Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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A few days ago I posted in Elly's blog about some of the food toys and games we play to help keep her fit. Nancy asked for suggestions on how to teach her Sassy to pull out the handles to unlock the covers on the newer version of the Twister game. I tried explaining how I train Elly but I quickly figured out that a video would be easier.
In this example I use my version of 'shaping' to get Elly to understand what she needs to do. I've been working with this training technique for several years but I'm still learning. I have adapted what I've learned in lots of classes and it works pretty well for Elly and me. Since I've been working with Elly this way for a long time she is very quick to start touching (touch with paw) or tagging (touch with nose) new toys or puzzles I put in front of her without prompting from me.
Timing is important in rewarding- it's why I say 'yes'. That is her cue that she is doing what I want and a treat is coming- it's similar to clicker training.
This is just an example of the training techniques I might use with Elly. How much training you need to do with your dog on a puzzle will depend on the dog's level of experience and how adept they are at puzzles.
One weird thing about this video- Elly must have been really tired because she never sits or lays down when she is playing with her puzzles. Or she might have been getting bored with the repetition we did to get the video.
Anyway- enjoy!
Karen and Elly
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thank you Karen! I love how you do the steps with her. I am definitely going to try with Sassy. The other issue I have is Sassy gets so excited I can't get her to calm down and pay attention. She just attacks the puzzle, and if she can't get the cover to slide she pulls it off with her teeth. That's when I have the compartments locked. I guess I should teach her about the handles without putting treats in the compartments.
Any suggestions about keeping her calm?
Everybody agrees how wonderful Elly is, but I think she also has a fantastic teacher!
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
Wow that is so methodical, great job!
Nancy I think Wyatt and Sassy are two of a kind. He gets so crazy with the games and beats them up to get the treats! I can’t see him sitting so patiently to actually learn a game instead of destroy it!
Thanks for the inspawration Karen, you are a terrific teacher.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So Brownie would take a big sniff. He was like heck with this. I want the treats! He would pick up the puzzle with his mouth, and throw it up in the air, and let it drop to the floor. All the treats would fall out. I guess in a way mission accomplished....
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
THIS VIDEO BLOWS MY MIND!!! THIS DOG BLOWS MY MIND!!! Elly really, really, really is sooooo smart! And I give a standing ovation to her Professor too!! What you two have accompanied through patience, expertise and a whole lot of fun and love.....BRILLIANT!!!.👏👏👏👏
Haha....I do think she is bored and needs another degree of difficulty.which I doubt they even make! This has to be the top pf the Dog Mensa Club games for dogs!!.
I love how she looks at you during different times of the video. Her thought bubble could be so many things!
Karen, you need to market this video! A ge is dog who is also a tripawd, whomis also a Nose Graduate....the possibilities for promoting her are endless!!! Cha-ching😎
Thanks so much for putting this together. So much fun AND Iinformative!!😎
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...I think I've missed some of her blogs. Tha ks for the link and I can catch up from there.
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Elly isn't generally destructive although she does have her moments.
Try playing after Sassy has been on a walk or has otherwise burned some energy.
Another important premise in our training is to reward the behavior I want. The other side of that is NOT to punish bad behavior but rather to ignore or re-direct. I would definitely leave the compartments empty at first while teaching the handles. Give some extra treats when she is playing 'right'. Don't play long enough for her to get frustrated. You may only be able to play for a minute or two with lots of rewards at first but don't let her get to the point where she starts to get rough. When you sense she is at that point then stop and put the puzzle away for a few minutes. Don't scold- just stop. In the meantime maybe do some obedience or trick training- something easy that she is always good at so you re-enforce with her that good behavior pays. Then get the puzzle out again and treat for good play. Always end the play session on something she is doing right- with lots of treats and praise. For us sometimes that means doing a couple easy tricks so Elly gets praise and treats and we are both happy when we stop.
It will take time, patience, and most importantly consistency. Elly looks great in the video but we've been doing this type of training for around 4 years now.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I'm going to give it a try. That's a good idea to wait until we walk, or have a play session. But Sassy is like a Duracell Battery. She never quits!
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
Karen, I think you found your second career! You have such great advice, I can see you being an excellent dog trainer.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
But Sassy is like a Duracell Battery. She never quits!
Thanks for the nice words Sally and Rene. I've had some great trainers with the multitude of classes I've taken with Elly plus the research and reading about separation anxiety plus 3 years of Nose Work! Something was bound to sink in .
And BTW- I've been through 3 careers and don't want any more!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Karen, I think you should start an online dog training class. What do you think? You could do it on Zoom.
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
Ditto! Teacher Karen!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Brilliant! Thank you!
Roxy and I have the same puzzle - we've only used it with unlocked compartments - had no idea how to teach her to learn about the handles. And we have similar problems as Sassy - high energy (to put it mildly).
First time I have her the puzzle, she picked it up and dropped it upside down. Her look was priceless - astounded that the treats didn't fall out. That was her plan anyway.
We will try your techniques, Karen! Roxy is smart - just a bit ADD. Okay, more than a bit.
Thanks!
Teri and the Roxinator and Angel Isa of course!
Right rear leg amp 7/12/16 due to OSA. Metastatic lesion on her right front leg, January 2017. Joined the Winter Warriors January 19, 2017. Run free my sweet girl.
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