I love Traveler. <3 I wish my dogs were small enough to try foot stalls with, but alas. Even I am not that crazed.
Unfortunately shaping is a very, very arduous process with Maisy... she is not a dog who offers behaviors very freely at all, whether it's just her personality or because of experiences before she came to me or my lack of experience and precision marking I don't know. We can sit there with her just looking at me for literally 15-20 minutes at a time. I've probably had the best success with her with the "close the door" trick but man... I freely admit I don't have the patience or precision skill for it with her for something like this. And she's the only one little enough to do the back stall with.
She does, however, very quickly figure out exactly what I'm clicking for and I can fade lures really fast with her once she gets a step. So there's that.
Well if she gets luring then god speed! I couldn't remember if you had done much/any shaping with her so thought I would throw it out there. Hopefully everything clicks (get it?
) soon and she is launching herself onto your back at random intervals!
I like the middle step you're using Linds - makes a lot of sense, though I do hesitate to teach a dog to stand on a table so regularly. LOL Also, how long does it take to build up your leg strength - that's one reason I shy away from the foot stalls - my legs don't like that much weight at this point.
Yeah, I tried to start out that way but just wasn't getting anywhere other than tired which is why I started the other way but went back to this. It's really helping with the confidence it seems.
Also, the getting on the table boat has sailed, loooong ago :rofl1:
Sara and Dex can probably answer the leg question better than I can but I think it's a good mixture of them and you learning how to move and adjust for the weight rather than flat out strength. I've been able to start keeping my legs straighter now that Traveler and Didgie get it more so that's helping but them being more secure in what they're doing seems to be the biggest help in being able to support them.
I agree! I caught myself leaning on luring, and sure enough fading the lure is hard as hell. I and I just went off on someone about how the power of clicker training is in offered behavior and how shaping is always superior to luring. :hail: Bad trainer! Don't be lazy!
Don't you hate that? I do that sometimes, revert back to my old old luring ways and it just never goes well. Then I hit myself in the head and shape it and "oh look, they get it now!