Yes, I figured it was going to happen, but I hoped that it would not. I have been training Rip to use the "box" to do running contacts on his Aframe and Dogwalk. Initially I taught him contact position, where he would do a 2on 2off for me, so I knew he had some understanding of the position, and I transitioned to having him run through the box on the ground, and then moved the boxes to the equipment, and had him do contact positions in the box. All's well... Then he was doing full height equipment with the box and the boy would hit his contact nicely every time, just stride right down into them. Every time!
Now, he didn't have a lot of speed doing this, but he wasnt on a liesurely stroll either. As time goes on, he is getting more comfortable running on the equipment and his speed is ever increasing. Now I am finding that he's started leaping. Damnit all, it couldnt be easy, could it? No, turn into a leaper just like every other dog out there training for running contacts.
So now the wife has some ideas for us to work on to get him striding back through again. I havent given up on the box yet, but why cant this just be easy... why cant we tell them what we want, and they just do it?
7 comments:
contacts are just so fun aren't they? too bad they even exist- but it's good to have a challenge.
it's annoying that the dogs do them wonderfully and you think you've done a great job getting them to understand it, then somedays they are just like- "nope don't feel like it"...i wonder what's going through their little brains sometimes.
I find contacts such high maintenance (running and stopped). Even Summit who has really solid 20/20 with a good understanding of the end behavior and release cue, will eventually push his release in a trial. Then I have to go back and really train and proof at home. He's good for about 3-4 trials and then back to pushing his releasse again..... sigh... it's never ending.
Sadly, you've stolen my next post almost word for word. My beautiful almost perfect running dogwalk has vaporized seemingly overnight. If you ever figure out the 'telling them what we want' part please pass it on.
Oh no Elayne! Well make sure to write your next post about it, and somehow the collective wisdom of the internet will see one of these posts and will provide the magic solution. Anxiously waiting......
Morganne, Skye is a lot like you describe Summit - it seems like after a couple trials, the contacts have deteriorated and I need to go back for more retraining. Its like a "Prepaid Contacts Card", so you top it up, but then you use your Contacts Minutes over a few trials and then they are gone, and you need to top up again.
LOL! Love that analogy!!! Sign me up for one of those!
In Summit's case, it's not retraining (he knows the behavior), it's reinforcing the criteria (in his case, of the release cue). He's a pushy boy and in the excitement and adrenaline rush of competition, he begins to anticipate the release.
Hey, can you get prepaid cards for other things too? A brain perhaps...
Post a Comment