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How to teach a boundary cue
Posted on February 5, 2010
I have just recently come across a new blog that I just love. Because it inspires me.
So far I thought my dogs are doing pretty good, they got their basic obedience down, they are very managable and know one or two tricks just for fun. Well, it is probably needless to say that there is more than just “shake” and “roll over”. But most of the tricks I saw in books so far seemed rather silly and I kept forgetting that even working on a silly trick is another step towards that perfect bond I aspire.
Laura Waudby keeps a blog, The dogs are really in charge, to share her training experiences with her two dogs Lance and Vito and most importantly to keep track of them for herself. She shares her training goals and updates regurlarly how those plans are coming along. And lots of her “tricks” aren’t so silly after all. One that I found last week is actually super handy and I’m totally going to start teaching it to my dogs. It’s the boundary cue, which tells the dog that they cannot cross a certain boundary (into a room, out of the yard, etc.).
Here is how to teach it:
1. Start at a threshold or someplace where there is a very clear boundary that the dog can actually notice. Differences in flooring makes this much easier. The smaller the space the easier as you can easily guard a doorway but will have a harder time using the entire front yard vs. street. If your dog does not know how to patient while you open a door, then start at a threshold with no door or start with the door already open!
2. With your dog’s attention on you and good treats in hand, step across that boundary and immediately pivot in front of your dog so that your dog is on one side and you on the other. This should have been easy, so immediately click and toss a treat behind your dog so he has to run away from you to go get it. Click again while he is still in the other room and hasn’t yet raced back to you and throw that treat someplace else. Throwing the treats encourages your dog to move around and shows him that you are not wanting a formal stay. Repeat this a few times just to give your dog the idea that the good stuff happens in the other room. You should still be right across the boundary so your dog should have zero interest in trying to squeeze by you.
3. Now start moving away from that boundary line, just a few steps, but keep clicking and throwing treats before your dog gets to the boundary. You simply want to introduce your movement into the picture but are making this extremely easy for your dog to do.
4. Start delaying the click. You are still very close to the line, less then 5ft, but you aren’t going to be constantly chucking treats into the other room. This is where your dog is going to start to experiment and will likely cross the threshold. I simply body block the dog back across the line. If you want to you can use your no reward marker, but remember you can’t get upset since your dog doesn’t yet know what you want. Just think of yourself as a hockey goalie and your job is to prevent the dog from going forward. As SOON as your dog starts to think of moving forward, lean your body in to counter act. Still click and toss the treat behind him for not crossing across the boundary.
5. If this is a boundary you eventually want your dog to be invited in, release your dog with an “ok!” (or whatever word you use) and invite him in with your body language. I usually don’t give a treat at this point since I want to be rewarding the actual waiting on the other side rather then the freedom from it.
6. Once your dog is doing pretty well at this short distance and easy boundary, you can start to add a cue. I say “wait” and then my hand signal is my index finger held straight up at the heavens. Since this is a duration behavior you can occasionally repeat it, but I try to avoid that since eventually my dogs do 20 minutes plus waits and I want the responsibility to lie on them without the added reminders.
7. Make it harder! Work on the 3 D’s: distance, duration, and distractions. Remember to only work on one thing at a time so if you are starting to drop treats across the boundary, remain very close and reward often. At any time the dog goes across the boundary, body block him back over. But if the dog is screws up twice in a row then you need to make things easier.
Here are distractions I work on: food dropping, playing with another dog, training another dog, dogs walking by, people walking by, and the door bell. And of course I slowly add in distance to being out of sight and time until about 20 minutes.
8. Generalize. If you have only been practicing from the kitchen to the living room, then take this cue on the road! Work it in different rooms, at the pet store, outside on walks, your front yard (use a long rope for safety) etc. Also try to do it randomly without any of the normal context. Can you get your dog to suddenly wait while you are carrying up laundry from the basement?
Are you as excited about this new cue as I am? If so, make sure to check her post on the topic to get a little additional advice from her personal experience.
Thanks, Laura!
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Doggie Bake Sale
Posted on February 3, 2010
If you are a dog owner in or around Manhattan, KS, the Manhattan Aquarium Co. needs to be on your list of visits for this coming Saturday (Feb. 6th). As every other Saturday, the Riley County Humane Society is holding their adoption day from 10am to 2pm. But on top of that Hagin Photography is taking Valentines pictures with your pet and we are selling home made dog treats for which your best friend will give you two paws up!
All proceedings will go to the Riley County Humane Society. We will be there from 11:30 until we run out of treats or 5pm at the latest. So mark your calendars and come see us!
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Dog Art
Posted on February 2, 2010
I loooove etsy. It is my go to source for everything stylish and a little different. Like right now I am searching for a treat bag for training treats and I realy just don’t want the ones everyone has. So I went to etsy and voilá! I found one. Several.
But that’s not what this post is about. I will tell you about my cool treat bag once I’ve actually received and tested it. Right now I’d like to show you the art of a seller I found by just browsing around the website. Gemini Art Studio.
The artist, Stephen Fowler, gets his inspiration from the big town Chicago, but creates all of these wonderful pieces in a studio in his small hometown Ohio. I am in love with this vintage-feel and I’m an now risking a lot by showing you the piece I really, really would like to have. And I really hope no one else buys it, before I can come up with the money 
Maybe I should save up a while longer and have him do a custom piece of my doggies. He does that, too!
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Black Dog Sunday
Posted on January 30, 2010
What do these three dogs have in common?
They are black, they have been rescue dogs and they have been adopted!
For some reason (unknown to me) black dogs are harder to adopt out than dogs of other colors. It almost seems a little racist to me. But whatever the reason, if you are planning on adopting a dog please don’t make the mistake of (consciously or unconsciously) disregarding the black dogs. Because a good dog ain’t a bad color!
Tomorrow, on Sunday (January 31st, 2010) the Pott. County Humane Society is taking all of their black dogs to the local Petco in Manhattan, KS. Go and fall in love with them! My little black dog is the best I could have EVER asked for!
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Dog Park Etiquette
Posted on January 29, 2010
Yesterday, Mac, Maize and I met a couple of friends and their dogs at the local dog park. Usually it is a pretty nice playtime between our dogs, since they know each other and this cold weather does not draw too many other dog owners out there. This time, though, I had Maize, who is new to our pack and stirred up the group a little bit. Then there was a lady with a 3-months-old puppy getting everyone riled up and getting himself tossed on the ground whining every few seconds. Another friend of mine is very considerate by keeping her young dog out of the dog park, because she knows very well how much he harrasses other dogs and gets in trouble for it.
So I was thinking about dog park manners and when not to take your dogs there and remembered a nice little write up the association of pet dog trainers (APDT) did on their website. Here are a few important ones:
DO NOT:
- ever bring a dog that is under 4 months of age
- bring or use treats when other dogs are nearby (tough one for myself)
- allow a dog to bully another
- bring intact males or females in estrus to the park
- spend your time talking on a cell phone – supervise your dog!
DO:
- make sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations
- supervise your dog when they are playing and interrupt any rough play
- be willing to leave a dog park if you feel that your dog is either being a bully, the play is getting too rough or your dog is just not having fun
- make sure your young dog is not being bullied or learning bad manners from the other dogs
And I love this last one: Be cautious about taking advice from other park patrons who are not dog professionals! Do your own research!
Read the whole article here.
And a book on the topic that has been highly recommended to me is Off-Leash Dog Play: A Complete Guide to Safety & Fun by Robin Bennett. I bought it once as a gift and only got to flip through it once, but I think now is the time that I need to get a copy for myself!
So, be safe and have a fun weekend with your pups!
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Elvia says:
January 30, 2010 at 12:01 am -Ha ha ha, I like this blog. And as the “mother” of a couple of loudmouths- I know that sometimes you just have to leave before everyone else. I think these suggestions would help out more if they were posted outside dog parks. Because we can all use reminders, sometimes.
Maize
Posted on January 28, 2010
And we got the next foster at home. Because we don’t waste any time. And this time, there is no new home on the horizon, yet, so I get to introduce her properly.
Maize is a german shepherd mix and I’m guessing 1-2 years old. She is such a sweetheart. A total people dog, but one that loves other dogs, too. She is about as active as Mac, so those two wear each other out without wearing me out I haven’t found any quirks, yet. But I also have to admit I’ve only had her for two days. But so far, she would be an adoption candidate for our family, too.
Anyway, I know you want to see pictures. Here she is!
And please don’t judge my polaroid skills, I am just starting out. And I can tell you one thing, Polaroid cameras and moving animals are not a good combination! At least not when they are as hyper as my two guys here. Whenever I move they move, no matter if they have been fast asleep just a second ago.
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Dog Park Plans for Manhattan, KS
Posted on January 27, 2010
Okay, all of you who live in and around Manhattan, I need your help!
I am in touch with some people who are planning to build a dog park in Manhattan. And it could already happen THIS year! The only problem are some people who cannot decide on a location. And that is where I need your help: There is a great location at the Cico Park (off Kimball Ave.). The ball park there is not being used anymore and would provide a great area for a dog park. It already has fencing, bathroom, parking lots, irrigation, a playground, picnic shelters and lighting (for night fun!). Plus, the pool nearby is being redone this year as well, so this could turn into a great area for families!
Now I need the voices of people who want this park there, too! Especially you guys who live close to this area (Northview area, and anything west of Tuttle Creek Blvd.). If you want to help to get this done asap, comment below this post with your email address (which will not be published) or email me directly to nadja@modernmuttshots.com! We could have sooo much fun!
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You bake ‘em
Posted on January 26, 2010
As promised last Tuesday I will give you my personal two cents on the dog baking book I purchased recently.
I have to say, the journey started out a little rocky. I had checked out a friends book before and tried some recipes from magazines like The Bark and Modern Dog. So I had things like oat flour and rolled oats already handy. What I had to find out, though, was that this book uses loads of oat and wheat germ and basically no oat flour and rolled oats. So for me it felt like I kept looking and looking and their was nothing i could find to bake right away with what I had in the house. So I got a little annoyed, because I’m impatient like that. After that first little annoyance I just decided to substitue. I think it works just as good. Long story short: to save yoursekf the trouble I had, I advise you to read the introduction before you start baking and stock your pantry with a few basic items that will last you for quite a while! Easy as that. I wish I wouldn’t be so impatient.
Anyway, my initial reason for buying THIS book was that it promised to include a few recipes for training treats. You might know my love for Zuke’s, but I always look for a way to mix things up and why not try to save some money that way, too. So the first thing I baked were Salmon Cheese Treats. And you know what? If I don’t bake any other treat out of this book, I think those alone made it worth the $10 I paid. Or at least my husband would say so. Because it saves him from spending lots and lots of money on my beloved training treats. (And please nobody tell him that this saved money will now go to more rawhides!) Admittedly, the salmon isn’t the cheapest ingredient, but you are supposed to use the canned one, so I would say one whole batch of these treats cost me about $4, depending on where you shop. And it filled a quart-sized ziploc bag. And I mean it FILLED it! Maybe one day I’ll sit down and count the treats one batch makes and compare them to the amount of treats I get in the store bought bags… but not today.
Here is where I’m going with all this. All in all I am pretty happy because it is the first home made treat I found that is small, moist and chewy. Perfect for training. Because in all reality, I’m not one who gives cookie after cookie to my dogs. I enjoy to bake them. I enjoy to bake, period. And then since I’ve already baked them I decide to use them to fill kongs and similar toys. But that is about the extend of it. What I need is training treats. Small and LOTS of them.
And you know what, even if it doesn’t compare to the inexpensive treat you get in every grocery store, at least I know what’s in them. And not only that, the book also gives me nutrition tips along the way, and I like to learn.
Wasn’t that an insightful review?
I’m sorry!
Really!
“Super important edit: Christi added that many commercial chicken stock contain onion, which are toxic for dogs! Homemade chicken stock is pretty easy (and dogs love it frozen into ice cubes), she said. I have not, yet, made any treats with chicken broth, but this book actually does contain a few recipes that call for it. So stay alert and know what your dog can and can’t eat!*
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Christi says:
Josephine
Posted on January 24, 2010
I really wanted to introduce our new foster, Josie, to you this weekend. But it looks like she has already a new home lined up for her. Good for Josie… and we will just wait for the next foster to brag about
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Stubborn Dogs
Posted on January 22, 2010
Your dog only does what you tell him to do the third or fourth time you ask? Or does he, on some days, decide to forget what “come” means, altogether? You might say he’s stubborn, but I really like what agility trainer Silvia Trkman says: “If something goes wrong, always remember it’s your fault, caused either by your training or handling.”
Laurie Luck, from the Smart Dog University, kindly allowed me to use some of her tips and tricks for this blog. In a past newsletter of hers she outlined five solutions to solving the “stubborn dog” problem. Because in most, if not al, cases your dog is not stubborn!
Solution 1: Your dog doesn’t really know the behavior!
Give your dog the cue while you:
Wear sunglasses.
Sit on the floor.
Whisper the word.
Shout the word.
Stand sideways.
Bounce a ball.
Say the word in a “character voice.”
Exchange your normal cue for a word that sounds similar. (Say Pit instead of Sit).
If your dog can’t get the behavior right, guess what. He doesn’t really know the behavior! Go back to basics and start teaching the behavior again, from the beginning, working those variables in the list above into your training.
Solution 2: Your dog wasn’t taught in the location you are asking him now!
Dogs are contextual learners. If you teach them in the kitchen, they know the behavior in the kitchen. But they don’t necessarily transfer that knowledge to the living room. Teach your dog to do behaviors everywhere you need him to do those behaviors.
Solution 3: Your dog doesn’t know how to deal with distractions!
A dog who sits beautifully at the door is nice. A dog who sits beautifully at the door after the doorbell rings is a gem! Distractions are anything the dog notices. Distractions can be visual (the dog across the street), auditory (the doorbell ringing), olfactory (another dog’s scent), or any combination of the above.
The key to working with distractions is to introduce them at a level that the dog can perceive, but that isn’t overwhelming for the dog. For instance, if I wereintroducing the doorbell into my sit training, I might have a neighbor ring the doorbell at 30?second intervals while I’m upstairs with my dog in the bathroom.
I’m far enough away from the distraction (the ringing doorbell) that hopefully the dog can work through it and will be able to sit. Once my dog has mastered sitting at a distance from the distracting doorbell, I’ll move him closer to the distraction; maybe into the hallway upstairs. Systematically, I’ll be able to move closer and closer to the ringing doorbell, and my dog will be able to sit despite the distraction.
Solution 4: The behavior doesn’t pay off!
Dogs know what works. They do what works. They know what doesn’t work. They don’t do what doesn’t work. Your job is to make sure that doing what you want the dog to do works for your dog. What this means is that you need to look at every situation from the dog’s perspective.
For instance: the dog is outside guarding the yard against the neighborhood squirrels. He’s got them all treed and is now on sentry duty, making sure none of those squirrels touch the ground. You need to run some errands so you call your dog inside to put him in his crate. What’s the dog’s perspective? He sees the car keys in your hand, he knows that means you’re leaving. His choices are: (1) come inside and get put into the crate for who?knows?how?long or (2) remain on sentry duty and patrol the yard. Which choice wins, in your dog’s mind? It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out! So what’s an owner to do? Make it worthwhile for your dog to come indoors, of course! When he comes inside, give him some prime treats – leftover chicken from last night’s dinner maybe. Play his favorite game for two minutes. Give him a fantastic stuffed food toy in his crate as you leave. Those three things far outweigh squirrel sentry duty in most dog’s minds.
Solution 5: Overwhelmed Syndrome
Too many dogs are labeled stubborn when in reality they are shut down. The situation or the circumstances overwhelm the dog and they cannot think. They cannot comply. What exactly does “shut down” look like? The dog doesn’t respond to your requests. He may not even respond to his name.
Want to see if your dog is overwhelmed? Completely remove him from the situation. Give him a few minutes to adjust and then give a simple request. Can he do it? If so, he was most likely overwhelmed in the situation you just removed him from. What this means is your dog needs more practice and less pressure in situations like that one. Next time, either let him observe the situation from farther away or don’t expect anything from him if you must place him in that overwhelming situation.
If you want more tips, make sure to sign up for Lauries monthly newsletter “Your Smart Dog”!
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What a fun find- I love the black dog records piece!