Is Time A Factor?

[philospher77]

For this first trick, I would pick something that she already does, and try to get it on cue. You don't want her thinking that these are times when she is going to be forced to do something that she doesn't want to. So, think of things that she already does, and try and get her to do them when you ask. You may need to think outside the box a bit: does she bring you stuffies, paw at things, ** her head to the side when she hears a certain sound, lay down in certain situations? Any of that could be captured and put on cue. Keep in mind that right now you are trying to teach her about learning, so starting out simple can be helpful.

 

Oh... and that bit about delaying feeding times in order to have a motivated dog? There is a reason that Katie does her training at breakfast and dinner! If your dog is excited by mealtimes, it is fairly easy to work training into dinner time. Katie only gets food in a bowl when I am really pressed for time. All the other times, I am doling it out as training rewards.

[Guest sophiesmum]

group training worked great for us. Sophie seemed to learn much quicker if she saw other dogs doing things, now Shadow (our new grey) is learning from Sophie.

 

She had to learn to sit before she was allowed into group training though. She's also not that food orientated so I would advise finding something really really tasty. We taught her how to sit by backing her up against something (such as the wall) and holding the treat up high but close to her so that she naturally had to go bottom down to get it. After a few times she got it, then we would repeat at short intervals daily until she really understood the word.

 

I would definately recommend finding a "Reward Based" training group and taking her there. Socialising with other dogs is great too

[cleptogrey]

to me it's as simple as some dogs like to work, some will show you they can "do it" and then turn off(literally go to sleep in class), some dogs are not at all interested. all of my other breeds of dogs including 3 salukis& 2 terries loved their obedience work. my other 2 greyhounds really enjoyed obedience training and lit up in class, NOT MY ANNIE! she painfully did her basic commands and conked out after 2 reps of each. i tried playing w/ her, had lots of high quality treats- raw meat, stinky cheese and marshmallows, but she just wasn't into it. fortunatly one of the trainers totally understood what was going on since on of her goldens was exactly like that. we polished the recall, she has basic commands under her belt and is off chasing squirrels and cats out of the yard having the time of her life. i say, go w/ the flow and....maybe there is something about the name ANNIE

 

oh, a rubbed backed bathmat works well for sits and downs. i always teach a sit from a down position, i lure them up into a sit on the mat. i also teach down by having a dog tunnel under my legs while sitting at the edge of a chair. i lure then thru, they need to crouch and eventually lure then into a down using the words as they get into position and give out special treats when they succede. annie now always runs inbetween my legs and hangs,even if i am standing as a result.

[Guest PiagetsMom]

Good luck with the clicker training - I looked at several books, but "Click for Joy", by Melissa C. Alexander seemed to be the best book for me to work with. It doesn't have pictures, but it's very detailed in it's examples, and answered most questions that I had.

Edited November 13, 2011 by PiagetsMom

[Feisty49]

to me it's as simple as some dogs like to work, some will show you they can "do it" and then turn off(literally go to sleep in class), some dogs are not at all interested. all of my other breeds of dogs including 3 salukis& 2 terries loved their obedience work. my other 2 greyhounds really enjoyed obedience training and lit up in class, NOT MY ANNIE! she painfully did her basic commands and conked out after 2 reps of each. i tried playing w/ her, had lots of high quality treats- raw meat, stinky cheese and marshmallows, but she just wasn't into it. fortunatly one of the trainers totally understood what was going on since on of her goldens was exactly like that. we polished the recall, she has basic commands under her belt and is off chasing squirrels and cats out of the yard having the time of her life. i say, go w/ the flow and....maybe there is something about the name ANNIE

 

oh, a rubbed backed bathmat works well for sits and downs. i always teach a sit from a down position, i lure them up into a sit on the mat. i also teach down by having a dog tunnel under my legs while sitting at the edge of a chair. i lure then thru, they need to crouch and eventually lure then into a down using the words as they get into position and give out special treats when they succede. annie now always runs inbetween my legs and hangs,even if i am standing as a result.

 

My Annie also likes to go between my legs. She'll stand there while I pet and massage her hindquarters. No matter the outcome, I'm enjoying the additional one-on-one time we're spending together, and we already spend a lot of time together.

[Batmom]

Some good thoughts/advice above, especially re:

 

- Learning to learn. Takes some dogs awhile, then one day the lightbulb goes off and they're all about what they have to do to get that treat or some praise or a squeaky. So keep practicing.

 

- Catching her doing something you want to attach a word (command) to, such as "Lie down."

 

- Having fun. This is maybe the most important of all. High-pitched excited voice, quick short steps, lots of changes of direction (for heeling), HUGE PARTY when she does something right, finding things she does right that you can reward (such as the looking toward you, walking toward you, staying put even when she already was and had no intention of moving ....). Plastering a smile on your face whenever you are training can help put you in the right frame of mind. Also:

 

--- Don't try to train for a whole walk. Too hard. Designate a 5-minute section in the middle or near the end (when she's got her ya-ya's out and sniffs taken care of) for training, or use separate walks.

 

--- Hot dog slivers! Disgusting and delicious! Joseph will work for breadcrumbs, liver treats, cheddar cheese cubes. Hot dog pieces are a whole 'nother league. YMMV.

 

--- Mix in some stupid fun stuff -- shaking hands, swatting at a toy, taking a bow. catching popcorn ... whatever the dog does naturally or can be quickly helped to learn. Gives you opportunities to engage the dog without being too mentally taxing. Yeah, you might get a dog who's always offering a paw to shake when she sits, but if you're not competing in formal obedience, who cares?

[Feisty49]

I went looking for the clicker a few minutes ago. It was no where to be found. Hmmm... I know I left it right here on the end table. Then the light bulb moment hit. I bet Annie took it. Yepper...it was in her bed and she was laying on it, looking very innocent. It's hardly a stuffie but she also takes furniture and people from my granddaughter's doll house and sleeps with 'em. Apparently she likes weird things in bed with her.

[cleptogrey]

when i work on skills and training it's do it once, do it again...major praise and rewards(yup hot dog slivers are up there w/ marshmallows)and then go have FUN! throw in additional training in later on during a walk or the day. maybe 3 reps of an action and go on to something else. greys do get bored really easily to say the least. keep on inventing new games and new times and places to train.i practice heels and straight sits when they least expect it then forget about it. yes, the clicker is wonderful to start a dog and to capture the "right move", but i personally believe it's a FANTASTIC introduction and the dog should be weaned off of it as soon as they catch on.

 

i have to laugh, a friend was just over w/ her corgi who never comes when called(don't start me on that- it's the owner not the dog- and corgis love to work). i did my happy recall- in less than 2 seconds annie was sitting infront of me! yeah, she punked out of classes, but she knows what she needs to know and does it w/ greyhound speed. to me the recall, stay and leave it are the most important tasks to work on, everything else falls into place.

 

btw...what color is your annie??

[Feisty49]

Annie is, on her racing information, red, but I identify her as fawn, with white on her muzzle. There's a link to a picture of her in my signature. Yours is fawn also?

[cleptogrey]

Annie is, on her racing information, red, but I identify her as fawn, with white on her muzzle. There's a link to a picture of her in my signature. Yours is fawn also?

YUP~ ozark's pearl on the web/greyhound-data.org - excellent pic of her.

My link

Edited November 14, 2011 by cleptogrey

[Feisty49]

Annie is, on her racing information, red, but I identify her as fawn, with white on her muzzle. There's a link to a picture of her in my signature. Yours is fawn also?

YUP~ ozark's pearl on the web/greyhound-data.org - excellent pic of her.

My link

 

 

The link doesn't work. ;(

[cleptogrey]

Annie is, on her racing information, red, but I identify her as fawn, with white on her muzzle. There's a link to a picture of her in my signature. Yours is fawn also?

YUP~ ozark's pearl on the web/greyhound-data.org - excellent pic of her.

My link

 

 

The link doesn't work. ;(

 

 

 

just go to greyhound-data.org