Today's session went a little smoother, I decided to work both dogs together (I normally don't do this for normal training sessions, they get separate play times where they can play together). The times I do have them both to OB together (usually sitting and downing before chews are given at night or loose leash walking in public) Gambit associates with being very low stress and informal as the focus is not just on him.

My goal was to try and get Gambit to where he was listening, but was not so hung up being the center focus of his handler that he got stuck in a rut and wouldn't relax enough to try new things. I started with commands both dogs knew so they did them in unison then I started adding one only Ryuk really knows (sit pretty) between commands that Gambit is familiar with. We're starting with just sit pretty, when I asked for sit pretty Ryuk went up right away on his own and I just marked and rewarded any attempt at moving by Gambit with a single reward, Ryuk got two treats placed out for staying up. In about five minutes Gambit's half hearted flailing became a notable effort to hold the "flail position" which I rewarded with two placed out treats as did with Ryuk. I know know if he was watching Ryuk or he's just getting a better sense of how to "win" the reward.

Once he figured out that holding his new position (which was more of a sprawly leg raised paw that resembles none of his other known positions) meant he got rewarded more than once he let me help him hold the right position. He is now sitting up as best his balance will allow and offers this when asked to "sit pretty".


The second session we worked I put a touchpad out and called for both dogs' attention, let them know I had treats, gave them release commands, and then ignored them and denied their access to the treats in my hands. Both dogs defaulted to sit which I rewarded. When I failed to continue to reward or achknowledge the sitting, Ryuk, who knows this "game" immediately ran to the touch pad, which I marked and rewarded. Gambit stayed sitting stock still, I ignored him. I repeated the exercise, again, Ryuk ran to the pad and this time put his back feet up on it (once again, he knows this game lol). I rewarded Ryuk and ignored Gambit still glued to the ground. By time four Gambit started to catch on, he offered a down, which was rewarded and by round ten or so started going down the list of positions he knew. About fifteen minutes later he started copying Ryuk's actions, many that he doesn't know (including the beginning of "spin" and "bang bang" which I thought was sort of cool), he also added "push Ryuk off the touch pad" which I did mark because it was very deliberate and he looked right at me for a mark when he did it...but I'm not sure if I'll be keeping that one XD

I'll be doing a few more "two dog" sessions so he can get some more ideas before I try it on his own, but it seems some example setting was a step in the right direction.

AWESOME!!!!

He's gonna get there, and it's gonna be SOOOO rewarding to see the light bulb go on when he has his "Helen Keller" moment

Gambit may have trust issues. .May have been scolded for nipping, then encouraged to "hit" and tug. He may think humans are pretty confusing. Maybe he doesn't really like touch, not 100% sure. His first owner didn't give him 100% backing and undivided love, he had children to raise.
In the photo, he's wanting to be on "top", but doesn't seem 100% relaxed about it.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Debbie Martin

How about, "If you don't have the time to do it right the first time, when will you find time to do it again"? ....or something like that.

Also "if I don't find time to do it right EVERY time, where will I find the time to fix what I screwed up in a tired moment."

How about:

"It takes less time to do it right than it does to fix it when you cut corners and do it wrong." Hmmmm, maybe I could find a job as a Fortune Cookie writer....

Quote Kelly:

"It takes less time to do it right then it does to fix it when you do it wrong" (the first time) End Quote.

We all learn that little 'gem' the hard way.

I like it.

Yup, that's a keeper. This being said by a "been there, done that, hope I don't do it again" person.

Sorry if this is OT I thought it was this thread somebody mentioned learning by observation.

I was playing with Logan and his rope ball, teased him and said sit...but when I swung it he got up anticipating the throw...I said no sit, he sat...I spun the ball around until he stopped lifting his butt. Then I said YES and flung the ball. He grabbed the rope and spun it in circles just like I did. This is not a fluke, he now does this often very deliberately.

What's interesting to me is his ability to compute that in his mind how to do it with his mouth without striking the ground and I was doing it by hand.