pitbullmamaliz wrote:There are some thing Inara does that I would like to get on cue - shake offs, play bows, etc. When I am trying to capture those, do I need to capture one behavior at a time? Or can I click her for a shake off at one point, and then click a play bow later that same day?
I've found it sorta depends on how clicker savvy the dog is. Fig has been working with me in the bathroom for the past few days on "spin in a circle to the right"...he offered it to me this morning, on the couch, I said "Yes!" and gave him a treat (since this was the first time he offered the finished behavior anywhere other than the bathroom). Then he suddenly rolled over on his back (another behavior I've planned on capturing)...I started marking/treating that behavior...and he offered the spin a few more times, but then settled into the "roll on back" behavior reliably. He's very clicker savvy, so it worked for him. I've seen that backfire on dogs that don't "get it" yet. You'll know best what works with Inara.
Also, when it comes to getting calming behaviors on cue, would having her do a shake off in a stressful situation help her emotionally or would it just be doing another trick?
I think it all helps...teaching calming signals on cue can definitely help. Same with teaching relaxing body posture, open mouth, etc. It's the same thing as trying to make yourself smile when you're in a bad mood...the emotion gets attached to the behavior, and it will change your mood. Same thing for the dogs...
"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo
"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw