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Today we had a big breakthrough. This is the day that all three of my foster Chihuahuas learned how to sit on cue! What an exciting moment! Suddenly, a line of communication opened up between us that hadn't been there before. It was as exciting for them as it was for me—I could see it on their faces. Now they follow me around, watching intently to see when the game is going to start up again. How did we arrive at this point?
I had decided to try the "hands-off" method. Dogs already know how to sit—they sit many times throughout the day. You just want to teach them how to link the act of sitting with the word "sit" (just like Annie Sullivan did when she pumped water over Helen Keller's hand and spelled the word "water" in her palm with sign language). So in the "hands-off" method, you don't have to push their little fannies to the floor. Instead, I just waited for them to sit, and the instant that their buns hit the ground, I said, "Good!" and quickly gave them a treat. Timing is important here. "Good!" means that a treat is forthcoming, so you do have a little time, but still, the quicker, the better. (Many people swear by the use of a clicker instead of a word like "Good," but I'm not coordinated enough for that—plus one of my dogs hates the clicker sound.)
After a few sessions of this, when they realized that sitting would get them a treat, I started to say, "Sit," just as they were starting to sit and then "Good!" after their bums touched the ground, followed right away by a treat. It doesn't take many repetitions of this to produce a reliable and enthusiastic sit.
The real beauty of it, though, is that it's not just sit. It's a door flung wide open on learning. Suddenly, they understand what you've been getting at. They've figured out how to learn what you're trying to teach. Everything speeds up now. The fun is just beginning!
Comments ( 11 )
You might be interested in the following:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/275
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/72
I find it a lot easier to capture behaviors with the clicker precisely because I am slow and uncoordinated :P I've only ever used the i-Clicks, which are very well designed, so if you haven't tried them you might want to. If a dog hates the clicker sound, just because it sounds bad to them (eg not because it is loud and unexpected), you can use any other marking signal with the right properties and have it be just as effective. Same goes for dogs who are deaf. And it's very easy to introduce a bridging stimulus--you just have to pair it with a reinforcer (treats are good for most dogs; the "knowledge" of "pleasing" a "leader" is not).
Posted by Teh Infamous Weatherlight | January 5, 2008 10:44 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 10:44
How can you compare your DOGS to Helen Keller? She was an amazing person who was blind and deaf. You aren't even supposed to have pets, according to PETA, and one of your spokespeople is diabetic. The cure comes from ANIMALS! Stop being a load of hypocrites. Oh, and you still haven't apologized for offending my home. I won't ever forget that.
Posted by Aly | January 6, 2008 6:13 PM
Posted on January 6, 2008 18:13
Aly,
Why so hostile?
Posted by Amanda | January 7, 2008 8:41 AM
Posted on January 7, 2008 08:41
I think this is a great comparison - the Helen Keller moment. Dogs don't speak our language, they are basically starting from scratch, as Helen Keller was. I can totally visualize that moment the dogs "get it"! I have been there with my dogs, and it's a very fun and exciting moment. The dogs are so proud of themselves, you can see it in their eyes and their body language. This blog is supposed to be fun, as well as informative, and I think this one is both, thanks KP!
Posted by Laura F. | January 8, 2008 6:43 PM
Posted on January 8, 2008 18:43
Well Amanda, I don't feel that a Nobel Peace prize winner who is deaf and blind should be compared to dogs. She was a wonderful woman who was deaf and blind from menangitis, a disease my sister had when she was a baby. Luckily, she has no long term effects. It is disrepectful to my family and every family who has a child with menangitis, is deaf, or blind.
Posted by Aly | January 9, 2008 2:59 PM
Posted on January 9, 2008 14:59
KP also insulted my home by saying that someone has put a lot of anger in my head. Possibly her, but, she was refering to my house, so it was an INSULT.
Posted by Aly | January 9, 2008 3:03 PM
Posted on January 9, 2008 15:03
Aly,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you are very angry. I read your previous comments, and you came out swinging, so to speak. I'm not sure how the similarities between dogs' and humans' learning process is insulting, either, unless you are looking for something to be insulted about.
By the way, Helen Keller shared her life with two Akitas she loved very much, and I seriously doubt she would be as offended by the comparison as you are.
Posted by Amanda | January 9, 2008 6:21 PM
Posted on January 9, 2008 18:21
Aly, Helen Keller was an intelligent, compassionate person who would be utterly disgusted by your ravings.
YOU disrespect every person who has had meningitis or is impaired.
Posted by kelly | January 10, 2008 6:12 PM
Posted on January 10, 2008 18:12
Instead of using the word "commands" which evokes an idea of slave, master, and forcing someone to do something you could use the term "cues" or "requests." I request my dog to do things, I don't order him around or command him.
>>>KP's Response:
Hi Gia,
I didn't even notice that the post had been tagged with the word "commands," but I've asked that it be deleted (I write the posts but don't post them myself). I totally agree with you. It's always a shame to see people who don't know how to communicate with their dogs other than by ordering them around.
KP
Posted by Gia Savocchi | January 15, 2008 12:29 AM
Posted on January 15, 2008 00:29
To all the people who have insulted my opinions and ways of writing,
You say that I come out swinging, but you aren't understanding how I'm saying it. I put down all of my opinions curtly, and if you are "offended" by them stop reading this. Helen Keller could've had two akitas, but I wouldn't want to be compared to my dogs. Put yourself in someone elses shoes before speaking, and stop being so nutty about things like "command" being put into some key word thing. I may only be 12 years old, but that doesn't mean I don't have extremely strong opinions. I'm not "angry" person, and Helen Keller wouldn't be "utterly disgusted" by my "ravings". I'm not crazy. I don't insult people with meningitis or that are impaired. I WAS very happy before I read this. Good job everybody. You made a little girl sad.
Posted by Aly | January 18, 2008 3:39 PM
Posted on January 18, 2008 15:39
semantics...funny how quickly it erodes your point. credibility is certainly lost when one concerns themselves over words that imply the same outcome. following a dog around all day waiting for it to sit gives new meaning to "vast prosperity". feel free to follow my dogs around all day too, i'll course i'll supply the shovel!
Posted by tim | January 22, 2008 4:32 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 16:32