Unusual Dog Names

Free-shaping is a “hands-off” method of training that teaches the dog to think. You basically watch the dog and click- like capturing a picture with a camera- the behaviors you want. With correct timing, the dog will realize *on her own* what you want and therefore build a stronger behavior. The dog is FREE to think and choose her own actions.

If the dog does not readily offer the behavior you want, you can “create” that behavior by clicking smaller approximations of the behavior. By being very undiscriminating at first and gradually raising your criteria, you can SHAPE almost any behavior.

My ultimate goal is to create a solid, tucked sit-stay with unwavering eye contact until I give the release word “Okay!”. Since she is a nut, she did not offer that exact behavior so I instead looked for approximations. To start (before the video), I clicked and treated every time she WASN’T trying to jump on me. She soon made the connection that all four feet on the ground got a click- which meant treats- so she started to offer the behavior more often. I will eventually name the behavior and put it on cue (verbal and hand). I want to get the behavior first, THEN name it, THEN ask for it before the behavior. You see so many people asking, “Sit. Fido, Sit! SIT!” and the dog has no idea what the word means.

When she randomly offered a sit, I clicked that. From then on, I only clicked for sits. Then I went on to building the behavior I wanted by gradually raising my criteria, as such:

- All four feet on the ground (NOT jumping on me)
- All four feet on the ground, sitting
- All four feet on the ground, sitting, not immediately jumping up after the treat
- All four feet on the ground, sitting, not immediately jumping up after the treat, glance up at my face
- And so on

You know how inexperienced actors glance at the camera subconsciously? I laughed out loud at 00:01:09.

She is incredibly smart. After the third click, she would look at my clicker hand *as she sat,* then after the click, she would stare at my pocket. She made the connection very quickly. Of course, I don’t want her staring anywhere but my eyes but that will come as I perfect the behavior.

This is not the whole training session, but I can only convert files five minutes at a time (because I’m cheap and I won’t buy the full converter program. Anyone want to donate $35?)

Duration : 0:3:55