In transferring my previous release cue word which was “ok!” to a new release cue “break!” I learned today to say “break! ok!” and then I will gradually fade using the word “ok.” Also today while practicing short duration stays it was very apparent my timing with the clicker needs polishing, as I am still fumbling a bit with saying the cue, watching for the behavior, pressing the clicker, releasing with a new word first then the old word, then giving a treat. Whew! Jackie is doing a great job in class. Me? Well I’m trying!
Our homework this week includes nose touch to the hand in different places with distance, the beginning of recall which is call their name and mark and treat them for looking at the handler, mark and treat for making eye contact and seeking eye contact, rewarding Jackie allowing me to grab her collar, spontaneously leaving food on the ground (also known as “it’s yer choice”) or what I think of as “hers whats” as in “hers whats ignores the cookie is hers whats gets the cookie,”and duration for sit and down stays.
Pearls:
- After 30 years using “ok!” as my release word, switching to “break!” is proving to be harder than expected
- To transfer an already learned cue from one word to a new word, you first say the new word followed immediately with the known word to get the behavior, then gradually fade the old word
- Training a dog is easy; training a human takes real effort! My timing and clicker management are a work in progress
- Home work this week includes: nose touch in different places and adding distance, beginning whiplash turns (call Jackie’s name and mark and treat her for looking at me), mark and treat for making eye contact, reinforcing collar grab, hers whats, and duration for sit stays and down stays
