Help with lure please!

[pytis123]

So my sisters Maltipoo (pickles) is staying here with me for about a week... and I decided I wanted to teach him a few tricks...

Pickles is a bit slow But that's not the problem. I taught him to sit,lay, and speak. He can follow his treat in short distances where he just needs to turn his head but when I want him to follow my hand to a position where I can teach him bow... he doesn't do it. he just stands there, looking at the treat, and after about 30 seconds he forgets what hes looking at and looks down. I also cant grab him and adjust his position because when I try to reach in to grab him he runs away. He is really quick too

Any advice?

 

[Brattina88]

maybe try a more interesting treat

also, maybe not too many tricks at once... don't want to confuse him

 

[Doberluv]

Instead of trying to get him to go into the complete bow position (all the way) you can shape the behavior. In other words, you reward for an appoximation....a tiny step in the right direction. When he is getting onto that, you then withold the reward and he will likely try a little harder, go a little further, then you reward for that until you see that he is repeating that regularily. Have you ever read about clicker training? This is a most effective way to teach tricks. It will take a little time to study it, but not much for just getting started.

http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage4.cfm

How I taught my Doberman to bow was...at first, anytime he stretched in that position where he chest is down and his rear is up, I made a fuss over him and gave him a treat which I usually have in my pockets. But if I didn't have a treat, I'd still praise him a lot. (He stretches a lot too. lol) Then I started saying the word, "bow" whenever he stretched. I also, after a little head start with that, started luring with a treat, pulling my hand straight down in front of his nose to the floor and a tad forward when it reached the floor. He followed and went into the position and then I'd say, "bow" and give him the treat. Gradually, I stopped luring with a treat, but used my hand and in a more subtle way....not all the way to the floor, more of a sweeping motion, as if I were bowing too. Then gave him a treat from my other hand. Now I don't have to use a treat at all, but do sometimes.

Have fun.

 

[pytis123]

Thanks.

I do have a clicker, Il try the clicker training..

thanks for the help..

 

[Doberluv]

You're welcome. Be sure and prime the dog to the clicker thoroughly first. Read up on that link if you don't already know. Let me know how it goes or if you need more help. I think you'll enjoy it. Can't wait to hear how he does. You don't have much time if he's only going to be there a week, but you might be able to squeeze this trick in. LOL. Maybe your sis will take an interest in it too.