We conquered one of our issues
Some of you may have seen that Harry had a problem at Nationals on the pause table. He just refuses to sit or down. I guess he should get props for not leaving the table until he is told.  Anyway after attending the Dog Scout camp a month ago I finally figured out how to use the clicker to shape behaviour (remember the painting sheepdog).
I realized that the command "table" to my genius just meant get up on the table and since he has always thought "sit" was an optional command we never completed that part of the requirement. So I thought why not reshape his thought process on what the word table meant. So I worked him almost every day between camp and Sheepiepalooza to learn that "table" meant get up on the table AND sit. We will learn to incorporate the down command later as an option. So we got to put it into practice on our run at Sheepiepalooza and here is the result. 
The thumbs up is for my family who is sitting on the sidelines and knows we have "issues" in agility. I am praising him and he looks so pleased with himself. We are also using the clicker to work on our contact issues. That just leaves weaves and waits at the start line. If you want to see an uncooperative Harry here is a link to his National's video that Jill posted: http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=16114 |
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SheepieMommy wrote: I realized that the command "table" to my genius just meant get up on the table and since he has always thought "sit" was an optional command we never completed that part of the requirement. So I thought why not reshape his thought process on what the word table meant. So I worked him almost every day between camp and Sheepiepalooza to learn that "table" meant get up on the table AND sit. We will learn to incorporate the down command later as an option..
Bingo!!!   
Congratulations! That's a tough one. Keep proofing it. Stress tends to lead to them reverting to a prior behavior, so never take this for granted and just keeping working it till it becomes the new second nature. Very, very cool. What method are you using for contacts? KB |
Two on - two off. He was not getting it before or maybe I should say that I did not understand clicker training. 
But he is getting that too! We use the mini a-frame and I say nothing - just click when he gets in the right position. We try to do that daily as well and have been working on that for about two and a half weeks. He is getting really excited about doing homework everyday - a little too excited maybe. Can you say hyper? The bad news is that we have had classes canceled the last couple of weeks and it is not scheduled next week. So we have not had a chance to see if it works when on the big A-frame and when combined with other equipment. I did do a small test of a jump and then the A-frame and he did get his contact. I still have not named it yet but I am hoping he gets it when I do. We should have more time for training now that I am almost done with Sheepiepalooza stuff. |
That is so, so great!!! 
I witnessed the boat watching, no sitting Harry, so can't wait to see this in action.
I am storing up all these tips for the hopefully not so distant future when Chewie gets to start agility. The floor is now in at the training center, and they are getting ready to order the equipment! |
got sheep wrote: That is so, so great!!!
I witnessed the boat watching, no sitting Harry, so can't wait to see this in action. I am storing up all these tips for the hopefully not so distant future when Chewie gets to start agility. The floor is now in at the training center, and they are getting ready to order the equipment! Do what Judy did in terms of the table but do an automatic down instead of a sit. Trust me on this one. His mama told me so.  Besides it's faster to pop up from a sit than go down from one. You teach him it's the folding down you want so he basically slides into position. Very fast. No thinking involved
Judy's situation is different. The sit was her bugaboo and she faced it head on. Kristine |
| I'll have to think about that one a bit.
It has always been easier for me to get Chewie to down than sit. In rally he is the same. I say down and he always goes down. When he is excited he slams down even faster. However, he does not care to sit from a down. Once he is down he prefers to stay that way. We always knew he was a genetic mutant..... |
got sheep wrote: However, he does not care to sit from a down. Once he is down he prefers to stay that way.
We always knew he was a genetic mutant..... You could convince the mutant it's worth his while to get up. This is agility, not nap time. You may be surprised by how the excitement helps him elevate
Besides, if you decide to do USDAA with him, and I think you should, it's always a down. If you compete mainly in those two and possibly NADAC, which has no table, it's a down 75% of the time... 
Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: Besides, if you decide to do USDAA with him, and I think you should, it's always a down. If you compete mainly in those two and possibly NADAC, which has no table, it's a down 75% of the time... Kristine You math people.....
Sorry, it just gave me a chuckle! |
got sheep wrote: It has always been easier for me to get Chewie to down than sit.
Hear, Hear! I always knew that our boys had more in common than just having mothers who over schedule them! That is why I went for the sit - Harry will almost always down from a sit but his main preference is to stand - unless I want him to like during therapy. But he is really making strides with that too. I hate to say it but I think my boy may actually be growing up.  |
Congrats!  |
| It's kind of sad...really...Harry is conforming????? OH!!! NO>....Say it isn't so!!!!!! |
| Yeah Harry........
I have to tell you.............every time I see pictures of Harry.. I just break out in a hugh smile, he brightens my day.. I can only imagine what he would be like in person. Brenda |
Dudster wrote: I have to tell you.............every time I see pictures of Harry.. I just break out in a hugh smile, he brightens my day.. I can only imagine what he would be like in person.
Awww, Brenda thanks.
I am kind of partial to him. He is really a sweetie pie being a boy sheepie and all. But he LOVES to play and that is where his crazy personality comes out. We always say if he was human kid he would play with cars and make them go as fast as they could while yelling Zooooom! Or that he would have a cape tied around his neck and go flying around yelling Weeee! We have tried to video tape him playing because it is so crazed and hard to explain but if he sees you move then he stops. So it is only the stuff of legends for now - no footage. Like Bigfoot! |
| Alright Harry!!!
Harry does the table, Toby's linking tricks, I think it's a sign of the apocalypse!!! |
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