July 15, 2014
I'm having some issues using the food delivery device in nosework. What would you suggest?
Full Question:
I have purchased the "The Foundation of Nosework with Andrew Ramsey DVD" and have been working my 5 month Malinois on it for a few weeks now. He has been doing great on the first few steps.1.Using 3 drawers open using nose to find food.
2.Then using the second step of letting him self reward after the drawers are closed and the scent has been added. *Note: He will quickly find the target drawer and begin to scratch, usually only one time then I pop it open for him to self reward.
*now when introducing the "food delivery device" or tossing it at source he was obviously a little confused. As he located the correct drawer, I delivered the device and lured him away as seen in the video. Here is my concern, upon the second try he had no interest in the drawers but looked to me for food due to him remembering that the food just came from my hand in which I was giving it to...
Ed's Answer:
What I would do is turn the food delivery device (FDD) into a toy but away from the nosework training. I would toss it and teach the dog to bring it back. With young dogs this needs to be done with a long line. When he brings it back, either trade the FDD for a piece of high value food or for another toy.
If the dog doesn't have a ton of toy drive for the FDD, I would put food inside of it and then toss it.
When I was satisfied that the dog knew the FDD was a reward device, I would use it in training.
My guess (based on experience) is you made a mistake in training and the dog saw you toss the toy. So now it knows it comes from you.
The solution is to back up the training to the step before the FDD. Let the dog self reward to the food. Then make sure you are in the correct position (behind the dog) when you reintroduce the FDD. The timing needs to be perfect, that is when the dog is totally focused on the find. The instant the dog finds it and is focused on the find and not on you, toss the FDD.
You are basically in a problem solving stage that was created by mistakes you made. So always back up your training to a step that the dog worked at and then think about how to fix the problem. Break it down.
I don’t do phone consultations. I don’t have the time to do that. Sorry.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
If the dog doesn't have a ton of toy drive for the FDD, I would put food inside of it and then toss it.
When I was satisfied that the dog knew the FDD was a reward device, I would use it in training.
My guess (based on experience) is you made a mistake in training and the dog saw you toss the toy. So now it knows it comes from you.
The solution is to back up the training to the step before the FDD. Let the dog self reward to the food. Then make sure you are in the correct position (behind the dog) when you reintroduce the FDD. The timing needs to be perfect, that is when the dog is totally focused on the find. The instant the dog finds it and is focused on the find and not on you, toss the FDD.
You are basically in a problem solving stage that was created by mistakes you made. So always back up your training to a step that the dog worked at and then think about how to fix the problem. Break it down.
I don’t do phone consultations. I don’t have the time to do that. Sorry.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
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