Disc Dog Routine Building with Cookies

Manufacturing the Approach

The dog goes to where reinforcement happens, knowing this, to set a particular approach from a particular distance just toss a cookie out there. No sitting, no waiting, no frustration.

Check it out on YT

Waiting for Understanding

Make sure that to put a Wait between each element of the sequence. Don’t be afraid to mark and reinforce the Wait randomly to add more value and make it more likely to happen in the future.

Rewarding with Action

Keep in mind the Rewarding with Action concept. Reinforce Attention and toss a cookie to set an approach. The reorientation to the handler by the dog can be marked and reinforced with the cue for the first trick in the sequence.

Reward the first trick of the sequence with a cookie or a Wait cue. Mark the Wait and reinforce with the next trick or a cookie… etc. This can turn the idea of ‘Next’ into a cookie. Reward with Action well, your dog won’t have the time or opportunity to make mistakes.

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Throwing With Intent

Throwing with Intent is throwing a disc to your dog with the intent to make them look good. Throwing the disc to promote a big leap, to hit the dog in stride on the run or throwing a disc that your dog is going to flip for 10 yards away, is the sign of a mature handler.

Responses

  1. Hi Ron,

    Ella got bit on the lip the other day, so no frisbee for a few days. So we started working “through, flip & over sequence” using cookies. Worked in some set up moves too.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al9Aoxm_8S4

    1. I see just from editing that I don’t put waits in between moves, even though I think I am, I’m not!
    2. My positioning is sloppy and I’m not expecting enough from Ella in terms of positioning either I think.
    3. I’m not waiting enough for Ella to hook up with me.
    4. Question: Is my cookie handling ‘too abundant’. I show her cookies instead of waiting the 10 minutes it would take her, a dog, to find the cookie!

    I’m a little embarrassed of this video, but I suppose it’s worth being seen in all our natural splendor. Sorry about the editing, my editing software has been bagging on me.

    Looking forward to your comments.
    Sue

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