Our friend Jodi recently wrote on her “Heart Like a Dog” blog about how her Labrador retriever Sampson is trying to train her. I should say that Sampson has been sharing tips on “How to Train Your Human” (these are some fun posts that you should definitely read!). Sampson’s newest thing is to stop every so often on a walk and try to get his Mom to give him a treat. After reading the post, I commented that Luke has been doing the same thing a lot lately!
I wasn’t sure why Luke was doing this. Sometimes I think he might stop because he’s unsure of which way to go, or just unsure in general, as he can be sometimes. He might be looking to me for direction. Also, I like him to check in with me, so sometimes if he stops and looks at me, I will give him treats.
However, just recently, I came to a realization. (This is good news, because it means that it’s warmed up enough that we’ve been able to get out for more walks lately!)
Let me back up a bit. When training Luke to tricks or cues, I often use a clicker, but if it’s something that makes coordinating all that difficult (clicker training can be challenging for an uncoordinated person like me, but I try because Luke responds well to it), I’ll use a cue word, usually “yes”. But I also often find myself saying “good boy”, just out of habit, when Luke does something I want. It just comes out (I do it after the click or cue word, and often at the end of a training session when he gets some bonus treats. “You’re such a good boy!! Good job, buddy!!”).
What I noticed when we were out walking was that if he did something I wanted, such as slowing down when I asked, or going the direction I wanted, out of habit I was saying “good boy”. No wonder he keeps turning to me for treats!
Now the trainer needs to train herself to stop saying “good boy” all the time, and only use it when I’m looking for him to pay specific attention to me. While I like to give him treats when we walk, especially if he follows a cue, I don’t want to have to do that every time.
I think overusing words is one of my worst training habits. I don’t know how many times I’ve ruined cue words for Luke. In the recall class we’re taking, we need to find a new word that we’ll be using for recall. I’ve already wrecked three possibilities: Luke’s name, “come”, and “here” (he still responds to all of those, but not all the time…that’s why we’re taking the class). If anyone has any suggestions on what else we can use, it would be greatly appreciated! A whistle was also suggested, has anyone tried that for recall?
I also wonder if it’s not so much what I’m saying, but the tone of voice I’m using. Luke hasn’t always been big on words. He responds more to gestures, and possibly my tone of voice. For instance, when I tell him to “stay”, he should stay until I use his “release” cue which means he can go. However, I’ve found that if I say anything at all when he’s in a stay, he considers me just speaking to him to be his release. I’ve had to learn to keep my hand out if I’m going to talk, so he’ll continue to stay. By the same token, if I tell him to come to me by saying “here” and holding my hand, palm out, by my side, then he will come. But that’s only going to work when he can see me.
Luke is the first dog I’ve done a lot of training beyond the basics with. It’s not just him that is learning new things every day. I have a feeling that Jodi has the right idea – Luke might be training me just as much as I’m training him, or at the very least, we are learning together. 🙂
Dogs are so observant, and that is something to always be aware of. Have you ever trained your dog to do something without meaning to?
Hi, jane thanks for posting and sharing about training a dog is hard as we look we need to look the behavior of a dog when they are in the yard or field dog, is smarter and understandable compared to the animal but your article is useful.
I accidentally taught Merlin to “back up”. When playing fetch i usually kick the tennis ball with my feet and i don’t want him to get too close in case i kick it at him so i had the habit of telling him to back up. One day i told him to back up and he reversed a few steps lol. So he was paying attention.
It’s so fun when they learn something like that! We spent a lot of time training Luke to back up when we say “beeeeep beeeeeeep”. LOL
So true they train us well.
The boys are so tuned to us and I think we have trained each other. I have been working with Bentley on letting other dogs or humans pass us on our walks. We step off the sidewalk and he sits for a treat. It works well.
Great job by you and Bentley!!
These so-called ‘dumb animals’ are way too clever for us mere huMoms sometimes. Elsa was getting a treat on our walks when she didn’t go crazy when we came upon another dog. I noticed her harness was getting snug and had to stop rewarding her with a treat and just go crazy with the praise. She’s so clever and has figured that out too so now she’s less reactive and slimming down now too. #facesmack
Luke and I were working on a new treat game from the class the other day. I was having so much trouble remembering what order to do it all in, and when to click, I told Luke that I am obviously the weak linkis this trainer/trainee relationship!
Good for Elsa, and so good she got where she needed to be by being so smart!
We have a similar situation with treats. When I’m in the kitchen, the cats know that if they look hungry and adorable I’ll give them treats. I know I should break them of the habit … but they’re so cute!
Yup, they have you very well trained! Sam comes out for her afternoon treats at the same time every day, so if I’ve forgotten, there she sits reminding me!
Luke is a smart pup.
Wow, good training really is hard work! We tried whistle training with Bear way back when I think, but truly can’t remember much! You just need one word for your recall training? Could be anything really, right, but you want it to make some sense for what you are doing? All I can think of is “now”. As you said , you have used up the most obvious ones! Good luck!
Ha, I’ve probably already ruined “now”, as in “get over here right now!”. The only thing I don’t like about the whistle idea is that I’d have to always have it with me or know where it is around the house. I have enough trouble remembering everything we need to bring on a walk, and where I put stuff! I can’t whistle loud enough myself to do it that way either.
Thank you, Ellen!
I love that picture of Luke. 🙂
First and foremost, thank you for the shout out! We sure appreciate it.
Second, dang if I didn’t have a light bulb moment while reading this. I think I do the same thing, “Good Boy” when he’s just pottied. **Sigh**
Third, I did work with the dogs with the whistle a while ago and if I recall it worked pretty well. You have to remember to bring/blow the whistle though. 🙂
Now on to commands. If you really feel you need a new word for come, you could try, “Front” or “Hustle.” Now, if you are like me, and tend to forget the word you’re supposed to use, try a unique word, one that you will remember. When Delilah and I are walking and a dog is posturing in the yard, I tell her, “Be like Elsa” (from Frozen…..let it go) or “Heidi Klum (walk it like a model)” 😉 It works as your word because it is not typical. BTW, I also use this trick for passwords. I find a unique word, modify it slightly and I remember it. 🙂
The command for “Stay” is problematic for me. What stay means to me is plant it, and do not get up until I come back for you. I like to use “Wait” instead. To me that tells them there will be opportunity to move, but again, they are just words and you should use what works for you.
BTW, we got about 10 inches of snow last night and are expecting more. March is supposed to be snowier than February for us.
Well, you finally got some snow!! 🙂 We only got about 4 inches out of that storm. Thanks for taking the bulk of it for us, we have enough. LOL
Thanks for the tips and ideas! I think I know what word I might use with Luke. It will be a bit before we get to that point in the class, since I’m so slow. He’s having fun with the new treat games we’ve learned in the class though. I’m being challenged to use the clicker….it takes so much coordination sometimes! 🙂
I think dogs are most aware of what we need and they will do whatever that is, so yes you can train them to do things that you don’t realize you’re doing. We made sure out Little Bit wasn’t a barker. She would get time outs at the boat if she barked at the birds or fish. We are in close quarters and a big dogs bark can echo through all the sheds. She was a very quiet girl. She left us and went to the bridge October 22, 2015 and we miss her every single day.
Have a woof woof day and week, Luke. My best to your mom. ♥
Little Bit sounds like a very smart dog! I am so sorry for your loss. It doesn’t matter how long ago it was, the missing never goes away. ♥
That’s some darn good training Luke, keep after her!
Thank you, I sure will!! 🙂
Love, Luke
the best working recall here is to open the fridge door ;O))) I think it is more the tune than the word per se and I will try now to use more body language … a friend suggested me a super book about this topic, calming signals by turid rungaas…
I might look into that book too! For us, it’s the fridge door, the pantry door, and the butter dish or wrapper. LOL!
Mom switches our words sometimes too. She uses German words usually.
That gives me an idea of something to try, thanks!