Helping my Reactive dog - The Surprise Party Game

**MaggieRoseLee** · 07-26-2010, 10:01 AM

WOW, if people would take the time to teach the clicker and this 'game' to their dog they would be AMAZED how much less reactive leash behavior they'd see. And how much more enjoyable a walk with their dog could be!

YouTube - Surprise Party - Clicker Training: helping the reactive dog

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 07-26-2010, 10:07 AM

That is great - think I can teach it by 2 today?!?! Rocco has a vet appointment - I am going to give it a shot. Close quarters he may have trouble wanting the food when so close, but worth a try. Thanks!

MommaBoss · 07-26-2010, 10:10 AM

Many thanks for this tip, MRL! The barking at other dogs is the main problem area we're having on walks through our neighborhood and on the beach, so I'll try this out today! Thank you for your perfect timing!!

**MaggieRoseLee** · 07-26-2010, 10:23 AM

While I'm not quite sure everyone's dog will be perfect the first day of training.... I love the way the video really shows the steps to take, she makes it crystal clear what WE have to do to help the dog and make the training clear, and the training builds on itself so we should easily be able to take a step back if the dog regresses (what me? rush training? NEVER!

) to set them up to succeed again!

**Samba** · 07-26-2010, 10:41 AM

Great video! She does a good job in showing the teaching of the game at home, then taking it on the road. Also, so good at keeping the other dog far enough away that the dog will eat. When I started this with mine, she had to be about 100 yards away!

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 07-26-2010, 11:26 AM

Yeah, we're not going to do it right this first time; hoping not to spoil it. I just wish people weren't insistent on having face to face meetings. I like the list of benefits because those are the exact things I worry about-that he will incite a dog to come at him because of his behaviors. Though sadly, he got the most "dude, you're a mess" looks from two little ****zu type dogs...

Runswithdogs · 09-03-2010, 03:55 PM

This game has been amazing for helping Regen to stop reacting to other dogs on walks! This plus the "touch" cue help her focus on ME and treats before she hits her threshold and starts reacting. And we also make sure to manage the environment as best she can so that she gets lots of practice doing this without passing threshold.

Surprise! Thanks for sharing, MRL

BlackPuppy · 09-03-2010, 04:28 PM

Question, first she says to say "surprise!", then later I think she says say "look!". Not that it matters, I just want to make sure I caught that right.

paulag1955 · 09-03-2010, 04:35 PM

I've been working on this with Shasta for a couple of weeks without much success so far. (1) I haven't found a point where she's aware of another dog and won't react OR (2) I haven't yet found a treat that's interesting enough AND (3) I don't have a handy friend with a non-reactive dog for practice sessions.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

I should say, Shasta is just a baby so she's not being aggressive, she's just excited to see another dog, but she sounds so fierce that strangers don't want her near the dogs. Poor Shasta.

Runswithdogs · 09-03-2010, 05:05 PM

I should have said, we say "look at that" instead of "surprise!" We are using this with the cats as well, because we don't want her to get to the point of needing to say "leave it".
I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend the book "Control Unleashed"- we are still working on the exercises, but i have been really impressed so far.

07-26-2010, 10:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,147	That is great - think I can teach it by 2 today?!?! Rocco has a vet appointment - I am going to give it a shot. Close quarters he may have trouble wanting the food when so close, but worth a try. Thanks! __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org http://bigdogsbighearts.blogspot.com...rvo-girls.html

07-26-2010, 10:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 21,689	While I'm not quite sure everyone's dog will be perfect the first day of training.... I love the way the video really shows the steps to take, she makes it crystal clear what WE have to do to help the dog and make the training clear, and the training builds on itself so we should easily be able to take a step back if the dog regresses (what me? rush training? NEVER! ) to set them up to succeed again! __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

07-26-2010, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,147	Yeah, we're not going to do it right this first time; hoping not to spoil it. I just wish people weren't insistent on having face to face meetings. I like the list of benefits because those are the exact things I worry about-that he will incite a dog to come at him because of his behaviors. Though sadly, he got the most "dude, you're a mess" looks from two little ****zu type dogs... __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org http://bigdogsbighearts.blogspot.com...rvo-girls.html

09-03-2010, 03:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
Runswithdogs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 382	This game has been amazing for helping Regen to stop reacting to other dogs on walks! This plus the "touch" cue help her focus on ME and treats before she hits her threshold and starts reacting. And we also make sure to manage the environment as best she can so that she gets lots of practice doing this without passing threshold. Surprise! Thanks for sharing, MRL __________________ Regen, rescue female GSD born 4/09, adopted 4/30/2010. Wendi vom Melanchthon aka "Osa," WGSL GSD female born 7/08, brought home 12/24/10.

09-03-2010, 04:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 4,370	Question, first she says to say "surprise!", then later I think she says say "look!". Not that it matters, I just want to make sure I caught that right. __________________ Carole http://clgoetz.8m.com/dogs/ Ciana - Belgian Malinois (Jan 2005) RN Balto - Belgian Laekenois (Jun 2007) URO3 CD RAE CGC TT Boaz - Dutch Shepherd (Jan 2010) URO1 CH IntCH CGC Doerak - DS/GSD mix - at the bridge RN CGC CL1-R

07-26-2010, 10:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
MommaBoss Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 40	Many thanks for this tip, MRL! The barking at other dogs is the main problem area we're having on walks through our neighborhood and on the beach, so I'll try this out today! Thank you for your perfect timing!!

07-26-2010, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,338	Great video! She does a good job in showing the teaching of the game at home, then taking it on the road. Also, so good at keeping the other dog far enough away that the dog will eat. When I started this with mine, she had to be about 100 yards away!

09-03-2010, 04:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
paulag1955 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Western Washington Posts: 2,666	I've been working on this with Shasta for a couple of weeks without much success so far. (1) I haven't found a point where she's aware of another dog and won't react OR (2) I haven't yet found a treat that's interesting enough AND (3) I don't have a handy friend with a non-reactive dog for practice sessions. Any suggestions on how to proceed? I should say, Shasta is just a baby so she's not being aggressive, she's just excited to see another dog, but she sounds so fierce that strangers don't want her near the dogs. Poor Shasta. __________________ Paula Shasta - GSD (4/30/10) RIP Duchess - Shetland Sheepdog (12/25/88 - 2/14/04)

09-03-2010, 05:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Runswithdogs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 382	I should have said, we say "look at that" instead of "surprise!" We are using this with the cats as well, because we don't want her to get to the point of needing to say "leave it". I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend the book "Control Unleashed"- we are still working on the exercises, but i have been really impressed so far. __________________ Regen, rescue female GSD born 4/09, adopted 4/30/2010. Wendi vom Melanchthon aka "Osa," WGSL GSD female born 7/08, brought home 12/24/10.

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