Ugh, forgetting the Blog.

I keep forgetting about my blog. ;_;

I recently became aware of this awesome recall dog training game on FP by another player. I've been doing basic obedience with Diesel everywhere I go, so this will be a fun alternative to the same boring "sit, down" crap. 

I also came across some information to help getting a dog to like water, so I want to try that as well. My goals of obtaining a CGC right now are null as I'm having more fun playing around with the training then working on his jumping and pulling problems. I could fix his pulling issues if I weren't lazy and bored with that kind of training, but the jumping? Won't be changed anytime soon unless I can find at least 10 people who will work and do exactly as I want with him.

Here is the recall video! I plan on trying this out soon.

Small Update

I'm still extremely lazy when it comes to training Diesel, I think because it's not exciting anymore. Well, I tried something different; play dead. I figured if I do a fun trick, I'll be more tempted to actually train him. I must say, it worked! 

I gave Diesel a good brushing then decided to treat him to some training with hotdogs! I did a quick warm up to help him feel confident, then I put him in a down. While he was down, I lured him onto his side. I did that for a few times with my hand holding his back down so he got the picture. A few tries later, I was luring him only onto his side. I started adding the word "bang," followed by the lure on to his side, followed by the marker word "yes." I added bang early because I wanted him to associate the term with the laying on his side, and am trying something different with him. I've noticed it's easier to add a verbal cue with him first, then I teach him with the hand signal. 

I'm going to continue tomorrow, and I have a feeling that in a few days, he'll have this command down pact. And here is the video that inspired me (and it's a super cute trick)!

I'm Back?

Man, I need to stop being so gosh darned lazy. I quit my job back on Friday since I couldn't handle that crazy boss. Now I have all the time in the world and since I don't have any money, can't really leave the house and now I should have no excuse not the train my dog.

I really want to get back into training Diesel. I have reinforced his known behaviors; sit, down, come, dap and touch. I need to start modifying the touch command as well as teaching him new commands. I know that poor dog has got to be bored, minus our walks and play time. 

Tomorrow I'll go out and buy some hotdogs and string cheese. We need to do something exciting and I really still want to get his CGC and TDI done. He turns 4 next month, I want to at least have some more new tricks taught.

Issues

I've been extremely lazy recently. I don't understand where my motivation went, I'm lacking it major. 

Bare with me, I will be back on board.

Long Time. No See.

It's been a while since I've made a post. I've been slacking off with the training; bad me. :(

I took a video of yesterday. I really need to wean him off of treats and stop playing around and start working on real obedience. I do want to sign him up with a trainer, just so it'll keep me motivated to work him. I have a new boytoy and it's a tad bit embarrassing to see his dogs listen compared to my knucklehead. 

Right now I'm working on his sit and stay. Since I don't like giving two separate commands, I'm training him using just "sit" and he has to stay in that position until I release him. I'm a little off with timing and he is a little slow with sitting, but we are getting there.

I really need to get him up to par, especially so I can hurry up and get his CGC done and TDI. 

Spin!

Diesel got groomed the other day, and he is looking rather spiffy, might I add! We'll we've been working on his training for the "FP Dog Trick Challenge," and he's doing okay. I'm starting with spin. 

He picked it up pretty quickly, but he sometimes has a hard time remember what I want him to do... almost like he doesn't like spinning, haha. But we are coming along nicely. I want to get him to shake his head no, but I'll wait til after we teach him this trick. 

FP Dog Trick Challenge

I've entered the FP Dog Trick Challenge being hosted on Furry-Paws. I've entered to teach "bow", "spin" and shake head no. I think I'll be able to do this with no problems. And of course I'll record my progress as well as the end result.

As for the last couple of days, I've gotten Diesel to follow my hand and "touch" whatever I point it; in this case, a green sticky note. He's doing very well with it and soon I'll transfer that over to some bells to get him to go outside. 

So for now, I'll focus on "no" and "touch." Oh, and I'm looking into getting a Crested. So yippie on that note.

My pathway to the CGC title.

Yesterday after work I went to see Katie to drop off a hound for training, while there she gave me a brochure with the list of things I need to do to get Diesel to get his CGC. I'm going to list everything that I need to pass and if Diesel can pass that listed item at this time. But first, our training session from today:

Since I busted my butt at work, I couldn't sit on the ground, so I was standing the whole time for our session, which Diesel needs to get used to me doing. I still need to start weaning him off of treats. That being said, Diesel did pretty good again. I switched hands for a our "touch" command and he still got it right. He still knows "up" as well. He's doing very well. I'm going to up his "touch" command tonight and get him to touch a post-it note. That way I can judge if he really knows the command.

Now onto the AKC CGC list of commands Diesel must perform:

Item 1: Accepting a friendly stranger. Stranger/evaluator approaches and greets owner while ignoring the dog. Dog must not show sign of resentment or shyness and must not break position and/or go to the evaluator.  

Diesel doesn't ignore people and will always break position. We need to work on having him sit by my side while someone approaches me. I'll train him by treating him when he looks at people, in a calm mode. In other words, when he looks at someone, he has to look back at me to get a treat. If he goes towards them or starts getting too excited, he won't get the treat and we will start over. Then after I can curb his excitement, I'll have someone approach me while I put Diesel in a sit. If Diesel breaks his sit, we both ("stranger and Diesel & I) will turn away and try again. Once Diesel learns to stay seated and ignore the "stranger" I'll praise and reward him, as will the stranger. Which is when Item 2 comes into play.

Item 2: Sitting politely for petting. Dog must be sitting at handler's side and remain by his side for the evaluator to approach the dog and pet the dog. 

The only time Diesel will be allowed to be pet is when he is sitting. I will put him in a sit and if he breaks the sit, the person stops petting him and ignores him by turning around. As long as he stays sitting he gets pet and treated.

Item 3: Appearance and grooming. Dog must allow to be groomed and examined by evaluator. 

Diesel has no issues with this!

Item 4: Loose leash walking. Dog must walk beside owner with the leash hanging loosely. 

I need to work on Diesel with this. Haven't figured out how just yet.

Item 5: Walking through a crowd. Dog must demonstrate that he is under control and can politely walk through a crowd (3 or more people).

Another issue I have to figure out.

Item 6: Sit and down on command/ stay in place. Dog must demostrate it knows the sit and down command and must remain in stay when told so while the owner walks away then returns.

Diesel can sit and lie down on command, but we haven't worked on stay just yet. I'm slowly building up on his sit stay (by having him sit until I release him; no stay command).

Item 7: Coming when called. Dog must come when called by owner.

Diesel will have no problem with that.

Item 8: Reaction to another dog. Dog must not show anymore than casual interest in another dog.

I'll train Diesel the same way I'll train him to ignore people. He looks at a dog, then looks at me calmly to receive a treat. He shows any excitement or aggression and I will remove him from the setting.

Item 9: Reaction to distractions. Dog cannot show fear, aggression nor should he bark at the distraction.

I'm confident in saying that Diesel will do fine. 

Item 10: Supervised seperation. Dog must not show any anxiety at having the owner leave for 3 minutes.

Diesel will do fine. 

I have a little work ahead of me, but hopefully by the end of February Diesel will be CGC certified. And by the end of summer, he'll be TDI certified. :D  I'm confident in saying that it will happen.

Back in Business

Haven't been updating or training much. Mucho lazy lately. Had been working last Thursday and Friday and was too tired then, but the rest of the week I was too lazy.

Finally got the motivation to do some training today so I did another review of things; sit, down, dap, up and touch. He hasn't forgotten any of the commands, so I'm proud of my little man. Didn't take a video though, but I will next time.

Still need to think of a new command to work on. Really want to do heel, so I might start that tomorrow...

Another Good Day

It's been a few days since our last training session, but Diesel did fantastic... again. I took a video of it today as well.

I need to wean him off of the treats as he is too dependent on them. I'll start the treat randomization tomorrow during our session. He needs to start performing because I say so, not because he gets treats every time. Other than that, he works like a charm. But I have noticed he really doesn't know the verbal cue for down, although he knows the hand cue.

I think tomorrow I'm going to start on some heel work as well. Don't know just yet if I will, but I'm thinking I might. If I don't do heel work, I'll continue with the touch. 

Touch My Hand!

No video today since I was cooking during training. But we did another "touch" session today and I added the verbal cue "touch." He's still a little iffy on it, but he generally understands what I'm asking of him.

Tonight I have to go to my mentor's house to take care of her dogs then in the morning I have a job interview, so no training til then. But I'll work a little bit more on it at my mentor's house. I'm proud of my little man!

Teaching Touch Again

I did another training session today with Diesel. I'm going to do another session later this evening as well. I realize I'm a few days late, but I had been extremely busy lately. Now I'm back into my groove.

I got everything on video again and he did much better this time... all because I did better, haha. He caught on quickly and tomorrow I'm adding the verbal cue so we can take this "touch" to a different level. I'll start pointing to things to get him to start touching once he understands the verbal cue, so I can teach him to ring a bell. 

Training the Touch Command

I started training a new command to Diesel; "touch." I'll just repeat what I put in my Youtube description: Major fail on my part as I wasn't quick enough at times with the marker word.

Yup. Major fail training session. I was too slow for him and didn't "mark" a concrete offer. It was sloppy and pathetic. But I think he understands the basics of it? Like that nose-to-palm means treat. Luckily for me, I took a video of it so I can go back and see what I did wrong with him and try to fix it for tonight/tomorrow's session. 

As you'll be able to see in the video, he is scratching a lot. He is covered in fleas, and I am still awaiting my Comfortis prescription to come in. Probably going to take a few weeks, so until then, tons of baths for the D-man.

Back to the training, he barks a lot out of confusion, so ignore that. The good thing about that though is that when I'm ready to teach him "speak" it'll be easy for me, haha. Hopefully though, in 3 days, Diesel will understand that nose-to-palm gets a treat, since he kinda didn't get it, but kinda did? Thanks to my beautiful accuracy with the marker word (-coughfailcough-).

Movin' On Up!

I did another quick rundown of his commands, and he's doing superb. I'm confident in saying that he knows the "up" command now, so I'm going to be teaching him a new one; "touch." 

What I plan on doing with touch is getting him to use (or ring) a bell by the front door which will signal that he needs to go outside. I'll first start by teaching him to touch my open palm with his nose, then once he understands that I'll transition him to touching a blue sticky note. After he learns that we'll transition to a bell, then maybe learning how to shut doors? Who knows, but it'll be fun!

But for the video below, you can see he pretty much knows "up" and he doesn't need me to lure him into it too much. He did good, I'm proud of my little man. Oh, and for tomorrow's video, there won't be any review of commands, just learning his new one. I will also be doing another training session tonight... may or may not take a video of it, as it'll just be another "review of commands."

Review of Commands

I did another quick run down of all the commands Diesel knows as well as "up." He did fantastic, as usual. I'm proud of my little man. I took a video of it as well which you can see below. I'm going to say one more day of "up" reinforcement then I'll introduce a new command. Haven't thought of which command just yet. So if tomorrow goes like today, I'll cross "up" off my training list and start with a new command.

Learning "Up"

I started Diesel's training back up since my cough is now under control. I can finally say commands without hacking up half my lung. 

He was a little rusty with the "gimme dap" command, which is to be expected as I just started it last week/two weeks ago. But he did very well. We worked on "sit," "down," "gimme dap," and a new command; "up."

For "up" he has to lay down and then go into a sit position from being down. He caught onto that instantly, which makes my life easier, haha. Then we worked on the other commands and he did fantastic and every time after him offering a down, I'd say "up" and he'd do it like it's something he's been doing his whole life. Of course I lured him into the up but he still did it with no hesitation. I'll work on that command some more and I do want to revisit "come" just to reinforce it as I've noticed he's ignoring me again. That's why they say training is a life long commitment, it truly is.

Tomorrow we will do a run through again, as well as reinforcing "come" and his new command "up."