multi-step "leave it" part 2

Second video of the "leave-it" training series

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Clicker
• training
• dog
• beagle
• leave-it
• scoutdogs
• teaching
• multi-step

[ilovecanines]

I taught a dog not to chase chickens using clicker training but didn't video tape it - wish I had. I have a question - why do you use the treat you put in front of the dog as the reward rather than a treat from your treat pouch? I usually do the latter. Thanks.

[Scoutdogs]

@ilovecanines Mainly because I'm a "lazy trainer" :-) and I find it's easy to just give him what is already in my hand. Once the item is on the floor, I feed from the pouch because it's easier then bending over to pick it up :-) I also teach a "get it" cue so I don't have to bend over to clean up the leave it treats. Teaching both leave it and get it helps clarify to the dog what each means (at least I think so). And the get it is handy later for retrieves.

[ilovecanines]

@Scoutdogs Thanks - I don't know if I need to rethink this...I have thought that I didn't want the dog taking something that is off limits...I didn't want him to think that if he waits long enough or makes eye contact he can have what is off limits, but that may not be the correct way to think about this. Perhaps the possibility of getting what is off limits may actually make the "leave it" stronger.

[Scoutdogs]

@ilovecanines I'm not sure the dogs think about it that deeply. I think dogs dive on food unless taught a cue that says NOT diving on it will pay off too (or for some dogs, they learn diving on it is dangerous if the human is watching). Not sure that it matters HOW it pays off, just that it does. For my guys, sometimes that means they get to eat the item after I look to make sure it's ok, other times they don't and I deliver a treat or we go get one.

[Scoutdogs]

@Scoutdogs If you teach the dog that items are worth treats, the dog will bring you stuff they would have otherwise chewed up. So say they find something interesting on the floor, call the dog, with the item, and trade them a treat. If it's something they can destroy, give it back to them. Or give it back and trade it again. My Rottie was great at "asking permission" to chew up something he found. It was always worth a treat and sometimes he got the item to chew too!

[Scoutdogs]

@Scoutdogs Never had them bring a food item though :-) Only stuff that clearly wasn't food. But I know someone who taught the leave it without a cue and the dog only got what was on the floor if cued to get it. So the default was to leave it alone, even if she wasn't there. Because not diving on food was so highly reinforced. She said she accidently left food on a plate at dog level and went to work. Came home and it was till there, dog staring at it waiting for his reward!

[ilovecanines]

@Scoutdogs Will have to think about that - it's always good to revisit the way we have been doing things from time to time to see if they still make sense - thanks!

[Scoutdogs]

There used to be a good one on YouTube called "don't chase the chickens" of a guy teaching his dogs not to chase his free range chickens but I just did a search and don't see it anymore. :-(

[chicagocanine]

I would really love to see a video showing the training of "Leave it with animal".