"How to' train your dog to be calm around people with toys.

[AgilityFox]

Pam, can you explain exactly why you are clicking calming signals ?

It seems by doing that you would be clicking while he is stressed, isn't that a negative association ? I don't understand...

[pamelamarxsen]

@AgilityFox Dogs use calming signal to calm themselves down to calm others down. They are not just signs of stress. It also helps to look at the dogs entire body language and not just the calming signals, is the dogs body relaxed or tense. etc... By marking with the clicker his attempts to calm down will help him associate toys and me with calmness & it will eventually change his emotional response.

[pamelamarxsen]

@AgilityFox Prior to this I worked on reinforcing calming signals without toys to get increments of calmer behavior. I would never take it to the next level of adding triggers or distractions unless, I knew for sure 100% that my dogs was ready for it. I believe in setting up the training situation to keep the dog successful. I hope that helps.

[AgilityFox]

@pamelamarxsen Thank you SO much Pamela, it's much clearer now for me !

[pamelamarxsen]

@AgilityFox You are welcome!

[hasiongirl01]

how do you click

[ffagffah]

ahhh why are you yelling?

[cgazmommyof3]

Great video Pam, Bandit did so good! :)

[redcuprar13]

Excellent video - and Bandit worked real hard and did superb - bless him - would be lovely to see before and after though, how Bandit is with a ball being kicked normally and the dogs with toys, then following through with your calming training - think maybe other dog owners would really benefit from seeing just how far you have come?? Just a thought.... ? love to you, Bandit and Isabelle x

[pamelamarxsen]

Well, if I am filming and he goes into a lunging rage, I will show it, but I like to keep him below threshold if possible. I am sure that I will get a reaction some time. Especially when the distractions get harder.

[redcuprar13]

Excellent video - and Bandit is doing so well - would love to see before and after though, I think people could relate to the behaviour even more if they saw what Bandit does when people kick the ball, or another dog with a toy etc?? and then really see the behaviour change ?? Just a thought .... love to you Bandit and Isabelle x

[musicofnote1]

Sigh - I wonder why I'm going to pay all that money to CASI, when I could just as well send it to you to become a trainer. Oh, now I remember - I'm not a fan of the San Diego sun and heat. Oh well, let me know when you move over here ... another great job, Pamela!

[pamelamarxsen]

Thanks! You are so nice! I unfortunately do not have all the answers as I am always learning and trying new things to see what works as each dog seems to respond differently. I have one that I need to calm down and one that I need to pep up. :) Trust me, I would love to move there as it seems so amazing! Thank you for such a nice comment! Pam & My Pups!

[kikopup]

Very awesome Pam. I laughed out loud so many times during the video, because I knew it was super hard for Bandit (like the bit where the person walks around the ball) If you want to use Splashers as the dog distraction let me know :)

[pamelamarxsen]

Thanks, we tried it again tonight with a soccer ball and Marxsen dribbled more and kicked it further, but still baby steps. I would love to use Splashers as a dog with a toy distraction.  See you Thursday!

[chihuahuabulldog]

I've been away for a few weeks. It's good to see your great videos again!

[haylz27]

Awesome job as always Pam! I'm going to start working on this with my dog. She gets sooo excited when she sees toys, but moreso food.

[pamelamarxsen]

You could do the same thing with food on the ground, someone holding food, eating food, etc... Same concept. Can the dog be calm when around that thing that they love so much... Good luck. I also think that it helps to start with the item that the dog likes the least. So, with Bandit I started with hotdogs on the floor until he could just walk around without caring they were there. With your dog you could start with toys and progress to food. Hope that helps! Pam

[haylz27]

@pamelamarxsen Thanks Pam, I just might try that! :-)

[michaelogoodboy]

Pam, do you ever give him the ball as a reward?

[pamelamarxsen]

Yes, I do. However, I want him to know that when other people or dogs are playing with the ball or toy that he does not have to get so worked up over it.

[hunkymonkeykaine]

Bandit did awesome Pam:). Great training:).

[pamelamarxsen]

Thanks Ashley, He is doing great, but we have such a long way to go. However, the process will bring us closer together. Not that we aren't already really close. :)

[thewhitewingedwolf]

pawsome tutorial as allways...glad i subbed.

bandit is awesome,you look soo goos together^^

looking foward to your next vd

[pamelamarxsen]

Thank you! I am happy that you subscribed and thank you so much for your nice comments. Bandit is a great dog and we love him very much!

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

Awesome vid Pam....Bandit learning great control:)

[pamelamarxsen]

Thanks! I am really trying to help him with his over arousal around toys. We have a long road ahead of us, but I know that with patience and consistency we will get there. Not to mention a lot of reinforcement for acceptable behaviors. :)

[longhairfan]

Do you have any videos how to break a dog with a ball posessive problem? She will release the ball for me at home (most of the time) but at hte dog park she steals other people's balls and sneaks off and won't release it to the owner or me (she won't growl or anything.... she puts her legs over the ball and takes "possess" of it). I had been trying to break her out of that possessive mode....

[pamelamarxsen]

Is it because she wants to play? Can you trade her for something else? Will she fetch or just capture the ball and hold on to it?

[Majoofi]

what a workout! I hope bandit gets a toy reward after all that.

[pamelamarxsen]

LOL!!! You are funny! Yes, he did get a toy reward, but it was a squeaky toy. :)