Shaping videos---learn by observing

We are going to spend a lot of time talking about shaping. You learn from class, by reading and from practicing on your own. But you can learn a great too by observing others shape their dogs. Here I am posting two videos I made right before class on 1-21-10. One is me shaping Bell my yellow lab to put her feet up on an ottoman. The second is my shaping her to do a play bow. Both are first (and only sessions so far ) shaping these behaviors.

Clicker trained dogs will learn a repertoire of behavior they try out in training sessions, just by shaping a lot. So notice in the ottoman shaping video, how Bell immediately knows to interact with the object on ground and knows to try her nose, mouth and pretty quickly here her feet. If you are beginning--your dogs will not yet have a big repertoire--but will get one fast if you do lots of shaping. Notice too in both videos how Bell seems to "forget" what is getting clicked part way through for a bit--very typical. Also notice how short my sessions are and notice how I have her attention the whole time. That comes from always working with you dog while she is "in the game" (see slides posted below and manual). Notice too--even with lots of exprience any one of my session is very very short--yours should be too. Short and total attention.

Let me know if you have comments and questions.

A few of my slides from 2nd session on 1-21-10

Note: the "in the game" slides are adapted from Sue Ailsby's work--see the link to the right and see the material from her in your manual (which she so generously allows others like us to use!!).

Great first class--now write here about what you would like to get out of class or about questions you have from training this week.

Click the comment button below and tell us all what you would like to get out of the class in terms of clicker techniques and/or what you want to teach your dog. Remind us who you are (your name, your dog's name and breed or description) too.

Also click the comment button below and report on how training has gone this week and any questions or issues you have.

Join in the conversation!

Welcome Human and Canine Students in the Thursday Night Clicker Class Winter 2010

Welcome to the students in the new Winter 2010 KDTC Thursday night 6PM clicker class!! We will may well have students new to dog training, new to clicker training, not new to dog training, and not new to clicker training, or any combination thereof, in this class. So it is even more important that the instructor, assistant, and other students too, get to know each student and their dog. This will allow us to individualize what we do in the class more and meet everyone's needs better.

FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE CLASS ONLY: Tell us your name and your dog's name and well as the appearance, breed or breeds of your dog. Then tell us about you and your dog's experience with dog training generally and with clicker training in particular. Finally let us know some things you are wanting to get out of class. Feel free to share whatever else about yourself or dog that you think is relevant.

So look below and click on the comments link. Type your comment as per the paragraph above in the block that will appear in the right column of the page that will open. Type the verification letters under the block as instructed. Then (if you are not logged into google) check the circle by "name/url" and type in your name and your dog's name. Then either click the orange box to publish the comment immediately or click the blue box to preview it first.

Blog is Renewed in 2010

After being away from this blog for a good long while, I am reviving it in particular hopes that my Thursday night Clicker Training class with the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club students will make use of it. See the entry on that upcoming.