OK, here's Chula learning the back command.
Thanks for posting that video last week, Connie and thanks to Jennifer Lee for suggesting creating a 'channel' between the sofa and the coffee table.

This'll be the last one I post until I get a camera. The quality is truly awful with the built in webcam in my laptop.

Also, plug your ears for the ear-splittingly enthusiastic 'yes's at the end, when I can see that she's 'getting' it.

PS, any comments/critiques are welcomed!
Chula-Take 2

You made great progress in your session, Lynne!

One suggestion...early on in the session, when you were walking backwards with your dog, perhaps half of the time you said your marker, it was just nanoseconds after your dog had stopped and was no longer actually performing your target behavior. If you rewatch the video, I'm sure you'll see it (aren't they great training tools?<g>.

The only other thing is that I'd probably wait a bit longer before adding the verbal cue, until I was sure the dog understood the activity. Once you're backing up between the couch and table and that's going well, you can move to a wall on one side (just make sure to vary sides, so your dog doesn't get dependent on having the solid surface on one side), which will enable you to back up for more paces at one time. Your tall dog only has a few paces until the end of your channel so the hind end is likely to skew once it ends, which isn't want you want it to do<g>. So, you'll be able to vary how many paces you requre before your marker, but still get it in while she's moving.

Anyway, once she's backing up happily without pauses (stop now? now?), I'd add the verbal cue.

Good job!
leih

We just started learning that in class last week. I like the way you're doing it between the couch and the table-leaving no other way to go but back. I'm going to try that. I must have missed the post. Pesky job-no time for internet during the week!

Great progress and great input on how to improve it even further. I'm going to begin training this tomorrow! By the way, I had to turn the volume off because Falcon kept looking up at the computer like he was supposed to get rewarded when he heard YES!

Thanks to all for the comments. Leih, I didn't pick up on the fact that I was marking after she had stopped. Thanks for noting it; I will pay more attention to that on our next session.

I know I put the word on the behavior before I should have. I'll go back to a transition ('good back')before marking and wait until she's really sure what I want before I name it.

Once you get over the embarrassment factor, it's really nice to use a video as a tool to improve timing, etc.

Hi Lynne,

One of the things I constantly have to guard against in my own training is moving ahead too quickly. It's just so tempting!

It's clear from your video that your dog loves working with you...and BTW, I think the quality of the video is just fine (I wouldn't even know how to upload one )

leih