CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Behaviour & Training => Topic started by: clairep4 on November 27, 2007, 04:14:21 PM
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Zorro's now 15 months and has never been known for his brains, bless him :luv:. He's always had kind of tunnel vision ("you have a TREAT, I want the TREAT, where's the TREAT, GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!") which has made him quite hard to train because he just focuses on the treat and cannot possibly think about anything else (such as how to get you to give it to him).
I've found it a real challenge as Bella was sooooo easy to train, she always picks things up in about 2 goes and once she's got it, it stays there, whereas with Zorro it's always been a bit painful trying to get anything to sink in. But lately he's started to calm down a tiny bit, and last week I was doing some training with him (using "yes" as a marker instead of a clicker). I decided to try getting him to give his paw, for the umpteenth time since we've had him (with very little success until that point no matter which of several methods I've tried).
So, I got him to sit, crouched in front of him with a treat in one hand, held out my hand, said "paw" and gently lifted his paw into mine, then gave him a treat. Then I said "Zorro, paw" and just held out my hand. And Zorro sat, and sat, and stared at my other hand with the treat in, and sat, and stared, and sat and stared, and then, just as I was about to pick up his paw again to try and help, I saw, could it be true? A little flicker of something going on in those beautiful brown eyes of his (in contrast, if this was Bella, she'd have tried Down, Rollover, Paw, and Other Paw by this time ph34r). So I waited, said nothing, kept my hand extended out to him, and eventually he lifted up his paw and planted it in my hand. "YES!!!!!!!" and a treat, and a very self-satisfied look on Zorro's face.
I tried again, "Zorro, paw!", and held out my hand. Again he sat and stared at the hand with the treat in it, and sat, and stared, and sat, and stared, and thought about it for a looooooong time (he's like the traffic warden in Little Miss Joceleyn, "I am doing this for Queen and country, it may take a lo-o-o-ong time!" :lol:), and then lifted his paw, got a "YES!!!" and a treat.
Third attempt, "Zorro, paw!", and I hold out my hand, and he sits and stares but then quickly and resolutely lifts up that pawand slaps it onto my hand. Bingo! So he gets a bonanza treat. And a few goes later, he's giving me his paw as if he's been doing it for months.
It's a tiny thing but for little mister noodle noddle it feels like such a breakthrough and it's so nice to see him actually thinking and figuring something out. So he's not just a pretty face after all. Hurray for Zorro! :luv:
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way to go Zorro. Bracken has always been a bit slower than Jasmine. Bella sounds like Jasmine, I'll try this, this, this, this, rather than just the thing.
Hopefully Zorro will be catching up with his big Sis step by step..
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The male of the species (any species)!!!!
Well done Zorro!
Ben (hooman) was a bit like that about walking: he sat and watched, and sat and watched, then one day at about 16 months he walked right across the room. None of this walk two steps and fall over for my boy. Sit like a blob then run a marathon, that's him. Still not in the least athletic though darnit.
So, Claire, what are you going to try next on Mr Brainbox?
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Ben sounds very sensible to me, perfect the method in your head and then just do it, none of the boring practising! :005:
Actually Zorro started agility a few weeks ago, have only been 3 times because I've been too knackered with all the bowls (his class starts at 8pm but I have Bella's class beforehand). But he's actually AMAZING at it, I've been really surprised as I didn't think he had it in him to focus enough. And it's strange as he doesn't really seem to be paying attention at all but he obviously is - even the teacher's impressed and it takes alot to impress her as she's so used to collie-wonderdogs, so for a little bouncy cocker to have her waxing lyrical is saying something! He's mega fast as well so I think it'll be roping him in which will be the problem once he really knows what he's doing.
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Aaaaw, well done Zorro :luv: :luv: At last your mum has realised you have brains as well as beauty! :005:
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Horaaaaay for Zorro! :D He's a smart cookie really, just obviously keeps it well hidden. :005:
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Well done Zorro :D
Molo's training was very similar, in fact, I remember teaching him "paw" one afternoon in much the same way ::) Until we learnt how to "clicker", trick training was impossible - now it is slow, but possible :lol:
(if you ever teach Zorro how to roll over, can you let me know? It is totally beyond Molo to master ::))
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Clever lad :luv: ;)
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Awww well done Zorro! :luv: And well done Claire for being so patient and persisting.
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(if you ever teach Zorro how to roll over, can you let me know? It is totally beyond Molo to master ::))
Buddy can't/won't do that either! I lure him with a treat and he licks at the treat all the way over. If he can't reach the treat he won't do it at all, and if we try with no treat then he's not even listening.
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(if you ever teach Zorro how to roll over, can you let me know? It is totally beyond Molo to master ::))
Buddy can't/won't do that either! I lure him with a treat and he licks at the treat all the way over. If he can't reach the treat he won't do it at all, and if we try with no treat then he's not even listening.
C'mon you guys thats easy peasy!!!! :005:
Mark
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(if you ever teach Zorro how to roll over, can you let me know? It is totally beyond Molo to master ::))
Buddy can't/won't do that either! I lure him with a treat and he licks at the treat all the way over. If he can't reach the treat he won't do it at all, and if we try with no treat then he's not even listening.
C'mon you guys thats easy peasy!!!! :005:
Mark
Next time you are down this way, you can forget long leisurely walks in the New Forest, your job will be to teach us how to get our dogs to roll over!!!!!
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Coco is rubbish at that one too! ::)
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(if you ever teach Zorro how to roll over, can you let me know? It is totally beyond Molo to master ::))
Buddy can't/won't do that either! I lure him with a treat and he licks at the treat all the way over. If he can't reach the treat he won't do it at all, and if we try with no treat then he's not even listening.
At least he goes over - Molo jumps up as soon as the treat moves away from the floor ::)
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Dont be too hard in thinking that he isnt the brightest, some of the most intelligent cockers are very hard to train, they have wee minds of their own and make up their minds when they will do whats asked. ;)
Good on you Zorro you show your mummy you are just a clever boy :luv: :luv:
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Awwww, i know the feeling. Jarvis is a little brainbox :D, Lucy on the other hand. is full of fluff! She knows a grand total of......... THREE (!) commands. Sit, down, and dance. She does those 3 perfectly :angel:, but anything else is completely beyond her. :005: :luv:
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Awww rollover was easy tp teach but it isnt too easy to get them to do it!
Ours only do it on soft floorings (carpet) wooden floors, tiles floors (even with rugs on) are too hard!! :005:
This is how I did it...
Get the dog into down facing you with legs to right side ....hold treat in right hand close to nose
in a semi circle move right hand to the left (keeping it close to nose) and eventually dog should rollover.....
May take a few goes...may take many goes....very rewarding when they do it tho....Jessie now does it on the command alone without a treat (she is 3 and half tho!)
Janey
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Janey, I can't talk for the others, but our stupid mutt (or maybe very smart?) will do that, but only if he can get his nose and tongue onto the treat. He then slobbers all over my hand and will hold the position for a second or two, but again, only if he can reach my hand. If I move my hand to any other position he becomes completely clueless!
To be honest, it is rarely worth the slobber all over me! :005:
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I have trained both of ours to go all the way over and back to a down position....a true full rollover.
If we want them to go halfway so their tummy is up we have another trick its called tickle tum :005: Saffi is better than Jessie but if we say tickle tum she half rollosover so we can then tickle her tum!!
Janey
PS:Yes with cockers there is lots of drool and slobber but when they 'get it' its a great party trick!
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Aw what a lovely post. Bless him! :luv: Well done Zorro!! Made me giggle - wonderfully described :005: keep us updated on master Zorro's next trick!