The "Touch" Cue

Teaching the cue "Touch" can come in very handy in many situations that you may not even realize.  I find that it helps when teaching "Heel" and when you need your dog to walk onto or over to something. Potty training is also a place where the "Touch" cue can come in handy. It also happens to be one of the easiest cues to teach.

To start put your clicker in the hand that you will not be using.  (Now I start by teaching them to "Touch" a stick and then move to cue to my hand.  I find it easier to start that way because a stick is something hard to resist investigating) Hold the stick (one with a blunt end) out in front of  your dog's nose, when he bumps it (from sniffing or trying to chew) click, and treat.  Now your dog will try to figure out what is has to do to get that treat again.  Give him time, if you need to move the stick around a bit to keep his interest feel free.  Move the stick away and put it back out saying "Touch" whenever he bumps it (no teeth) with his nose click and treat him.  After a dozen time or less he should have it down.  

Give him a break after the treats and play a game with him for a few minutes.  Then hold up your hand (like a stop sign) and say "Touch"  he might look for the stick, but he should try giving your hand a bump, when he does, click and treat with lots of praise!  Repeat and then alternate with the stick and your hand.

To use it when on a walk simply put your hand (or if you have a small dog, use the stick) down at your side and tell your dog "Touch".  Remember to click and treat for the first little while and you will build a very positive feeling in your dog when he is at your side (translation: "being next to my owner, not in front, is wonderful!).  It is also nice to keep him focused on you and not whatever cat has happened to walk down that sidewalk as well.

(a "just because puppies are so cute" picture)

Dog Sense

I have just finished reading this great book by John Bradshaw.  In it he explains and clarifies a lot of the misconceptions that we have about our dogs.  I have just returned my copy to the library (such a wonderful resource) and I highly recommend one of you pick it up next! (or if you have the extra cash pick on up off Amazon). I have attached this link from NPR which gives you a review and snip-its from the book itself. I give this book 5 out of 5 for it's easy to understand explanations and studies cited and explained.

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/26/136497064/the-new-science-of-understanding-dog-behavior

Happy Easter!

Here's hoping you all had as good of a time as Roxy did this Easter!

 I even hid some liver treat eggs for Roxy to find. (Since I taught her how to "find" something this was pretty easy and the liver was a very temping smell!)

Here is a link to watch how I am training Roxy to put her toys away.  The cue I use is "pick it up".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcU26-VpqkA

Ode Pippin

Pippin was my first dog that I got on my own.  I picked him out at 2 weeks old and traveled a half an hour ever week just to visit him until he could come home.  He was such a special dog who had too many years left in him when he died.  He became a Delta certified Therapy dog at the age of 3 and was a comfort to many besides me. 

 These are pictures of one of the 2 times we hiked the top of Timp together.

 This is Pip and his father Keno

 Can you say ahhh!

Sorry for the sad note. A good friend of mine just had her 12 yr old Golden pass away.  Another awesome dog that I was glad to have known.  How many of you know a dog who turns on and watches Clifford, or can open door with round door knobs.  Here's to all the dogs who have left a paw print on our hearts!

A dog party, a Big dog party!!!

Well we had our first Doggy Party day and boy was it fun!!! We had 9 dog that ranged in age from 5 months to 9 plus years!  Everyone had a good time and I am sure they will all sleep very well tonight! (the treats for us people were sure good too!) Thanks for coming all of you who did! Hope to see you next month! For those of you who missed it, we will be doing it again next month! Hope to see you there!

 How dogs day "hello"

 Gumby and his friend Thomas!

 Elvis and Mika

 Frodo

 Roxy and Frodo play ball

 Thomas checks out Champ, while Boxy watches.  The water bowl was a pretty popular place!

 Frodo, Gumby, Strider, & Champ!

 Roxy, Elvis, & Champ

 Roxy!

 Mika, Frodo, & Gumby

Frodo & Mika!

We had a few tiffs, but all in all everyone was very well behaved, and even the few tiffs weren't too out of control.  We were able to calm everyone down and everyone went home happy!

Hide and Seek!

A great game to teach your dog is "hide and seek."  Not only will it give you a few spare seconds without your dog pestering you to play ball, but it makes them use their little brain!  Why is that so important you ask?  The more your dog thinks, the happier and less energy he needs to expend (digging up your newly planted flower bed).  That's right, when your dog has to think in new ways or in ways that are challenging it uses about the same amount of energy as he would going on a walk.  Now he will still need his walks, but lets say it's rainy outside or bitter cold in the winter and a walk is just not going to happen, or  lets say he is just a bundle of energy and he could easily go on 5 walks, let alone one.  Now you have something that will help.

To teach him how to play first find a treat that is really smelly and has a unique smell ( moist liver treats, Greenies, or peanut butter treats work well to start).  Put your dog in a sit/stay or a wait, place the treat in an obvious place, then add the cue; "find treat", or "where's the treat".  As soon as he finds it (and can be eating it) click and he gets another (smaller) treat.  The next time make it a little harder to find, but still pretty easy to find. Click and treat the same way and gradually make it harder.  If your dog ever just gives up, put him back in the wait, or stay and re hide it  making it a little easier.  The next time you start pick back up  to be just a bit easier than the the level of difficulty that you were at the last time.  Always remember to ask for him to find something by name, so "find Timmy", "find ball", or whatever your dog might know the name of.

This game also works well to teach your dog the name of toys.  Clear the room and place the object in a very obvious place and ask him to "find_____"  If he goes up to the toy, click, treat, and repeat!