I am fed up with having to wrestle a greased pig every time I get the leash out.

this behavior is totally my fault, I fully accept that. When it is time to go for a walk it has been easier to me to just throw a leg over him or sit on him (without all my weight) and clip the leash, rather then spending 30 minutes waiting for him to calm down before even getting out the door.

So I have enabled this behavior for far too long.

I can get him in a sit or down but the minute I move/bend toward him with the leash he goes all wiggly again, usually accompanied by howls and barooos. This is pure excitement, and a year old his self control is not that great at all.

So I would like to use the clicker to fix this if at all possible, as it is the method he most responds to, but I'm not sure how to use it in this instance.

Tonight I started by putting him in a sit and bending towards him with the leash in hand. When he would go all wiggly or break the sit I just stood back up, put him back in a sit and tried again, and again and again, it took about 25 tries to get him to keep his butt on the floor, although still wiggling.

Without the leash as a factor he can hold a sit or down for about 90 seconds which I taught by clicking at different and gradually longer intervals.

Your description is cracking me up!! I had that problem with my pup when she was about 6 months old. I swear by my clicker!! I did exactly what you are doing but I had to do it everytime we were getting ready to go out...even just for a potty break! In about a day or two she finally realized what was expected and sit (still wiggly) but it started to work. She just kept getting better everytime after that. So I say, keep it up. your on the right track.

I'm midway through this, too, Jennifer. It seemed to help a lot when I started using a smaller space to put the leashes on. I have the leashes hanging in a small alcove area in front of the washer and dryer. It's about 36" wide, so as soon as they get in, I'm blocking the way out. Then i just have to have the patience to wait until they're sitting to affix the leashes. I do one dog at a time and they get a pat on the back and "ok" when I'm done and they can get up. Lots of praise during the leashing experience, lol. Just FYI I haven't been using a clicker though... I just don't seem to have enough hands for that

Good luck!

I'm totally guilty of allowing this excited behavior, too....and yeah, it is tiresome. Clicking for calm behavior is a great idea and I'm glad you posted this. Thanks!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has been allowing this for too long.
But when do I need to be clicking?
I'm not sure of that part, is it when he is calm and sitting, or when he is calm and sitting and the leash is on, or midway through the bend when he is still sitting?

I didn't use the clicker last night or this morning because I don't know how to do it in this instance.

Ah, this sounds like the perfect opportunity for some of our marker training experts to weigh in. Connie? Cindy?

For now, your thinking sounds pretty right-minded. You just have to sit down and put pen to paper and really break the exercise down.

First, mark any calm, seated behavior, right?

Gradually increase to marking calm, seated behavior when you have the leash in your hand.

Then, when you have the leash in your hand, and are bending towards the dog.

Gradually increase that to marking calm, seated behavior as you clip the leash on.

Finally, increase to marking calm, seated behavior while wearing the leash and waiting calmly. Extend that time until the calm seated behavior is lasting for 60 seconds.

Splitting the exercise into the very small parts can be tedious, but the dog really gets the behavior when you do it like that.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

... Without the leash as a factor he can hold a sit or down for about 90 seconds which I taught by clicking at different and gradually longer intervals.

Exactly the same method, with the leash in your hand.

I also stand at the door, leashes in hand, until everyone is sitting. (Vibrating-while-sitting from one is ignored. ) I stand like a statue. As I start to clip on the leashes, if anyone gets up or starts yipping, I stand up again, statue-like, after staring at the offending dog so it's clear to everyone what the problem is.

This standing back up because of a problem with one is something I never have to do any more. This becomes very solid behavior if you never submit to any behavior you do not want.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

Ah, this sounds like the perfect opportunity for some of our marker training experts to weigh in. Connie? Cindy?

For now, your thinking sounds pretty right-minded. You just have to sit down and put pen to paper and really break the exercise down.

First, mark any calm, seated behavior, right?

Gradually increase to marking calm, seated behavior when you have the leash in your hand.

Then, when you have the leash in your hand, and are bending towards the dog.

Gradually increase that to marking calm, seated behavior as you clip the leash on.

Finally, increase to marking calm, seated behavior while wearing the leash and waiting calmly. Extend that time until the calm seated behavior is lasting for 60 seconds.

Splitting the exercise into the very small parts can be tedious, but the dog really gets the behavior when you do it like that.

Perfect!

Ok, that is simple enough, to redo the training with a leash in hand.

Do I need a treat for this or is the leash (which means outside or walk) enough of a reward.

IE..when I taught Nico to wait I never used a treat, her reward for self control was the ball being thrown and her release. I didn't use a clicker for that though.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

Ok, that is simple enough, to redo the training with a leash in hand.

Do I need a treat for this or is the leash (which means outside or walk) enough of a reward. ....

Oh, yes, I would have my marker rewards. I don't give empty markers, and going outside for a walk is nowhere near close enough in time to the markers to serve as the reward. JMO. I imagine that we are only talking about a couple of sessions, since you have taught quiet sit without the leash in your hand.

ETA: Teaching extended sit, did you mark/reward at random lengths of time, starting with no time, then a few seconds, etc.? That's what I was picturing. That would be lots of empty markers if you didn't have rewards in hand.




Edited by Connie Sutherland (01/06/2009 11:21 AM)
Edit reason: eta