An update on Hector's training

[Mag-Pie]

Awesome “leave itsâ€, Hector has learned great impulse control. Mine is pretty good with leave it, but how did you teach “catchâ€? I tried to get Luther to catch but he seems to not get the concept, lol. I also love the idea of home made nail file, and the video of him learning to scratch on it. You're awesome!

 

[Hector]

Awesome “leave its”, Hector has learned great impulse control. Mine is pretty good with leave it, but how did you teach “catch”? I tried to get Luther to catch but he seems to not get the concept, lol. I also love the idea of home made nail file, and the video of him learning to scratch on it. You're awesome!

Thanks for the kind words.

Catch...I started with toys because he liked carrying toys around and it was big so it was easier for him to catch. I made sure I had his attention and then I would throw toys at him and it was really soft underhand throws to make sure he could catch them. Then I moved onto using food. He loves food so there is no better motivation than food. I tell him "ready?" and then toss it at him at a close distance at first. After he became fluent with catching food (he was horrible as a pup), I introduced the cue "catch". A good way to practice the cue is to say the cue every time you throw a treat at them. At first, I used an underhand throw gesture as a visual cue, but now I can throw it however and he knows to catch it. In the kibble video, I prepped him with the underhand throw gesture because it was a handful of kibble lol.

I really didn't have to reward his catches for him to learn. He enjoys catching things so he can play keep away lol. In your case, I would use something he doesn't mind catching (toy) and practice just throwing it towards his mouth and when he catches it, mark-reward and repeat OR you can just simply toss treats/food at him until he catches on.

Good luck!

 

[Mag-Pie]

Thank you for the tips on teaching "catch". It totally makes sense to start out with a toy. I kind of thought that the treats I was tossing to Luther were too small, but I didn't want to start tossing burger patties or steaks at him, lol, so I just gave up. We'll practice with toys for now.

 

[Hector]

Thank you for the tips on teaching "catch". It totally makes sense to start out with a toy. I kind of thought that the treats I was tossing to Luther were too small, but I didn't want to start tossing burger patties or steaks at him, lol, so I just gave up. We'll practice with toys for now.

Lmao, that's a great idea - patties and steaks...I'm sure Luther wouldn't mind at all.

 

[sjdavenport]

Great leave its! Rhaegar's is decent, but I'm pretty sure he would interpret anything I threw on his head as being fair game, lol. Love the nail file too!

 

[Hector]

Great leave its! Rhaegar's is decent, but I'm pretty sure he would interpret anything I threw on his head as being fair game, lol. Love the nail file too!

Thanks, takes years to master .

 

[TricAP]

Hector is so photogenic ~ what a gorgeous guy!

Love the nail file - what grit sand paper did you use? Love the idea of him doing his own nails and keeping him occupied on a rainy day.

 

[Hector]

Hector is so photogenic ~ what a gorgeous guy!

Love the nail file - what grit sand paper did you use? Love the idea of him doing his own nails and keeping him occupied on a rainy day.

I only had large sheets of 120 grit. Better yet, just buy roofing shingles or similar and just nail those suckers on the deck lol. I'm going to do that since the deck gets really slick in the winter (algae and all, you know).

I really need to teach this to the two other dogs that are not so cooperative with nail trims.

And Hector says thanks .

 

[Hector]

Just for fun, I'd say he did pretty damn good, of course I'm biased so...

I was leaving the room completely and coming back in. It was kind of exciting.

[video=youtube_share;yXj7YLynnOM]http://youtu.be/yXj7YLynnOM[/video]

 

[outnumbered_]

Those eyes at 56/57 seconds are just tooooooooo cute!! Well done amazing!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hector]

Those eyes at 56/57 seconds are just tooooooooo cute!! Well done amazing!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks

 

[Hector]

Might as well update this thread too!

Testing how much he remembers things. He's pretty smart.

[video=youtube_share;XcqJhxjr0LU]http://youtu.be/XcqJhxjr0LU[/video]

Getting rusty on whistle recall, so some practice. (loud wind noise)

[video=youtube_share;P09flo8Zu5k]http://youtu.be/P09flo8Zu5k[/video]

Some random, stupid things lol

[video=youtube_share;GQ0pAyBO2FA]http://youtu.be/GQ0pAyBO2FA[/video]

[video=youtube_share;Y9rPFtduqqs]http://youtu.be/Y9rPFtduqqs[/video]

 

[musicdeb]

Hector still has it! He's such a smart boy! I love how the other 2 watch everything you do with Hector and they wait for their treats.

 

[Mag-Pie]

Hector is such a good boy, and so smart. And I can't imagine him being anything other than that. lol. I really like watching your videos of his training and progress, it always gives me ideas of what to train/practice/work on with my Luther. Good stuff! Thank you!

 

[Hector]

Hector still has it! He's such a smart boy! I love how the other 2 watch everything you do with Hector and they wait for their treats.

Thanks Deb. Oh those two....they love to get in on the action even if it means staring and waiting.

Hector is such a good boy, and so smart. And I can't imagine him being anything other than that. lol. I really like watching your videos of his training and progress, it always gives me ideas of what to train/practice/work on with my Luther. Good stuff! Thank you!

Hey, good to see you Mag-Pie. He's smart alright. He tries to outsmart us all the time lol. Oh you just have to trust me that he's a big big brat who's mastered the sad eyes.

 

[Hector]

Haven't done much, but always testing the recall. He doesn't like the dried green tripe chew. Both times he dropped the chew I offered.

I think we're ready for a random food reward schedule (I know I've always advised to reward with food for food motivated dogs), but sometimes I think he doesn't even care for the food. I think we can use more praise/affection and cut back on food rewards. I'll have to test this thinking out.

[video=youtube_share;yuL-ukYrzFI]http://youtu.be/yuL-ukYrzFI[/video]


[video=youtube_share;KKF2MW5UNAg]http://youtu.be/KKF2MW5UNAg[/video]


[video=youtube_share;2plc2IfcbRk]http://youtu.be/2plc2IfcbRk[/video]

 

[NYDDB]

Hey, he seems to be moving really well in the videos--- how is his back/spine doing?

Nice recall.

 

[Hector]

Hey, he seems to be moving really well in the videos--- how is his back/spine doing?

Nice recall.

Yeah he's moving well in those videos, but his movement seems um..I don't know how to explain it, like it isn't as fluid as it should be. When I watch Buddy, he moves with ease. When I watch Hector, it's like he struggles at times.

We have not had anymore episodes since his recovery. I stopped giving him aspirin a month ago. He still gets his recovery sa (gluco supplement) and 2 phycox max chews a day and a pinch of kelp powder. We don't walk everyday and when we do, we are able to go longer distances without any signs of limping. He even chased the rabbit without injury (rabbit escaped the bunny run into the yard and all dogs went nuts and she's still alive and not in the freezer LOL).

Thanks for asking and thanks for the compliment .

 

[Hector]

Some off leash stuff. No food, just on a stroll enjoying each other's company.

[video=youtube_share;ow6Cqgb0WdQ]http://youtu.be/ow6Cqgb0WdQ[/video]

[video=youtube_share;YOBW62SSDCA]http://youtu.be/YOBW62SSDCA[/video]

 

[danielleconn]

Oh I love me some Hector!!! Fila's look so squishy & loveable...but I bet I would get my face chomped off!