Please Explain Look at That in CU

[JoeLacy]

I have Control Unleashed ordered. I went to youtube and watched this video.
YouTube - Yoshi Plays Look At That (using a clicker)

I'm trying to work on Peytons dog reactiveness seen here.
YouTube - Peyton in Class

What I don't understand is the concept of LAT and how it may help lower Peytons anxiousness.

[AgilityKrazii]

What I saw in that video of Peyton was a dog who just wanted to get out and play with that other dog. She looks like she has alot of energy that needs to be channeled while in class.
The look at that game would be benificial but I think there are alot of other things you could do as well with her. Tire her out before class, play tug with her while she waits, do a few tricks, keep her engaged and always reward her for doing what you want.

[lizzybeth727]

LAT teaches the dog to look at whatever it is that she's reactive to, and then look back at the handler. In the first video, the trainer was trying to teach the dog to look at other dogs, so she was clicking the instant the dog looked at the other dogs; since the clicker had been conditioned on that dog, the dog instantly turned back to look at the trainer to get her treat.

This is important and handy, because most reactive dogs do not react the INSTANT they see another dog, there is almost always a 1/2 second or more delay before they react. In that 1/2 second, the dog's emotions build up to the point where they react. In that 1/2 second, then, you can click, which interrupts the emotional build up and switches it to a different feeling - happiness that he's about to get something good from you. Eventually he will figure out that looking at the other dog will get him good stuff, so he will look at the dog and look back to you for his treat - "Look at that."

In the video with Peyton, it does seem that LAT will be handy, because it will get her to focus more on you than on the other dogs.... She will start to figure out that you are more interesting than that other dog. There is also clearly a lot of excitement (an emotional build-up) for her around seeing other dogs, so LAT will help to teach her that other dogs are not always that EXCITING to look at, and that she can be excited around other dogs at other, more appropriate times and places.

In the video at 0:15, Peyton calms for a few seconds and lays down. At that time you should CLICK (and treat) her for looking at the other dog calmly, and then continue to click/treat every time she glances back at the dog. That would've probably prevented the next outburst five seconds later. It would've also interrupted the emotional build up that went on for those five seconds, which would've helped her to stay calm and learn that being calm is a good thing.

Glad to hear you're getting the book, good luck!

[JoeLacy]

Thanks Lizzy. I'm going to need some serious help on this one. Peyton would CGC is a heartbeat except reaction to another dog. My timing and reading her is going to be critical.

Peyton just takes the treat, then is back focused on playing with another dog. I can click/treat/click/treat until her treat bag is empty and she will ignore the other dog. Once I miss a treat though, she's back at it, wanting to go and play.

The book should be here next week, I'll read it then get started. This is by far my greatest dog training challenge ever. Peyton's out of control, over the top play drive is her strongest drive. Getting that one under control will take some real expertise.

The good news is, Peyton is razor sharp and learns in minutes. The bad news is, this play drive supersedes all her learned commands.

Often, she is well aware what I want her to do, she either is refusing to do it or does not have the ability to do it or I'm not offering a reward greater than she would get from meeting another dog which is most likely the case.

Peyton can be a a very stubborn dog at times, knowing full well what it is that I'm asking, yet does what she wants instead and even holding eye contact with me as she pushes the rules.

Generally speaking, Peyton does not frenzy out over much of anything except other dogs. I notice on walks, she is looking for other dogs and having another dog in the house has not curbed her enthusiasm.

I thought flooding her with dogs may take the edge off. We have always gone to the dog park a few times a week and the results are always the same. She will run and play until the point of total exhaustion. I have seen her legs completely give out under her and most times she is very stiff the next morning and often finds it hard to get up the stairs. Never-ever aggressive, it's 100% just play and expends all the energy an Aussie possesses, and that's a LOT of energy. She just absolutely L-O-V-E-S it.

I didn't fix this a year ago and thought I would give it some time for her to grow out of extreme puppy hood, it's not any better now and I've run out of excuses. I think this one is going to be a hard one.

Stay with me on this one please, I'm going to need all the help I can get.

[JoeLacy]

Ok, I think I have a proof of concept. Peyton is spooked by storm drains. She'll hit the end of the leash big time and every time if we get too close.

I took LAT and applied it and Peyton learned when she looked at the storm drain she got a treat. This took 5 minutes and I'm 1000% positive she got it. That didn't help "much" on the spooky part, but she clearly was looking at the drain, got the click then back at me repeatedly. No question at all that she understood and was playing the game. Peyton is just amazingly quick to teach. So it looks like LAT will work for her, I just need to work on me.

[lizzybeth727]

Originally Posted by JoeLacy

Peyton just takes the treat, then is back focused on playing with another dog. I can click/treat/click/treat until her treat bag is empty and she will ignore the other dog. Once I miss a treat though, she's back at it, wanting to go and play.

The book should help you with that, it's definately a common training problem.

I've always heard "traditional" trainers say that using treats to train will make dogs aggressive. It took me YEARS to understand what they were talking about, but I recently did: Humans give the dog treats EVERY time he does the right behavior, so the dog KNOWS that he's DEFINATELY going to get a treat when he does the behavior. Then one time the human does not give the dog the treat, and since the dog KNEW he was supposed to get the treat, he gets frustrated. That frustration, if strong enough, can make a dog act out with aggression.

I can ABSOLUTELY see this happening with Peyton, so make sure that you read the book and understand how to raise your criteria (you won't click/treat every single time she glances at a dog for the rest of her life) and use variable schedules of reinforcement.

Good luck!