Gata's send out is beautiful - fast and straight and good (not great) down 95% of the time. The other 5% of the time she adds in some undesirable behaviors, like looking back at me over her shoulder, or spinning circles after running just a little way. I know that these reflect confusion or uncertainty on her part. I don't believe that Gata is "messing" with me. I'm not sure that I believe that dogs do that at all, but I know that she doesn't.
I've been debating whether or not to try to fix this, since it's not really all that broken. I've decided that there is absolutely no harm in going back and working on the foundation behaviors that we've put together to create her send out. As long as I continue to work them positively and use variable reinforcers to reward good vs excellent execution I don't think that I will make it worse.
A couple of things I need to remember with Gata:
1. More than most dogs, she likes predictability.
2. Speed/running is self-reinforcing for her.
3. We have done lots of cone/pot work, so I will need to add those in as distractions on the field at some point in the future. She needs to be confident in her decision to go "straight ahead" regardless of whatever else is on the field. I know that cones on the field at MPSC have contributed to this problem.
4. Problem with Gata started when working with Dembouski and switched from my method in which we always did the down to his method in which most of the time the dog just ran out fast and straight to a reward on the ground. When we again asked for the down all these other behaviors started. She was no longer certain of what we wanted.
Basic method:
1. Downing on the step pad so that front legs are on the pad - no creeping forward off the step pad entirely or just enough so that back legs are on the pad.
2. Send to step pad and down (particularly important with Gata to always do the down). Would break this into a few pieces with Tor - go to the pad, put both front feet on the pad, down on the pad. Plus add in a "Mark" step for Tor.
2. Increase distance to step pad until it is no longer visible to her.
3. Increase distance until I am just downing her before she ever reaches the step pad.
4. Add in heeling with medium-length sends, add distance quickly with Gata. I think doing too many short to medium-length sends increases the likelihood of undesirable behaviors with her. It's almost like she starts to count paces and is "waiting" for the down command.
Other things to think about:
1. How close does Gata have to be to the step pad when she downs. She likes to creep forward. Do I want to deal with that now, too? Yes, I think so. What to do? Mark the behavior with "Good" but ask her to "Back" up to the step pad, step on it, and repeat the down, until she downs on the step pad. Which part of her has to be on the step pad? Black and white, black and white. Think about this!!! If the decision is that her front legs need to be on the step pad then I need to work her down on the step pad before anything else. OK - made up my mind, am going to do that and have amended basic method to reflect that.
2. Fading the step pad. If I insist that Gata step on the step pad and then down with her front legs on it, I will have to figure out a time when it is appropriate to fade the step pad. I may have to develop some smaller step pads or come up with another mechanism that allows me to fade it.
So, as long as I am going to be working send outs with Gata I am going to start teaching Tor the send out, too. We couldn't add in the heeling at this point but will probably be ready for that by the time he gets the rest of it.
Showing posts with label SchH Send Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SchH Send Out. Show all posts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Rain, Rain, and More Rain
We have gotten wet over and over again the last few days. So not surprising that we should continue the trend today. It wasn't too bad though. My timing was good. Not like last night when I had the dogs on the field during the absolute height of the downpour.
Practiced long sends with Gata to a "Field Closed for Restoration" sign in the field ;-) The goal is to get her running fast and straight every single time I send with no hesitation, looking over her shoulder or circling. I know when this started and think I understand why it started but am not exactly sure the best way to get rid of it. I don't know whether I should be marking the undesired behavior(s) and calling her back at that point or just ignoring those behaviors and rewarding her for going long and fast.
Since she tends to get better faster with more repetitions, presumably due to increased confidence, I think I will simply reward her for getting there and hope that her growing confidence diminishes those other behaviors. It's not a big problem but it shows up every now and then and not just for this exercise. So I know it reflects confusion on her part. It usually occurs when I see something that I thought was clever or someone convinces me to try something a new way. Gata likes her routines. I guess we all do :-)
Tor just got to do more puppy stuff. Lots of long rewards for both dogs to wear them out quickly before it started to pour on us again :-) What can I say? I'm a wimp and I'm tired of having cold, wet feet :-) The dogs will survive the rain and a few fast workouts.
Practiced long sends with Gata to a "Field Closed for Restoration" sign in the field ;-) The goal is to get her running fast and straight every single time I send with no hesitation, looking over her shoulder or circling. I know when this started and think I understand why it started but am not exactly sure the best way to get rid of it. I don't know whether I should be marking the undesired behavior(s) and calling her back at that point or just ignoring those behaviors and rewarding her for going long and fast.
Since she tends to get better faster with more repetitions, presumably due to increased confidence, I think I will simply reward her for getting there and hope that her growing confidence diminishes those other behaviors. It's not a big problem but it shows up every now and then and not just for this exercise. So I know it reflects confusion on her part. It usually occurs when I see something that I thought was clever or someone convinces me to try something a new way. Gata likes her routines. I guess we all do :-)
Tor just got to do more puppy stuff. Lots of long rewards for both dogs to wear them out quickly before it started to pour on us again :-) What can I say? I'm a wimp and I'm tired of having cold, wet feet :-) The dogs will survive the rain and a few fast workouts.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Beginning of a Rainy Week
Winter is back. We need more rain so I have no complaints. The dogs like the cooler weather, as do I. Think it makes us all feel good all under to quote an old boss ;-) If my Dad or brother are reading this, they'll recognize that quote :-)
Nothing special with the dogs today - sort of an easy Monday after a busy weekend. Both dogs wore their spiffy new citronella collars while in the car at work. I hope that is going to be enough to keep Tor quiet. Realized that the collars are definitely being triggered by other things. I'm not thrilled about that - muddies the message. Still, I think they are discriminating enough to do the job.
Gave them both a quick run this morning. Played the ball sharing game with them. Ended up having a pretty spectacular crash between them anyway. Tor was going for the long ball. Gata was with me doing little things for short tosses. She was going for a short toss when Tor slammed into her with speed on his way back with his ball. He decided to get hers, too. That was enough for the morning. Gata was a little hesitant to put her left front down but walked it off within a dozen steps. Still - hate to see that sort of stuff. Makes me very nervous. Have been moving more toward another park that is really nice, close to work, and well lit enough to work on it in the morning before work even though it is still dark out. Like to let them just blow off some steam now and then but not if it is going to cause visits to the vet.
Worked both dogs over by Google this evening. Worked on Gata's SchH send out. Gave her a throw on a particularly nice run out as she was running to reinforce the speed and straightness. Ended up getting some of that circling behavior that drives me crazy. But she does know her job and that only occurred once. The next send out was beautiful - fast, straight and a very fast turn and down. She did that about 4 times - all beautiful. Rewarded each a little differently and that was about it. All the rewards were long throws - her favorite, difference was in the timing, direction of the throw, and where I threw it from (start position, next to Gata, partway).
Tor was just the basics again. Realized that I have lost the basic positions in strange positions relative to me. Have been doing too many in front of me, as part of fronts and with outing the tug. So have to go back and work on those again. I don't expect it to take long but I should know better. Part of it also has to do with the toy reward (tug or ball) - he freezes up a little sometimes when that has come out. Anyway, more to work on ...
Nothing special with the dogs today - sort of an easy Monday after a busy weekend. Both dogs wore their spiffy new citronella collars while in the car at work. I hope that is going to be enough to keep Tor quiet. Realized that the collars are definitely being triggered by other things. I'm not thrilled about that - muddies the message. Still, I think they are discriminating enough to do the job.
Gave them both a quick run this morning. Played the ball sharing game with them. Ended up having a pretty spectacular crash between them anyway. Tor was going for the long ball. Gata was with me doing little things for short tosses. She was going for a short toss when Tor slammed into her with speed on his way back with his ball. He decided to get hers, too. That was enough for the morning. Gata was a little hesitant to put her left front down but walked it off within a dozen steps. Still - hate to see that sort of stuff. Makes me very nervous. Have been moving more toward another park that is really nice, close to work, and well lit enough to work on it in the morning before work even though it is still dark out. Like to let them just blow off some steam now and then but not if it is going to cause visits to the vet.
Worked both dogs over by Google this evening. Worked on Gata's SchH send out. Gave her a throw on a particularly nice run out as she was running to reinforce the speed and straightness. Ended up getting some of that circling behavior that drives me crazy. But she does know her job and that only occurred once. The next send out was beautiful - fast, straight and a very fast turn and down. She did that about 4 times - all beautiful. Rewarded each a little differently and that was about it. All the rewards were long throws - her favorite, difference was in the timing, direction of the throw, and where I threw it from (start position, next to Gata, partway).
Tor was just the basics again. Realized that I have lost the basic positions in strange positions relative to me. Have been doing too many in front of me, as part of fronts and with outing the tug. So have to go back and work on those again. I don't expect it to take long but I should know better. Part of it also has to do with the toy reward (tug or ball) - he freezes up a little sometimes when that has come out. Anyway, more to work on ...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Progress & Complications
Tor's program of outing more and more different tug toys in different places seems to be paying off. He is starting to see tug as more of a 2-participant game now rather than a game that he has to win all the time. He's starting to do his positions for a tug reward and the speed of them is almost up to what it is with food. So that's all good.
The weird thing that I've noticed with Tor is that after training sessions that are quieter and calmer, as opposed to "all on", where I spend a significant amount of time petting him, stroking his face, etc. he is immensely more possessive of me when we get home. He is pesky and willing to take on Gata to try to get closer to me. This is the second or third time that I've seen this with him. Today we were working on some down stays. I would return to him and stroke his face (rather than giving him treats which I didn't have) and then reward with the tug. To finish up our exercise session this evening we went for a nice walk around the park that we visited. Since he was pretty tired by then we stopped a few times to just chill out and I would just pet him and talk to him during those times. He is an absolute pain in the butt at home this evening.
I know it sounds like he is starved for attention but, honestly, he gets lots of attention. He's a very affectionate boy so it is easy to give him lots of attention. Yes, I have to balance it out with Gata in mind but he really does get plenty of attention. Plus, it seems like it is only about the attention that he gets during a work session or outing that counts. I can spend more time playing with him at home or let him out of the x-pen for longer and I don't see the same thing. I can't really explain it but it's definitely real ...
Anyway, both dogs had fun this afternoon. Tor ran retrieves and played tug for 2 different toys - a linen tug and a jute frisbee. He did well with both and was able to switch back and forth between tugs and ball easily. His positions for a tug are definitely improving. Most of his outs were very good. Maybe 10% were slow or required a second command. Definite improvement.
Gata practiced long send outs on the park field. I sent her to a sign in the middle of the field. Played around with timing and direction of the throw. Some after the down and either behind her or beyond me. Behind her to emphasize that she could keep going; beyond me to give her that opportunity to really sprint that she seems to love. I also marked and threw the ball past her a couple of times on the run out when she was running well. She has a beautiful send out but once she knows a location she starts to anticipate the down. This seemed to work well today but we'll have to see what happens in the future. In the past when I have messed up her send out, she would turn to look at me and occasionally spin on the run out. Will keep my eyes peeled for any of that stuff.
Finally, they are both quiet :-)
The weird thing that I've noticed with Tor is that after training sessions that are quieter and calmer, as opposed to "all on", where I spend a significant amount of time petting him, stroking his face, etc. he is immensely more possessive of me when we get home. He is pesky and willing to take on Gata to try to get closer to me. This is the second or third time that I've seen this with him. Today we were working on some down stays. I would return to him and stroke his face (rather than giving him treats which I didn't have) and then reward with the tug. To finish up our exercise session this evening we went for a nice walk around the park that we visited. Since he was pretty tired by then we stopped a few times to just chill out and I would just pet him and talk to him during those times. He is an absolute pain in the butt at home this evening.
I know it sounds like he is starved for attention but, honestly, he gets lots of attention. He's a very affectionate boy so it is easy to give him lots of attention. Yes, I have to balance it out with Gata in mind but he really does get plenty of attention. Plus, it seems like it is only about the attention that he gets during a work session or outing that counts. I can spend more time playing with him at home or let him out of the x-pen for longer and I don't see the same thing. I can't really explain it but it's definitely real ...
Anyway, both dogs had fun this afternoon. Tor ran retrieves and played tug for 2 different toys - a linen tug and a jute frisbee. He did well with both and was able to switch back and forth between tugs and ball easily. His positions for a tug are definitely improving. Most of his outs were very good. Maybe 10% were slow or required a second command. Definite improvement.
Gata practiced long send outs on the park field. I sent her to a sign in the middle of the field. Played around with timing and direction of the throw. Some after the down and either behind her or beyond me. Behind her to emphasize that she could keep going; beyond me to give her that opportunity to really sprint that she seems to love. I also marked and threw the ball past her a couple of times on the run out when she was running well. She has a beautiful send out but once she knows a location she starts to anticipate the down. This seemed to work well today but we'll have to see what happens in the future. In the past when I have messed up her send out, she would turn to look at me and occasionally spin on the run out. Will keep my eyes peeled for any of that stuff.
Finally, they are both quiet :-)
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