Shed Hunting Training

So I thought about how I would approch this for awhile and decided to start training this morning.
I had some left over steaks in my fridge warmed them up and cut them into pieces.
I am using the command 'Smell It Out'
I would tell her 'Smell It Out' and let her sniff the antler then give her a treat.
Then I started tossing it across the floor, only a few feet, and telling her to SIO. She would walk over to it smell it and I would give her a treat. At first I was having her come back to me, but she would always return without it. Then I decided well it is no good if she just smells it and comes back, then I will never find the sheds. So what I started doing was telling her to smell it out and walking to her once she did and then rewarding her.

One problem I am having with her is she wont stay focused really well. I know this is new to her and I should keep training sessons short so when I saw she was really starting to drift off I had her end on a good note. How do I get her to stay focused better?

How often should I train with her? A few times a day?

Could yall give me any tips on how I could be doing things better?

You might try looking into this article.

http://life.familyeducation.com/dogs/pet-training/47470.html

It''s got some pretty good tips for the type of thing you are doing. Also look up "air scenting" on google. You'll get a lot of articles about SAR, but they have some really useful information for you about how you, as the handler, can set your dog up with the wind etc. to have the greatest success.

Edit: typo

About the focus - I think you mentioned in a previous post that she's not very treat or toy motivated, so it makes sense that she won't be very well focused. The only things I can suggest are training her before meals (so she's hungry and more excited by the treat), and keeping your sessions VERY short (like only give her 4 or 5 treats and then leave... you want to always end the session while she still wants more).

maybe the website i got as a signature my help you with that

Spamorama!

I am starting her out in the mornings. She always seems more "eager" (hungry ) then. I always try to end on a good note, but after she is worn out. I will try and end her while she is still wanting more.




I have a quick training question with nothing to do with sheds.
Do dogs pick up easier on things when they see another do it?
For example: If I have a dog who doesnt really know how to sit and a dog who knows how to sit, will the dog who doesnt learn it quicker by the dog who does? Lead by example I guess?

Some people disagree, but I think yes... When I've fostered dogs, Maddie has always "helped" me with them. Not so much with sit and down, but stay, wait, and come (among others) I have witnessed for sure
She's doing the same thing now with my friends dog - its been a lot of help, but you always have to keep in mind that they need work/practice one-on-one [without the other dog] as well. Just my two cents

I've never read an "expert" trainer say that dogs learn by watching another dog, and I tend to agree. I do think there are times when the "untrained" dog picks up on the other dog's energy (like with stay - Untrained Dog is not going to get up because he knows that Trained Dog is not going to get up), and they learn to be interested in some things from other dogs (like if Trained Dog jumps up on a platform and gets lots of attention for it, Untrained Dog will experiment with the platform to figure out how to get attention too). Besides that, I think a lot of it is humans seeing things that aren't really there.

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW! Different dog, different results.
IDK if Mary is just lazy or what. I know shes afraid of antlers, only God knows why...
But Rudi! Shes all about it!
I have started playing hide n seek with it and shes doing great!
:hail: Working for food is a like a godsend! :hail:
Shes all about it!
Maybe if she gets good enough Ill post a video of her finding one! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
This is so exciting!