I mentioned this in another thread but it was in with a bunch of other questions, so I just want to focus on this one more closely.
I had mentioned that Louie loves to play tug -- the only thing he loves more is food. I want to teach him to drop/give an item in a way that's fun and easy for him to understand, so I can do it in short sessions with plenty of repetition.
There are three methods I know of: Trade the object for a treat, trade the object for another object, or just take the object.
Trading the object for a treat works great... once. After that first time, Louie is completely focused on the food, no amount of coercing or anything can get him to take a toy again so I can get him to drop it again.
Just taking the object is practically impossible without engaging in a game of tug that can last a long time, including picking him up off the ground by the toy so he's just dangling like a caught fish. I've tried just hanging on without tugging until he gives up, but he doesn't give up very easily at all, so it just takes too long, no chance for reps, and neither of us are really having any fun.
Trading one object for another doesn't seem to do much for him -- I don't see him making a connection that he's giving me one object and getting another, or getting a reward for giving up the first object. It's just an excited puppy brain going from one toy to another, no learning taking place.
I can't really figure out how to do it -- I'm just a beginner at training after all...
I had mentioned that Louie loves to play tug -- the only thing he loves more is food. I want to teach him to drop/give an item in a way that's fun and easy for him to understand, so I can do it in short sessions with plenty of repetition.
There are three methods I know of: Trade the object for a treat, trade the object for another object, or just take the object.
Trading the object for a treat works great... once. After that first time, Louie is completely focused on the food, no amount of coercing or anything can get him to take a toy again so I can get him to drop it again.
Just taking the object is practically impossible without engaging in a game of tug that can last a long time, including picking him up off the ground by the toy so he's just dangling like a caught fish. I've tried just hanging on without tugging until he gives up, but he doesn't give up very easily at all, so it just takes too long, no chance for reps, and neither of us are really having any fun.
Trading one object for another doesn't seem to do much for him -- I don't see him making a connection that he's giving me one object and getting another, or getting a reward for giving up the first object. It's just an excited puppy brain going from one toy to another, no learning taking place.
I can't really figure out how to do it -- I'm just a beginner at training after all...