Seriously. I have absolutely no reason not to be sleeping right now.
Lance has this awesome foot crossing trick on the cue of Laura's feet. I've admired it for a long time and never really gotten around to teaching it. Tonight we started working on it. I'm not sure how Laura taught the behavior, but I started with a target because we love foot targets! My goal was to place my target and click for the motion of moving the foot toward it. I was NOT expecting her to be so quick while laying down! She made contact with my hand pretty often. Re-evaluation time!
In the end she was actively offering foot "things" which is pretty normal. I got a couple really nice crosses, but they weren't very deliberate. I need to video sessions again now that we have video capabilities. I bet my timing was off just enough to be shaping a different part of the planned trick. I'm not sure what kind of cue I'll put it on. The two people I know who have this trick on cue use different cues.
One thing she offered that was utterly adorable was laying on her side and crossing her paws. I rewarded it, how could I not? In fact, I debated THAT being our trick instead.
I really should be sleeping, we really should be working on scent articles, I really should be packing, I really should be doing homework, I really should be blogging about important things. I shouldn't say how many blog posts I have started over the last week and... left in drafts!
Bailey and I are going to bed. Where we'll dream of foot target behaviors.
2 comments:
It is a cute trick. I am really proud of it with the corgi since it took me months. Lance kept coming up with excuses and told me his stubby legs couldn't get a complete cross. Liar! I use "pose" for one way and "Cross" the other.
Normal legged dogs don't take that long. I used a hand target (shake) instead of an actual target. Although I don't think Vito really knows it well. He will cross them but I don't think he knows the purpose is to put one foot on the top of the other, he's just aiming WAY out to the other side. I never really put it on cue either.
I can't wait to see Bailey's!
I did use a hand target, but I'm still failing somewhere. She'll offer it, I'll c/t, c/t, c/t while she maintains the position and then... I may get another in a little while. Definitely not offered readily. We'll see if I can get one more session in before I leave.
Lance's is adorable.
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