Teaching your non-interested dogs to play with a Frisbee is similar to having to choose which chocolate to eat from a box of chocolates.
This morning as is our routine, I played/trained Deuce and Rioja before it got too hot. I have been working on teaching them how to play Frisbee. Believe it or not, the first few times I threw the Frisbee they looked either away from the flying disk with complete lack of interest or they looked at me in search of an explanation. Needless to say, I was crushed! My two athletic, super motivated dogs who'd do anything fun had no interest in the Frisbee!
It was clear to me after a few throws that this technique was doing nothing to peek their desire to chase after it. Suddenly it dawned on me to attach the Frisbee to a whippet since they both love to play with them and emulate as best I could the motion of a Frisbee. That worked like a charm and in just a couple of playing/training sessions both dogs were eager to be the one chasing the object.
I continued building a strong history of reinforcement with the Frisbee attached to the whippet knowing that at some point I needed to try my luck and throw the Frisbee as it is intended to be used and hope that both dogs jumped into action.
See how teaching your dogs to play with a Frisbee (or pretty much any kind of training) resemble choosing which chocolate? The experience is full of expectations and surprises!
I just got a new Frisbee that is made of a soft plastic that both dogs can pick up from the ground with no problem - an issue I did not anticipate when I began throwing the Frisbee for them.
Yesterday I played again with them just before dark and again this morning. I carefully noted what I needed to do for both of them so that they continue being interested in chasing the disc, being able to catch it midair as well as observing what they normally like to do once they are in possession of the toy.
There different personalities require that I pay attention so that I can design an individual training plan for each.
For example, when Rioja is in possession of the Frisbee she loves to run around (and away from me) with it in her mouth. When she does that she resembles more a young colt just out of the confines of the stable than a dog.
I have to be mindful not to immediately ask her for the toy or call her back to me so that we can begin the game again. Instead I thought, it is important that she gets to do something that she finds really fun after catching (or attempting to catch) the Frisbee.
The fun that she is having while going after the object and her little colt impersonation will translate later in a dog that is thrilled about catching and bringing the Frisbee back to me but first things first. We build behaviors slowly.
In essence, in the beginning stages of training something elaborate like playing with the Frisbee, it is important to keep things fun. Besides engaging the dog with the activity when I stop directing their every step, I get an opportunity to learn more about them: what do they like to do? What do I need to work on more? Etc.
Deuce, for example, is learning very well how to leap in the air as I throw the Frisbee in front of him close by. Keep in mind that is not necessarily “obvious” for a dog to be able to just grab the flying object. They too need to learn to coordinate their body in addition to running or jumping with speed. Speed and precision are the name of the game and dogs must learn this too!
Deuce does not run around excited with the toy, instead after jumping and catching it, he goes and lays in the shade anxious to have another go at it. He needs to bring the Frisbee back to me instead of expecting for me to go retrieve the disk. Having more than one Frisbee will solve this problem.
Since Frisbee throwing is also a new activity for me, I am experiencing the three of us learning at the same time. The mental notes that I take as I work with them are teaching me about their strength and weaknesses besides laying in front of my eyes the process of learning a new skill. The expectation of having them learn something new, or becoming proficient with a task keeps me wanting more. Not knowing how the session will progress keeps me focused, constantly checking my expectations with
their present abilities.
This morning as is our routine, I played/trained Deuce and Rioja before it got too hot. I have been working on teaching them how to play Frisbee. Believe it or not, the first few times I threw the Frisbee they looked either away from the flying disk with complete lack of interest or they looked at me in search of an explanation. Needless to say, I was crushed! My two athletic, super motivated dogs who'd do anything fun had no interest in the Frisbee!
It was clear to me after a few throws that this technique was doing nothing to peek their desire to chase after it. Suddenly it dawned on me to attach the Frisbee to a whippet since they both love to play with them and emulate as best I could the motion of a Frisbee. That worked like a charm and in just a couple of playing/training sessions both dogs were eager to be the one chasing the object.
I continued building a strong history of reinforcement with the Frisbee attached to the whippet knowing that at some point I needed to try my luck and throw the Frisbee as it is intended to be used and hope that both dogs jumped into action.
See how teaching your dogs to play with a Frisbee (or pretty much any kind of training) resemble choosing which chocolate? The experience is full of expectations and surprises!
I just got a new Frisbee that is made of a soft plastic that both dogs can pick up from the ground with no problem - an issue I did not anticipate when I began throwing the Frisbee for them.
Yesterday I played again with them just before dark and again this morning. I carefully noted what I needed to do for both of them so that they continue being interested in chasing the disc, being able to catch it midair as well as observing what they normally like to do once they are in possession of the toy.
There different personalities require that I pay attention so that I can design an individual training plan for each.
For example, when Rioja is in possession of the Frisbee she loves to run around (and away from me) with it in her mouth. When she does that she resembles more a young colt just out of the confines of the stable than a dog.
I have to be mindful not to immediately ask her for the toy or call her back to me so that we can begin the game again. Instead I thought, it is important that she gets to do something that she finds really fun after catching (or attempting to catch) the Frisbee.
The fun that she is having while going after the object and her little colt impersonation will translate later in a dog that is thrilled about catching and bringing the Frisbee back to me but first things first. We build behaviors slowly.
In essence, in the beginning stages of training something elaborate like playing with the Frisbee, it is important to keep things fun. Besides engaging the dog with the activity when I stop directing their every step, I get an opportunity to learn more about them: what do they like to do? What do I need to work on more? Etc.
Deuce, for example, is learning very well how to leap in the air as I throw the Frisbee in front of him close by. Keep in mind that is not necessarily “obvious” for a dog to be able to just grab the flying object. They too need to learn to coordinate their body in addition to running or jumping with speed. Speed and precision are the name of the game and dogs must learn this too!
Deuce does not run around excited with the toy, instead after jumping and catching it, he goes and lays in the shade anxious to have another go at it. He needs to bring the Frisbee back to me instead of expecting for me to go retrieve the disk. Having more than one Frisbee will solve this problem.
Since Frisbee throwing is also a new activity for me, I am experiencing the three of us learning at the same time. The mental notes that I take as I work with them are teaching me about their strength and weaknesses besides laying in front of my eyes the process of learning a new skill. The expectation of having them learn something new, or becoming proficient with a task keeps me wanting more. Not knowing how the session will progress keeps me focused, constantly checking my expectations with
their present abilities.
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