 |
| Going to grandmother's house. |
I freely admit it. I taught Mr. N a "hold" purely for photo purposes. Now he's quite good at holding things in his mouth for photos although he still doesn't like metal objects.
I had a bit of trouble getting him to do it originally as he kept trying to retrieve the item instead of holding it in his mouth. What helped was having him do it in a down as then he couldn't move to retrieve the item. I think I taught it backwards and most people start with the hold so this is probably not a common problem.
Basically, I rewarded him for any interaction with the object and then mouthing. Once he started holding it his mouth, we built up duration slowly. And Mr. N is super non-mouthy so if he can do it, any dog can! I had to teach him how to fetch using a bully stick.
Originally, I was going to have him hold a toy saw but I have no idea where we stowed it in the basement and I couldn't find it. So we improvised and did a Red Riding Hood-themed hold instead. Other objects that could work: bones, zombies (the stuffed kind), pumpkins, and treat baskets.
Do you have a favorite Halloween-themed trick?
Magic's "trick" is to do anything and everything (he goes through the entire list of commands all on his own) to get me to produce the treat/toy/whatever. *s*
ReplyDeleteHaha. One of our trainers called those kind of dogs "flingers."
DeleteI think I'm going to have to teach Penny "hold" now!
ReplyDeleteIt makes for cute photos!
DeleteWow! I am impressed Mr. T! I don't know if I could get Miss Edie to do that - pugs tend to try and eat everything that goes in their mouth BOL!
ReplyDeleteSee I had the opposite problem where Mr. N didn't want to put anything in his mouth!
DeleteOh Mr. N, you're the best! What can't you do?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if all the bacon in the world would tempt him to go dock diving! Maybe if there was a duck at the end.
DeleteThis is great and can be used in other ways later! My favorite halloween themed trick is BANG! Gremlin isn't much for acting but he "dies" on command which is all I can ask him to do lol!
ReplyDeleteI saw a cool trick where someone teaches their dog to go limp in their arms and die.
DeletePretend die that is.
DeleteTOTALLY adorable. Seriously! Although I am told rolling in real berries is LOADS of messy fun!
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you have experience with the latter!
DeleteWhat a sweet photo. Hold is a wonderful trick. I need to teach this to Dexter.
ReplyDeleteIt's useful for a lot of things for sure.
DeleteGreat job, Mr. N! Our favorite Halloween trick is to not eat the candy while waiting for trick or treaters, haha! This year I'm only buying candy I don't like. 😉
ReplyDeleteDo the dogs eat the candy too?
DeleteNice work, Mr. N! Such a cutie pie! You have the same long bangs that Ruby has right now.
ReplyDeleteI know! They're so long. I keep threatening to put him in a topknot.
DeleteMr. N. I am really impressed with this trick, WOW
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI have a Doberman who LOVES holding things in her mouth and not letting go. I should train her to hold things. She's already naturally good at it.
ReplyDeleteIt helps when they have a natural inclination for it. Mr. N does not!
DeleteI've not had luck with Hold. My dogs can both Take It and Drop It but Hold escapes me - they keep dropping the object! That is a pretty large object he has in his mouth in the photo, that's impressive!
ReplyDeleteLove & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Yes, duration is key! It took him a few days to build up duration so he wasn't dropping it as soon as he put it in his mouth. Mr. N is also better with any kind of duration activity if there's a camera in front of him lol.
DeleteLook at how cute!! This is something I have been trying to train my dogs to do for quite a while. . but . . well. . husky brain.
ReplyDeleteCan't be too much worse than terrier brain, right?
DeleteIt was well worth it to teach him that trick! He is so dang cute and smart, and, of course, he has a great trainer!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We go for tricks that maximize his cuteness factor lol.
DeleteMr N you are not just adorable but so clever too
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThis picture is so adorable!! James has no problem, running around with toys in his mouth, but he can't go down the stairs with them. It's just too much to focus on, haha!!
ReplyDeleteMr. N is pretty good at figuring out what I want. I wanted him to go over a jump with a toy still in his mouth and he figured it out on his second try. He's a very methodical thinker lol.
DeleteMr N is way too cute for words!! I never thought of teaching Jack "hold" I've focused on drop it and leave it. I might try hold next. If he cooperates I'll post a pic.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Like I said, I taught him purely for photo purposes lol.
DeleteGreat job! I need to teach Luke to hold as well, also for photo purposes! I can get him to pick things up and "bring it" but I'll have to figure out how to get him to hold on to them. Since he also knows "pick up" I can probably go from there.
ReplyDeleteJan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
I used a clicker and shaped duration. If he will pick it up, that's half the puzzle!
DeleteGood boy Mr N- you are my inspiration. I have not had luck teaching a solid drop it or hold yet. They both work occasionally but not under pressure. Kilo will hold a bully stick briefly but then bolt off with it and not give it back. He'll hold his toys and loves chewing them but he guards everything. I think it may just take more time and work as he will now do wait very well any time until he actually tastes the food. Once he starts tasting, he loses his mind.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard when there's a guarding issue too. Mr. N might tell other dogs to back off but he doesn't guard from humans at all. And Kilo is more food driven than Mr. N too. Maybe try something that had food on it so he wants to mouth it but won't actually eat it?
DeleteI can just imagine me trying this with the cats at home. Mr N is such a talent!
ReplyDelete* cue Mission Impossible music *
I kind of want to try training with a cat!
DeleteI refuse to hold things in my mouth. Mom always wants to work on this. Maybe now she'll try it. ...also purely for photographic reasons.
ReplyDeleteLove and licks,
Cupcake
Oh Mr. N wouldn't either! I finally buckled down and spent some time working on it and he learned it in a few days.
DeleteI admire you for the patience you've shown with your training with Mr. N.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Although he really is not hard to train. He picks up on things very quickly.
DeleteWhat other reason could there be, besides photos?
ReplyDeleteHaha. Well if I wanted to do obedience or rally or something, I suppose.
DeleteI love that trick! I can see how you might use it as a precursor to "drop it." Sinead often does a head toss with "drop it" that turns into her chasing after the toy. If she had to hold it and then drop it in my outstretched hand, that would be a ton better.
ReplyDeleteJean from Welcome to the Menagerie
Mr. N knows a retrieve to hand which I don't really enforce for toys but it's useful when I want him to actually fetch something.
DeleteThat's outstanding. I tried it with Harley and Jaxson for a few days but I will admit, I ran out of patience! You've inspired me !!
ReplyDelete