Nose touches
Objective
Actively seek a target on command, perform 8 NTs in less the
20 seconds
How?
By moving through stages starting at simple shaped hand
touch, transferring to target, sending dog to target then requiring dog to find
and touch the target.
For all our shaping I use the 8/10 rule. Which basically
means don’t move on until dog is able to consistently perform 8 out of 10
defined criteria in your prescribed time. Additionally the 8/10 is not 8
straight touches, but can be divided in variable amounts such as 1, 3, 2, 3, 1
(variable reinforcement).
Total Time
4 months (from start to achieving desired consistency in this exercise)
Stages
The hand touch
After conditioning the dog to the clicker, we move to
rewarding for NT an outstretched hand. Dogs are naturally inquisitive so this
outstretched hand is an invitation and therefore easy to click & treat
(CT). We raise the criteria to earn reward by gradually moving the hand to
either side of dogs head, they now learn to move head to locate hand and touch.
Moving to a target
Once the dog is consistently performing a HT either side of eye line, we
place a target in our hand, so now dog is NT the target.
Now we encourage dog to NT below (dogs) head height by
gradually lowering target onto floor. As we gradually lower we still keep our
8/10 objective, and within a defined time limit. Again this keeps not only consistency
but speed (motivation), so only reward those that meet both objectives.
We are now ready to let the dog find target while still keeping high drive and motivation to NT.
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