Tricks in the City by Sassafras Lowrey

Author:Sassafras Lowrey [Lowrey, Sassafras]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642500400
Publisher: Mango Media
Published: 2019-07-06T14:27:34+00:00

21

Hold

21. Hold

When you train hold, start with a toy like Glinda a.k.a. TDCH SDCH Medlee’s Ruby Slippers.

Photo credit: Diana

Squicciarini

The point of this trick is to be able to ask your dog to hold an object of your choosing. Make sure that you ask your dogs to hold safe things, so avoid things that your dog could choke on, or anything sharp or toxic, etc. The eventual goal with this trick is that your dog will be able to hold any object you hand her: from a pencil to a wrench to a hotdog (not kidding!). When you are starting, it helps to use objects that your dog is familiar with and knows they are allowed to have in their mouth. Plush toys and balls make great options for starting with this trick, especially if your dog enjoys playing with toys.

TTake the toy that you are going to work on asking your dog to hold. You’ll also want some high-value treats, and a clicker (if you clicker train). TIP: If your dog is struggling with grasping what you want, or you are teaching a dog who isn’t especially toy-motivated, you can start this trick using a dog chew, like a bone or bully-stick type treat, that your dog wants to put in their mouth!

TSit or stand with your dog facing you and show the object to your dog.

TWhen your dog sniffs or goes to investigate the object, click/praise and treat. At this stage, you want to reward any interest in the object.

TNext, start looking for more interest before rewarding, so instead of clicking (or verbally marking) when your dog sniffs the toy, wait until they put their mouth onto the toy, then immediately click (or verbally mark), praise, and treat.

TOnce your dog is putting their mouth regularly onto the toy, you want to start adding duration into the trick by not immediately clicking/praising your dog’s mouth hitting the toy, but incrementally increasing the parameters for what gets rewarded. So, to start, you are rewarding the instant your dog’s mouth hits the toy; next, you want to increase to maybe half a second, and then a second. This is where you can add in your verbal cue: “hold” and “take” are two common verbal cues.

TYou want to go very slowly with this trick. Trying to push for too much too quickly will confuse your dog and may result in the trick being a little less consistent.

TOnce your dog is keeping their mouth on the object until you click/praise/treat, you can start adding in more time and begin very slowly moving your hands off the object you are asking your dog to hold. Start with just a fraction of a second, then put your hands back on the object so your dog doesn’t drop it. Praise your dog—“good hold”—take the object, and give them a treat.

TEach training session, you can begin slowly increasing the time increments that you’re asking your dog to hold an object. You can praise and remind your dog “good hold” while they are holding to reinforce the behavior that you want.

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