Does it really take a pandemic to get me to write Blogs? It appears so – but I will try to amend my ways because I have some fun training projects going on, personally, and I’d like to share and encourage everyone to train their dogs!
Recordkeeping 101
OK, I never have been very good about records. I just trained. But every single dog training conference I’ve ever attended emphasized the importance of keeping records of training. Now that I have picked up two (ok, three) projects for the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, and I have 5 (yes, true) dogs’ progress to track – even I decided to buy some .25cent spiral notebooks, one for each dog, and I AM keeping records. I’m actually seeing immediate results as I know exactly what to work on during each session – my notes from how it went in the last one are right before my eyes. Every dog is making significant progress since training picks up right where I left off. I am also “counting” my training attempts as suggested by Jean Donaldson. So, when teaching puppy Challah to go down, I lure her (without words) into the down position and if she goes easily that is 1/1. The first number represents the tries she gets right. The second number is the number of attempts so far. We do it again, that is 2/2. If she decides to forget what we are doing on the next rep, that is 2/3, and so it goes. I try to work up to 5 reps, or 5right/5attempts. When I get there, I then increase the criteria, perhaps stop using a lure for the down. If she can’t seem to get it – then I go back and make it easier. The notes in the spiral notebook aren’t very formal, but they are guiding progress. Especially with my new projects which are at different stages of training with each dog, I need records!
Project 1: Do As I Do
Dogs are social learning giants. How else would a wild pack predator survive? They watch and learn, they do what their parents do and because they learn socially, they learn what prey to hunt, what to avoid, how to survive. Our own dogs are also social learning giants. Ask anyone who has a dog who opens doors. How did they learn that? They watched us and repeated our actions. (It just occurred to me that we could probably use this theory for housetraining. Hmmm. Ok, just a fleeting thought.) I am working on teaching all my dogs to mimic my actions. The eldest border collie, Caj, is already able to mimic two behaviors successfully: “bottom” (two hind legs on the bottom of the agility equipment obstacles while front paws remain on floor) and “paws up” where the two front paws are placed up on various items. The “Bottom” and “Paws Up” behaviors are ones he already knows really well. I need at least six behaviors that he already knows reliably to be able to build up his understanding of the mimicking rule. I also have to be able to demonstrate those behaviors myself, so no “tunnels” or 20” jump bars for me.
What does my progress look like so far? I ask Caj to “sit” and “wait”. Then I silently go over to a chair and place my two front “paws” on the chair, look at him, and then walk back. I say “Your Turn”(my phrase for Do As I Do) and Caj runs over to the chair and puts his paws up just like I did. I cheer, praise, and treat. I ask him to “sit” and “wait” again and go over to the A-Frame and put my back feet on the bottom edge of it, look at him, then walk back silently. I tell him “Your Turn” and Caj runs over to the A-Frame and backs his hind legs on. The cheering and treats start up again. Believe me, we did a lot of work to get to this point but it is so exciting to see your dog mimic you! This is a major feat of dog cognition, learning a RULE that applies across behaviors, but still a feat that almost all dogs are capable of handling.
After Caj truly seems to understand the mimicking RULE applied to the six behaviors he already knows (practiced in random order), I will introduce behaviors he hasn’t seen before like Mom tipping over a water bottle on purpose (lid on) or carrying a basket, etc. This is a novel way of training in new behaviors and it is just a bundle of entertaining fun, too. My brain is getting stretched!
You can see YouTube videos on Do As I Do (the original research protocol). It is impressive. I have already found it important to have those 6 simple behaviors first – on a verbal cue, no miscellaneous eye movements or hand gestures. It is also potentially easiest to start with objects – dogs seem to do better with an object in the picture as they are learning the rule. This is more concrete for them. Remember, you must be able to accurately demonstrate the behavior yourself so your dog can mimic you.
So, first steps if you are curious? Train a good solid “wait” so your dog can sit and watch you demonstrate. They all need this. Then really think about 6 behaviors you can perform for them. They need to be simple behaviors with just one skill, nothing too complex. If it involves an object, so much the better. Examples: sit in a chair, lie down on the couch, pick up a toy, put paws on that pedestal, touch something with their nose, jump on a low table, circle a cone, push a door closed. Once you come up with your list, train your dog to do those simple behaviors on verbal cue. Then you are ready to put the Do As I Do protocol into action. It’s very interesting to see them use their mouth in place of our “paws” at times. I wonder how they make that choice? I’ll be writing more about this as I have 4 more dogs to train into understanding the mimic rule. I hope you’ll join me on this journey. If you don’t want to train alone, look for my Mimic Me class which will start up probably in April or May 2021.
Training helps US – it keeps us mentally flexible, thinking, pondering, and problem-solving when things don’t go right. Training is positively reinforcing for both dogs and humans. My own ultimate goal for my dogs is to be able to do a little circus act for entertainment at assisted living facilities. Perhaps a silver lining in the pandemic is I have more time to get my doggy act together. Get a cheap notebook for recording progress and join the fun!