View Full Version : building play/toy drive
elegy
05-04-2008, 08:04 PM
help please!
PWCorgi
05-04-2008, 08:12 PM
I used to have an awesome article on this, but I can't seem to find it...I could've sworn I bookmarked it...
PWCorgi
05-04-2008, 08:24 PM
Well, it is gone :(
I tried everything with Izzy to try and get her interested in the ball, but we couldn't get past basic targeting on the ball. What worked was I sliced open the ball and shoved treats inside. Worked like a charm, but food is the single most important factor in her life :rolleyes:
doberkim
05-04-2008, 08:52 PM
well, she likes her udder tug, right? its just that she wont tug with you when she's overstimulated? she plays with you in the house and in her own yard, or what? i know she DOES play with you is it just at class that she shuts the toy out, i know she did it today too - where else has this happened? is she consistent? does she ever play outside with you, or outside the house?
have you found one toy that drives her mad? have you tried the real fur ones from clean run?
elegy
05-04-2008, 09:20 PM
she will play at the beginning of class, but then she's just not interested. she will play some in the house. she will not generally play in the yard.
she used to play with me really well in class, the whole class through. now she just is like... meh. i used to use a tug as a reward for heeling in class and she was bouncing off the walls excited for it. i don't know how i ruined that, but it's gone.
i have a real fur tail i got from cleanrun and she thought it was fab for a couple weeks, and now, like everything else, even though i only use it sporadically and it's put away the rest of the time, she's like... whatever.
what happened to her playing with me? where did it gooooooooooo?
she thinks i'm dumb.
SisMorphine
05-04-2008, 09:44 PM
A couple of things you can do:
#1. Have only a couple of toys out at a time, and every few days/weeks (depending on the dogs) rotate the toys so that they have new ones they haven't seen in a while.
#2. For your special tug toy, NEVER leave it out to play with on a whim. Play with it ONLY when training and then physically show the dog that you are putting it away (on a shelf, in a drawer, in a bag) when you are done with the exercise.
If you are having trouble developing initial drive for a toy I can help you with that too ;)
elegy
05-04-2008, 09:49 PM
they don't really have toys around the house, just chewies.
and i already do #2
but thanks :-/
goofy dog. she used to LOVE to tug.
adojrts
05-04-2008, 10:33 PM
There is a good article at Susan Garrett's site.
www.clickerdogs.ca (could be .com can remember)
inspector16
05-05-2008, 01:19 AM
Another thing that works really well to build up a dog's drive is to isolate them before you play. Either in a crate or by taking her outside with you in the backyard and hooking her leash up to a tree or the fence or something, then just sit there and ignore her for a while. You have to completely ignore her though. Then go over and start teasing her with the toy so it's just out of reach. In fact, if you can get someone to help you, toss the toy back and forth in front of her between you and your helper. Toss it back and forth so it's just out of reach of her when she tries to grab it. This will start to drive her nuts. Once she starts getting into the game, then tease her a little more. Then let her loose and start running around with the toy, letting her chase you around the yard. Don't let her have the toy yet. Then, when she seems super fired up, that's when you can toss the toy for her, or play tug.
You can also try skipping one of her meals before doing the exercise as well. That will also help increase her drive as well.
Another exercise I do as well is "pushing" with my dogs, where I hand feed them their meals with my right hand, while putting my left hand against their chests so they have to "push" against my hand to get to their food. This really helps to increase their attraction to you, with the ultimate result of plugging their drive into you as well. I've had great success with it, as well as other trainers I know who've used it.
Anyway, I hope there's something in there that might help you out.
Good luck :)
whackichic
05-05-2008, 02:49 AM
http://www.thedogathlete.com/playing-with-prey-drive/
Lyka_01
05-05-2008, 03:14 AM
http://www.thedogathlete.com/playing-with-prey-drive/
Nice article...I think this might help me with my dogs...
Those tips will helps a lot...
shadowfacedanes
05-05-2008, 09:45 AM
I wish I could loan you some of Corvus' play/toy drive. It's through the roof.
whackichic
05-05-2008, 03:05 PM
Nice article...I think this might help me with my dogs...
Those tips will helps a lot...
She's my trainer and a wonderful woman.
if she's ever giving a seminar in your area try to attend.
http://www.spritebelgians.com/seminars/
oc_spirit
05-05-2008, 04:03 PM
Sometimes it could just be your body posture. I was working with a couple pups this past weekend who seemed reluctant to tug. They were interested in the toy but as soon as they grabbed it and a tug game would begin they would drop the toy and walk away. The simply adjustment of turn my body to the side and looking slightly away as well as flicking the toy around the ground and towards their sides and chest excited them greatly. The less controntational posture also gave them the confidence to tug! I let them win a few times and it wasnt long before they really started getting into the tugging game. They didnt get to the point where I could face them directly and they tug but it was still cool to see them enjoying the tug game.
Having Huskies I can totally relate with getting blown off when wanting to play a game LOL I do have a couple "special toys" though that the boys go nuts over that are always stored away if I'm not playing directly with them. These are great for starting a play session.
Another "tug mistake" I notice people making when wanting to build up the drive of their dog is they never let their dog win because they believe the whole thing that "if you let your dog win at tug he wont respect you as alpha". That isnt as black and white as people make it out to be. If you want to build up tug drive you definitly have to let the dog win more than he "loses". I wouldnt want to play either if I always lost. In the beginning do some short tugs then let go of the toy and let the dog go off shaking it and "celebrating" the "victory". Build up the time she has to tug before you let go. Her winning will boost her drive to keep tugging and throwing more effort into it too. Just remember to only tug after a reliable "out" command is established. You control the game at all times.
release the hounds
05-05-2008, 04:13 PM
Get a buggy whip like this http://www.farmandfleet.com/catalog/product.aspx?i=319921&h=090304001 and tie your tug to the end and tease the heck our of them.
If that doesn't work, don't feed him for a night, (if you feed raw this really works) get some raw meat they really love, tie it in a little bit of burlap and tie the ends closed and tease with that. The dog is free, not restrained. All over for about, lots of near misses until your dog appears to be at what you feel is its "highest" level of drive, then let them catch the prey. Then they get to eat
In a week once a day your dog will be nuts for a tug again.
doberkim
05-05-2008, 10:29 PM
She's my trainer and a wonderful woman.
if she's ever giving a seminar in your area try to attend.
http://www.spritebelgians.com/seminars/
forget a seminar, i've been eyeing one of her dogs for awhile... i'd kill for one of her tervs...
i'm very very very. VERY. jealous that you get to train with her.
VERY jealous.