Dennis Jones Webboard User Reg: 06-13-2004
Posts: 3389
Loc: Richmond Va
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I'm having a hard time teaching Erika to keep her ears up. The reason is when I take pics or vids I want everybody to know instantly that they are looking at a GSD and not think "I didn't know Labradors came in sable" I've been delaying the mark and reward until I see the ears come up and I think I'm making progress but I'm wondering if somebody has a "trick" or method. I know why she's doing it, she is getting submissive and in doggy speak she is saying "oh please please please gimme da ball gimme da ball." I've been waiting until until she gets to the point of "Give me the GAWDDAMM BALL or I'll or bite your fat ass....AGAIN" by that point the ears are up and mark it. So if anybody has a magic bullet let me know
Melissa Thom Webboard User Reg: 12-04-2007
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You can do a confirmation trick of teaching the stand and stay with an alert stare at an object. A friend of mine uses a hanky for such an alert although many others use treats or toys.
Or you can do like I do with the wonder papillon puppy who will instantly go alert and give me a great camera look when I say "do you want a cookie?"
added a bit later: This object alert I've seen done by marker loading, presenting the object in one hand and when you get the Ooh what's that look from the dog, click, but don't allow the dog to touch the item and hand a treat in the other hand. Repeat, add duration, etc.
OK, I reviewed the Killian retrieve a couple of times. Erika's ears were up until she went inside the house. My take: once she knew she was in the clear and had performed, she relaxed a bit. What is better than a relaxed, smart and eager to please GSD? So, being the complete novice that I am, I would suggest to keep her guessing with harder stuff. Just like the gifted child, she needs a challenge. Video in the learning stages and not when it is down pat and old hat...
Dennis Jones Webboard User Reg: 06-13-2004
Posts: 3389
Loc: Richmond Va
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Quote: melissa thom
You can do a confirmation trick of teaching the stand and stay with an alert stare at an object. A friend of mine uses a hanky for such an alert although many others use treats or toys.
Or you can do like I do with the wonder papillon puppy who will instantly go alert and give me a great camera look when I say "do you want a cookie?"
added a bit later: This object alert I've seen done by marker loading, presenting the object in one hand and when you get the Ooh what's that look from the dog, click, but don't allow the dog to touch the item and hand a treat in the other hand. Repeat, add duration, etc.
I'll give that a try, that should be easy enough to do indoors
I'm having a hard time teaching Erika to keep her ears up...I'm wondering if somebody has a "trick" or method.
This is similar to what Melissa suggested.
When I had a pro photographer do a portrait of my GSD, it was interesting to watch her process. She had a variety of toys that made noises, and would squeek something, the dog would look towards the source of the noise with interest (ears pricked, eager expression). If the noise got old (habituated), she'd just switch toys.
When teaching tricks, I use similar nudges...things that will elicit the behavior I'm looking for. Example...when teaching a dog to cover it's eyes with it's paws, I put a little strip of clear tape across it's nose. It will swipe at the tape...mark/treat. You use a specific motion to smooth on the tape, which you eventually fade (first, stop using the tape but keep using the motion to smooth it on, etc.).
So, if you have things you can do that you know will make her prick up her ears, use them.
You can do a confirmation trick of teaching the stand and stay with an alert stare at an object. A friend of mine uses a hanky for such an alert although many others use treats or toys.
Or you can do like I do with the wonder papillon puppy who will instantly go alert and give me a great camera look when I say "do you want a cookie?"
added a bit later: This object alert I've seen done by marker loading, presenting the object in one hand and when you get the Ooh what's that look from the dog, click, but don't allow the dog to touch the item and hand a treat in the other hand. Repeat, add duration, etc.
I'll give that a try, that should be easy enough to do indoors
If my dog is just sitting around the house and I get him to sit/stay sometimes his head will droop after a while so I taught him 'head up' with a hand signal, which is essentially just like I'm holding something above his head. He will also put his ears up without fail if I say the word ball. So eventually I think you could use what Melissa is saying and make a hand signal as if you're holding a ball while saying 'ears up', or 'cheese'.
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Teaching ears up
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