I'm teaching Jack to pay attention and I'm wondering a few things. First I'll tell you how I'm teaching it. I'll hold the treat out and wait for him to look at me in the eyes and click then treat. The amazing thing is he seems to have caught on for the most part already (1 session). He isn't doing right away but he's doing it after a 3-4 seconds which is better than the 40 seconds, which he was doing at first.
After I ran out of Hot Dog pieces I played with him a bit then came and got on the computer. The problem is he looked at me after a while. I didn't know what to do. I had a clicker next to me and a ball next to me, clicked and threw a ball. He did this for a while until I had the idea to go get his new toy, the classic kong. What do I do in situations like this where he's giving the desired behavior but I don't have treats and he's not quite ready for the variable schedule? I think the ball worked, but what about when I don't have the ball? If I just click he might not think the clicking means a good thing.
Also I was wondering if I should teach him a cue for pay attention. One site says I shouldn't because the dog should just do it, while a book I'm reading (Idiot's guide to positive dog training) says I should.
When he's ready to start going on a variable reinforcement schedule what should I do? Should I say nothing, should I just click (but if I do this will he not associate the click with a good job?) or should I pet him?
All tips and advice is appreciated, and I mean all of it. If you have only a bit of advice please give it. Thank you!
After I ran out of Hot Dog pieces I played with him a bit then came and got on the computer. The problem is he looked at me after a while. I didn't know what to do. I had a clicker next to me and a ball next to me, clicked and threw a ball. He did this for a while until I had the idea to go get his new toy, the classic kong. What do I do in situations like this where he's giving the desired behavior but I don't have treats and he's not quite ready for the variable schedule? I think the ball worked, but what about when I don't have the ball? If I just click he might not think the clicking means a good thing.
Also I was wondering if I should teach him a cue for pay attention. One site says I shouldn't because the dog should just do it, while a book I'm reading (Idiot's guide to positive dog training) says I should.
When he's ready to start going on a variable reinforcement schedule what should I do? Should I say nothing, should I just click (but if I do this will he not associate the click with a good job?) or should I pet him?
All tips and advice is appreciated, and I mean all of it. If you have only a bit of advice please give it. Thank you!