Hearing Dog Training

Hearing Dog Training: Game of the Day: Birdfeeder/Target Area

Your Target Areas for sounds are exactly like birdfeeders. Training the dog to go to the Target Areas and check them for food is the same process as using a birdfeeder.

When you first set up a birdfeeder outside, food is available. But at first, the birds are slow to learn where it is.

Once the birds are in the habit of visiting the birdfeeder, they continue to visit whenever hungry.

If the food is gone, the birds continue to visit for awhile.

Eventually they give up, and if no food is ever replaced, the birds no longer check the feeder.

Because most people notice the birdfood is used up every so often, they replace the food occasionally.

This trains the birds to check regularly. They have learned that not every visit gets food. But some visits do get food.

To train the dog for your target area, you want your dog to have the same attitude as the birds-

-the target area sometimes has food laying there to eat.

-the target area is unpredictable.

-the target area is a good place to check out every few hours.

BUT- later in training, your target area will be different from a birdfeeder:

-There will ALSO be treats there in a container, but the dog cannot get them by itself.

-A sound will sometimes happen at the target area that means treats will be available.

-Touching/alerting the trainer will MAKE treats APPEAR at the target area.

When sound alerting training is completed:

When the dog understands these ideas, you have the basis for very good sound alerting. The dog will understand that touching you in some other part of the house, means that treats will maybe appear at the target area.

After touching you the dog will run to check the target area to see if a treat is there.

When you follow the dog, you will open the container and put a treat at the target area for the dog to eat. It won't come from your hand. It will be put down onto the target area.

The result is a dog that touches you and runs back and forth from the target area to you. You will follow the dog and go to the target area. You'll give the dog a treat on the target area.

The dog will remember that it got a treat on the target area. When a sound happens again, the dog will be motivated to go to the target area and check for food. If there is no food there, the dog is motivated to go to you, and run back and forth to the target area.

This means that when your training is completed, you do not need to carry treats around. You only need to have treat containers at the target areas. The dog will touch you even if it cannot smell that you have a treat.

It also means that the dog will work hard to lead you to the target area. It has learned that making you go to the target area means you will give it a treat.

The dog will be self-motivated to do this, and will not be dependent on your cues. It will use the cues of the sounds happening, and push you to go to the target area so the dog can get a treat.

Game of the Day: Training the Birdfeeder/Target Areas:

Buy three small childrens stepstools. They are useful as target areas. Any sturdy object like a box is also fine. It needs two features;

1) not as tall as a coffee table

2)Not wobbly. If it is unstable, the dog might get afraid to eat treats from it.

Your target areas will later be at the door, at the telephone, by the microwave in the kitchen, or any other place where a sound happens.

But now, put one target area (TA) next to you in any comfortable place for you to train. Sometimes you will be sitting, sometimes walking around.

1) Show the dog a treat, but do not give the treat. Put it down on the TA and encourage the dog to eat it.

2) Repeat until the dog eats the treat quickly off the TA.

3) If the dog wanders away, put another treat on the TA and wait for him to notice it. Praise the dog when it eats the treat. You can help the dog to notice the treat by calling or pointing. But soon, the dog will stay around.

4) Now, be sneaky. Put your leg in between the dog and the TA. Put a treat down on the TA. Move your leg and wait for the dog to notice and eat the treat. Praise. Your dog will soon figure this out and start zipping around your leg to get the treat. This means you are ready for the next step.

5) Throw a treat a few feet away for the dog to chase and eat. While the dog is not looking, put a treat on the TA. Wait for the dog to eat the treat. If the dog does not notice the treat, help the dog at first by calling or pointing. Praise. Soon the dog will run out and eat the thrown treat, then come back even before you can put a treat on the TA. That's OK. It means the dog is ready for the next step.

6) Wait until the dog is in another room or out on a walk with someone, or in the yard. Put a treat on the TA. When the dog comes back, wait for the dog to notice and eat. Praise.

7) Now you will probably notice that the dog checks the TA often. Whenever you can, put a treat there when the dog is not watching.

8) Make the game more interesting. Set up your other TAs in the other places in your house where sounds happen. In the kitchen, in the bedroom, by the door, by the phone. Repeat the steps above, so that your dog is interested in all the TAs.

The TA is now an important area for the dog. Like the birds at a feeder, the dog will check the TA often. Sometimes there is a treat there, but usually there is not. That's the way you want it. Your dog is now willing to take a chance and check the TA- because MAYBE there might be a treat there. Later in training, this attidude will be very important.