k9kreationz
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You know Koji is a total food hound. He's obviously like Ember. Will work for food ONLY. Not really, but you get the point. Koji didn't learn anything when I moved to tugging only. I mean, I tried everything. Even my trainers tried it and the quickest way for him to learn, enjoy it, and have it stick, was to have food. Koji isn't a big tugger AT all. And when I did have a bait pouch, the only reason he was interested in it is if 1. it was moving or 2. it had food inside. Don't get me wrong, he will pull on a toy, but it's not a "reward" it's just something fun to do until I toss it or open it up for a treat..........
With that, it got me thinking....if I was doing flyball, how would I reward Koji if I couldn't use food. I would throw the ball. If he brought it back to me, I'd bounce it to get him riled up, or pass it in front of his face saying something like "you want it? huh" you want it" and then throw it so he chases it. However, he is very movement oriented, so throwing it is more of a treat than retrieving or tugging.
Does Lexi have more fun chasing a ball down versus tugging? If so, why not toss the ball? Um, yeah, I'd ask flyball people first to see if that's a bad training technique. But, for myself, I think Koji would run to get a ball, and bring it back, if I would just throw the darn thing afterwards and make him chase it. THEN he'd love it big time. He'd prefer to get the ball, return it and get food more so though.
Lastly, I think Shelli mentioned this, maybe someone else. If Koji knows I have treats, but he needs to focus or do something else, I also wait him out. i.e. If I tell him to get his dragon toy, and he knows I have food, he'll wait me out. But, after awhile, I'll just shove him in the direction of the toy and eventually he'll get it. He learns that he can't have food unless he does what *I* want him to do first. Trust me, sometimes it's totally useless. But since he's so food motivated, I had to make sure he'd work for me if food was around (like at agility training - everyone has food). And he will work for me, BUT then when he's done, he'll go find food. i.e. he'll do a sequence, get a reward from me, then go to my trainer, who he KNOWS has better stuff and bark at her. BUT, the point is, he knows he has to work for me first.
I think Lexi just needs to learn her job first. And that's to focus. Keep remembering, she's a baby dog. How old is she? 2? I know Koji really couldn't focus well at all at that age. And from what Ortega says, he wont hit his prime focus stage for another year. lol.
BTW, good luck on whatever you try. You may to find something else that she loves. Maybe tugging just isn't it. Maybe it's chasing, like Koji.
With that, it got me thinking....if I was doing flyball, how would I reward Koji if I couldn't use food. I would throw the ball. If he brought it back to me, I'd bounce it to get him riled up, or pass it in front of his face saying something like "you want it? huh" you want it" and then throw it so he chases it. However, he is very movement oriented, so throwing it is more of a treat than retrieving or tugging.
Does Lexi have more fun chasing a ball down versus tugging? If so, why not toss the ball? Um, yeah, I'd ask flyball people first to see if that's a bad training technique. But, for myself, I think Koji would run to get a ball, and bring it back, if I would just throw the darn thing afterwards and make him chase it. THEN he'd love it big time. He'd prefer to get the ball, return it and get food more so though.
Lastly, I think Shelli mentioned this, maybe someone else. If Koji knows I have treats, but he needs to focus or do something else, I also wait him out. i.e. If I tell him to get his dragon toy, and he knows I have food, he'll wait me out. But, after awhile, I'll just shove him in the direction of the toy and eventually he'll get it. He learns that he can't have food unless he does what *I* want him to do first. Trust me, sometimes it's totally useless. But since he's so food motivated, I had to make sure he'd work for me if food was around (like at agility training - everyone has food). And he will work for me, BUT then when he's done, he'll go find food. i.e. he'll do a sequence, get a reward from me, then go to my trainer, who he KNOWS has better stuff and bark at her. BUT, the point is, he knows he has to work for me first.
I think Lexi just needs to learn her job first. And that's to focus. Keep remembering, she's a baby dog. How old is she? 2? I know Koji really couldn't focus well at all at that age. And from what Ortega says, he wont hit his prime focus stage for another year. lol.
BTW, good luck on whatever you try. You may to find something else that she loves. Maybe tugging just isn't it. Maybe it's chasing, like Koji.