Malli wrote:Oh, I've been stopping and releasing and rewarding, but I'm thinking that it would be pretty difficult for him to mark what he's done if I don't reward him while we're still in motion, huh? That was a bit of a head smack moment.
The stupidest part is the person that originally taught me the attention heel taught it this way. Idiot.
Malli wrote:I may be tired, but I can't think off the top of my head why? Is it like a bad habit?
I can definitely understand the part rewarding for correct position because, thats obviously what I want for my end result.
Malli wrote:I may be tired, but I can't think off the top of my head why? Is it like a bad habit?
I can definitely understand the part rewarding for correct position because, thats obviously what I want for my end result.
DemoDick wrote:Malli wrote:I may be tired, but I can't think off the top of my head why? Is it like a bad habit?
I can definitely understand the part rewarding for correct position because, thats obviously what I want for my end result.
The dog will end up waiting for your physical cue in combination with the command to get into position instead of relying on the verbal command only. It's subtle at first, but when you find yourself unable to cue the dog with your shoulders, you'll run into problems. This can get quite extreme in the case of some competition dogs, where they will only heel properly as long as the handler is wearing the "correct" training vest full of treats, "marching" appropriately, has the "correct" leash in the "correct" hand, turns on a dime in a perfect 90 degree fashion, etc. In my opinion, if the dog needs that much help, he doesn't know how to heel.
I like to teach that heel is a position for the dog to assume that has nothing to do with my body position or what I may be doing. I teach the dog to get into heel when I am seated in a chair, standing on a raised platform, carrying various items, etc. For movement, I will heel the dog while doing various turns, walking backward, traversing obstacles, and performing a running sidestep. Once the dog understands that heel is a position relative to my leg and has nothing to do with anything else that I may be doing, he gets it.
Demo Dick
Malli wrote:That makes sense.
So, do you start with more with more obvious "brain teasers", and work up to the more difficult stuff?
I would think that asking for the heel while sitting would be easier, and that asking for it on a raised platform would be a more difficult concept for the dog to grasp Its a bit of "think outside the box" for the dog, I think.
Any tips for showing them how? Or just baby steps?
Malli wrote:lets see
I got...
pawed at
leaned into
climbed on
he brought me his toy
I think he thought I was goofing off
once I quit laughing gave him a little helping direction he got it after a few repeats, all in about 10 minutes... so not bad
I got a heel in the kneeling position
apparently with my legs extended was just too much of an invitation to wrastle
and a heel while sitting at the enormous computer chair, and square to my shoulder or hip (respectively) as well
better then I thought it would be, for sure
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