How much can you "throw" at your dog at once?

Smith3 · 08-07-2009, 10:41 PM

Training wise. Like, how many tricks can you expect your dog to pickup, new, at the same time?

Say if you want to teach your dog play dead, turn right, turn left, roll right, roll left, right paw, left paw, ect. What could you realistically expect to "pile on" at one time?

**JKlatsky** · 08-07-2009, 10:52 PM

One thing. The more you break it down the more they understand. You may be able to lure your dog into multiple behaviors...but you run the risk of them always being linked together. I had a dog when I was a kid that would sit and automatically lift her paw to shake. She didn't know one behavior without the other.

doggiedad · 08-08-2009, 12:22 AM

i think you should teach one thing at a time. they can pick up several things at once. when we were teaching our dog to come
he learned to go to either one of us by name. when we were teaching our dog to come i would hold him and point him towards my GF. my GF would stand 3 feet away. my GF would say "come"
then i would say "go to Rosie" and release him. when he reached Rosie she would praise and pet. then she would hold him and point him towards me. i would say "come" and my GF would say "go to
Tillmon". now i can say "go to Rosie" and off he goes. my dog learned "come" and "go to" at the same time.

like i said i think you should teach one thing at a time but
you're going to get some "two for one behaviour", if that makes
sense.

Jason L · 08-09-2009, 09:15 AM

Tricks I think you can teach a few all at once - provided that they "go together". For example, once you can get a dog to shake, it's easy to teach "left paw", "right paw" since they know once they are done with one side, it's time for the other or if they see your left hand, then it's "right paw".

Now useful stuff like "focus" and "leave it" and "come", that's another story all together ...

DancingCavy · 08-09-2009, 04:44 PM

I usually work on a handful of new tricks at the same time. I was recently training Risa how to do a jump high five, circle me backwards, bow, and jump in the air alongside me. She's got the bow down pat as well as the jumping high five. The others still need some work. I like to break up her training sessions between the new and the old, the easy and the hard. So working on multiple behaviors works well for us. But it's a lot about knowing your dog. If your dog tends to get frustrated easily, it might be best to just stick to one at a time.

Smith3 · 08-11-2009, 10:19 PM

Good thread everyone, thanks for the input!

jake · 08-12-2009, 07:27 PM

I always try to separate serious training from kinda a free for all 'tricks' session.I reward multiple innovative tricks when in play mode.It is kinda fun when a dog 'invents a NEW behavior'but don't want him to do it when we are doing obedience.Have had NO problem with him confusing obedience focus with play/trick training.Hafta say we both enjoy play/training a lot.

08-07-2009, 10:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Smith3 Elite Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Falls Church, Virginia Posts: 1,700	How much can you "throw" at your dog at once? Training wise. Like, how many tricks can you expect your dog to pickup, new, at the same time? Say if you want to teach your dog play dead, turn right, turn left, roll right, roll left, right paw, left paw, ect. What could you realistically expect to "pile on" at one time? __________________ Kessey "Koch" Von der Sauk - 10/26/2008 - 04/23/2011 - Pronounced "Coke"

08-07-2009, 10:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
JKlatsky Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,985	Re: How much can you "throw" at your dog at once? One thing. The more you break it down the more they understand. You may be able to lure your dog into multiple behaviors...but you run the risk of them always being linked together. I had a dog when I was a kid that would sit and automatically lift her paw to shake. She didn't know one behavior without the other. __________________ Argos vom Eisernen Loewen VPG1, CGC, TC 3-3-07 Bianka vom Eisernen Loewen BH, CGC, TC 1-3-08 Cade vom Eisernen Loewen CGC 3-25-09 D'Artagnan (Tag) vom Eisernen Loewen 2-2-10 G Aiko von Burkndeiros SchH 3, IPO3, FH, TC, KKL2 9-17-02

08-08-2009, 12:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,853	Re: How much can you "throw" at your dog at once? i think you should teach one thing at a time. they can pick up several things at once. when we were teaching our dog to come he learned to go to either one of us by name. when we were teaching our dog to come i would hold him and point him towards my GF. my GF would stand 3 feet away. my GF would say "come" then i would say "go to Rosie" and release him. when he reached Rosie she would praise and pet. then she would hold him and point him towards me. i would say "come" and my GF would say "go to Tillmon". now i can say "go to Rosie" and off he goes. my dog learned "come" and "go to" at the same time. like i said i think you should teach one thing at a time but you're going to get some "two for one behaviour", if that makes sense. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

08-09-2009, 09:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jason L Knighted Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 2,980	Re: How much can you "throw" at your dog at once? Tricks I think you can teach a few all at once - provided that they "go together". For example, once you can get a dog to shake, it's easy to teach "left paw", "right paw" since they know once they are done with one side, it's time for the other or if they see your left hand, then it's "right paw". Now useful stuff like "focus" and "leave it" and "come", that's another story all together ...

08-09-2009, 04:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
DancingCavy Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 9,655	Re: How much can you "throw" at your dog at once? I usually work on a handful of new tricks at the same time. I was recently training Risa how to do a jump high five, circle me backwards, bow, and jump in the air alongside me. She's got the bow down pat as well as the jumping high five. The others still need some work. I like to break up her training sessions between the new and the old, the easy and the hard. So working on multiple behaviors works well for us. But it's a lot about knowing your dog. If your dog tends to get frustrated easily, it might be best to just stick to one at a time. __________________ ~Jamie~ Risa W-FDX/MF RN CGC WCM It Just Keeps Getting Better (Risa's Blog)

08-11-2009, 10:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Smith3 Elite Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Falls Church, Virginia Posts: 1,700	Re: How much can you "throw" at your dog at once? Good thread everyone, thanks for the input! __________________ Kessey "Koch" Von der Sauk - 10/26/2008 - 04/23/2011 - Pronounced "Coke"

08-12-2009, 07:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
jake Knighted Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: new england Posts: 2,710	Re: How much can you "throw" at your dog at once? I always try to separate serious training from kinda a free for all 'tricks' session.I reward multiple innovative tricks when in play mode.It is kinda fun when a dog 'invents a NEW behavior'but don't want him to do it when we are doing obedience.Have had NO problem with him confusing obedience focus with play/trick training.Hafta say we both enjoy play/training a lot.

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