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Trainer Vent

CeeCee

Well-Known Member
Who's the Trainer? Me.

What's my gripe?
I am adding a transitional marker into my training with my dogs. I want to add "Good" and have it mean that what you're doing is great, continuing doing it, and I will bring the reward to you.

In doing so, I've realized that my language with my dogs is kinda sloppy specifically, I tend to say, "Yes! Good dog!"

It turns out before I can train them, I need to train me. :eek:
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Who's the Trainer? Me.

What's my gripe?
I am adding a transitional marker into my training with my dogs. I want to add "Good" and have it mean that what you're doing is great, continuing doing it, and I will bring the reward to you.

In doing so, I've realized that my language with my dogs is kinda sloppy specifically, I tend to say, "Yes! Good dog!"

It turns out before I can train them, I need to train me. :eek:

Haha. Sorry, but I get it. I'm inclined to use too many words when I train (and at many other times, lol) and I really have to work on it. My daughter, who is just finishing up her training with KPA, is great at not being wordy. I love watching her work. Another thing I've messed up with before is using "good" in such a way that the dog thinks it's a release cue. And really, any time I'm having a difficult time teaching something it's me with the issue rather than the dog.
 

CeeCee

Well-Known Member
Haha. Sorry, but I get it. I'm inclined to use too many words when I train (and at many other times, lol) and I really have to work on it. My daughter, who is just finishing up her training with KPA, is great at not being wordy. I love watching her work. Another thing I've messed up with before is using "good" in such a way that the dog thinks it's a release cue. And really, any time I'm having a difficult time teaching something it's me with the issue rather than the dog.

Truth!
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
I feel your pain!

It was VERY obvious when my DH and I got our second puppy how easy he was to train... because WE were being consistent... :)

Once WE were trained, the puppy knew what we were asking him for much faster. He also had lab in his genes, which made him much more attentive and interested in learning... but Denna, our third dog that we got as a puppy, also learned quickly all our words and cues, as WE had 8 more years of practice OURSELVES, so we were doing much better at our end of the leash. :)
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
... a trainer on FB suggested taking a weekend to work with your dog with ZERO words. This was as a check to see how well your dog could read your body language.

Having taken a "positive/rewards based" training class with Denna, where "no" was to be avoided and physical corrections were not allowed, I learned a lot about body language and luring... and yes, I was able to say "NO" with body language early in the process... no touching, but dogs learn quick, even without words. :) And, I believe "no" is a positive word in training. We all need to know when we're headed the wrong direction from what we want... or we'd never get to where we want to be!
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Haha. Sorry, but I get it. I'm inclined to use too many words when I train (and at many other times, lol) and I really have to work on it. My daughter, who is just finishing up her training with KPA, is great at not being wordy. I love watching her work. Another thing I've messed up with before is using "good" in such a way that the dog thinks it's a release cue. And really, any time I'm having a difficult time teaching something it's me with the issue rather than the dog.

Yes! Accidentally teaching them good as a release. Ugh. It is the hardest to get through. "Good" is suppose to be the sign that they are doing right and "okay" is the release for mine. But, they always want to skip right through to release and that is because we are occasionally sloppy and let them get away with it. Ugh.
 

sjdavenport

Well-Known Member
Just to complicate things even more, there has been a lot of talk lately about breaking the markers down even further. Like a specific marker cue for bringing the treat to the dog, a different one for the dog coming to the treat in your hand, the treat being tossed on the floor, the treat in a bowl on the floor, and the treat coming from somewhere off your body. And then there's the whole world of adding different cues for a toy/play reward. At some point, I simply wouldn't be able remember them all to consistently use them! I've just stuck to yes (the reward comes to the dog), get it (the treat will be tossed on the ground), and cookie (the treat is located in the cabinet, fridge, ect - so I can mark and reward various behaviors throughout our regular day). Ok has always been my release word, but it has somewhat been replaced by "get it" which doubles as a marker cue. My dogs remember it better than I do, lol.
 

CeeCee

Well-Known Member
Wow! I can barely get Good and Yes straight, but I have to say that I am teaching a formal Place and that is helping me A LOT to get more consistent. :)

DM, I remember with Lila that I spent a week without speaking to her verbally and that was such a powerful experience in helping me to learn to communicate using my body. (Little did I know at the time that I was using Pressure and Release.) Have you ever noticed that they pay so much attention to your hip and foot placement? BTW, it even works with my cats!
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
I'm laughing a bit reading this.... The best advice I every received was from MusicDeb who taught me to let go and not respond. NILF was hard for me. Refraining from awarding my puppy with hugs and kisses when I came in was SO difficult for me. I wanted to pick her up and kiss her all over, but...training meant that I had to ignore her when I came in and go from room to room checking and only when finished my examination would I give her what she wanted...LOVE, HUGS, PETS, KISSES AND APPROVAL. Lots and Lots of approval AND a bully stick!

I've never gone to "formal training", just games with treats, but I remember being amazed at how hard animals would work for the approval of their human, and I remember the Babe movie where the farmer rewards his pig with a very satisfying "That will do, pig. That will do."

Still "good girl" gets rave reviews here. She cheats when I tell her to hold her place and I go to hide...she sneaks forward. Tricky dog.