Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003
Posts: 1555
Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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Hi Denny,
Instead of debating if the alert should be changed or fixed (I concede that it should be changed), lets talk about how to change it. Kevin and David obviously have a plan in mind, as do I, so I'll start on how the change should take place and hope the others jump in.
Obviously, I beleive there should be no negativity involved whatsoever. That being said...set the problems up so the dog isn't put in a position where you may feel you have to give a correction during the training.
Personally, I would start with high finds (high enough so the dog can't bite) and give a sit command as soon as he gets close to source. Reward as soon as the sit comes and play a good game of tug to get the dog's aggressive biting alerts redirected to the toy. Repetition should change his previous behavour.
I'd like to hear from the others on how they would change the alert the right way, and if my idea is crapple.
David C.Frost Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2002
Posts: 1204
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Can't say I'd do much different than Howard. Initially, it would be one of the few times I allow a handler to know where a target is located, command sit, reinforce the sit. Could happen quicker than you think, or it could become a tussle. If he is particularly driven to play tug, that will sure help.
DFrost
Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again.
Its worth a try Denny.
I have seen it done a few times. I had a passive dog that I switched to aggresive alert a short time back, with very little trouble. In my case, i used the sand pit daily, as well as the scratch boxes. As stated above, the high find will help get his nose in the air, which gets his rear to the ground easier. Just make the reward come from behind as soon as his rear touches the ground, until he understands what you are expecting...You will have this fixed in no time.
those that hide will be found, those that run will be bitten
We were passive alert only w/ our detector dogs...had to convert one in particular that we picked up from another agency--he was aggressive response for several years prior...
Basically as Dave & Howard said..high, known hides..giving sit command, reinforced 'lightly' if needed...if he's really into biting, work him in a wire muzzle (make sure he's neutral to the muzzle prior to any conversion training).....
Also used timely rewards w/ a tug for biting dogs...made the tug more of a reward than their biting seats, etc...
PS-train in a junk yard where they don't care about the car seats!!
Well today, i got back to traiing with my dog. I really want to keep him aggressive alert so we got back to basics. (Eg: scratch boards, known hides, making him dig the toy out of dirt). He did well. He still bites but i gave a quick correction. Knowing my dog, i knew it wouldnt shut him down. He is a hard head and nothing seems to shut him down. When we did hides, i asked the trainer to only give me high finds so he had nothing to bite on. We used a play ground at the local park. Hides were hid in places that he had nothing to bite. One scratch=reward. Then we went 2 scratches=reward. etc etc etc Seemed to work good. Tommorow, were going abck to the RV lot and see what happens. Were gonna give it til next week, then if he is still bitning then were gonna attempt the change over to passive. Ive got certification next week and I really dont want to mess with him during the certification. I will keep you all updated on how things are going. Really appreciate all your input.
Michael West Webboard User Reg: 05-23-2007
Posts: 551
Loc: Washington, USA
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Quote: Denny Campbell
Well today, i got back to traiing with my dog. I really want to keep him aggressive alert so we got back to basics. (Eg: scratch boards, known hides, making him dig the toy out of dirt). He did well. He still bites but i gave a quick correction. Knowing my dog, i knew it wouldnt shut him down. He is a hard head and nothing seems to shut him down. When we did hides, i asked the trainer to only give me high finds so he had nothing to bite on. We used a play ground at the local park. Hides were hid in places that he had nothing to bite. One scratch=reward. Then we went 2 scratches=reward. etc etc etc Seemed to work good. Tommorow, were going abck to the RV lot and see what happens. Were gonna give it til next week, then if he is still bitning then were gonna attempt the change over to passive. Ive got certification next week and I really dont want to mess with him during the certification. I will keep you all updated on how things are going. Really appreciate all your input.
As far as correcting your dog in detection i would try and just stick to verbal corrections when he bites rather then a physical correction, right now from what i read i think he is just going with his natural instinct is biting and scratching go together so he doesn't quite know what he is doing wrong, now with the verbal corrections he will know that scratching is right (which he already knows) and biting is wrong (which i don't think he knows yet)
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Re: Changing a dogs alert
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