Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
A: Bucket presented
B: Dog looks at bucket without approaching it. (Dog can be in any position)
C: Mark and Treat from bucket
Once this behaviour is being repeated comfortably, move to stage 2. Here there are two possible scenarios. Both begin when the dog is looking at the bucket.
Background: Dog is looking at bucket.
A: Specific handling introduced (e.g. Hand to ear, hand to paw, clippers held)
B: Dog continues to look at bucket.
C: Mark and treat from bucket (and stop handling)
OR
There are two stages of training the Bucket Game.
Stage 1: Visual targeting of the bucket.
1. Find a small bucket or tub - keep this for this purpose. It should be big enough for you to get your hand into and small enough to be portable.
2. Put kibble or treats in the bucket.
3. Place bucket in front of the dog, about a foot away.
4. Mark and treat the dog looking at the bucket.
5. Repeat 4 until dog is able to hold gaze at the bucket without moving.
If the dog tries to “mug” the bucket or moves towards it: start with the bucket at a height they can’t reach and gradually bring it lower. The game also teaches self-control! If it is on the floor, cover with your hand. Never let the dog take food from the bucket.
Do not use a cue or prompt to get the dog to look at the bucket. Just wait until they do and mark and treat. It is very important that we give them the choice to look or not look.
Stage 2: Adding a contingent behaviour.
Start this only when your dog is happily and consistently looking at the bucket.
1. When the dog is looking at the bucket, introduce the first approximation to the handling task you are going to do. This might be the back of the hand to the ear, if you are going to examine the ears or the back of the hand to the paw if you are going to cut nails. Remember this should be done very gradually so for now the intervention needs to be relatively easy for the dog.
2. If the dog continues to look at the bucket, mark and treat and take your hand away.
Or
If the dog looks away from the bucket AT ALL, take your hand away.
3. Pause and repeat.
Once the dog is comfortable with this intervention and continues to look at the bucket, you can move to the next approximation. Continue until the dog is comfortable looking at the bucket while you do the necessary handling but ALWAYS stop and wait if the dog looks away from the bucket. This is the way the dog communicates readiness or not, so it is critical that we respect that look away.
You can also on occasion mark and treat just looking at the bucket with no contingent handling, so that there is the option of food reinforcement outside of being handled.
B: Dog looks at bucket without approaching it. (Dog can be in any position)
C: Mark and Treat from bucket
Once this behaviour is being repeated comfortably, move to stage 2. Here there are two possible scenarios. Both begin when the dog is looking at the bucket.
Background: Dog is looking at bucket.
A: Specific handling introduced (e.g. Hand to ear, hand to paw, clippers held)
B: Dog continues to look at bucket.
C: Mark and treat from bucket (and stop handling)
OR
There are two stages of training the Bucket Game.
Stage 1: Visual targeting of the bucket.
1. Find a small bucket or tub - keep this for this purpose. It should be big enough for you to get your hand into and small enough to be portable.
2. Put kibble or treats in the bucket.
3. Place bucket in front of the dog, about a foot away.
4. Mark and treat the dog looking at the bucket.
5. Repeat 4 until dog is able to hold gaze at the bucket without moving.
If the dog tries to “mug” the bucket or moves towards it: start with the bucket at a height they can’t reach and gradually bring it lower. The game also teaches self-control! If it is on the floor, cover with your hand. Never let the dog take food from the bucket.
Do not use a cue or prompt to get the dog to look at the bucket. Just wait until they do and mark and treat. It is very important that we give them the choice to look or not look.
Stage 2: Adding a contingent behaviour.
Start this only when your dog is happily and consistently looking at the bucket.
1. When the dog is looking at the bucket, introduce the first approximation to the handling task you are going to do. This might be the back of the hand to the ear, if you are going to examine the ears or the back of the hand to the paw if you are going to cut nails. Remember this should be done very gradually so for now the intervention needs to be relatively easy for the dog.
2. If the dog continues to look at the bucket, mark and treat and take your hand away.
Or
If the dog looks away from the bucket AT ALL, take your hand away.
3. Pause and repeat.
Once the dog is comfortable with this intervention and continues to look at the bucket, you can move to the next approximation. Continue until the dog is comfortable looking at the bucket while you do the necessary handling but ALWAYS stop and wait if the dog looks away from the bucket. This is the way the dog communicates readiness or not, so it is critical that we respect that look away.
You can also on occasion mark and treat just looking at the bucket with no contingent handling, so that there is the option of food reinforcement outside of being handled.
