades. It's all there. When we are ready. As we are ready.

We have begun in remote parking lots and are moving to busier ones. Step by little step.

On the road to service dog work.

A Word about RETRIEVE

At last Thursday's Mentoring session, Sandi raised the question, "Why don't we let the dog hold the object?"

We discussed the reasons briefly, and then this morning I responded with the following e-mail:

Hi Sandi,

I just finished a short training session w/Lily and your Retrieve question kept nagging at the back of my mind: "Why not let her hold it?"

I'm sure that you have already explored RETRIEVE: L2 thoroughly and are having Puzzle touching all sorts of things.
But let me suggest that you read ahead through RETRIEVE: L3, noting especially Before Moving On, where Sue specifically
tells us to NOT let the dog hold the item alone YET!!!! Not yet!!!! At the very END of Level 3!!!!

Now I'm a Letter of the Law kind of gal, and if Sue goes out of her way to make a point of saying DON'T.....even if I can't figure out why......I don't.
Whatever.

Not until Level 4 RETRIEVE do we begin to give the dog responsibility for holding the item in her mouth.

So, relax and enjoy Puzzle touching objects. And, as Sue says, "Trust the force".

Lynn

Level 2 is the time to make all things "touchable". A huge lesson in and of itself.

Once again, "Trust the Force". Trust the progression of the Levels and have confidence that by going Step by little Step you are in truth building a strong foundation for another lovely, dependable behavior.

Another Milestone for Rooster!

LEASH: Level 2

Trainer stands in one spot with the dog on a loose leash.

The dog keeps the lead loose for 60 seconds with one distraction.

Trainer may NOT talk to the dog.

This Level is about testing Loose Leash as a default behavior.

The camera and tripod were stationary. Cathy and Rooster step barely out of camera range, yet by Cathy's body language and Rooster's wagging tail, it is apparent that both are quietly standing while we are all having a conversation.

One time does not a behavior make. BUT it happened.....Rooster is well on his way to understanding that loose leashes are the way the world works.

Rooster stands quietly for over a minute

A Milestone for Rooster!

Rooster successfully plays The Come Game in the park!

For the first time, Rooster is able to ignore the distractions

and play The Come Game.

Next we will use the game to teach Rooster to come to the trainer

looking on the ground for the treat and eliminate the jumping.

As Cathy adds the default Sit to Rooster's Come,

this, too, will help to eliminate his jumping.

Good job, Rooster!

Rooster: SIT STAY: Level 2

BUILDING DURATION with Chutes and Ladders

Cathy has defined a clear criteria.

And she knows that the click ends the behavior.

Cathy and Rooster begin again three times.

In the background beyond the camera range, Sandi is teaching Lily the same duration behavior, using Chutes and Ladders. Learning that the click ends the behavior. That it is Lily's choice whether to remain seated or to get up after the click and that, if Lily hasn't broken during the count up the ladder, Sandi's count resumes where the last count left off.

Rooster: ZEN: Levels 1 and 2

ZEN: Level 1: Before Moving On

Chair Zen

(no coffee tables in the parking lot!)

Building Duration with Chutes and Ladders

ZEN: Level 2: beginning Floor Zen

Introducing Floor Zen

The Got Leash? Game

The Got Leash? Game can be used with L1 behaviors On the Road. It can be used to determine threshold. But first, work the very light collar pressure while seated: first one side, then the other. When the dogs shows an understanding of giving in to the pressure to each side, then apply pressure from the front. When she "understands", then apply light light pressure backwards.

As that becomes almost natural for the dog, the next step is done while trainer is standing, holding the leash about 2' from the clasp. Re-teach. (That means start over from scratch and teach side, other side, forward and then back all over again).

THEN you can begin to take this with you On the Road. But, please, not until you are sure that your dog understands.

3/18/10: SESSION PLAN

Cathy and Rooster

Sandi and Lily

Jan, guest trainer

CHUTES and LADDERS

for Duration

DownStay

SitStay

Deliver the treat IN POSITION

The Click ends the behavior; it's the dogs choice

Zen

Know your criteria

L2 SIT

L2 DOWN

How to change the cue

Formula: New Cue + Old Cue + Behavior + C/T

Building trust and weaning off treats

With a dependable behavior (Sit or Down)

LEASH

Step 1: Collar Pressure

seated: left side, then right side, then forward, then back (careful to keep pressure light

and not activate the dogs Opposition Reflex

from seated the next step is done standing

re-teach with a bit of leash: first left side, then right side, etc

Use it: The Got Leash? Game

see videos

Step 2: Off leash

Step 3: On leash

QUESTION: How are you C/T this? Are you explaining something? Or are you bribing?

It's all in the timing of the click and the delivery of the treat.

Step 4: Single Focal Point (next Step in Leash: L2)

Life reward

Treat on the ground

Keep leash loose; allow to snif

The Look at That Game

Click for looking and behaving appropriately, deliver treat when re-orienting to trainer

See video example

ZEN

Re-teach from the beginning

(Whenever you change ANYTHING about a behavior make everything else easier!)

Sandi teach L1 Zen to Lily from scratch.

Put the hand with the treat RIGHT IN FRONT OF Lily's nose.

We want her to clearly understand her job.

Her job is to ignore the treat.

This is CONTRACT TRAINING. You give me what I want and THEN I'll give you what you want.

Cathy and Rooster:

L1 hand Zen with duration

L1 Zen: Before Moving On (Chair Zen)

flick treat off of the chair after clicking

L1 Zen: variation

Chair Zen but giving Rooster a treat from her other hand INSTEAD OF flicking the treat off of the chair (and all the reasons why)

Retrieve L2

Touching different objects

Do not let go of the object

Re-read Retrieve for the why-fors and reasons why

Important at this level that the dog is willing to touch ANYTHING

TWO-FERS

Use in Target

Use in Retrieve

Use in Watch

THE COME GAME

Using Chutes and Ladders to increase distance

Recognizing when the DOG understands the game

Being In the Game and knowing when to quit

Variations:

playing with multiple people

adding more people one more at a time (more Chutes and Ladders)

And, still in Level 1 Come (Before Moving On)

add a default Sit to the Come

add a collar touch to the Come

put the leash on and off to the Come

Make the investment NOW in this wonderful behavior.

.....and we never got to the stairs! Next time.

* * *

As you finish each behavior in every Level, take a few minutes to consider:

HOW you can use it

WHERE you can use it

WHO can get the behavior from your dog

WHAT you can change about it to make it more useful to you

More GO TO MAT

GO TO MAT: Level 2

A good example of teaching Go to Mat.

Rapid Fire Reinforcement for being ON the mat.

Rewarding for going TO the mat.

Moving the mat in TINY increments at first.

And then, moving the mat farther and farther away.

Notice how the trainer tosses the treat in different directions.

Grey returns to the mat from the left, from the right, etc.

The Look at That Game

We were playing a variation of the LOOK AT THAT game when working with Rooster and Miller last Thursday. The timing of the click is critical. Click the moment the dog looks at the object without reacting to it. We began with Miller and Rooster as far away as possible in the classroom and gradually decreased the distance between them. Both dogs were playing the LAT game and each was being rewarded for the appropriate glance.

In the video above, Yoshi is being rewarded with C/T every time he looks at another dog and behaves appropriately. The clicker marks the glance. The dog receives the treat when he re-orients to the trainer.

Later in the video, the trainer is attempting to find Yoshi's "comfort" threshold as they approach a group of dogs and trainers. Yoshi indicates that he is NOT comfortable when he refuses to re-orient to his trainer and refuses food.

The trainer retreats a few steps. Yoshi will now accept food but does not yet re-orient to his trainer.

They continue to retreat until the dog can comfortably orient on his trainer AND offer behaviors. He is still aware of the other group, but at this distance feels safe.

What is Yoshi learning? What is the trainer learning?

Another example of:

Work where your dog is,

not where she "should" be.

Just in a slightly different context.

3/4/10: SESSION PLAN

Cathy and Rooster

Briann and Miller (for 30 minutes)

Karen and Webster

FINDING THRESHOLD

Rooster and Miller

Then adding Webster

ZEN: L1 (Hand Zen/Chair Zen), L2 (Floor Zen)

In a new place on a different surface with distractions

Re-teach from the beginning building to 10 second duration (using Chutes & Ladders)

COME GAME

In a new place on a different surface with distractions and with new people

When and how to add the cue

LEASH L2 Steps 1, 2, 3

Yield to collar pressure seated

NEXT: Yield to collar pressure standing

DURATION BEHAVIORS: SitStay/DownStay/Zen (not accomplished)
DEFAULT BEHAVIORS: (Sit: L1)

DOODLING

Handling new distractions in a new location

Step 3 between car and classroom (AND through a gate!)

What are you "explaining" to your dog?

What is the purpose of Doodling?

Why are we doing it?

Will it be easier next week?

Increase rate of reinforcement

When distractions make reinforcement ineffectual

GO TO MAT (not accomplished)

TARGET: L1, L2 vs RETRIEVE: L2

Clarify which is which

Using Target: L1

INTRO: Retrieve: L2 (not accomplished)

*****
STAND: L2

Luring: 2 methods of Luring
Karen and Webster's luring was CLASSIC! Great job, Karen!
SEE: STAND: L2 in Using Steps to Service Training Videos
Capturing
Shaping

HANDLING: L2 (not accomplished)

*****
CRATE: L7 (open door)
Lily

Including OOS (out of room) for 2 minutes in real life situation
PUBLIC SEIZURE MITIGATION BEHAVIOR
Lily
Interesting response by Rooster!

Are YOU In the Game

whenever

your dog is at the end of the leash?

Trainer Awareness

Are you In the Game WHENEVER your dog is at the end of the leash?

a) When you come in to class?

b) When you leave the class?

c) When carrying on a conversation?

d) REMEMBER your responsibility to be In the Game!

Karen and I were discussing something else.

This is a "real life" example of Loose Leash as a DEFAULT behavior

inadvertently caught on the Flip.

Good job, Webster!!!!

35 seconds and not even counting!!!!

LEASH: LEVEL TWO

Trainer stands in one spot with the dog on a loose leash.

The dog keeps the lead loose for 60 seconds with one distraction.

Trainer may NOT talk to the dog.

This Level is about testing Loose Leash as a default behavior.

The Come Game: Adding the Cue

Webster plays The Come Game

Webster understands The Come Game and is volunteering the behavior.

When Webster is dependably volunteering the behavior,

we add the cue......"Webster, Come!"

Webster is distracted by Lily while doing the exercise.

Watch him respond to the Come cue.

Karen is able to call him away from Lily

using the cue only once.

Most of Webster's COME: Level 1 practice has been with Karen only

(not between 2 or more people)

at home in the house or in the back yard.

He was able to handle the distractions in the classroom.

On the other hand, Rooster is getting a LOT of practice playing The Come Game

between Cathy and Steven outside on the farm.

Given his training experience,

Rooster should have been the more successful dog.

But he was unable to handle the distractions of the classroom today

and we were unable to play the game with him at all.

A great example of something Sue says often:

"Maybe he's a 50X dog, maybe he's a 100X dog.

Go back and keep teaching."

Who knows?

Good work, Cathy!

Work where your dog IS,

not where he "should" be

Chair ZEN

ZEN: Level 1: Before Moving On

Staying off a treat on a chair.

(In Steps it is Coffee Table ZEN)

Cathy and Karen went back to the beginning and re-taught ZEN.....this time on the surface of a chair.

Re-teach ZEN in different places, using different treats, with different distractions.

Show someone else how to teach your dog Level 1 ZEN.

It's all there in ZEN: Level 1. The better Rooster and Webster understand ZEN at Level 1, the sooner they will be able to transfer ZEN into all aspects of their lives.

Rooster and Webster are well into ZEN: Level 2, Floor ZEN. And "playing" it everywhere. Good work, ladies!

Do they know it "in their soul" ? ? ?

LEASH: level 2: step 1

LEASH: Level 2: Step 1

Cathy and Rooster

Karen and Webster

NEXT STEP: Applying collar pressure while trainer is standing followed by THE GOT LEASH? GAME.

Re-teaching Level 1 ZEN

A different location, different surface, different distractions

even different treats for Rooster!

Cathy and Karen re-teach ZEN: Level 1

and then

begin re-teaching ZEN: Level 2

Both Rooster and Webster are comfortably working sub-threshold.

BEFORE MOVING ON

a) Add distance that the dog moves from your hand

b) Add duration (Today we built duration to 10 seconds)

c) Coffee Table Zen (Today we played Chair Zen)

Re-teach ZEN: Level 1 and Level 2 here and there and everywhere.

Soon we will "marry" ZEN and LEASH.

Finding Threshold

We spent 12 minutes working on determining threshold for Rooster, Miller and Webster.

Briann and Miller, Karen and Webster, Lily and I were already in the classroom and settled at the far end when Cathy and Rooster entered through the door at the opposite end of the room.

As you will see in the video, we stretched the x-pen across the entire room. Cathy and Rooster remained behind the x-pen for the entire session.

Both Miller and Rooster played the "Look at That" game and were clicked and treated whenever they looked at each other and acted appropriately (no barking, no pulling). That was the ONLY criteria for Rooster.

Using the floor tiles as gauges for moving progressively nearer to Rooster's end of the room, Briann Doodled with Miller. For the majority of the exercise, Webster and Lily remained in their crates.

Briann and Miller periodically moved close to Rooster, at first one foot at a time and then, only six inches at a time. When they got within 6' of the x-pen, Briann and Miller sat in a chair and were able to successfully complete Level 1 behaviors. Rooster was calmly doing Level 1 behaviors at the same time.

Karen and Webster eventually joined in, Doodling at the furthest point from Cathy and Webster.

You can readily see in the video the mood of the exercise.

NOTE: An interesting aside. With all the clicking going on, each dog responded only to the clicks given by his own trainer.