Download the NEW 2009 Leerburg Catalog

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE BOARD
You are not logged in. [Log In] Leerburg.com » Forums » General Discussion » General Dog Conversation » Tug as a reward
Register User       Forum List       Calendar       Active Topics       Search       FAQ
Search Leerburg.com

Want to Register?
Leerburg.com
Leerburg 2010 Catalog
Request a Catalog
Download Catalog

Table of Contents

Dog Training Videos
New Releases
DVD
VHS
FREE Streaming Video

Dog Training Equipment
Dog Training Books
K9 Healthcare Products

Dog Training eBooks
Free Dog Training eBooks
Dog Training PODCASTS

Dog Training Articles
Articles
Question & Answers

Leerburg Kennel
Our Kennel
Current Litters
Customer Testimonials
Stud Dogs
Adult Dogs for Sale
Our Kaiserhaus Malinois

Dog Training Categories
Dog Obedience Training
Aggression Problems
Dominance Problems
Dog Fight Problems
Puppy Training
HouseTraining Problems
Feeding Dogs
Breeding Dogs
Electric Collar Training
Schutzhund Training
Police K9 Training

Leerburg's Top DVDs
Your Puppy 8 Weeks DVD
Basic Dog Obedience DVD
Electric Collar Training DVD
Dominant Dogs DVD
Raising a Working Pup DVD
Bite Training Puppies DVD
All 120 Dog Training DVDs

How to Order
View Shopping Cart
Foreign Orders
Shipping Charges

Search Our Site
See Our Horses

Request a Catalog

Contact Us
Page 1 of 2 12>
Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#256295 - 11/06/09 08:03 AM Tug as a reward
Jennifer Lee
Leerburg Web Board User
**

Registered: 12/16/07
Posts: 1812
Loc: oklahoma

Offline
Yote is somewhat food motivated, but not to the extent of my other two. He is also really really active so I have been trying to use tug as a reward.

Up until now Tug has consisted of him tugging, letting go, me throwing it and then him bringing it back so we can start over. This has worked great, but trying to do a short session between behaviors isn't working at all.

The problem is that he gets so worked up that he looses all focus and all he wants is to tug. He will let go but then he is bouncing all around and jumping up to grab it. I have ended up with a rip in a favorite shirt and some teeth marks on my chest where he missed and got me instead.
Needless to say when he starts jumping around and barking like an idiot we stop playing and I end the "game"

So obviously he really loves to play tug, but I need some suggestions to get some type of control over it so that I can use it as a reward. I think because he enjoys it so much it might be a good way to teach him some more complicated things, and also get a little bit of energy out while training as well.

He turns two in a few weeks, but he is no where near mature, we are working on impulse control, but progress is slow.
_________________________
Top
#256297 - 11/06/09 08:46 AM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Jennifer Lee]
steve strom
Leerburg Web Board User
***

Registered: 03/17/06
Posts: 2267
Loc: Bay Area, Ca.

Offline
Can you put the tug out of sight and give him a sit command? As soon as his butt hits the ground, pay him. Once he's sitting quick and looks like he gets it, add a little time before the reward.
_________________________
Top
#256302 - 11/06/09 11:46 AM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: steve strom]
Leo BOND
Leerburg Web Board User


Registered: 10/13/09
Posts: 12

Offline
One of my dogs is Ball crazy and looses focus when a ball is scented or sighted.

When I am working with her, and she get a little crazy, or stops listening I put the ball in my pocket. Then I will give her instructions, it can take a minute some times, but she eventually focuses and we get back to training.

It is a fine line because if you wait too long to give the reward the dog may/will loose interest in you because it forgets you have something it wants. Too soon and the dog starts to expect the reward without doing anything for it (or you get the sit/stay/down/bark reaction to every command!).

I like the toy reward idea because it saves me money on dog food/treats, and toys last a lot longer. I can blast through $10 worth of delicious Roll Over in 2 days, but $1.99 in tennis balls lasts a month.
_________________________
14,834th Member

Top
#256303 - 11/06/09 12:04 PM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Leo BOND]
Connie Sutherland Moderator
 Leerburg Web Board User
****

Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 16732
Loc: North-Central coast of Califor...

Offline
 Originally Posted By: Leo BOND
... It is a fine line because if you wait too long to give the reward the dog may/will loose interest in you because it forgets you have something it wants. Too soon and the dog starts to expect the reward without doing anything for it (or you get the sit/stay/down/bark reaction to every command!).


You're not using marker training?
Top
#256304 - 11/06/09 12:06 PM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Leo BOND]
Connie Sutherland Moderator
 Leerburg Web Board User
****

Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 16732
Loc: North-Central coast of Califor...

Offline
 Originally Posted By: Leo BOND
... I like the toy reward idea because it saves me money on dog food/treats, and toys last a lot longer. I can blast through $10 worth of delicious Roll Over in 2 days, but $1.99 in tennis balls lasts a month.



Nothing wrong with toy rewards, of course, but I just want to point out that one boneless chicken breast easily baked or poached yields dozens of tiny (I like M&M size or pencil-eraser size) greaseless rewards. Maybe a hundred or more.
Top
#256305 - 11/06/09 12:08 PM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Connie Sutherland]
Jennifer Lee
Leerburg Web Board User
**

Registered: 12/16/07
Posts: 1812
Loc: oklahoma

Offline
Connie,
You didn't aske me but I am answering that question anyway LOL

I wasn't using the marker training with the tug because my timing isn't very good with it yet.

We are doing super basic stuff like sit and down that we do with no rewards on a regular basis. Just to get the hang of using the tug as a reward.

I can get his butt to touch the ground but it springs right back up and he is bouncing and barking and trying to get the tug. I have put it behind my back but out of sight is not out of mind, he is quite persistent in getting to whatever it is he thinks he should have.
_________________________
Top
#256306 - 11/06/09 12:31 PM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Jennifer Lee]
Jennifer Lee
Leerburg Web Board User
**

Registered: 12/16/07
Posts: 1812
Loc: oklahoma

Offline
I also never use store bought dog treats for training, A lot of times when I cook meat I make one extra piece or extra burger and then chop it into tiny pieces, I also use leftovers a lot and put it all in a baggy in the fridge.

Those 88 cent packs of hot dogs chopped into M&M sizes pieces go a LONG way too. One 25 cent string cheese stick can make well over 50 treats for training as well.
_________________________
Top
#256307 - 11/06/09 12:34 PM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Jennifer Lee]
Connie Sutherland Moderator
 Leerburg Web Board User
****

Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 16732
Loc: North-Central coast of Califor...

Offline
 Originally Posted By: Jennifer Lee
I also never use store bought dog treats for training, A lot of times when I cook meat I make one extra piece or extra burger and then chop it into tiny pieces, I also use leftovers a lot and put it all in a baggy in the fridge.

Those 88 cent packs of hot dogs chopped into M&M sizes pieces go a LONG way too. One 25 cent string cheese stick can make well over 50 treats for training as well.


And a mixed bag of these is great. Fluff it up with Simon & Huey's (a zillion per package) or Zuke's Minis and you have a trick-or-treat bag.
Top
#256308 - 11/06/09 12:39 PM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Jennifer Lee]
Connie Sutherland Moderator
 Leerburg Web Board User
****

Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 16732
Loc: North-Central coast of Califor...

Offline
 Originally Posted By: Jennifer Lee

I wasn't using the marker training with the tug because my timing isn't very good with it yet. .... I can get his butt to touch the ground but it springs right back up and he is bouncing and barking and trying to get the tug. I have put it behind my back but out of sight is not out of mind, he is quite persistent in getting to whatever it is he thinks he should have.



The timing thing is something that is HELPED, not exacerbated, by markers.

Load the marker. I can't say too often that this is Step One and cannot be skipped. Don't assume that you have done it until the dog looks for the reward when you give the marker (clicker or verbal, whatever).

Now ... when the dog's butt hits the ground, you MARK. The dog now knows that the marker means "reward coming!"

Duration can be introduced later, when you have the marker loaded and then 100% response on the sit, with the command named and the dog complying every time.... THEN you can introduce duration, slowly, and then gradually with random lengths of time.

Please post back if I'm muddying the waters here.
Top
#256311 - 11/06/09 12:41 PM Re: Tug as a reward [Re: Connie Sutherland]
Jennifer Lee
Leerburg Web Board User
**

Registered: 12/16/07
Posts: 1812
Loc: oklahoma

Offline
Back on topic....

We just tried this again for a minute, only this time I did it in the hallway so he didn't have so much room to jump around.

It resulted in a serious case of the zoomies up and down the hallway.
This tells me that it is a great motivator for him if I can figure out how to channel it into some focus!!

I literally can get one sit or down, one game of tug, then when he releases all ability to focus is gone because he is so darn excited.

ETA: I do use the clicker for training, especially with new behaviors and he fully understands the meaning of it.

I guess my concern was with the space of time between the mark and the reward.

And also because I have never really used a toy as a reward, except for throwing it for Nico, but she was so forgiving and easy to train it didn't matter as much if I messed it up!! I didn't want to confuse the success of the clicker.

Edited by Jennifer Lee (11/06/09 12:45 PM)
_________________________
Top
Page 1 of 2 12>


Moderator:  Will Rambeau, Connie Sutherland, Cindy Easton Rhodes, Deanna Thompson, Kevin Sheldahl, Ed Frawley, Kelly At Leerburg 
Hop to:
New Products
Affiliate
Who's Online
0 registered and 56 anonymous users online.
details
Equipment
Newest Members
JoAnne Ehresman, Nichol Moore, Linda Jacobs, Elizabeth Laws, Tammy Huber
15680 Registered Users
Forum Stats
15680 Members
165 Forums
25016 Topics
262741 Posts

Max Online: 945 @ 07/29/07 04:46 PM
Obedience
Recent Posts
My Cookies · Mark all read Powered by UBB.threads™ Contact Us · Leerburg.com · Top

Generated in 0.042 seconds in which 0.006 seconds were spent on a total of 15 queries. Zlib compression disabled.

When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.

Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional. The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.

Copyright 2007 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.