Dutch Shepherd Forum

For Lyric I used sticky note papers, and she can touch faster then I can feed treats. I have to take them down when I'm done each time or she won't stop.
I used the touch command while pointing to the paper and she got it right away. Now I'm using the door to get her to push and will start to use that as her command once she starts to "touch it closed".
She already knew about "go around" and also "wait" so I'm going to be needing a ball soon. I'm thinking maybe those stability balls would work well.

Glad it got her in the groove. In the end, what is the goal? Just a general, multi-purpose thing...something new to learn, right?

I taught Thor "touch" with his paws and "push" with his nose. For the push, I had no goal for it other than to play "soccor" with him so I tapped his nose with the ball saying "push" a couple times with verbal glee at the point of contact; then held the ball a few inches from his nose saying "push" and he did.

just for fun! I did always wish she knew how to close doors anyway, she would come into the bathroom when i am in the shower and let all of the heat out.

Ha, ha, yes, when she comes in, you can have her close the door behind her to keep the heat in! I love it!

This is really stumping Thalie, who is supposed to be the smart one.

Sadie got it, she touches the sticky. I still put the treat for a few times on the sticky, when I dont, she touches the door knob, the other parts of the door, the floor, at least she is touching the door

She is slowly getting it, but I really thought she would get it right off the bat, I guess her little grey matter is starting to fry.

Odin is being very slow on this too. I had to tape the sticky to my palm. He is getting better, but not as fast as my other dog. Most times, he just sits there and stares and me like he has no clue as to what I want him to do. He eventually gets is, but is slow. He knows there are treats, but like Thalie, he is touching everything except the target - grrrrrrr.....

Will practice and practice until it clicks.

Just a thought, but maybe you could rub something on the sticky that smells really good, a tad of bacon grease maybe, and get them touching it that way? Then big party and reward.

alspyce wrote:Just a thought, but maybe you could rub something on the sticky that smells really good, a tad of bacon grease maybe, and get them touching it that way? Then big party and reward.

This is how I start the behavior. I typically use hot dogs to reward anyway, so I rub them on whatever I want them to touch first, and then wean off the scent later.

good idea about scenting the sticky - you guys are great!! thanks.

Ill try scenting the sticky, I have been making a pouch with the sticky and putting a cherry tomatoe in it, she is very dainty about taking it out but sometimes it will fall out.

Went to look at balls today. The kids balls all seem too small, so I go on over to the exercise equipment to find stability balls. THEY are all in centimeter sizes--not blown up--flat in the box. Since I don't have my handy conversion chart with me, how the heLL am I suppose to know how big they are?
As I stand there bitchin to myself, a young (very cute) man offers to help with some electrical device he pulls out of his pocket. (even this takes about 10 minutes)
I think I bought one about 26"--I'll let you know when I get it blown up. My old, tired brain is not up to this---- I hate shopping!
When I get home, I get a big welcome back and kisses-----and of course both dogs looking in the bags to see if anything is for them----I hope the ball isn't punctured on our first try.

we have a yoga ball for us and it's weighted on the inside so it doesn't roll around. We were going to use that for the dogs once they learn how to push it, but since it's weighted we will have to get another one.

Curious how your dogs will respond to this size ball. Take some pics with your new camera!!

wow! That's a huge ball! The good news is they're very thick skinned.

We just use cheapo kids balls we found at Target, kind of large beach ball sized. Then I don't cry if something bad happens to one of them<g>

You know, those balls are also good for having your dog(s) roll around on them; they kind of roll on their stomach across the top of the ball.

HAHAHA That is so funny Chris!

Thalie did alot better today, I dont have bacon or hot dogs. I had just cut up a pepper for my daughter and I usually give the stuff she dosnt eat to them , so I figured they can work for it. the pepper worked great because the curly pieces hang on the sticky quite well. I started Thalie with a hanging pepper and she touched it. Happy dance! She did that two more times, then no pepper on the sticky, she touched my hand, then I just looked at her and waited, then she touched the sticky ! Very happy dance. the next few times she would happily touch my hand then when she didnt get anything quickly figured to touch the sticky. Its getting there. Then of course Sadie comes over and has to show Thalie up and keeps touching the sticky.

Ill have to get a ball next, dont know who will love it more, the dogs or kids.

leih merigian wrote:
You know, those balls are also good for having your dog(s) roll around on them; they kind of roll on their stomach across the top of the ball.

Ok, this I need to see

From the video's I watched, I think you need the bigger balls so that the dog can learn to also move it with their shoulder, but no feet allowed. The ball was only $8.77 at Walmart, so if it breaks I won't care so much, some of them were $20.00 and supposedly harder to break but I want to see how it goes before I invest in a bunch of more expensive balls.
Lyric is doing the nose touch now from about 10' away. I start her out at my side and send her out to touch the mark on the wall. (We've gone down in size from a sticky note to a piece of 1" masking tape. The stickies wouldn't stay stuck, and I wanted to narrow the target size.)
Since we're all just kind of figuring this out as we go, I sure hope we're on the right track!

I think we"ll need a new category in our activities section----unless Eric wants us in the Herding section?

AHAHAHAha, I guess it could be herding? But they arent allowed to "nose" the sheep, right?

Dutchringgirl wrote:AHAHAHAha, I guess it could be herding? But they arent allowed to "nose" the sheep, right?

Maybe with a very compliant herd? Some of the pictures that have been posted look like very serious sheep---almost more goat looking with those big horns!

I am thinking of dressing a ball in a sheep outfit to see what they do. Sadie will probably run and hide.

alspyce wrote: When I get home, I get a big welcome back and kisses-----and of course both dogs looking in the bags to see if anything is for them----I hope the ball isn't punctured on our first try.

i got one of the jolly balls for horses to start with, but I think it was a mistake. She thinks it is THE BEST TOY EVER!!!! So after carefully teaching her to push it with her nose, I took her outside with it and man, can she run it around... using her teeth and open mouth and feet. ZIPPING and racing and yipping and leaping!!!

I fear for the exercise ball (I have't even blown it up, yet).