Capturing Behavior

[lotsahair]

OK, so I have started trying to "capture" behavior, specifically the bow. Usually when she does this I say "take a bow" but I don't have clicker or treats with me. Two days ago I decided to up the ante and reward her with a click/treat everytime she does this, and the times are pretty predictable, one of which being in the bathroom Anyway, I've been able to capture the bow a couple of times, but as soon as she realizes I've got treats or even if she sees the clicker, she sits, she goes down, and she just stares at me. Sometimes she puts her head on my lap, and then she starts jumping on me and barking! Of course I completely ignore all of this, and she does eventually settle down, but its seems like now she is misbehaving even more!

I find it nearly impossible to walk around the house with a clicker and treats, even if they are hidden in my pockets. First off, she knows as soon as I stick my hand in my pocket, or even hide it under my shirt, that something good is about to happen, and she sits or downs in anticipation. Then, when she doesn't get it, or when she wants more, she has begun misbehaving, jumping and barking and flat-out DEMANDING that treat, to which of course I completely ignore, turning my back on her or walking away. Then she follows me even more religiously around the house, walking in front of me with her head swiveled back, looking at me anxiously, waiting for that TREAT!

UGH

 

[Caro]

I have never been able to 'capture' behaviour either. My dog's just dont seem to get it if they do something on their own accord and I treat them for it. But they pick up quickly if I teach them a move. You can do the bow by luring them into a drop but tickling their stomach as they drop. I have been trying really hard to do the shooting the dog thing when Deska lies on his back but despite many, many attempts it just isn't working. I am going to move on to teaching him the old fashion way as I need a new trick for assessment next week.

 

[romeosangiovese]

I successfully captured the rollover when Romeo was a puppy, but because I no longer carry clicker and treats with me everywhere in the house I mostly lure or shape. I lured the bow by pulling the treat downwards with one arm under his belly just in front of his hind legs.

Sounds like your little one is still trying to figure out what she can do to get the treat. Once they realise they get a treat when they do SOMETHING you've trained them for before, they'll try (offer) as many rewarded behaviours in their repertoire in hopes that it'll get that treat. You're doing the right thing by ignoring all those behaviours because you want her to do it on cue. If she gets too demanding, I would walk away, just as you're doing. Or you can just start throwing out cues she already knows so you can reward these instead of her unwanted demanding behaviours.

She's also learnt that treats come from your body. You should try leaving treats on counters, tables, shelves and after clicking, take the treat from those places instead of from a pocket or some other place on your body. If you're making a ritual out of training (eg. take treats from shelf, put on treat bag, get clicker every evening in that order), change it around! Don't use that treat bag, etc. Make her wonder where the treat will come from next - you don't want a situation where she learns she doesn't need to bother doing what you say coz she knows you don't have treats on you. I would also randomly treat those tricks she knows and for those instances you don't treat, just give lots of praise. If you keep her guessing, she'll always have to wonder "hhmmm does she have a treat or not? Is she going to give me one? oh heck, let's just do it anyway!"

What's great is her enthusiasm to work for that treat. You've got a dog that shouldn't be hard to train at all!