[nagdu] Finding Certain Things

[Tami Kinney]

Hannah,

With poodle, it is too easy. /smile/ The ability to grasp words there is 
at least as crazy as poodle people sound when they talk about how smart 
their poodles are.

So, with Mitzi, I simply taught her to target my hand using reward and 
positive reinforcement. Well, I also named all of her toys, then ran out 
of sensible names so we have some really oddly named toys.

So, then when I was teaching her find as she moved into working, I could 
touch something to show it to her, name it, and, well, that was that. /lol/

I would also praise her for showing me things, which encouraged her to 
show me things. She likes it when I laugh and say how clever she is. So 
then invisible crowds of admirers also laugh and say how clever she is. 
So my work there is done. /lol/

So, I guess the short form would be to show Princess the thing you want 
her to find, name it, then gush, "Good find the trash, Princess! *Good* 
find the trash!" Then laugh and fluff her topknot and tell her how 
clever she is. Teehee.

I also use clicker and treats, or just the click as a positive reward 
now that Mitzi has the hang of it. I've gotten really lazy about finding 
things on my own, so when we're traveling and orienting around, I just 
note what she shows me and murmur good find the the whatever, so we both 
know where it is. /lol/ Okay, I'm exaggerating my own passivity in the 
matter, but I've discovered it's really great that we can just orient 
together in a new area to find landmarks and places we will want to 
return to. If she gets distracted and too interested in something I 
don't want her to, I can just tell her leave it and forward or redirect 
her to something positive, and that works, too. Usually, depending on 
how wonderfully smelling something is. /lol/

Tami

On 01/28/2012 12:24 PM, Hannah Chadwick wrote:
> Hey All,
> I was just wondering what your experiences have been in terms of teaching
> your dogs new commands such as finding things - an empty seat, trash cans,
> doors, etc. I have heard that it is possible to teach your dog to find
> certain things, and I'm definitely interested in doing that once I get
> settled with my dog.
> Cheers, Hannah
>
>
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