Tag: trick training

Trick training: fetch anything to hand (part 4/4)

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January 25, 2024: woohooo!

I got the fridge-temperature beer can delivered to hand in between two rice-can reps, but off screen – so not sharing that video.

January 28, 2024: phone success and another fridge-temperature can video

I got the phone 3 times in a row! Woohooo! I didn’t add any easy objects; just did 3 spontaneous phone reps. Phone – check! Crossing it off the object-goals list!

I also repeated the fridge temperature can, this time on video – no easy objects. Chai dropped it a few times, but did well enough for me to decide it is ready to be crossed off my object goals list as well. Definitely not using this can again; we have dropped it too often for it to still be safe. Will occasionally repeat with new cans or new rice-filled cans.

Our updated object goals list:

Wallet, credit card, keys, phone, beer can, bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, porcelain mug, thermos mug, leash handle, retractable leash, keys, silverware.

Easy-objects list:

  • 20-peso bill (Jan. 9, 2024)
  • Spoon (Jan. 10, 2024)
  • Fork (Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Coin (Jan. 12, 2024)
  • Keys (Jan. 11 & January 14, 2024)
  • Poop bag roll (Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Wallet (Jan. 17 & Jan. 18, 2024)
  • Rice-filled can (Jan. 21, & Jan. 22 & Jan 23 & Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Porcelain mug
  • Highlighter
  • Phone
  • (Rice-filled) can

February 5, 2024: thermos mug success!

Today, I used the familiar porcelain mug in combination with the second mug – a new one for Chai: the thermos mug (thank you, Chris). I thought the familiar mug might make a good introduction to the new one. Turns out the thermos mug was much easier for Chai than the porcelain mug! I’ll remove the porcelain mug from the easy-objects list (I don’t want it to break if Chai keeps tossing it around like this) and replace it with the thermos one instead. That’s the one I use (and drop) more often anyways.

Updated object goals list:

Wallet, credit card, keys, phone, beer can, bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, porcelain mug, thermos mug, leash handle, retractable leash, keys, silverware.

Easy objects list:

  • 20-peso bill (Jan. 9, 2024)
  • Spoon (Jan. 10, 2024)
  • Fork (Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Coin (Jan. 12, 2024)
  • Keys (Jan. 11 & January 14, 2024)
  • Poop bag roll (Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Wallet (Jan. 17 & Jan. 18, 2024)
  • Rice-filled can (Jan. 21, & Jan. 22 & Jan 23 & Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Thermos mug
  • Highlighter
  • Phone
  • (Rice-filled) can

February 6, 2023: retractable leash success and thermos mug struggles

I’ve been slowing down a bit since I’ve gotten a little tired of this trick – I’m ready to switch to another one! – but I am determined to make it through my fetchable objects list first! So here we are again, using the thermos mug as an easy object to get more reps in and the retractable leash as a new object. Turns out the thermos mug was harder today than yesterday! Chai did it though, but good thing we kept it in the rotation. The retractable leash turned out to be surprisingly easy. I’ll bold the thermos mug in my easy objects list to remember to use it again soon. The retractable leash has another session to look forward to as well – next time playing the part of the easy object.

Updated object goals list:

Wallet, credit card, keys, phone, beer can, bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, porcelain mug, thermos mug, leash handle, retractable leash, keys, silverware.

Easy-objects list:

  • 20-peso bill (Jan. 9, 2024)
  • Spoon (Jan. 10, 2024)
  • Fork (Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Coin (Jan. 12, 2024)
  • Keys (Jan. 11 & January 14, 2024)
  • Poop bag roll (Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Wallet (Jan. 17 & Jan. 18, 2024)
  • Rice-filled can (Jan. 21 & Jan. 22 & Jan 23 & Jan. 24, 2024)
  • Thermos mug (Feb. 6, 2024 & Feb. 20, 2024)
  • Highlighter (Feb. 20, 2024)
  • Phone
  • (Rice-filled) can
  • Retractable leash (Feb. 8, 2024)

Next session(s):

  • Do a mug game with yogurt on the handle before using the thermos mug again.

February 8, 2024: checking off the credit card goal!

Today, I took a break from mugs and used the retractable leash as an easy object. Go Chai! I also did a few more credit card rounds. I set myself a goal that would allow me to check credit cards off my fetchable objects list: pick up the bent/chewed-on card from the floor, whichever side is up, and pick up a new flat card (no tape, no raised numbers) from the puzzle mats. This was my compromise for actual credit cards on the floor (the only useless plastic card I had didn’t only not have raised numbers but was only half as “tall” as a credit card). I would have loved to try an un-chewed credit card with the numbers facing the floor on the floor itself, but I only have the one I still use and don’t want it to potentially die between the teeth of a Border Collie. I’ll just have to wait until it expires; in the meantime, the other card was a good compromise. Chai did great with these three tasks. Which means I get to check off credit cards! Go (not so) puppy!

Also, random note: I wish the flag on the wall behind me was Valentino Vecchetti’s updated one. I’ll give it away this year or swap it for the new one. It bothers me every time I see it on video. That said, as by my rule that I only keep things I use, it’ll stay up for now.

We now only have one new object left: a leather leash. I’ll swap in the thermos mug for this one, but only after giving Chai a chance to lick yogurt off its handle.

Updated object-goals list:

Wallet, credit card, keys, phone, beer can, bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, porcelain mug, thermos mug, leash handle, retractable leash, keys, silverware.

February 10, 2024: licking yogurt and granola of the thermos mug handle and giving the leather leash a try!

My goal with this food toy is to make it more likely Chai will pick up the mug by the handle in our fetch anything sessions.

Unfortunately, the session we had after – thermos mug and leash handle – didn’t go as I had hoped: Chai didn’t target the handle of the mug and continued struggling to pick it up. The leash handle did not appear pick-up-able to her at all. Before having another leash handle session, I’ll try dipping it in something delicious. The other route would be to cut off the handle and teach Chai to pick up just that part – but I don’t want to ruin my leash unless I have to.

February 11, 2024: licking sweet cream off the leash handle

Again, my goal here is to make the handle of the leash the most appealing part to be picked up. The last time we tried, Chai didn’t pick up the leash at all. This time, I dipped it in sweet cream and turnd it into a food toy: I hoped she would carry it to the couch after (as she likes to do with most found treasures) if I just left it on the floor, but Chai wasn’t interested once she had finished her sweet cream feast.

February 20, 2024: highlighter, thermos mug, cut-off leash handle … and leash handle attached to a leash on a dog! Go Chai!

We had a bit of a break because our training time was spent videoing new demo videos – both Game and Chai got to play!

Now we’re back for more “Gimme” and taking another stab at the last object on our fetchable object goals list: the elusive leash handle!

I admitted defeat: having Chai lick tasty stuff off the handle of my old leash didn’t transfer to picking it up. So I cut the handle off my current leather leash (sniff), bought an identical one, taught Chai to hand me the cut-off handle and then the handle on the actual (new) leash.

This is the session with just the leash handle piece I’ve cut off. I’ve already added Game to the picture because in the final scenario I imagine using this skill, there will be a dog on the other end of the leash I drop:

After a break, I had another session – the break-through one! We can now retrieve leashes and will pick them up by their handle!

Wallet, credit card, keys, phone, beer can, bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, porcelain mug, thermos mug, leash handle, retractable leash, keys, silverware!

I get to cross off my last object on the retrievable objects list. Wohoo! Mission accomplished! Before generalizing the behavior to new environments, we’ll take a break from this trick. Time to work on something else for a while – I’m ready for a change!

Trick dog training: fetch anything to hand (part 2)

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January 6, 2024: highlighter, keys and bill

I’m layering easy objects in between new or difficult ones to keep Chai’s confidence high. Today’s easy object: a highlighter.

Chai found the 20-peso-bill VERY easy and did okay with the apartment keys + car keys. I’ll keep them in the rotation and play with them between rotations; they are more difficult than either key by itself.

Here’s our longer list of fetchable object goals:

Wallet (M), credit card (D), keys, phone (D), beer can (M), bank bill, full plastic bottles (D), coin, 2 types of mugs, leash handle (D), retractable leash (D), keys with new (yet to be acquired) key chain (D), silverware.

Next session(s):

Repeat keys (still difficult) and change the highlighter for another easy object!

January 9, 2024: exploding beer cans and a bit of fetch

I got two bottles of juice and decided to first play with them and then, if that went well, use them as the new object in today’s session. Since I was already at the store, I also picked up two cans of beer. I couldn’t find anything non-sparkly in a can, so beer it was from the beginning – even though I know about the dangers of exploding cans when playing with dogs. Well – we had fun with the juice. Chai also started out really well with the beer cans … until …

For the actual fetch session, I decided to leave the beer can be, but integrate a juice bottle. I didn’t realize how hard the juice bottle would be – the exploding can definitely had some bleed-over into Chai’s juice bottle feelings! She was being brave though after I made the juice bottle fun again. I ended on a successful rep and will add the bottle again next time to build more confidence. Lots of improvement on the keys though! I’ll add them in one more time before checking them off – basically, the next session will be a repeat of this one.

Next session(s):

+ Play with EMPTY cans.
+ Repeat today’s fetch session with keys and the juice bottle. Switch the easy object for a different easy object.

January 10, 2024: spoon, car keys, juice bottle

Chai did REALLY well today! I’ll keep the juice bottle for one more session – I want to catch it 3 times in a row before calling it done. That said, me dropping it in the first rep of today’s video is all me. The keys are turning into an EASY object! Wow!

I’ll keep my lists here, copy/pasting and adding new stuff when I think of it:

Fetchable object goals:

Wallet (M), credit card (D), keys, phone (D), beer can (M), bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, 2 types of mugs, leash handle (D), retractable leash (D), keys with new (yet to be acquired) key chain, silverware.

Easy objects to rotate through and use “Gimme” cue on. The one(s) I want to do next are bolded:

  • Highlighter (Jan. 6, 2024)
  • 20-peso bill (Jan. 9, 2024)
  • Spoon (Jan. 10, 2024)
  • Fork
  • Knife
  • Coin
  • Keys
  • Glue stick
  • Empty spray bottle

I’ve also found a rule structure for this trick that I plan on sticking to:

  1. Start with 3 cued reps of an easy object. (More and more objects will move into this category and I will rotate through them to keep picking them up well oiled).
  2. Do a familiar, but not-yet-perfect object, aiming for 3 great times in a row.
  3. Do one easy-object rep if (2) was easy or 3 easy-object reps if (2) was difficult.
  4. Use a new or difficult object.
  5. If (4) went well, end after (4). If (4) was hard, do between 1 and 3 reps of the easy object and then end.
  • Every object should be picked up both from the puzzle mats and the floor.
  • New for future sessions: cue “Gimme” for the easy object of the day!

Next sessions:

  • Use the juice bottle again; new easy object with “Gimme!” cue (keys or coin).
  • Play with empty cans.

January 11, 2024: keys, juice bottle, wallet

I used the keys as today’s easy object … but they weren’t all that easy today! I’ll make sure to keep them in the easy-object rotation. The juice bottle was difficult as well; I will add it again in our next session. Where Chai knocked it out of the park was with the entirely new object: my wallet! She retrieved it to my hand 3 times as if it was the easiest thing in the universe! The wallet gets added to my easy-object list! I may take off the highlighter instead since Chai has been REALLY good with that one and done lots of reps with it already.

And, yep – I forgot to say the “Gimme” cue with the keys. That’s okay – next time!

Fetchable object goals:

Wallet, credit card (D), keys, phone (D), beer can (M), bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, 2 types of mugs, leash handle (D), retractable leash (D), keys with new (yet to be acquired) key chain, silverware.

Easy-objects list:

  • 20-peso bill (Jan. 9, 2024)
  • Spoon (Jan. 10, 2024)
  • Fork
  • Knife
  • Coin
  • Keys (Jan. 11, 2024)
  • Glue stick
  • Empty spray bottle
  • Wallet

Next session(s):

  • Use juice bottle again
  • Play with empty beer cans
  • Remember to use “Gimme!” cue for easy objects!

June 12, 2024: coin, juice bottle … and definitely no mug (“How about some rawhide instead?”)

Today’s easy object was the coin. The juice bottle went well … I’m declaring it done for now! Go Chai! The mug, on the other hand, was a no go. I’ll have to think some more about how to introduce picking it up. Porcellain doesn’t seem to feel good on dog teeth! I found it very funny, smart and cute that Chai went and looked for something else to fetch, and ended up bringing me a piece of rawhide (something I’ve never asked her to fetch)! Also a win: I remembered to say, “Gimme!” when I meant to!

Fetchable object goals:

Wallet, credit card (D), keys, phone, beer can (M), bank bill, full plastic bottles, coin, 2 types of mugs (D), leash handle (D), retractable leash (D), keys with new (yet to be acquired) key chain, silverware.

Easy-objects list:

  • 20-peso bill (Jan. 9, 2024)
  • Spoon (Jan. 10, 2024)
  • Fork
  • Knife
  • Coin (Jan. 12, 2024)
  • Keys (Jan. 11, 2024 & January 14, 2024)
  • Glue stick
  • Empty spray bottle
  • Wallet (January 17, 2024)
  • Juice bottle (plastic) (Jan. 14, 2024; Jan. 16, 2024)

January 13, 2024: can and cup games for confidence

Today, we didn’t train-train (I was tired after our hike). So first, I left two empty cans out on the floor for the dogs to convert into toys – they did so quickly!

Following Game’s lead, Chai quickly picked up the empty cans carried them to the couch to chew on them. The Tecate is an empty can I found in the street. I don’t drink enough beer for this trick!

At night we played two cup games for the dogs’ dinner. You can see that Game is more confident toppling the cups in the first food game, but Chai is starting to pick them up in the second one! What a superstar! (Game had her kibble-in-a-cup while stationing on the couch while Chai was working on hers on the puzzle mats.)

Next session(s):

  • Play with beer cans filled with rice
  • Say “Gimme” on the second rep of easy objects (first rep is to test the waters)
  • Mug games: smear peanut butter on handle.

Sunday, January 14, 2024: cellphone success!

Wheeee! Today, Chai REALLY impressed me! I hesitated about simply adding the phone, but she was able to pick it up!!!! Go (not-so) puppy (anymore)!!! So proud!

Next session(s):

  • Play with cans filled with rice (for weight).
  • Use “Gimme” cue when I know she’ll fetch it!
  • Repeat phone with two easy objects! I’m not putting it on the easy list or checking it off my goals list yet – I want to see a few more fetches first; I can’t quite believe how well she did picking up such a difficult object!

January 16, 2024: I’m impressed by Chai’s phone skills!

I am tired today, so I just did a quick session, sliding the phone (which, in my mind but not in Chai’s, is still a difficult object) between two rounds of the plastic juice bottle. I wanted to use that bottle one more time before drinking it. Once again, Chai did amazing with the phone!

Next session(s):

  • Play with beer cans! (I filled them with rice last night; they are ready to go!)
  • If playing with them goes well, do a session of phone and cans and (if I feel like it) one other object: the wallet! If we get 3 phone reps in a row without dropping it, at least one of which from the floor rather than the puzzle mats, I will check it off my list!
  • Remember to use “Gimme!” when I’m sure Chai will fetch.

Note: instead of continuing to copy/paste my lists, I’ll be editing the previous one as we go.

January 17, 2024: wallet, phone and beer can play

We played with the two rice-filled beer cans. At first, Chai hesitated about picking them up even though she had chewed on the empty ones the other day. After making them seem special by juggling them and trying to “hide” them from her, she was ready to pick them up when rolling on the puzzle mat or being thrown on the bed. She’d carry them back to chew on the sofa, so I had to be quick to get them back to avoid rice-sized holes in the cans. No good video. I feel like we’re not quite ready to fetch them yet – I’ll do another round of this game tomorrow.

Our “Gimme” session went really well – I played with the phone and my wallet. For the first time, I put the phone on the floor (not the puzzle mats) as well. It was clearly harder to pick up there, but Chai rocked it! Go (not-so) puppy (anymore)!

I want to do another session with the phone on the floor before checking it off my list – I’d like to build a little more pick-up skills. And then … I get to sell that phone! I also wouldn’t mind a few more wallet fetches. While this is easy for Chai, we haven’t done a lot of repetitions yet. Our next session might look just like this one.

Next session(s):

  • More beer can 2-toy game.
  • Cup games: yummy stuff to lick off porcelain!
  • Repeat phone on floor.

CHAIARY – TRICKS: HUG AN OBJECT (part 1)!

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October 1, 2023: Chai’s first two “hug an object” shaping sessions!

Very happy with how today’s sessions went!

Notes for next time:

+ Take turns standing and kneeling myself.
+ Only click for paws on the respective outside of the pole (to eventually get up to pole between paws).
+ When appropriate, select for paw curls around object/reinforce duration; whatever makes more sense depending on what Chai offers!

October 2, 2023 – a tiny bit of duration and paw curls

Today’s two sessions! I’m now trying to select for paw curls on either side and have stopped clicking for paws on the “wrong” side of the pole. Catching those curls is difficult though – Chai is moving fast!

October 7, 2023: back to shaping after a break!

After taking a few days’ break from shaping, we picked back up with the “Hug an object” trick. In this session, I get quite a lot of variation to select from! I end up clicking the jump-hug once or twice because it’s the first time I get both paws, but then stop clicking it because Silvia has warned us: we don’t want a dog who ends up leaning on the object, but a dog who sits and hugs it independently. You see a bit of confusion in Chai when I stop clicking the jumps. I still have to say: love the variation! Maybe next time, I’ll start out with a sit.

October 10, 2023: 2 sessions!

2 sessions today! We started from a sit.

Session 1

Session 2

October 11, 2023: getting nicer hugs with the pole close and feeding in a sit!

Silvia’s feedback “Very cool! Just yes, put the pole close to her chest so she can’t lie down. If she still does, reward so high that she needs to get up first to get the reward. In general, reward higher if getting a down – and lower if getting sit up.”

Based on their feedback – today’s video:

October 14, 2023: duration!

Silvia suggested I aim for duration next. This is tricky with this behavior because Chai doesn’t offer duration. I wondered whether I should try and shape it the same way I shape duration on a hold with a chompy dog: wait out 2 or 3 re-bites before clicking and hope the dog eventually figures out that they might as well simply keep their mouth closed for the time it would take to open and close their mouth 3 times. I went into today’s session with the plan on feeding every 3rd paw sweesh past the pole. But Chai totally surprised me and gave me duration right on the first try!

The cut in the video is me re-loading my hands with food. Chai didn’t immediately offer the same behavior again, so I counted 3 paw swabs … after a little messiness, she gave me duration again though! WOW! I was so excited I took it and fed all my treats even though she was half-way leaning on my arm. Go puppy! We are getting somewhere!

October 16, 2023: duration gets hard again

I asked Silvia what to focus on when getting messy duration as above. Here’s their response:

“Great – should be easy from here on!!! Just continue like this, focusing on duration. Once you have that consistently, start looking for firmness of the hug – pulling the pole away gently and rewarding for resistance.”

It wasn’t easy for Chai today though: at first, she tried leaning against the pole. I seem to have communicated that that’s not what I want, so she kept sliding off instead … I realized it was partly because she was too far from the pole, but when I try to get dog and pole closer together, Chai has a tendency to scoot backwards, away from it. The video below shows some messy communication between Chai and me!

October 17, 2023: back to looking for deep single-paw hugs

Silvia’s feedback on my last video:

“[L]looks like she is actually confusing it with “sit up with support for front feet”… So maybe focus some on getting just one paw first. Reward lower to encourage that. Look for nice, deep 1 paw hugs to clean up the behavior some before going for duration again.” 

Silvia sees what I see, too. I’m surprised they expected the behavior to smoothly progress from the previous video – that speed of understanding is not what I’m used to with my dogs. I wonder if Silvia typically gets this much understanding this fast! (Not that I’d complain if I got it; it’s just not what I expect.)

In any case – below is our next attempt:

October 18, 2023: continuing (trying) to clean up deep single-paw hugs

The cuts in the video below are me getting treat refills – this was a single session.

CHAIARY – TRICKS: 4 PAWS IN A BOWL (part 6 of 6)!

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September 30, 3023: a messy session with 2 nice reps

Training plan:

  1. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  2. Only bowl #6 – “Get it!”
  3. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  4. Only bowl #6 – “Get it!”

Home position: treat hand on thigh.

Today’s session was messy – my head wasn’t in the game and neither was Chai’s balance in the first part of the session. However, (3) and (4) – the last two bowl reps – looked great. Let me show you those so you can see what we are aiming for!

My goal is a session that looks exactly like this one – minus the paw coming out (see the freeze frame in the video above). We’ll get there!

Plan for the next session:

Practice without a dog first; then repeat today’s session – but shorten it to:

  1. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  2. Only bowl #6 – “Get it!”

Home position: treat hand on thigh.

October 1, 2023: woohooo! A most excellent session!

Chai nailed this session! The adjustments I’ve made over the last few sessions are paying off: with my treat hand on my thigh rather than behind my back, Chai manages to stay in bowl #5 until the “Get it” marker. By keeping the session short (each bowl only shows up once), she has the stamina to do it all.

I also love how well my different marker cues work in this session. Good choice for this one!

Plan for the next session:

Repeat as above, but move home position of my treat hand behind my back again. This will build a little more duration. Stay at that stage until Chai can stay in bowl #5 until the “Get it” marker with this session profile as well.

The next session!

Because today’s first 4-in session was short and good, I went ahead and implemented the plan for the next one the same day:

I like how this looks. Chai does jump out of both bowls with her back legs, but it happens both times when I’m saying “Get it” (a terminal marker). I’ll count it as a success!

Next session:

+ Repeat just like this one but add the “Four” cue again!

October 2, 2023: adding the “Four” cue

I repeated the same session with the Four cue for both bowls. However, this time, Chai’s back feet came out after every marker. We’ll stay at this stage until I get another session where her paws stay in when I say, “Good” (room service)! (Got video but allowing myself not to edit and share so I get more training and book editing done instead!)

October 10, 2023: back to training after being sick

Wheee, C! This is the first time after being sick for a week that I managed THREE shaping sessions (two hug an object ones and this one)! Slowly but certainly, I’m climbing back out my hole of exhaustion!

More of the same … but this time, I’ll show you a video. As a reminder, the current criteria are:

+ Home position: treat hand behind back
+ Bowl #5: “Four!” cue – 2x “Good,” 1x “Get it!”
+ Bowl #6: “Four!” cue – 1x “Get it!”


We’ll stay at this stage until Chai’s paws stay in bowl #5 until “Get it.” I’ll likely video all sessions, but only show you every second or third one to save on editing time. In any case, I’ll be sure to show you the one we meet all criteria!

October 14, 2023: room service and balancing success in bowl #5!!

Over the last few days, I’ve had daily sessions, but Chai didn’t manage to stay in bowl #5 all the way to my “Get it!” marker. So while I filmed, I didn’t edit these videos – I prefer time spent training over editing! Yesterday, she almost did it – she held her balance until after the second “Good!” Today, she DID it and held her balance in bowl #5 until my “Get it!” (terminal) marker! Woohoo! Video proof of the superstar below:

Session profile of the video above:

+ Home position: treat hand behind back.
+ Transition behavior: blink once.
+ Goal post: stay in bowl #5 until “Get it!”

Notes for the next session:

+ Start with only bowl #6.
+ Single “Good” followed by a single “Get it!”
+ If this goes well, the next session after will have 2 “Good”-s – and then, I will call the trick complete!

October 16, 2023: success with bowl #6!

While struggling to gain her balance at first, Chai found it – and then stayed in bowl #6 until my “Get it!” release! Go puppy!!!

Notes for next session:

+ Same as today, but do 2 room service “Good”s before the “Get it!”
+ Stay at this stage until Chai finds balance right away. Then, declare the trick a success!

October 18, 2023: Chai’s balance improves!

In yesterday’s session, Chai lost her balance after the first “Good” (room service) marker. Today, she made it until the second “Good!” We are – slowly but surely – getting there!

October 19, 2023: duration on “Four” cues in our smallest bowl – marker cue shaping SUCCESS!

SO proud of my superstar! This concludes our “Four” journey! Bowl #6 was the smallest one I aimed for – and Chai just held her duration for 2 “Good”-s until the following “Get it!” Balance queen! Let’s celebrate!

CHAIARY – TRICKS: 4 PAWS IN A BOWL (part 5)!

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September 5, 2023: today, bowl #5 is looking good!

Notes for the next session:

  • Repeat everything just like this one more time to build confidence and stamina.
  • Note to self: remember that the home position of my treat hand is behind my back! Chai can do it!

September 6, 2023: from a little insecurity and wobbliness to beautiful balance in bowl #5!

Session profile:

  • Home position: treat hand behind back
  • Marker cues: good, get it
  • Transition behavior: blink
  • Treat placement: room service 1-2 inches above floor marker
  • Mirror: yes

Chai did really well in the later reps. However, the first one where she offered a sit is a sign of her not being sure she can do it. She also struggled to balance the first few times I used my room service marker (good). So I’ll have one more session just like this one for good measure. Once I consistently get confidence and balance, I’ll re-attach the “Four” cue … and only THEN will we look into going down in bowl size again. Slow and steady wins the race!

Personal win for this session: I remembered my home position (behind back) throughout the video! Go me (I cheer on my students! So yes, of course I cheer on myself as well. Dog lover or dog trainer – I suggest you do the same for yourself!)

September 8, 2023: no more struggles to get started but still finding our balance

Today’s session was good! Chai knew she could do it from the first rep onwards, and I am happy with my timing and feeding mechanics in this session. However, Chai was still a little wobbly in some reps. I’ll stay at this stage for another session or two. Before moving on to re-attaching a cue, I want to get 8 treats – 4 “Good”s and 4 “Get it”s – without Chai losing her balance and stepping out between “Good” and “Get it.” Remember: clear, achievable criteria make our dog training lives a lot easier!

September 11, 2023: balance success!

No video, but 4 + 4 success! Yay! In the next session, I’ll re-attach the “Four!” cue and go for 4 “Good”s and 4 “Get it”s without getting out of the bowl in between again!

September 12, 2023: re-attaching the “Four” cue to bowl #5!

No video – but I repeated yesterday’s 4 + 4 success, remembered my transition behavior every single time AND re-attached the “Four” cue. Go Chai and go C!

Notes for the next session:

+ Take video!
+ No cue.
+ Two good-and-get-it-s with bowl #5
+ Two immediate get-it-s with bowl #6 in bowl #5.
+ End session!

September 13, 2023: success with bowl #6 in bowl #5!!

Wooohooooo! We did it! We’re back to (our new, higher-walled) bowl #6! We will proceed carefully from here on forwards, but I’m already VERY happy with how this is coming along! No hesitation at all about the new bowl in the old bowl! Go Chai!

Notes for the next session:

  • Re-watch this video and then decide how to best proceed to avoid the drop in confidence our last bowl #6 attempt created!

September 16, 2023: good and get-its in bowl #5 as well as bowl #6 in bowl #5!

The plan:

Two good-and-get-it-s in bowl #5 followed by two good-and-get-it-s in bowl #6 insinde of bowl #5. We’re inching our way closer to the goal …

This went really well!

Here’s the plan for our next session:

  1. One good-and-get-it rep with bowl #5
  2. One good-and-get-it rep with bowl #6 in bowl #5
  3. One good-and-get-it rep with bowl #5
  4. One immediate “get it!” rep with bowl #6 WITHOUT bowl #5!
  5. End!

Sneaky AF but I believe that is exactly what we need!

September 17, 2023: bowl #5 and bowl #6

I stuck to the plan I made yesterday! (Behind me, the sheet on the armario you can see in the video? That’s where I wrote down steps 1-4 from above!)

This went really well – I stuck to the plan. However, sometimes, you’ll see Chai step out of the bowl after the “good” treat. I did not expect her to step back in before the “Get it” as I usually would. So – plan for next session: repeat the same steps and insist on Chai staying in after “Good!” Maybe even do more than one “Good” in the larger bowl so Chai doesn’t expect the immediate “Get it” release. Yes – this is what I’ll do now that I think through it:

  1. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  2. Bowl #6 in bowl #5 – one “good” and one “Get it” – if Chai steps out after the “Good,” wait for her to step back in before cueing “Get it!”
  3. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  4. Only bowl #6 – immediate “Get it!”

I’ll definitely need a cheat sheet for that one!

September 26, 2023 – our first session after getting back from Austria and picking Chai up from the dog sitter’s!

After a break Game and I spent in Austria, I picked right up where we left off! I put a cheat sheet on the armario and did what I had set out to do in my “notes for the next session” above!

Wooohooooo! For the first time E-VER, Chai put all 4 paws in our new bowl #6 (last rep in this clip)! I love it!

Plan for the next session:

  1. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  2. Only bowl #6 – “Get it!”
  3. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  4. Only bowl #6 – “Get it!”

September 27, 2023 – today, I don’t look at the cheat sheet enough!

Today’s session didn’t go as planned. Not because of Chai but because after writing and attaching my cheat sheet to the armario – I simply forgot to look at it and apparently, my head wasn’t in the game today. It happens.

Note to self: make sure to be fully awake when training and potentially practice without Chai first!

Plan for tomorrow: just like yesterday’s plan, but follow through!

  1. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  2. Only bowl #6 – “Get it!”
  3. Only bowl #5 – 2 “Good”s followed by 1 “Get it!”
  4. Only bowl #6 – “Get it!”

September 28, 2023: sticking to the training plan!

This time, I stuck to the plan! Woohoo! (I also practiced all steps without Chai first and labeled the bowls #5 and #6.) These extra steps are like writing cheat sheets for yourself to pass a test: it is the act of having written them that will help you remember the steps rather than the cheat sheet itself. I feel like practicing without a dog and labeling the bowls works the same way for me.

Tip: if you are struggling with timing, mechanics or sticking to a training plan – do a quick session without your dog were your full attention is on your own movements! Trust me – it makes a hell of a difference!

I’m happy with how I handled Chai’s hickups in the video above (getting out of bowl #5 after my “good” marker). The reason I moved my home position back behind my back was that I thought she could hold that duration in bowl #6 – just not in #5. However, seeing how hard this was for her, tomorrow’s session will look similar but different:

I’ll move home position for my treat hand on my thigh and repeat what we did today.

September 29, 2023: changing my home position (treat hand on thigh)

I followed the cheat sheet again today! The new home position helps Chai by cutting down the duration of holding her position between treats. However, she still steps out a few times. I will stay at this same stage until I get zero step-outs between the first “Good” and the “Get it” for bowl #5. This should also resolve Chai being mesmerized by my food hand being visible!

We’ve worked like this before – but she’s still a juvenile dog and juvenile brains are all over the place when it comes to desires and impulse control.

CHAIARY – TRICKS: ONE OBJECT IN ANOTHER (PART 3)

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September 1, 2023: second session on the roof with unexpected hick-ups

Info in the subtitles. Spoiler: this session didn’t go as planned!

Notes for the next session:

+ Put something into the plastic container so it isn’t as deep (easier to eat from) or find another container of similar diameter, but with lower walls!
+ Repeat the previous session!

September 4, 2023: another less-than-perfect smaller container

I tried a small yoghurt container after starting over with the porcelain bowl. Chai had a hard time!

Notes for the next session:

+ Start with the porcelain bowl again.
+ Switch to the plastic container from the last-but-one session and change its depth to avoid the aversiveness of the smash-eyes-into-container-walls experience Chai had last time! See how that goes and take it from there.

September 5, 2023: let’s chew up this clicker!

Notes for the next session:

  • Repeat with both containers.
  • Swap the partially eaten clicker out for a different object – something that doesn’t splinter, is a similar size and makes a sound upon impact in the china bowl … a ver …
  • Shorten total session time.

September 6, 2023: a new object (nail clippers) and two containers

I’m happy with this session – and with myself for ending it when I did and Chai was still having a good time!

Notes for the next session:

+ Repeat just like today until I get reliable nail clippers in the second container!

September 8, 2023: making progress on the nail clippers project!

This session went well! Jackpots really get the point across for Chai!

Notes for the next session:

  • Do another session with the same two containers and the nail clippers. Can I get 3 + 3 reps with the clippers in both containers, no misses at all?
  • No need to record the next one – I need a video-editing break and I don’t think it would show a lot of new stuff anyways!

September 11, 2023: a stab at 3 jackpots with 2 containers

We did the session I had planned on and I allowed myself the luxury to not film (i.e. no video editing). Chai got the nail clippers into the porcelain bowl on her first three attempts, but needed 5 or 6 attempts with the smaller plastic container (we worked until she got a jackpot 3 times with that container as well). I’ll stay at this step until I get 3 wins in the plastic container right away. Permission to train and not film!

September 13, 2023: a nail clippers win!

Chai got the nail clippers 2/3 times into the porcelain bowl on her first try and THREE/THREE into the smaller plastic container! Go puppy!!! (No video.)

September 16, 2023: coins, coins, coins!

I was going to go for both clippers AND a coin in both containers today, but only brought a 10-peso-coin to the roof – so we started with that one right away. Porcelain bowl: easy. Plastic bowl: hard. I’ll keep working on the plastic bowl with different objects and also make sure to throw in easy porcelain bowl reps to keep the rate of reinforcement high.

September 17, 2023: an indoors session

It was hot and humid out today so we trained inside – but not on the puzzle mat to create contextual difference to the 4 paws in trick. I used the porcelain bowl as well as the smaller plastic container and 3 different objects: a glue stick, a 10-peso coin and a nail. The plastic container needs work – stay at this stage; potentially change an object or two!

September 26, 2023: glue stick, plug and coin in china bowl and plastic container – varying locations

Varying the location of the china bowl REALLY made a difference in Chai’s understanding! I love it!

I want to have a similar session again – and I’d like to add my hands as a new “bowl” to the game soon as well! There are endless possibilities with this trick!

CHAIARY – TRICKS: 4 PAWS IN A BOWL (part 4)!

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August 17, 2023

Session 1:

I’ll implement what I learned in today’s first session in the next one!

Session 2:

+ Feed “Good” to mouth, not on the tape marker.
+ Don’t return treat hand to home position between the two markers.

Unfortunately, the video angle doesn’t let me review my treat hand position.

August 18, 2023

Session 1 …

… was a repeat of yesterday’s last session. Not looking bad at all:

Just a few things I’d like to change now that I can see my hands: if Chai steps out of the bowl after the “good” or before the “get it” cue – wait her out and only feed (or mark respectively) when all 4 paws are in again. I will stay at this level until I get that kind of session. I’ll keep using 6 treats. Note to self: only move on when there are no stray feet in any of the 3 reps!

Session 2:

We need to keep trying for these 3 perfect reps!

Session 3:

Note to self: remember home position in the first rep! On my thigh, not behind my back!

Session 4:

This session showed me how physically taxing 4 in is for Chai now that the bowl is this small. I used to be able to do several sessions of this trick every day, but her muscles fatigue more easily now that the bowl is this small and balancing is getting harder.

August 19, 2023

Today, Chai said no and I listened to her:

Listen to your dogs! Training should ALWAYS be fun for BOTH of you! Unless you’re both all in – call it off, take a break and do something else instead!

I’ll give this trick a 10-day break and then start over again a little easier.

August 30, 2023

My plan: I’d start over with bowl #5 – expect 4 feet in right away – toss 3 “Get it” treats – put a new bowl #6 (with taller walls) into bowl #5 – keep expecting 4 paws right away and end after 3 “Get it” treats for 4 in. Chai didn’t read my training plan though, as you will see below!

The video below has voiceovers for changing things on a fly in the middle of a training session and the importance of listening to your dog!

Notes for the next session

Repeat the same set-up; use “Get it” as a marker every time. 6 treats, no more than one session a day!

August 31, 2023

Loving this session (even though I went over 6 treats!):

  • Chai was fast to offer 4 paws in.
  • I paid attention to my mechanics, did my transition behavior (blink consciously between marking and feeding) consistently and only used the “Get it” marker I had planned on.
  • Spontaneously ending in personal play makes sessions light and fun! Note to self: more of this! Next time, ditch the prop first to avoid confusion.

Notes for the next session:

I’ll go back to “Good” and then “Get it” and a tape marker on the floor (Chai almost sat in one of the reps in this session, so I want to make sure we get consistent standing!

September 1, 2023

Notes for the next session:

  • Keep everything the same, but feed 1-2 inches above my marker on the floor after “Good!”

CHAIARY – TRICKS: 4 PAWS IN A BOWL (part 3)!

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August 8, 2023

I was going to start out with a session of 4 in with bowl #6 in bowl #5 and then remove bowl #5 – but Chai let me know it was too difficult today by lying down. So we ditched bowl #6 and just had a few reps with #5. Look at the lovely conversation we’re having in the video below! Chai is teaching me which bowl needs to be used here.

Next session: start with just bowl #5, then add bowl #6. Slow and steady!

August 9, 2023

Session 1

I started our first session with 2 “Get it” treats and just bowl #5 (and the familiar “Four” cue). I wore bowl #6 like a hat to have it ready to put into #5 right as Chai was chasing her second treat. Then, we did two more “Get it”s with bowl #6 in bowl #5 and ended. She did great! Building back up slowly! No video of this session but will record the next one: I’m planning on starting out with two “Get it” treats with both bowls and then removing bowl #5 and only leaving the smallest bowl. We’ll see how it goes! I am not going to use a cue in the next session.

Session 2

Chai says, “This is too hard!”

I’ll have to think of an in-between step before we try this again … or just repeat today’s session-1-set-up a few more times … I’ll think about this some more to set Chai up for success next time!

August 11, 2023

I repeated the last successful session – and Chai did brilliantly again. Next time we work on this, I’ll do two sessions the same day. The first one will be just like this and the second one start with bowl #6 in bowl #5. We’ll see how it goes!

(The cuts in this video are when I tossed the “Get it” treat under the couch.)

August 12, 2023

Session 1:

For today’s first session, I repeated yesterday’s last session. Chai did great again. (No video.) After a break, we did …

Session 2:

I started out with bowl #6 in bowl #5 from the beginning of the session. Chai quickly realized that this was too hard, so I changed approaches on the fly and shaped things back up this time (rather than removing bowl #6 like I did yesterday). She did great! The cut in the video is when I tossed a treat under the mattress. Furniture! It’s always in the way!

August 15, 2023

Session 1:

I didn’t realize Chai would be thinking of the 1-object-in-another trick! When I realized, I eased up criteria (and briefly messed up my marker cue) and shaped back up to 4 in. Superpuppy!

Reviewing the video, I noticed: I need to focus on my transition behavior so my marker cue and hand movement don’t bleed into each other. When we want to train with clean mechanics, we’ve got many balls in the air!

Session 2:

The plan: start with 4 in – no shaping if she’s able to offer 4 in right away – and then start to shape with only bowl #6 in the same session. Keep it short and sweet – say 8 treats total, max! Remember my transition behavior (blinking). Let’s see how this goes and then take it from there!

This looked good! I forgot my transition behavior half the time, but otherwise, we’re golden! I’ll bring my clicker back out for the next round and repeat the shaping session, starting with bowl #6 (blue) right away. I haven’t been using a clicker when I had one bowl in another, but now that I’m only holding on to one, I can easily keep it steady AND click. So that’s what we’ll do next:

+ Bowl #6 (blue) only.
+ Clicker in bowl hand (practice holding it stable before adding a dog – check).
+ Set up mirror to watch back paws.
+ Remember transition behavior (blink).
+ Shape up from the beginning but do not go for more than 4 reps of all 4 paws in (if we get that far).

The video below is my practice session without a dog. I highly recommend doing this on a regular basis/anytime you switch something up in terms of reinforcement! It will only take you a few minutes (and that includes videoing yourself and quickly reviewing the clip on your phone) – but you’ll be a better trainer for it!

Below is the session WITH Chai I did right after my practice session! I love that very last rep where she tries for ALL FOUR PAWS!

Notes for next session

Repeat today’s last session; see if we get more confidence and then take it from there!

August 16, 2023

Session 1:

I love how this session went!

I’ll give Chai a break and then try starting with all 4 paws in right away for session 2. If she does it, 4 reps is all I’ll ask for in this session.

Session 2:

Chai rocked today’s second session! For the next one, I’ll ditch the clicker and go back to our “Good” and “Get it” routine to build a tiny bit of duration in position. I’ll use 6 to 8 treats total, depending on how things go, and then end.

Session 3:

This was the most difficult session of the day for Chai! I’ll rewatch the video and then repeat the same session tomorrow with home position on my right thigh (like I did here in the last rep) rather than behind my back. This will allow me to deliver the “Get it” treat faster after “Good.” This means I will still be asking for duration – but a little bit less of it!

CHAIARY – TRICKS: PICK UP OBJECT/PUT ONE OBJECT IN ANOTHER ONE (part 1)

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July 31, 2023

We had 5 pick-up-an-object sessions throughout the day. That’s no problem at all for a workey dog, but not what I would advise for a dog who isn’t crazy about training. Train the dog in front of you and don’t overdo it! Stop training while they still want to keep going!

In Chai’s case, this is easy: if I train as much as I have time to, I still won’t hit her limit. That makes her perfect for me. How do I know? As soon as I put out the puzzle mats (they are usually up against the wall, not on the floor), she races there. As soon as I grab my tripod, she starts jumping up at me. As soon as I ask Game to station on her mat, she gets all excited because it’s a predictor of a session for her!

August 2, 2023

The second day we’re working on this!

Session 1: how about picking up this football-shaped toy we found at the park last night?

Session 2: adding a second object since the goal for this is to put one object into another.

I’m using a water bowl here because it looks different from the bowls we have been using for the 4 in trick.

August 3, 2023

2 sessions with the basketball toy and the water bowl!

August 4, 2023

Today, I tried using a larger container the toy wouldn’t bounce out of – and one that we haven’t worked with in a while: box #2 from our 4-in trick. We’ve been using bowls for weeks now, so I hope to get less paws in a box! I’m happy with the results so far!

August 7, 2023

Session #1:

Same object, slightly smaller box I have never used for 4 in:

Session #2:

Same box, switch to a new object mid-session: a paper cup!

I am REALLY happy with how well Chai did today! Go puppy! Is there anything more fun than an operant dog?!

August 8, 2023

Put the baseball toy, a paper cup, a shoe and a roll of tape into the crate! Superstar puppy! doG, I love operant dogs!

Below is an example of Chai saying, “I know I can’t do this so I won’t try. Basic physics, human!” I respect what she tells me. Her communication below is as clear as the one above: she considers one of the two behaviors a solvable riddle and the other one not. Listen to your dog – they know themselves best! Good listening skills on your part will lead to trust and trust leads to excellence.

CHAIARY – TRICKS: 4 PAWS IN A BOWL (part 2)!

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July 26, 2023

Session #1:

Only bowl #4, different angles, no cue. Chai is being a superpuppy!

Session #2:

Only bowl #4, different angles, re-attach “Four!” cue.

I couldn’t be happier with this session! What a good puppy! Short and sweet for the win! (Plus a mirror, tape and a non-slip surface! Chai hasn’t been tempted to sit anymore either!)

Plan for the next two sessions:

+ Start with only bowl #4, no cue.
+ Add bowl #5 into bowl #4, no cue.

July 28, 2023

Since this looked so good, my plan for the next two sessions is:

+ Session 1: only bowl #5; different angles; no cue.
+ Session 2: if I’m happy with the previous session, re-attach the “Four!” cue.

We did the first session I had planned – but it was physically challenging for Chai! I won’t do another one today but repeat the plan for both tomorrow! Below the first session:

Notes for next time:

+ Repeat the last two sessions I planned.
+ Reposition the mirror for this bowl.
+ Make sure I know how to hold the bowl perfectly stable.

July 29, 2023

Bowl #5 was still physically difficult. We did 2 sessions with different treat-toss angles and no “Four” cue. I’ll stay at this stage until Chai has as easy a time with this bowl as she did with the previous one.

For now and the day(s) to come: two short sessions, one treat in position and one tossed at a different angle each time (to build a little duration for holding the position). I’ll always give her a break between the two sessions. Today, the break was playing with Game and a pee loop.

Next time, I might try switching the clicker for verbal markers so I get a better grip on the bowl.

August 2, 2023

Bowl #5. First session – holding the bowl with what is usually my clicker hand; having a better grip on it because I’m experimenting with holding the clicker between my lips! Session two (same video): re-attaching the “Four!” cue and using verbal markers.

This was difficult for Chai! I’ll make it easier by means of changing my home position for the next round: instead of behind my back, I’ll rest my treat fist on my right thigh. That way, I’ll be faster with the second treat (“Get it!”) after the room service marker (“Good”) and Chai will have to spend a little less time balancing in the bowl.

If this looks good, I will move my home position back behind my back in the next session after.

I also did the third session today (no video because I accidentally deleted it after reviewing). Chai did well but I want to work on my mechanics some more. I’ll repeat this and make sure I keep my home position consistent on my thigh and don’t mark “Good” too early. Then, I’ll move my home position back behind my back. However, this will have to wait for another day! Three sessions of “Four” in one day is more than enough!

August 3, 2023

3 sessions with home position on my right thigh! Here’s the third one:


(The cross-blur cut in the video is when I had to refill my treat hand, ended up pulling out a string of poop bags and making a mess.)

August 4, 2023

I was going to do one session with home position behind my back, good and get it, transition behavior blink and then take it from there. However, this turned out to be difficult for Chai today:

Because she struggled quite a bit after the first few reps (struggled with balance, that is – the behavior is clear to her but it is difficult to put four paws in the bowl), I’ll stay at this bowl size for another round. Next time, I will repeat what I just did but keep the session shorter (10 treats total, making for 5 reps). I will also pay special attention to my “Four” timing and make sure I cue when she is about to or has finished eating the previous “Get it” treat rather than earlier than that (as I accidentally did in the session above). For now though – Chai gets a well deserved break! No two physically difficult sessions in a row!

For our next session after a long break, I stuck to 5 reps. Chai did GREAT!

August 7, 2023

Except for the very last rep – cut off because it was preceded by a search for a piece of kibble under the mattress I needed to help with. It took a while and threw us off our game – this session went beautifully! Either 4 (rather than 5) reps are all I should ask at this bowl size OR the escaping treat threw her for a loop. In any case – I’m happy! We’re ready to go down one size!

Bowl #6 – the smallest one!

In the video below, I am working on bowl #6 – my very smallest bowl! – in bowl #5 for the first time. I’m not working on a perfect position and not asking for any duration – I just want Chai to be confident about this new set-up and her ability to squeeze in.

Notes for next time: since this went so well, our next session will be 50% bowl #6 in bowl #5, then ditch bowl #5 and try with #6 only! #6 is my smallest bowl! We’re almost there!