How to teach your dog to "hold"

[mrose_s]

I want to teach Buster to hold something in his mouth when asked. Because ti could lead to other tricks, I know Dance can do it.

I've had a go at clicker training with a toy, but all he'll do so far is put his mouth around it, but then he just lets it drop straight away.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I have a detailed post on this board somewhere about using operant conditioning to shape the hold and retrieve.

You can also search operant conditioning the hold and retrieve.

 

[elegy]

clicker clicker clicker!

shirley's retrieve would be a great place to start. you can modify it to your own needs (ie, not add in the retrieve part if you don't want it), but it explains how to shape this kind of thing so well.

 

[tobilove23]

i would suggest to maybe do some research on it just google it or something that might work

 

[time]

Hold

Buster certainly can "hold." Place him on top of a small elevated surface, have him sit. Use your hand to open his mouth. Place the object in Buster's mouth, he will try a little to spit it out. You will be able to help him out by gently placing one hand on the top of his snoot and the other on his lower jaw. The hand on the lower jaw will have your middle finger between the "V" in the jaw bone. Some dogs will protest more than others but usually when their your mate they'll trust in your direction. Once here simply hold the object in his mouth until he is still and then as soon as he is still take the object out of his mouth. Each time the two of you time this successfully you increase the time in which you will ask him to hold it. Gradually you will have Buster hold the object on his own with your hand moving further away from his mouth. When you guys are at this point you can remind him to hold it by reaching to touch his bottom jaw as it looks like he's about to drop it. Once he'll hold it then you can start teaching him to reach for the object with command with fetch.

 

[chanda]

I have a detailed post on this board somewhere about using operant conditioning to shape the hold and retrieve.

You can also search operant conditioning the hold and retrieve.

can you post the link? cant find it...

 

[mrose_s]

Buster certainly can "hold." Place him on top of a small elevated surface, have him sit. Use your hand to open his mouth. Place the object in Buster's mouth, he will try a little to spit it out. You will be able to help him out by gently placing one hand on the top of his snoot and the other on his lower jaw. The hand on the lower jaw will have your middle finger between the "V" in the jaw bone. Some dogs will protest more than others but usually when their your mate they'll trust in your direction. Once here simply hold the object in his mouth until he is still and then as soon as he is still take the object out of his mouth. Each time the two of you time this successfully you increase the time in which you will ask him to hold it. Gradually you will have Buster hold the object on his own with your hand moving further away from his mouth. When you guys are at this point you can remind him to hold it by reaching to touch his bottom jaw as it looks like he's about to drop it. Once he'll hold it then you can start teaching him to reach for the object with command with fetch.

I'm not mad on this method, I like him to work out all behaviours on his own. Like I won't lay a hand on a dog when teachign them to sit. I want his focus on the object, nto on myhands. I'm not saying it doesn't work, but he tends to focus on one thing, and it willprobably be my hands, not what he's doing.

I've been readin those articles posted here, he's already to the point where he will run upto it and grab it, but not lift it. But the other day, he did kind of pick it up for half a second, I missed the click though, which is annoying. I've tried throwing it to him a bit to. We'll get there. I got a video of him touching it with his mouth. I'll try to get it loaded.

 

[mrose_s]

http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31776

there is the thread Chanda, its nine pages into Redyre's posted threads list but I foudn it. lol

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

TYVM mrose.

The shirley's retrieve bit is MUCH better than my bare bones synopsis.

http://shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html

 

[lizzybeth727]

I'm not mad on this method, I like him to work out all behaviours on his own. Like I won't lay a hand on a dog when teachign them to sit. I want his focus on the object, nto on myhands. I'm not saying it doesn't work, but he tends to focus on one thing, and it willprobably be my hands, not what he's doing.

I understand, I tried this with my dog and she just cannot handle it. I started working on Shirley's retrieve the other day, we'll see how that goes.

 

[mrandrei]

Lemme just add that there are several items that may be used to introduce "hold." These include a wooden dowel, a paint roller, a small plastic bumper, or a gloved hand. My preference is a gloved hand!