When Pigs Fly_ Training Success With Impossible Dogs - Jane Killion [62]
The history of reinforcement for coming when called
Minus
The level of excitement/stimulation/novelty of the environment
Equals
The likelihood that your dog will come when called.
So, now that you have the formula, let’s begin to work on shaping it to your advantage.
Shape. I am going to give you two shaping games to play with your dog to teach him a recall. You can use one or both of them, depending on your circumstances and which one appeals to you. The more recall games you play with your dog, the better his recall will be.
Cheese Ball Recalls
1. Get yourself some of those day-glow cheese balls that come in a plastic barrel. You could also use tortellini or anything else that is large enough and of a bright enough color to be seen when tossed in the ground, but I call it “cheese ball recalls” because tortellini does not rhyme with recall!
2. Show your dog the cheese ball, and toss it away from you. If sees it, he will run after it.
3. While your dog is busy eating the cheese ball, run away as fast as you can while still keeping an eye on your dog (a tricky maneuver, but you will get better at it with practice). Your dog will be attracted to you by your running, and he will start moving towards you. Click as soon as he moves in your direction, and give him a cheese ball out of your hand as soon as he reaches you.
4. Throw another cheese ball away from you and start over.
5. Although you should first click any motion towards you, gradually start clicking your dog for being closer and closer to you, until you are clicking only when he actually reaches you.
Piggy Pointer
If your dog stops dead in his tracks when he hears the click and does not continue running in towards you, don’t worry. The idea is to mark the initial act of moving towards you, and you succeeded in doing that. You can show him the treat or toy or whatever you have to offer him to lure him in after the click.
See how much excitement this game generates? While your dog is busy eating the cheese ball you have thrown, run like heck. The faster you can run, the more exciting it will be for your dog and the easier for him to learn the recall.
Pass the Dog Game (you will need a friend’s help):
1. You and your friend sit on the floor, about eight feet away from each other. You are both armed with clickers and food. Have your friend hold your dog facing you.
2. How you handle the next step depends on your dog. Say his name. If your dog alerts to you and is looking eagerly towards you and/or straining towards you, your friend should release your dog. As soon as your dog starts moving towards you, click. Don’t wait until he is actually near you. Click the very first footstep of moving towards you. Your dog will run to you to get his treat. Note that if your dog was not looking at you or straining to get to you, you can make kissing noises, tap your fingers on the ground, or if all else fails, you can show him the treats or a toy. Whatever you have to do, make sure that, when your friend releases your dog, he is going to start moving in your direction.
3. Now do the same thing, but with you restraining your dog and your friend clicking and treating.
Another game that teaches dogs that it is FUN to come when called. Begin by sitting close to each other as in this picture, but quickly increase the distance the dog has to travel to get to the next person.
4. Do this back and forth a few times, and gradually start clicking your dog as he gets closer and closer to you, instead of clicking for just beginning to move towards you. Eventually, you will click only when your dog actually reaches you.
5. Gradually move further away from your friend. How far apart you go in this step will depend on your dog, his size, and his age, but fifteen to twenty