Wordless Wednesday: 2 Corgis 1 Cone

Another Stout Video

Stout has been working on pivoting into Heel position!




He is finally getting it! :)

Stout in a Box

For those who may not have seen this on Facebook:

This was the first time we've tried this since he was a puppy! He remembered well  :)

Stout Graduates!

Stout, John, & I have been taking a "manners" class with Mandy Eakins of Manners Matters KY.

 

Last year we had Stout enrolled in a bunch of Obedience classes. While those were good, they were not exactly what I was looking for (or needing!)...

 

This class seemed like perhaps it would be a little remedial, but it ended up being perfect!

 

 

 

I've known Mandy for quite some time And knew she had just begun teaching some classes. Once I heard who she had been learning from though, I was sold  :)

 

I figured it would be a good excuse to get Stout out during the winter & work more on his focus/attention. Whatever I can do to help with agility...

 

The first night of class didn't even include the dogs. We talked about training philosophies & practiced using the clicker (yeah, I'm a sucker for clicker stuff!)

 

The class wasn't about heeling & stays & recalls & sitting... We did work on some of those things, but we mostly worked on focus & eye-contact & "leave it" & other shaping type things.

 

And with Stout... we spent A LOT of time on "no barking"  :)

 

Last night was graduation. We've definitely seen a huge improvement in Stout. Stout & John even won the "Longest Sit Stay" competition!

 



 

 

We plan on continuing on in January. The next class builds upon this, aiming toward earning his CGC.

 

Stout just may become a good citizen yet!

Another Video: Stout Learning to Wrap

Wrap jump stanchions, that is! (not presents...)

(view larger)

This is the last week of our online class with Silvia Trkman. I cannot recommend it enough! We have had a blast!

Stay tuned for more videos in the coming days, plus a graduation video featuring all the tricks we've learned in the session!

Newest Class Videos

Here are our newest videos that we submitted to Silvia.

I have to say, we aren’t making near the progress that some in the class are making. At times it is a little frustrating, but then suddenly he will have a huge breakthrough & my hope is restored. And it’s hard to know who in the class is doing this for the first time like we are. Some have taken it with other dogs and so have worked ahead. Some are able to devote much more time. And some aren’t doing it by shaping (I can’t know for sure, but Silvia seems to be able to pick up on it).

Why is shaping these things so much better than luring? Well, first of all, shaping is kind of fun  :)  I think it gives you an insight into just how your dog’s mind works. You learn how they learn. I’m learning Stout’s frustration level, and how to avoid it. I’m learning that it’s all the small details that eventually lead to the big outcome.
For example: I called John into the room last night to see Stout’s “reverse.” We had finally had a breakthrough. As John came in, I had Stout backing up all over the room, going in circles, running into things… Kind of like a little bumper car stuck in reverse. He would just keep backing up until I finally clicked. He was impressed.

“How did you even teach him that?” Well, I explained that I clicked for him moving one foot backwards. “And he did this?” Well, no. I then clicked for 2 feet going back. “So then he started doing this?” No, then he sat down. But as he sat down, he would move 1 more foot backwards. Then his 2 front feet backwards. Finally he’d have to move his butt backwards in order to have room to move his front feet backwards. The day before I had him scooting around the room backwards in a sit.

Video submitted of Stout backing up.

You can see we are just starting to break out of the butt scooting...

“So how did you get him to stand up?” Good question. I didn’t get him to do anything. In his own little corgi mind, he figured out that it was faster & easier to walk backwards rather than sitting. And the moment he did, I “jackpotted” him. Next thing I knew he was backing further & faster across the room!

So can Porter back up? Nope. And I’ve been trying to teach him just as I have Stout. I think he will in time, but it will take longer. As I said before, Porter doesn’t have the history of shaping. He has mostly been lured. Porter hasn’t learned how to “think” like that yet.

By luring, you are speeding up the process. But actually going slowly & letting the dog think & learn how to think first is the fastest way to the ultimate goal. Luring is bribing, which gives them the power – they decide if what you have is worth the effort. Shaping gives them a completely different attitude towards work. They are asking us what they can do for the reward. It’s a subtle power shift.

Stout is paw targeting a wooden spoon.

This is a precursor to learning to "cross his paws" & other tricks.

I'm not sure he'll ever cross his paws with those stubby little legs...