I would like to know your opinions on this.

Lets say you teach your dog something and now, everytime you make a training session with him it is allways offering the behavior. How do you eliminate this and make the behavior occour only on cue?

Regards,

Great question, wish I had an answer. I've tried ignoring the unwanted behavior and waiting for the behavior I do want. When she in high drive (typically waiting for the ball) she will often cycle through her behaviors before I tell her what to do. She is cycling through the behaviors, but once I say down or sit she is solid, but until I say something she often cycles.

One thing I just started doing is to begin the training session with focus work. At that point she stares at me, which has calmed the cycling. Then I give her a command off of the focus. Interesting thing is while she cycles rapidly absent the focus work, off of focus she goes into a down or sit very slowly while staring at me.

By the way, no cycling unless I have something she wants. Random commands absent a prize (food or toy) are followed calmly with no hectic behavior.

But I'm an amatauer, so curious to see what experienced trainers say.

I have run into this as well, mine all sit as a default behavior when they don't know what I want from them.

I have started to never reward the sit unless I ask for it, which helps (somewhat) to curb the problem of them sitting instead of trying to figure out what I am wanting.

A few things might help...

I use a "negative" marker as well as a "yes!" for what is right. If Falcon starts offering his little bag of tricks before I get the command out - a simple "nope" and "wait" will normally suffice.

One GOOD thing about Marker Training is that it does teach them to think - so in a way, it shows your dog is engaged and ready to work.

Just keep it all postive and try a negative marker when he offers what you don't want. JMHO.

I'm curious too what others do.

I think maybe part of my problem is that I'm inconsistent; sometimes I'm ok with the nutiness and others times not so patient. That being said, I guess without giving them a command they just do whatever and that isn't necessarily a bad thing, just a form of expression and allows some shaping training to occur. If I ask for a command and they continue to offer other things I call their name, get eye contact and repeat the command, then a verbal reward. I have one that jumps up and down as a default, we named that so she has an outlet to do it. But I worked at her holding a stand with eye contact awaiting me to give a command. When she 'forgets' and starts acting like a nut anitpicating what I'll say I just stand still and await for her to take the stand, say good and then move on to what I want her to do.

I thought that I understand your question, now I'm not sure. Is the dog offering this behavior instead of one asked, doing it in between commands, or offering right away and what do you want the dog to be doing?

 Quote: barbara schuler

A few things might help...

I use a "negative" marker as well as a "yes!" for what is right. If Falcon starts offering his little bag of tricks before I get the command out - a simple "nope" and "wait" will normally suffice.

You betcha. Tell them what they are doing right - "Yes" treat. Tell them what they are doing wrong - "nope" ignore, wait. Sometimes I'll turn around and walk off for a bit, then try again. Once your dog gets used to that routine, you've got a trainable pooch.

Actually, the fact that your dog is offering up lots of different behaviors is a very good sign. He knows how to learn, and he knows to get rewarded he has to do something. Just have to find a way to offer clear, consistent communication.

As for "eliminating" a spontaneously offered behavior that you have trained - the behavior will eliminate itself eventually because you are ignoring it or negative marking it and the dog eventually learns the cues for when to offer it. I see it as a GOOD sign that he's retaining the behavior at this early stage of training - as he learns new behaviors and commands, he will have more of a repertoire from which to choose, and the frequency of the original behaviors will decrease.

often turning your back on them and ignoring them works, It worked for three of my dogs, didn't work on Erika, bit me on the butt when I did that

 Quote: dennis jones

often turning your back on them and ignoring them works, It worked for three of my dogs, didn't work on Erika, bit me on the butt when I did that

Ha! She said "pay attention here, damnit!!"

Hilarious.

never said I was a good trainer

 Quote: Dennis Jones

never said I was a good trainer

The evidence below says you are, plus a behavior that is required to be repeated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9XCXLBx3N0