Today Mother took clicker training to new heights. She’d inadvertently locked herself and me out of the house (again mind you) this morning when we got back after swimming. Sadly for her she couldn’t fit through the grills (I’d told her to go on a diet, but no, the Christmas goodies were too hard for her to resist), but I could run into the house and rub my face all over the couch while she stood there thinking what the heck to do.
There is a key inside the house which she’d tried to grab but this time she’d knocked it too far for her to reach. “ARRRGGGHH!!!! *censored* How am I going to get into the house!?!?” she screamed.
What then did Mother do?
What every clicker trainer with a dog in the house might do. She clicker trained her way to the key!
She had with her some leftover treats from the morning and of course her trusty clicker. She waved a treat in front of me and pointed frantically at the key in her desperation, telling me to “bring it here” repeatedly. I however, couldn’t see the key and fetched her all of my toys except the key. Groaning in frustration, she stumbled upon a way to get me to notice the key on the ground. She started throwing treats at it, but that didn’t work of course. Then she got me to fetch her a ball toy and tossed that. It did the trick and jingled the key which caught my attention. The minute my nose hit the key for a sniff – CLICK! Mother clicked for every nose touch, then tried to get me to pick it up. But the silly woman never taught me to pick up small metal articles before so I was abit wary of doing that. I think she probably realised she didn’t have enough treats to go through the whole process and decided to click for pawing the key towards her, and I do love to use my paws!
10 minutes later, Mother was at the fridge taking out a knuckle bone as a reward for my hard work. I’m not sure if she’ll learn her lesson and take a key with her whenever she leaves the house or if she’ll see this as a challenge and actually put key-taking on cue! Burglary by clicker training anyone?
Training & Skills
This is hilarious! Your mummy is brilliant!
Don’t think my mummy can’t think of an idea like that. But come to think about it, she can’t do that to a HDB unit. No grills for me to squeeze through unless she’s going to teach me to walk by the window ledge!
Bravo to Auntie Mi!!!!! *tries to clap with paws*
OOps. I meant “Don’t think my mummy can think of an idea like that.”
Bye bye!
Hahaha .. cant imagine.
If mi, will be stuck outside till someone came back. My shelties (exclude the two young one) dun like to hold anything in the mouth.
The one that will be able to pick up anything is my BC. But he should be the same as me , stuck outside, cos of his size.
Hahaha
That’s great! I’m so glad I came over to check out your blog. Every time I see it in your signature line at SheltieForums, I think that I should, and now I did!
Haha Jazz, I think we are both doomed!
this is really funny, good boy dog!
i will b stuck outside with Kayla too cuz she doesn’t get the “pick it up” or “bring to me” command. she will only nose the item… *sigh*
That’s pawsome! BOL Good job Romeo!
Also, thank you for the holiday card! We’re having lots of fun getting to know other DWB members.
Happy holidays!
Love and lots of licks,
Stella and Leader Dog Willow
Liz .. u noe the tough one i train to fetch is Meteor. 6 mths liao , he still does not want to fetch the dumbbell
Prince the fastest learner, one session everything settle …
Mother says she’s going to train me to pick up a metal spoon and then work on the keys. I don’t know why she can’t just bring a set of keys out with her!!
Welcome Aunt Marg and Phebe!! Do drop by again!
Hello to you Stella and Willow! Hope you liked my card! We’ll be popping by over to your blog too!
Auntie Jaz, ya. Isn’t it funny how us “challenging” dogs (Prince and I) are actually the faster learners? Heehee.
yeah i actually realise that the “cheekier” dogs learn faster too!
Wow, your Mother is a clever lady. I am trying to learn how to be better at clicking because I have four shelties who are all eager to learn. We do agility but they find it hard to understand my Dogglish. Better clicker skills would help. I see you live in Singapore cause you went to Sentosa. I’d love to take my pack to Singapore to play in the nice parks. We’re almost neighbors here in Manila, Philippines. Too bad about the silly 30 day quarantine.
Hi Lisa! I hate quarantine rules too! I would love to visit your pack!! They do agility – that’s awesome! Have you got a website for your 4? I’d love to read about their training!
Romeo,
As soon as I get myself organized I’ll work on my website. Probably February. Actually 2 of my guys do the agility. That’s Raja and Pasha. They are littermates. Their parents, Lady and Champ supervise our three cats and make sure that no helicopter lands in our yard. It’s very tiring work. Best, Lisa
That is awesome Romeo! You did great. I think you should train your Mom to take her keys with her. She’s lucky you are so smart!
(Mom-great idea. I never would’ve thought of that in a million years)