Ignoring Squirrels
- Thread starter emc
- Start date
ON walks it is the same as leave it. Same for cats, same for other dogs and birds as well. YOu learn leave it at home and then the release word for ok by using a treat and putting it in a tempting location...taking it away if they go for it and then putting it back. Eventually letting them get the treat when they are told to but you probalby know that already. Leve it I use to put a mcdonald's hamburger on the floor of my house and tell my lab Charlie to leave it. GO to class, come back and he would be beside it..still staring at it. THen i would say ok and he would gobble it up. Kept him entertained.
Good luck being more valuable that a squirrel! You have about 100,000 years of evolution to contend with there, a hotdog ain't gonna cut it.
I would work on c/t-ing when the dog glances at the squirrel, try to click before he starts to chase. If you can stop him before he starts, often the click will get his attention off the squirrel, and then you can give him that really awesome treat. If you click and he continues looking at the squirrel, ignoring your click, then you can run away from the squirrel (with the dog on leash, presumably), and then treat him for catching up to you. Once he gets pretty good at looking but not chasing, you can put the chasing on cue to let him go and "get it out of his system." Maybe just release him and run toward the squirrel, praising when he chases the squirrel. But of course, that would come after a lot of c/t for not chasing the squirrel; and you'll have to do a lot more afterwards, too.
I would work on c/t-ing when the dog glances at the squirrel, try to click before he starts to chase. If you can stop him before he starts, often the click will get his attention off the squirrel, and then you can give him that really awesome treat. If you click and he continues looking at the squirrel, ignoring your click, then you can run away from the squirrel (with the dog on leash, presumably), and then treat him for catching up to you. Once he gets pretty good at looking but not chasing, you can put the chasing on cue to let him go and "get it out of his system." Maybe just release him and run toward the squirrel, praising when he chases the squirrel. But of course, that would come after a lot of c/t for not chasing the squirrel; and you'll have to do a lot more afterwards, too.
No, hot dog doesn't do it at my house, but that smell nasty wanna-be raw food walmart sells in the fridge in the pet section does. Lacey see's me break that out and nothing is more important than that greasy nasty crap. I can call her off from squirrels but I normally don't, since they are in my yard. Out on off-leash walks she stays close and has great recall.
You said where I was going with it though, such as getting their attention/clicking before they chase and reward. That's what I meant anyway, I'm in a haze today.
You said where I was going with it though, such as getting their attention/clicking before they chase and reward. That's what I meant anyway, I'm in a haze today.
My dogs have to have a good recall and must not chase the deer (illegal) we have a good chance to see when hiking. With my super high prey drive Doberman, he had lessons at home when he was young. I used enticing faux prey to train him. He had to come first, then he could chase the prey. We advanced gradually to other animals.
You need a helper and a bucket, an animal pelt or stuffie with smelly animal scent and a string. Dog is enticed, recall, if dog doesn't come, bucket is put over wiggly "prey." Chasing without coming gets him nothing. Repeat. When dog comes first (with help of a long line, if needed) dog is released to get pelt on a string...gets to chase, have fun. Recall first, then the chase is on.
I then practiced with squirrels. With squirrels, I didn't care if he chased them..they never get them. With deer, dog must come and doesn't get to chase as a reward. (by this time we're on a variable reinforcement schedule and the squirrel chasing happens enough to satisfy the need) But as far as ignoring....no, I don't expect a dog to ignore a squirrel, just to come when called. It's who they are....predators. Can't really take that out of them. But they can learn that they don't have to have direct access to the squirrel in order to get to chase the squirrel...by not chasing the squirrel and coming to me first, they get the squirrel, or the chance to chase. Only Lyric was good at that. The Chi's I didn't do all that with but I don't have trouble with them anyhow. And even Lyric wasn't perfect. He might begin to chase some deer, but then did come when called after starting out after them. Once, it took two tries to call him off. It's definitely not an easy instinct to fight against.
As far as squirrels, it's highly doubtful that your dog will catch one and it's an awful lot of fun and good exercise and a good outlet. (so necessary to have an outlet for that drive)
You need a helper and a bucket, an animal pelt or stuffie with smelly animal scent and a string. Dog is enticed, recall, if dog doesn't come, bucket is put over wiggly "prey." Chasing without coming gets him nothing. Repeat. When dog comes first (with help of a long line, if needed) dog is released to get pelt on a string...gets to chase, have fun. Recall first, then the chase is on.
I then practiced with squirrels. With squirrels, I didn't care if he chased them..they never get them. With deer, dog must come and doesn't get to chase as a reward. (by this time we're on a variable reinforcement schedule and the squirrel chasing happens enough to satisfy the need) But as far as ignoring....no, I don't expect a dog to ignore a squirrel, just to come when called. It's who they are....predators. Can't really take that out of them. But they can learn that they don't have to have direct access to the squirrel in order to get to chase the squirrel...by not chasing the squirrel and coming to me first, they get the squirrel, or the chance to chase. Only Lyric was good at that. The Chi's I didn't do all that with but I don't have trouble with them anyhow. And even Lyric wasn't perfect. He might begin to chase some deer, but then did come when called after starting out after them. Once, it took two tries to call him off. It's definitely not an easy instinct to fight against.
As far as squirrels, it's highly doubtful that your dog will catch one and it's an awful lot of fun and good exercise and a good outlet. (so necessary to have an outlet for that drive)
Thanks for the responses, I'm not worried she will catch a squirrel but that she will run out onto the street, she has already done that. I now have to keep her always on a leash even when we're around the yard because she's so unpredictable. The chihuahua I use to have chased squirrels in the backyard but when she was out on the front porch she would stay put, but I can't trust the little weasel I have now, she's fine and stays put until something sets her off, then she's totally oblivious to whatever I say.