[deege39]

Okay, Donatello's picked up "touch" really well. : ) The test came yesterday.

I took my sisters outside yesterday and I brought Donatello. I tied Donatello up to a lamp post on his 15ft. lead. (The lamp post is on the curb, and in the middle of the parking lot is the lot of grass that I take him to go pee/poo.)

Anyway, I took his toys out with us and he had a blast. : ) I'm so happy, because for so long now he's not played with his toys, but now he's very gung-ho to play. He even jumps all the way off the ground like a JR Terrier!

So, I started to play with my sisters, we modified the game "Dodgeball", and using a smaller version of the red-kickball we started playing. Several times the ball would fly right at Donatello, he'd jump out of the way, so I'd go get it- I held it out to him and said, "touch" and he reluctantly stuck his nose out. He didn't "touch" at first, but I kept telling him to "touch" and finally he touched the ball with his nose.

After that whenever the ball came at him, he'd move, but he wasn't as scared of it as he was... : )

Also- He can "give me a kiss" now! : D It's his newest trick, a derivative of "touch", of course... But he'll touch his nose to the area below my nose and above my lips. : ) It's cute...

Now that he knows that "touching" is okay, I need to move on to something completely different.

"FETCH"

He does not chase balls, if he does he'll chase after it, but leave it behind... If I play with his squeak toys, he'll chase after them, grab them, but not "bring it back". How can I teach him to reliably "bring it back". (That's the command I've been using. But he doesn't bring it back often enough for him to make the connection.)

 

[hulkamaniac]

"FETCH"

He does not chase balls, if he does he'll chase after it, but leave it behind... If I play with his squeak toys, he'll chase after them, grab them, but not "bring it back". How can I teach him to reliably "bring it back". (That's the command I've been using. But he doesn't bring it back often enough for him to make the connection.)

I've found fetch is pretty easy to teach if you can get a dog to chase an item and then grab it. Once he grabs it, call the dog to you. The dog comes to you with the item still in his mouth. At that point you click/treat/praise/reward, whatever.

 

[deege39]

Hmm, I try calling him to me, I don't have the treats, but I do try to call him to me, but it seems to be a game to "keep away". lol!

 

[FourIsCompany]

I would teach him to drop something into your hand in exchange for a treat. Then work backwards. Once he knows "Give" or whatever, you can put the object on the ground and say Give. He picks it up and gives it to you. Then you toss it a few inches away and keep moving from there. Pretty soon, you're tossing across the room, saying "bring it" as he's moving toward you and "give" when he reaches you. Then when you toss it, add the cue, Fetch.

 

[deege39]

How do I start teaching him to drop something in my hands?

I like the method you're suggesting FIC, but with Donatello I'm concerned teaching him to drop something in my hands might confuse him and ultimately scare him.

???

 

[FourIsCompany]

He's a scaredy cat, isn't he? (Don't tell him I said that!)

Get his favorite toy to hold and some cooked chicken bits behind your back. When he has the toy in his mouth, put a treat up to his nose and say, "Give", while holding your other hand under his mouth. He'll drop the toy to take the treat and you praise and give him the chicken.

After a few of those, just put your hand under the toy and give the command, he drops, you treat.

Does that make sense?

 

[deege39]

Donatello a "scaredy-cat", NEVER say that, lol. He hates cats. : P He might just start chasing himself around the living-room. (Which, actually, could be entertaining to watch.)

Anyway. Yes, that does make sense. I think I'll try that tomorrow. He has one favorite toy that will probably work with...

What about tennis-balls? Is there I can get him "play with" a tennis-ball?

Ps. Thanks for the suggestion, that might just work... ; )

 

[hulkamaniac]

Donatello a "scaredy-cat", NEVER say that, lol. He hates cats. : P He might just start chasing himself around the living-room. (Which, actually, could be entertaining to watch.)

That just reminded me of a story I heard of a dog who loved chasing tennis balls so much that he would throw a tennis ball himself (by whipping his head) and then chase it, bring it back and toss it again.

 

[FourIsCompany]

This is an intersting page: Dog Play

 

[deege39]

That just reminded me of a story I heard of a dog who loved chasing tennis balls so much that he would throw a tennis ball himself (by whipping his head) and then chase it, bring it back and toss it again.

That's how Donatello plays when we're at the dog park, he takes his squeak toy and shakes his head, then lets go right at the last minute, then he'll bounce over and get... But when I say, "bring it back", it becomes even more fun to -keep away-. lol! I'd like to see him do with a tennis ball... I mean, dogs and tennis-balls that's like their image... But Donatello, not so much...

This is an intersting page: Dog Play

Thanks for that link! I think now that he plays with toys again I'll make a flirt-pole... He loves jumping in the air, and I think it's great exercise. (I know it wears him out quick!)

 

[Hallie]

I tried to teach Hallie touch and she learned it quite well, but she touches with her foot! lol It was meant for her nose but she actually wanted to do it with her paw. Sounds like Donatello is doing good!