Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hold

Dog Post #106: This post annotates a video I made of Beau attempting to learn to hold an object. Yes, captioning would be easier for the viewer, but my software is old and my computer is slow.

Video: If you wish to play along at home, the video is Beau - Quick Flick: TL4 Retrieve (part 2)

Setup: Beau is having a hard time learning to hold an object at the same time as I am holding it.

Equipment: canvas bumper, clicker, treats, Beau

(all times approximate and based on the master video on my hard drive)


  • 00:00:20 – Beau had never seen the bumper so he’s treated for showing interest – so he knew today’s game involved the bumper
  • 00:00:35 – Per Sue’s suggestion, tried holding the bumper between my knees. Clicked any sort of interaction
  • 00:01:00 – Started looking for a double grab or at least a longer or stronger grab
  • 00:01:21 – Ooops – didn’t think he would try pawing at it!
  • 00:01:24 – Asked him to give it to me (cue = Bring) but he looked confused, as it was already at my feet - how much closer did I need it???
  • 00:01:35 – Finally, he picked it up. Since I didn’t want him thinking giving it to me was the point, I clicked before he actually got it into my hand
  • 00:02:03 – New idea – since he seemed to grab it from the floor, what if I was holding it at floor level?
  • 00:02:13 – Jackpot! He finally gave a noticeably harder tug. It’s the first real tension I’d felt
  • 00:02:20 – Added Bring cue while holding it – would that get a harder grab?
  • 00:02:27 – Jackpot! He pulled it out of my (very light) foot “grasp”
  • 00:02:42 – Switched to between my ankles, but it didn’t work so well.
  • 00:02:50 – Back to between my feet, still using Bring cue
  • 00:03:00 – Would he grasp more firmly now if I actually held it?
  • 00:03:10 – Nope
  • (pause to refill cookies)
  • 00:03:35 – A break with the real Bring
  • 00:03:50 – Back to between my knees with the Bring cue
  • 00:04:00 – Jackpot! Again, there was enough tension to dislodge it.
  • 00:04:25 – Another real Bring…
  • 00:04:35 - … and another good grab
  • 00:05:13 – Tried again “in hand”, but still not happening
  • 00:05:26 – Ended on a good one

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