Recently, I asked for your questions about using shaping in dog training, and wow, did you deliver! I’m covering misconceptions about shaping, where shaping went wrong for me in the 90s with my dogs and a wall, what you need to know about successive approximations, and how behavioral blocks set dogs up for success. Plus, I’m answering some of your most popular questions and sharing the steps so you can shape your dog to close a cupboard door.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- About shaping using successive approximations.
- Where successive approximations went wrong for me with Twister, Stoni and a wall. .
- How to use reinforced behaviors as building blocks for shaping.
- Key tips for successful shaping sessions.
- Q1: Should I be using a non-reward marker when I'm shaping?
- Q2: What is a good exercise to help a dog to learn to be okay with offering responses?
- Q3: I've heard the comment, click for action and reward for position. Do you agree?
- Q4: I try to shape, but my mechanics suck and my dog and I get very frustrated. So, I've heard shaping isn't for novices. Is this true?
- Q5: Susan, do you cue shaping sessions?
- Q6: What do you do if the dog keeps getting it wrong?
- Q7: Does shaping work with all behaviors and tricks that can be taught or shaping only for specific things?
- Q8: Some things I just can't fathom how to shape.
- Q9: Does this work with all breeds, even unintelligent breeds?
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Resources:
- Podcast Episode 259: Use These Simple Shaping Hacks To Expedite Your Dog Training
- Podcast Episode: 171: Dog Training With Layered Shaping: Why Classical Conditioning Must Come First
- Podcast Episode 5: What is Shaping And How Can Dogs Shape Us
- Podcast Episode 149: Superstitious Behavior In Dog Training: Beware The Killer Bees!
- Podcast Episode 69: Clicker Training: Will It Work For Every Dog?
- Podcast Episode 131: How Would Susan Garrett Plan Your Dog Training Sessions?
- Podcast Episode 157: Dog Body Language: Understanding Canine Communication Signals And Emotions
- Podcast Episode 59: Why Your Treats Aren’t Working for Your Dog
- Podcast Episode 90: Premack, Dog Training and Transfer of Value
- Podcast Episode 226: Safe Toys For Dogs And Why To Avoid Tennis Balls And Sticks
- Podcast Episode 94: How the Best Professional Dog Trainers Use Reinforcement
- Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training!
- YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins)
- Podcast Episode 133: Become Your Own Dog Training Coach With This Video Strategy
- Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide To Antecedent Arrangements
- Podcast Episode 31: 5 Simple Hacks to Help Your Dog Learn Faster (Reinforcement Process)
- Podcast Episode 12: When Helping Your Dog is an Illusion
- YouTube Playlist: Target Training For Dogs with Susan Garrett
- Podcast Episode 251: Should We All Stop Using Non-Reward Markers In Dog Training?
- YouTube Video: 5 Tips for Dog Trick Training with Susan Garrett
- Podcast Episode 232: Canine Predatory Motor Sequence: Understand Your Dog’s Prey Drive To Enrich Your Life Together
- Podcast Episode 184: Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
My Border collie has started watching intently to the TV and when there is any type of emotional touching, dancing or someone falling or being hit she barks uncontrollably. Now when we start watching TV, she immediately runs to the TV and starts barking at it. She knows the hot zone. She knows search she knows it’s my choice. She has gone through recallers. She has gone through crate games. This is a new type of barking behavior that I can’t seem to know how to correct. if I tell her to “hop it up“ on her hot zone, she will do it, but she will not stay there with the TV going. We have to turn down the TV or turn it off in order for her to calm down. what are the steps to counter shape this behavior
How do you shape going potty on command? She knows the cue “hurry” means to potty but she doesn’t go as readily, if at all, as she use to. She is almost 9 months old. I don’t take her out as often as I used to because she can hold it quite awhile now.
I would like help with shaping calm car loading and travel.
our building blocks are: sit, down, stand, hop it up, “get in” the kennel, “get it” permission to access, break, cookie, search, hand touch,
We started with car trips that were frantic and anxious , with lots of barking. We can now load and sit on mat, while I close the tray door and canopy door with no barking. Tilly then gets a reward through the side window of canopy. This has taken a long time to get to this stage. As soon as I step from canopy towards car door for me to get in, Tilly commences barking.
I have started playing a game where if I take 1 step towards car door and if she does not bark, I step back and reward, if she does bark I return to “0” start and do not reward, then 2 steps, 3 steps, open the door, get in, close the door, start the engine, drive off.
What do you think of this approach? can you suggest a better way. I am enrolled in Recallers, have completed up to game 39 (first time around) and am currently revisiting games and am at Game 32.
Thank you
Sue Kingston
I love everything about the way you train, Susan! I wish I had known about you 3 years ago!! Rigley is a 3 year old Maltipoo and he is doing so well in the majority of his training. However, he has one behavior I am at a loss as to how to handle. He is a master at the poodle prancing/jumping on his hind feet and pawing the air with his front feet when he gets excited…usually only at his meal time or when we are getting ready to go somewhere. He is great with all the other applications of IYC I’ve used but in these two instances he is so aroused that he can’t even comprehend IYC. If I stop fixing his dinner and walk away or wait for him to sit (or I have also gotten him to go to his hot zone but he won’t stay there) he continues to jump and paw. I have waited for up to 3 minutes and he is still going strong. He is great with sit, down, stand, search, RZ, HZ (with the exceptions I mentioned above, recall and others. What am I doing wrong?