Joined
·
4,168 Posts
ok guys, i've been working sporadically w/brix on the "hold" and here's where we are: i'm using a stiff rope toy for this, i call him to me, place the toy in his mouth, hold his mouth (lightly) shut until he quits fighting me/the toy in his mouth.
this results in 1) a bit of a fight w/him over control of his muzzle, and 2) him holding the toy but not holding it w/a grip. ie, it's in his mouth, but he's not "holding" it.
now, i've only worked him this way twice, decided to stop until i got some better ideas on how to train this. just so you know how things are going on the "bring here" business, he'll bring the item to me and drop it (but NOT into my hand usually), then sit/stand and watch for me to reach for it. 90% of the time he watches, 10% he'll try a grab before i get to it.
when he tries a grab, i withdraw. a few minutes later, i may pick up the toy and play again--but only if he doesn't challenge my picking up the toy. i feel really unorganized about this--it's kinda driving us all nuts!
so, to backchain the "hold" correctly--WHAT DO I DO??? i know you guys tried to tell me before, but will you try again, given what i've told you?
should i try holding the rope toy in my hand w/a treat under it, to where he gets the treat when he picks up the toy and holds it? or what??
this is a classic, to me, handler-error problem--i'm doing something wrong, and i'll quit doing anything until i have a better handle on what to do right rather than screw my boy up.
HELP!!!!
this results in 1) a bit of a fight w/him over control of his muzzle, and 2) him holding the toy but not holding it w/a grip. ie, it's in his mouth, but he's not "holding" it.
now, i've only worked him this way twice, decided to stop until i got some better ideas on how to train this. just so you know how things are going on the "bring here" business, he'll bring the item to me and drop it (but NOT into my hand usually), then sit/stand and watch for me to reach for it. 90% of the time he watches, 10% he'll try a grab before i get to it.
when he tries a grab, i withdraw. a few minutes later, i may pick up the toy and play again--but only if he doesn't challenge my picking up the toy. i feel really unorganized about this--it's kinda driving us all nuts!
so, to backchain the "hold" correctly--WHAT DO I DO??? i know you guys tried to tell me before, but will you try again, given what i've told you?
should i try holding the rope toy in my hand w/a treat under it, to where he gets the treat when he picks up the toy and holds it? or what??
this is a classic, to me, handler-error problem--i'm doing something wrong, and i'll quit doing anything until i have a better handle on what to do right rather than screw my boy up.
HELP!!!!