Boo's very smart.

We could maybe try teaching the different sections over a few months and then the final trick. So then the dogs who don't learn as fast or not as experienced trainers could build it up.

__________________
"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

If in doubt, she always reverts to the last thing she learnt. Fairly typical, I think

"Listen" is her No Reward Marker.

She LOVES being shy. I think dogs sometimes tend to learn tricks quicker, and find them more fun. Personally, I think (with me, anyway) we tend to make more fuss when they learn a trick. I know when she learned "shy", I was - wrongly - far more delighted with her than when she learned a simple "sit". The resulting whooping and fuss encourages her to try a "shy" if in any doubt what I want.

Note to self - get as excited with more "mundane" behaviours as I am with tricks

Sit is Buster's default behaviour if he can't work out what I want. They will always try everything they know first

__________________
"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

Yes she is - but she's also incredibly sensitive and if I up the criteria too soon, she gets confused and gives up very quickly. Asking for even SLIGHTLY too much, before she's totally confident with what we're doing, can result in her actually walking off and almost sulking!

I reckon I could teach Monty the behaviour quickly enough, but the trick would probably be too hard for him. He finds it really hard to do the whole roll over thing, I'm thinking it's coz his legs are too long (He's a Heinz 57 dog & has legs kinda like a greyhound!). They just get in the way all the time!

Yeah it could be tricky for the larger dogs.

Ok back on topic people is everyone ok with the trick or is there any other problems?

__________________
"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

very typical, just about every dog does it...
that she uses *shy* whenever she gets confused is TERRIFIC - thats a great, low-stress signal that shes lost, and needs help to get back on track.

tricks in general -
i agree, humans think trix are simply adorable, and often greet them with tremendous enthusiasm, where good manners are ho-hum.

some dogs just adore certain behaviors, too -
my Akita-girl had a passion for being covered by a towel head-first, and gently rumpled - she would laugh-pant, rumble-growl, and be grinning like a complete fool when she emerged, wagging + ecstatic.
of course, that was done To Her -
her fave-thing to do To Me was to drag me around in scent-games; the very sight of her harness would make her prance + woo-woo in anticipation, it was the only time she was allowed to drag me across the landscape,

excellent memo!
should be on the wall of every training-facility, too...

all my best, and happy training,
--- terry

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

I'd never thought of it like that but of course you're right - thanks!

hey, lou! :--)
maybe first U could have him learn to fold into a large laundry-basket...
stand with one paw in, 2 paws in, 3 paws in, all 4, then shape lay-down, and finally step-in + curl down into it.

a lot of leggy dogs or large dogs have a really poor concept of where their butts or hind-feet are.
the T-touch figure-8 wrap of a wide Ace-bandage across chest, up over shoulders (X), under torso (X), over loin (X), and wrapped around waist or behind butt, gives them a MUCH better idea of where their own rear is in space, and in relation to the rest of them.

for dogs like Danes + other leggy Giants, this is an excellent pre-training foundation for agility, freestyle, or anything else that requires they KNOW where their rear paws or butt are, and how to maneuver with some grace.

all my best,
--- terry

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

Just did a bit more work on "say your prayers" - she remembered paws up on the chair, so we worked on lowering her head between them. She actually offered it as soon as I witheld the click for paws up - probably because it's quite similar to "shy".

Made the mistake (in hindsight) of using my comp chair to teach it, which is all very well but it's not usually in the middle of the room so I'm going to move to using the sofa.