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11 weeks old. The Retrieve ---training

Search and Rescue Camp

I just returned from a week of Search and Rescue Camp. Everyone thought I was awesome. No, I didn't certify, nor try to. My 4 month old puppy brain was just adding new tools to the tool belt. I DID leave camp with a CGC (Canine Good Citizenship award)

In 3 days, I start puppy classes. New friends, and a new adventure!

Teaching the retrieve

Retrieve training video
Bob is doing a puppy series of training documentation. Mostly on facebook but also here in his diary.
Today we are training the retrieve at 11 weeks, old, in case someone wants to follow along

This is the next building block to Bob's Future. The Retrieve. We started with an aspirin bottle perforated and meat chunks inside. He could smell it, but needed thumbs to open the lid. so when he picked up the bottle, he was rewarded with an approving marker reward and then exchanged with a treat, while we explored the contents of th...e bottle, and he got a piece of meat. The exchange immediately on giving the bottle is to keep his attention while the bottle is opened and explored. Then dropping the bottle at increasing distance and now we have substituted a ball. This is an orbee ball from Planet Dog, that is durable, intriguingly bouncy, and pleasantly squishy to the puppy. Again, as soon as he returns with the ball, the exchange for treat (already in hand) is made. Because a puppy's attention span is so short.
As you can see, most of Bob's training thus far has been collar and leash free. I am shaping his training by encouraging desired behaviors through structured play. When the desired behavior occurs, he receives a verbal audible marker of approval, and followed by a reward as quickly as it can be delivered. Because he chooses these behaviors, and is rewarded for the desired effects, he thinks these play/training sessions are his idea. He is being molded slowly into the performance dog, for which he is destined.

Precursors to this stage:
Timing in being available for the trade and then giving the marker on time, and then making the switch/reward is Key. If you first work on getting the chase. That's the first step. This was done with Bob as a young puppy (No interest in picking anything up at the time) by dragging a toy on a rope and using his chase prey drive. He followed me, and pounced on the toy. This was Step 1 in building the retrieve. Getting him to Pick up the toy was step 2. He got a reward marker. and treat for picking it up. stuffy toys are helpful for this. Step three was to try to make a switch, toy for treat. Then step 4 is adding distance.

HEAT WAVE!

The last two weeks in Ohio have been a heat wave of historic proportions across 1/3 of the country. Not affecting California,and I wanna go home!
Mom has a sabbatical on training, as I am not acclimated to this heat (is it possible?) and thinks associating heat discomfort with training is a bad idea in any form and any training benefits that might be gained are not worth the associations with discomfort if it backfires.


At 11 weeks old,I am still unreliable regarding house-training. I have learned stairs through "The SPLAT" program. Dad and the English Springer Spaniel, "Chief" ,took it upon them-selves to teach me stair cases. Both, shoulder to shoulder demonstrated how to go up and down, which is funny, because although neither avoid stairs, rarely have a reason to do this. The guys were on a mission. They ran down the stairs, and of course I tentatively followed. When they reached the bottom, they waited until I was 3-4 steps down and ran shoulder to shoulder up the stairs mowing me down like wiley coyote and road runner. SPLAT!! Wipeout!! And this happened over and over until I tenaciously reached the bottom and decided to work my way back up. SPLAT! SPLAT SPLAT!! Guess what, I learned stairs. I learned it's much cooler, although damp, in an old fashioned root cellar in an 1800's retrofitted house than it is upstairs. The cool damp darkness is welcome as compared to the stifling heat upstairs.

It has become my favorite place of solitude and respite in this heat.

Mom has played with the perforated aspirin bottle filled with meat, and returning it to her hand only pops open the lid for my reward. It has become my favorite toy. I am now retrieving and competing with Chief (ESS) and Dad for the reward, and I'm not backing off from intimidation either.

Also entered is a soft stuffy toy with reward in store for the one who brings to hand, the toy.

Last night, I "woke up" I've been very quiet and non oral to this point. But when at grandpas, children came to the door for a local school funding project. They recognized dad and went crazy over him. Their eyes were for dad only until I came out and wanted to play. And play I did. Little people are so much fun, screaming, and running, and of course , I had to chase. What a delightful experience.

Dad,Tuck, was still their favorite, but I deserved strong honorable mention. Then I found a round squishy bouncy ball and loved dropping it, and letting it bounce. When I took it to mom (as per meat stuffed aspirin bottle) a treat was in store for the retrieve, and she threw it again. Dad gave me strong competition, and it was so much fun. A retriever was born!! I LOVE the BALL.

I haven't tracked for weeks, but considering the heat, mom thinks there is plenty of time for that, when the weather is far less brutal.

I am 11 weeks old.

Mom was delighted, because now when I express worry or displeasure,I have my dad's origami ears. I lay them back flat and then prick the tips forward. Mom looks at them and laughs. Photo Link of Dad's origami ears

Photo link of MY origami ears
She had so hoped that I had inherited them as character.And I have.

I now sit ready to pounce like a vulture on my food bowl and wait until the word "OK" is given to eat. WE all line up with our food bowls in front of us and I sit for a minute or two until given permission to eat. At the command, I attack my food like a shark. But in the meantime, I'm practicing self control. It's hard, but someone has got to do it.

Video of Breakfast with Bob (self Control Training)

Self control is a life skill that some humans have difficulty grasping. It's now a part of my vocabulary and a building block to bigger things.I hate it, hence the origami ears.

That's all for now until this heat wave breaks, which I understand is at least 3 more days. Limited training for now. I think I prefer training challenges as opposed to this heat.

Working on Recall Video of Recall work from across the yard