2020 12 28
Two big topics puppies and training
the two new puppies are cute as can be and certainly 99% Dane it may not be 100% ---- I've never seen ears like that on a regular Dane . at first I thought the ears were cropped and they just hadn't put on the brace to make them stand but on closer examination I don't think they were cropped for a couple of reasons--- number one==== the funny little flap at the bottom of the ear is still there which is often removed when they crop 'em and the other reason is they don't go to a point as they would if they were cropped .. there are a lot of other things about the puppies that are different than ours .. our usual Danes are exceedingly large heavy boned and things like that and even though these are babies and will grow tremendously I don't think they are the bulk the dogs are but that could be just typical American Dane--- at any rate ..Our ghost of the left hand drawer has seen it proper to give us these dogs so we will work on them and work them into the service dog training program in one way or another .
Until we get them to the point where we can turn them loose on puppy Hill because of this COV , I don’t really want any visitors to them .. you can also see them on camera right now in the kitchen which is working well ... and I will graduate them to the condo in a few days ..
it was a shock for them to see a bunch of big dogs .. I have only put gymini in with them so far I can't see I ever will put chaos in with them at least for six months ,
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now As for training ... All training is a learning experience for both the trainers and the dogs because every situation is slightly different and might require a different set of eyes to look at it .. those Extra set of eyes should be mine but I can't be everywhere .. although I did see the feeding fiasco and already discussed it with the trainers by the time 642 camera people send me emails about it ..
I love comments from camera people because I can't be everywhere -- and I do like to have them be constructive .. don't tell me the Sky is falling when it actual facts there's just one small adjustment that needs to be made .. there was one camera person who picked it up------- the basic problem was .. and it is one of my original mandates .. don't use traeits to try and train a dog .. because then their mind is on the treat and not what you're trying to teach them ...
unfortunately in this situation of trying to feed them breakfast you had the ultimate treat which was their basic nourishment which they'd already been trained to approach by jumping up on the table and waiting ... and the trainers were saying no you can't do that /. The dogs were not wrong.... they were doing exactly what they were trained to do
taking it from the top.....
it was a great hullabaloo when someone said to the traiinrs “you need to get the dogs to stop and wait at their feeding tables before you put the food down “ and that certainly would be very true ... except we have the A- B problem .. the trainers and other handlers figured they walk out with a dish of food in their hand tell the dog to stop and they dog should and everything would be fine because eventually that's what's possible.... however ...
It was a perfect example of why I say you cannot train a dog to do a thing if there is food or treats involved... .. because the dogs were being driven nuts by someone telling them to stand still well they know darn well that they were supposed to run out to the arena get their front feet on those tables and they would get food that's what they were trained to do and that's what they did .....to have a person to be standing there with their food say you can't have it yet .. with the poor dog saying but I'm supposed to get up there and---- I'm supposed to get up there and =====I'm supposed to get up there ...demonstrated their mind was on the food and you can't blame him ----they're hungry ..what needs to happen is .... feed their breakfast normally---- run out get up there and feed 'em don't withhold their food .. then after they've eaten and had a nap and maybe a run around invite them back into the arena to go up and down the stairs and get up on the bench and do all sorts of things -----and one of the things would be to stop-- whoa --and then tell them to --wait --and not move...... it should be very easily trained if they're paying attention to you which they seem to be you want to a good wait in their head .. Before you get anywheres near that food table ..
once they have a good wait in their vocabulary then go over in front of the tables and have them wait ..
next step would be to wait in front of the tables and stand there while you walk around behind .. and ask them to jump up and give them a great big Pat for thank you and hopefully ..they've got the directions in their head . with no treats involved...
at that point maybe----- just maybe after they've had their dinner or breakfast and aren't starving you can do your part of the feeding exercise which is to have a small snack in a dish and then go out and have the m wait in front of the table---- you walk around while you're saying stay stay stay or whatever else you're going to say wait whatever ------get the get the dish into the table and say OK get up there or whatever you say at that point .and they will get a little snack in a dish . After you've done that a couple times with the food dish .. then maybe you can get away with doing it with their breakfast when they're hungry .
let me also remindy ou all ---When I say “ do it a couple times “I do not mean just standing there and repeating their performance .. I don't find immediate repetition effective at training ....do it once then go play on the stairs ...or the ramp and then come back and do it again ... and then the third time you do it make that the next day .. So this whole performance of rushing out to dinner may take 10 days ... but those same 10 days you're either going to be teaching or reinforcing a lot of other training things like can I get in a car .. so that can be a goal 10 days from now let's reassess how all the pups are doing with this
tiny adjustments in training can make for huge end results,,,
My dogs carefully taught me this procedure becausw I started with just sizzle and Bentley and going through the front door 2 ----150 pound dogs And me just don't fit through one door i.. add Gemini -- and it could be downright dangerous . so before I put my hand on that doorknob I tell them to wait .. in no uncertain terms .. you may see it on camera but Luckily you can't hear it because they are not going to nknock m e over . They will stand motionless until I say their name at which point they will dart out the door .
I am sure that these three dogs would stand motionless in front of a table till I put the food down because they know darn well what wait means We have 15 puppies who have yet to learn that .
