COMMUNICATION Level 2 Step 1 - shaping Back Up

c) Shape it

"When she's moving at least a body length backwards, start telling her this behaviour is called Back Up."

(At about :35 I dropped the clicker.  Without breaking rhythm, Lily went and picked it up
and delivered it to me.  Then we resumee shaping back up.  What a girl!)

"Adding A Cue"

When the dog is moving backwards readily, and moving until you click (maybe up to 4 or 5 steps), you can tell her what the behavior is called.

Steps: Trick: Level Three

Step 1: Comeafter: ..... "try shaping her to back up the stairs."

Shaping Fun - Nose Touch the Big Blue Ball

For todays shaping fun I decided to teach Lily that big balls are to be played with with nose touches only.  (No paws allowed)  No cues.  Easy schmeazy until the 4th and 5th sessions, where I really could see her thinking.  Those front paws want to be part of the game SO BADLY but she actually overcomes her natural instinct and is almost 100% successful!

Fun beginning for trying some Treiball!


Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

Session 6

Session 7

Session 8

Shaping a Paw Touch STATION

CRITERIA:  Paw placed somewhere on my hand.  No reward for "swiping" or "scraping".

NOTE (1):  It doesn't seem to matter whether I use my right hand or my left hand, which side of the tripod I am on...Lily prefers using her left paw the majority of the time.

NOTE (2): When I mark the behavior with my "When Sally Met Harry" voice, she is giving me a gentle, pads only, weight free Paw Touch.


Session 1.

Session 2.

Session 3:

Session 4.

Session 5:

NOTE:  Shayla joins this session and cuts it short.

Sit Level 6

Relax: Level 2 beginning Step 2

Is Lily relaxed?  Are the "strings cut"?  Is she ready to drop off to sleep?  Not yet.

But we are "assuming the position" and building duration.  Initially, I captured this behavior.  Here I have been marking the behavior with "Yes" before introducing the clicker because we have moved to a new location.

In this first Flip, we have been training Sit Level 6 (tucking backwards between my legs under the piano bench and then under the chair).  Right after releasing from that behavior I cued the Settle.

Then we move to the dining room for some more Step 1 Settle on cue.  When she lifts her head I begin C&L again.

Introducing Step 2 in this location.  First just a gentle "Good girl!" and some tactile.  Then I send her around the table a few times before cueing Settle again.

Balance Pods: Day Six

Working for rear end awareness.  Lily has been shaped to back up the stairs, so putting her rear paws on the bottom step is a familiar behavior for her.

Balance Pods: Day Five

Shaping lifting her left rear paw.  (With the tv going and Shayla earning a treat every time Lily gets one.)