Can You Do It In a Box? GameDay 24
This was meant to be my recall e-course’s lesson for today. But I thought I would share this one with everyone. Earlier in the week Lynda (one of our instructors here at Say Yes) and I were sitting around discussing the recaller course. Lynda felt some struggles people may be having with their dogs were because they (the people) didn’t really have a good grasp of what their dogs did and did not know. In other words, perhaps what some people assume their dog understood brilliantly they really don’t understand at all. In particular the basics; sit, down, stand and the dog’s release cue. What does and does not release the dog from a control position.
So we came up with some fun games to “test” the understanding of basic cues; sit, down, stand and “break” (our dog’s release cue). We had a blast testing and videoing this. For many of these behaviours you are seeing the first time our dogs ever saw these “tests.”
Set up some scenarios yourself and send me a link to a video of them.. Come up with creative ways to test your dog’s knowledge. I call this distraction training “Green Eggs and Ham” dog training. Taken from one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books (which I have written about previously on this blog).
So recallers, here is your lesson 24 and for the rest of you, enjoy this test of skills. One I didn’t include, but I often do, is to call home on your cell phone, have someone put you on speaker phone and see if you dogs respond the same to their cues.
When you are setting these up for yourself start relatively easy. Sitting in a chair or on the ground the important thing is that the dog only passes the test if they can respond appropriately when you give the cue only ONCE!
Today I am grateful for the most awesome group of students I have working through this e-course. They are just the kind of people that won’t mind me sharing their lesson with all of you today.
Related posts:
brittsdeux says:
Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 11:23pm
Hilarious! I will try riding my bike around my pups while testing basic cues! Hopefully none of us will crash!
Lindsay says:
Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 11:37pm
I am a biologist and have a year-old border collie. I go into the field once a year in Tahiti and the dog stays with my boyfriend. I talked to him over Skype, which is not exactly known for its clarity of connection. I was completely shocked when I told her to sit and down over Skype, and she did them! I guess all that training is paying off after all!
Sweetpea says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 12:09am
WONDERFUL! You’ve given me some great training ideas to think about/work on. Excellent headstand, btw :>]]
Elena Urzi says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 1:14am
Fantastic!! Today we feel … I do not know if I put myself upside down. Susan, a question: my aussie breeder, we are not very common, organizes a clinic … tracking, obedience, catle, goose and sheep …. I spoke of your course (non-I explained no exercise) … asked me if I could maybe during the clinic to see something of the crate games or some funny, I recall your permission? can I insert some game with my students to the field? Thank you
Laura says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 2:39am
Fabulous! Not sure I can quite pull of a headstand tho!
Shelley says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 6:34am
lol so much fun, what a great game
Deb says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 7:23am
I came to the same conclusion as Lynda when we did the fast sits and downs (I’m a week behind due to holidays). My baby thought that getting a treat was his release from a down. Also when playing ball (his #10 distraction and A+ reward) he loses his brain and doesn’t “hear” my command – he does the behaviour that generally gets him the reward (sit) – when he finally does do down he will default to down next time even if I tell him sit. We have some work to do.
MicheleA says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 7:37am
Watching the video and how your dogs respond to each command IS my goal….hard work and being clear to my dogs about what I want will attain that goal, plus using the tools I have learned in this course daily in everything I do with the dogs is the key, I won’t just use the tools at training time, the training never stops, whether we are taking a walk or just lounging around in the house I can work on MY skills and the dogs….I have learned so much from the course so far and I can’t wait to see what comes along this week.
A&J says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 7:46am
That was hysterical. I did darting around and jumping jacks first. Then shoulder-stands, he was totally engrossed with that one … you could see the “that’s not right” expression … but he did fast sit, down, stand, pretty on cue better than I’ve seen while I was just standing or sitting – the whole anticipation thing. Then great games of tug. Ok training and my workout done for the day
… what a hoot.
Jodie: how did you shape very cool move? Did you have a helper at first?
denise says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 7:50am
Too funny!!
Synchronized puppy push ups! Now that’s an olympic sport
Esther says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 8:07am
Did some testing on positions (sit, stand, down) during one of our dog classes in our club last june. Tried the positions while sitting down in a chair. Also exchanged dogs with someone els, stood at about 2m distance from each other, trying to give positions to you own dog, held by the other person. Was great. Recently was filmed during waterwork. New environment for my dog (in a boat, floating away from me) Had to give the sit cue. When seeing the video realised I gave the order way too many times. Learned about my dogs ability and was good to hear that I was talking too much. Also learned that he didn’t break his sit when my friend invited him and that I didn’t use the correct break cue(see first minute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8xiFRtGoGU)
Videoing ourselfs is really helpful!
Jenny says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 8:38am
Well that was inspiring and depressing all at the same time!!! We are soooooooo far from that level of understanding! Lynda is clearly on track when it comes to me and my guys!!!! Just a comment – I learned dog training using the lure and reward method and I have been working away from it, this course has made me realize just how ineffective it really is! I am amazed at how the basic principle of “it’s yer choice” not only gets the behavior you want but makes it stick with tremendous speed and control. We have a long way to go and I am sure many days of frustration ahead but I just really get it now!!! Thank you Susan!!!!
Julie S says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 8:44am
Great video! You show us what fun it is to train a dog. I know have a clear picture of what brilliant response should be.
Julie S says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 8:51am
I also liked seeing the rate of reinforcement. High rate despite the experience of these dogs.
Karen says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 9:02am
I can’t open up the video – heck I can’t even see the video box to click on. Did you set this one up differently? I haven’t had problems with any of the other videos.
Nancy Smits says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 10:22am
Say Yes trainers and dogs continue to amaze me! What a display of understanding by those dogs and I know the hours of training that went into achieving such results. I only hope that someday I will be able to attain even a fraction of that kind of relationship with my dogs!
sierra says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 10:27am
LOVED the video-Definately some weak understanding on my end! Love how creative you guys are!!!!
Kathy Nickell says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:21am
Very fun stuff. I didn’t understand the luring vs. voice command demonstration. Are you trying to reinforce the command vs. the body language/lure? For me, that “lure” is the hand signal for down. Coupling that with a different command seems like contradictory and confusing for the dog. Thanks for the clarification.
Kelly St-Jacques says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 12:17pm
My guess on this one is that since Susan does not lure her dogs to get a behaviour, this is NOT a hand signal for down to them. She is trying to lure them to the ground to test their understanding of the sit command. Notice how she caught Feature once — but once only! We do the same thing with trying to lure them out of their sit (or out of their RZ position) with a high-value reinforcer.
Heather McLeod says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:24am
Now that’s creative!!! Love it! Great understanding of behaviors and a release word! I Have to bump it up a notch!
thanks
Heather
Nancy Bell says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:30am
Loved the video. Don’t think I’ll be training by 60 lb lab to stand on my back tho!!!! And the head stand…. not!!! Tested the sit and down… wasn’t too bad, but still needs alot of work. The stand… that was another whole story…really need to work on that. Had sort of forgot about that one!!!! Right now I’m feeling brain overload… think I need a little break, so I’m going to go play at agility all weekend… see if any of the training will make a difference in our runs this weekend. Hopefully the fresh air and exercise will clear the head and onward and forward into next week!
Evelyn Constantinidis says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:42am
love the video – dog training can be soooo much fun !!
just wish all dog trainers and owners would see it that way too !!
Kelly St-Jacques says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 12:19pm
The headstand totally cracked me up. One of the great things Say Yes teaches is to be creative about how to test behaviours. The test becomes part of the fun! When the dogs truly know a behaviour, the goal is to make it possible for them to succeed but easy for them to fail; once we get to that point, let the games begin! Green Eggs and Ham indeed!
Marie-France says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 12:46pm
What a delightful video!
Totally enjoyable and true to Dr. Seuss’s principles…loved it and will try…not standing on my head though..wish I could…would make everyone laugh…we don’t have enough of that in life.
Marie-France says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 12:50pm
Another comment on this, the thought that some of us struggle because our dogs do not have a strong foundation is right on the button.
This is why some of us are not going at the same speed and it is a blessing that we have four months at the advanced level to be able to come back, consult the site, view the videos again.
My dogs are older and I am definitely not sure of what they know or don’t because I adopted them as adults. So sometimes I realize they know something but with a different word than the ones I use…but with patience we will get there.
Nell says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 1:34pm
I was working last night and missed the coaching call. Where will the link be posted for the recording of the session?
Thanks!
Deborah says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 1:34pm
Interesting test for me. A month ago I could ask for, and get, a sit or down acorss the room with no problem. This morning asking for a sit from across the room resulted in my girl racing to be beside me and then sit (or down.) With all the value I have been builiding in finding me it appears all actions must now be performed while glued to my side. Looks like we have some work to do. (The good news is our stay continues to be rock solid.)
Barb Levenson says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 5:30pm
I LOVE this game!1 I’ve been playing it with my puppies and dogs for years. I use it now with my youngest to get him focused and listening before we go into the ring. And he too loves the game, jumping into the stand from both the sit and the down. Gotta work on standing on my head part though. It looks like fun!
shelagh usher says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 5:30pm
Here’s an instance where one of these drills came into play!
Two years ago at Ontario Regionals in Ottawa, Ontario I saw Susan utilize one of these sits during the first round of Steeplechase with Encore. It was pouring with rain and very slippery…particularly the contacts which had unfortunately been painted with oil based paint. Many dogs had slipped and fallen…a few very badly. When Susan came around the corner towards the A-frame, she told Encore to sit which she did instantly. Susan was able to get up past the frame to set herself up nicely for the next tricky sequence and released Encore to the frame. I thought to myself “Brilliant!” I went home and practiced this exercise a little and although my dogs are not as brilliant as Susan’s it certainly did come in handy this year at Regionals. I slipped and fell on my butt in a jumpers class and when Lick came out of the tunnel told her to wait (which she did instantly)while I got myself up again. It cost us some time but we did get a clean!
Great drills Susan….loving this e-course!
Paola Hoger says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 5:41pm
I have a question on how to deal with the following problem – my dog freezes. He will be doing his sits and downs (the stand is on the list
)and he is bright and quick and all of a sudden I will cue a position and he freezes. I was releasing taking a step back and re-cueing the position. Reading what you are saying about not re-cueing since it’s rewarding the error, I realize this may not be the best way to deal with this problem. The past couple of days when he freezes I grab his collar move him a few inches and then re-cue the position. I praise but don’t reward, release, cue a position and reward. So my question is, is this the appropriate way to deal with this problem.
Julie S says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 9:38pm
My 9 month old pup had an ah ha moment today. When walking on lead we encountered some of his level 9-10 distractions. He often barks and looses his mind. Instead he came right to my RZ without request or prompt from me!! He looked at me as if to say “well, now that I know something better to do instead of barking – here I am.” He received lavish rewards. He repeated this new found knowledge several times. I hope that his teenage brain remembers this tomorrow. This breakthrough was worth all the “play” and time spent.
mary m says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 10:47pm
Here are our videos of this game….I was not super creative, came home from work added a lot of movement and some random body positions.
Assessment, Oliver could have clearer release cue, but overall he is ready for bigger positional challenges (i.e. saying a cue from the other room, etc.)
Tala needs more value for her sit, this cue got to be a poisoned cue, as I used it too often before adding enough value and clarity to the cue…we are still working on it, but she held position nicely. And, still pretty good for a baby girl
Tala: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fjWZzF3tnQ
Oliver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Iorul5OUQ
Great inspiration, thought about doing a handstand, but with the shirt I had on we would no longer be in the “politically correct” world
Mary
Trudie says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 7:39am
Mary I loved watching you work with Tala and Oliver, you are all brilliant!
Linda says:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 2:28pm
Mary M, very nice videos with your two dogs, Tala and Oliver. I especially liked the way you used “ok” as a release but highly reinforced them to get back to you for more games, rather than just go do what they want. Great job! I’m changing how I use release cues because of this course. – Linda N
Kelly Nielsen says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:30pm
Susan,
I love your creativity! You have really brought more fun & excitement into my training sessions. I have found some great successes & have exposed some weaknesses.
Thank you for the e-course!
Janine Vander Yacht says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 12:15am
Love it, Love it, Love it! I hope that video will be included in the DVD at the end too! Boy oh boy I have Sooooo much work ahead of me. I think this class is the best one I have EVER taken! Thanks Susan!
Janine
denise says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 12:44am
Big holes in my positions training. My 4 yr old does nicely (not brilliant) when not aroused but when I try and play “Can you do it in a box” after some fun Recallers games when she is really excited she can’t do the basic positions. As her arousal level drops off again she can then start doing the sits, stands and drops again. Good information!
The positive side to this info is that the Recallers games and her tugging is really improving her drive and desire to work with me
Sylvia Feder says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 3:19am
We also have a long way to go. I tried this on our morning hike, in the yard, and in the house.
What I learned from watching myself and my dogs on the video:
– I do a lot of “luring” (old habits die hard)
– I do a lot of inadvertent signaling with my body (bending over for down, standing up for sit)
– I caught myself giving a second command and/or making it easier for the dog several times
– It’s clear that my dogs understand the words in only a limited context — so we have lots to work on!
I also learned that it’s hard to keep track of more than one dog (especially when two of them are young dogs), and that the old dog (the brown one in the first clip) can do almost anything and still get a cookie.
I didn’t try the luring into the down when asking for a sit (yet), because I’m sure my dogs would have fallen for it. We also aren’t ready for moving sits and downs. And the human component is definitely not ready for standing on her head!
For those who are bored …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiagXA_8Nfk
syl
Mary M says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 3:57pm
So cute when the kitty thought she/he would get in the shot….”why do the darn dogs get all the “star” attention?!”
LOL
Great job,
Mary
Shelley says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 6:34pm
Wonderful video , great dogs too!
Trudie says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 7:48am
Sylvia thanks for posting your video and comments! I loved watching you and your dogs.
brittsdeux says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 9:27am
Trudie and Mary, both very inspiring — not only your successful cues, but your camera skills as well!
brittsdeux says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 9:28am
OOOPS, I meant Sylvia & Mary! But would love to see Trudie too!
mary m says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 9:32am
My camara was propped up on a small box LOL – I made due with what I had laying around in the basement!
Trudie says:
Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 6:58am
Ah! how great it would feel to be anywhere near inspiring! Actually if you could see how bad I am it would probably boost your morale immensely!
Let’s just say, I feel about as shocked as seamstjr and the words “lots of work ahead for me” say it all!
This is not an excuse, but I started with traditional coercive “repeat the cue” training and my cue for “down” and “stand” looks worth crap.
I did train “sit” over again, changing the cue word from the French ( “a-SEE!” in case anyone wants a classy new word!)
I intend to do the same teaching Mary’s lovely “lie down” (exit “coo-SHAY!”) and “stand” (“duh-BOO!”)
seamstjr says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 5:04pm
Tried the game and learned alot. My dogs do not know the words sit, down and stand. I was shocked. How I ever got 2 rally tiles with two of them is amazing. They respond completly on my body movement which eplains now why I’m having so much trouble with my start lines in agility I have been asking them to sit but they have been having trouble doing it. I thought it was stress. Wow lots of work ahead for me. What an eye opener. I like the idea of testing what the dogs know. It is depressing to find out how little they do know but it definetly helps you see the holes in your training. I really like this aspect of your course.
Pat D says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10:27pm
Playing with this a little bit last nigh, I discovered that my dogs understand “sit” and “down” with either hand signal or verbal cue, but “stand” they only respond on a hand signal. If I just give the verbal cue “stand” they don’t move and after a while they start offering other behaviors like scoot, or head turn, etc. I wonder how this happened??
So we are working on a verbally cued “stand” today and they are catching on fairly quickly.
Elizabeth says:
Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 11:04am
Susan you always say what you’re thankful for and I was sitting here reading your blog and thinking thank goodness for Susan’s blog. I have a high drive dog (my first one) and you’re web site always offers insights and new things to try and always gives me something to think about. I also have had great success with all the puppy games from your books and videos. I am very thankful for finding the wealth of information you put out there!!!
Liz says:
Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 11:46pm
What a fun game. I came up with a distraction to use. I’m not sure if it counts or if its more of an ‘it’s your choice game’. But Gaius had some trouble understanding his commands when we first started
This is our progress so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JPLaE5rs2Q
Jenny Yasi says:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 8:40pm
Awesome!! Awe! I am in awe!
Elizabeth says:
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 9:53am
From another Liz/Elizabeth
I knew I could not do a headstand so I tried the yoga 3 point balance position (or whatever it is called). Head on floor, knees on elbows.
The BC (with seizure history) did excellent IYC in his crate while I worked the Golden. Not a peep or move out of him! The meds help keep his not wanting to turn off brain in check, but I do believe going back and repeating IYC with him is helping as well to keep him focused and calmer.
The Golden – haha. Should’ve thought about the setup for testing our commands. I sort of got into position (not very graceful) and gave him sit command. I could see him standing there looking at me and the next thing I know I am getting my face washed!! He reverted to the Hide n Seek game.
So we also have some work to do.
Elizabeth says:
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 8:06pm
Oh my – another good example of this!
And of course – it’s the Golden who is the only fur ball to add vocal content. lol
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/ok-go-gets-groovy-with-white-knuckles/20ff4u5e?q=Viral%20music&rel=msn&from=en-us_msnhp&form=msnhed>1=42007