Free shaping ideas

pawzaddict · 08-19-2010, 11:09 PM

so I learned I did not quite get the free shaping totally right, luckily Peyton offers a couple behaviors I never cued or led him to do. However, I am running out of ideas. Glacier is doing this as well but gets a bit more frustrated. Should I use objects? If so what. I will try a box again but for the most part they dont give a hoot. Is there a behavior that is acceptable that I could watch for from my dogs? Peyton backs up, Glacier does a relaxed down with his head down (only happened twice then we ran out of his dinner portion lol). Thanks ahead of time.

**fawkese1** · 08-19-2010, 11:22 PM

you can click/flash them for ANYTHING... seriously, i've been clicking clover for blinking

and with an object, you can click them for any interaction with the object, even if they only slightly turn their heads toward the object... as far as worrying about what is free shaping etc, don't

that's just terminology... i would keep clicking them... you're main focus should be on FINDING things to click them for, and keeping your rate of reinforcement up...

one thing that really really works to keep the dogs interested is to click everything they do, no matter how silly it is to you, and then pick one thing to give a better reward for...

you use kibble right? so i would get something that is slightly better than kibble, maybe cat kibble, and click them for everything they do, turning their heads, sniffing the floor, looking at you, looking at an object (any object) taking a step and so on, but then pick stuff that you like and give them better rewards for it... so if you want them to touch stuff with their noses, that gets something better then just something random...

you are still in that beginner phase where they know what a clicker is, but they haven't learned that they actually control the clicker, not you, once they figure out that their behavior=clicks they will start doing all sorts of stuff...

pawzaddict · 08-19-2010, 11:32 PM

so I should literally be clicking for every behavior? So lets say I want Peyton to touch a book (got that from the other thread

) and he barks, then I click and give a simple treat, then he lies down I give a simple treat, then he looks at the book I give the good treat then touches the book lots of the good treat? Or should I hold out on clicking and treating until he looks at the book then touches it?

Quote:

you are still in that beginner phase where they know what a clicker is, but they haven't learned that they actually control the clicker, not you, once they figure out that their behavior=clicks they will start doing all sorts of stuff...

Peyton is already there I think LOL he is all over the place, barking, lying down, sitting, taking a step back, finding something to put his paw on, pulling that thing, lying down, barking, staring at me, etc etc LOL I guess my thing is I am not sure if I should be waiting for the particular behavior or just clicking for anything like I said above.

**fawkese1** · 08-19-2010, 11:39 PM

ahhh! that is great... so yes to this

Quote:

so I should literally be clicking for every behavior? So lets say I want Peyton to touch a book (got that from the other thread

) and he barks, then I click and give a simple treat, then he lies down I give a simple treat, then he looks at the book I give the good treat

pawzaddict · 08-19-2010, 11:44 PM

oooooooh ok so now I kinda feel bad for driving him nuts!!! LOL I will probably do bananas or apples or something uber yummy like turkey for the super treat and use the different random kibbles (we get sample bags at the pet stores and use them for training

) for the "smaller" behaviors. Thanks again for taking the time to explain this to me! Sorry if it was repetitive I just want to make sure I am doing this right

**fawkese1** · 08-20-2010, 12:04 AM

lol... again, no need to apologise

i'm just glad i could help

i'm so excited to hear all the stuff your guys learn

**Criosphynx** · 08-20-2010, 12:36 AM

Quote:

you can click/flash them for ANYTHING... seriously, i've been clicking clover for blinking

and with an object, you can click them for any interaction with the object, even if they only slightly turn their heads toward the object... as far as worrying about what is free shaping etc, don't

that's just terminology... i would keep clicking them... you're main focus should be on FINDING things to click them for, and keeping your rate of reinforcement up...

one thing that really really works to keep the dogs interested is to click everything they do, no matter how silly it is to you, and then pick one thing to give a better reward for...

you use kibble right? so i would get something that is slightly better than kibble, maybe cat kibble, and click them for everything they do, turning their heads, sniffing the floor, looking at you, looking at an object (any object) taking a step and so on, but then pick stuff that you like and give them better rewards for it... so if you want them to touch stuff with their noses, that gets something better then just something random...

you are still in that beginner phase where they know what a clicker is, but they haven't learned that they actually control the clicker, not you, once they figure out that their behavior=clicks they will start doing all sorts of stuff...

ok, this. verbatim. Iam not sure if Iam creeped out by that, or very proud.

Quote:

so I should literally be clicking for every behavior? So lets say I want Peyton to touch a book (got that from the other thread

) and he barks, then I click and give a simple treat, then he lies down I give a simple treat, then he looks at the book I give the good treat then touches the book lots of the good treat? Or should I hold out on clicking and treating until he looks at the book then touches it?

depends...are you trying to build confidence? Or trying to have a goal met(book touching)

**fawkese1** · 08-20-2010, 12:38 AM

Quote:

ok, this. verbatim. Iam not sure if Iam creeped out by that, or very proud.

thanks crios... i must be in your head again

**Criosphynx** · 08-20-2010, 12:43 AM

In your heeeead. In your heaaaad... Zombie...Zombie...

there are lame songs in my head... You sure you want to be there?

pawzaddict · 08-20-2010, 12:44 AM

Um I am just trying to work his brain lol. I think they could all use confidence building but I kind of want to set a goal so I know they get the point
Posted via Mobile Device