Videos of Teaching Reading

[yoyopoodle]

Here are videos of Harmony's first 3 sessions learning how to read. Man is it hard to video a fluffy black dog!! I think I'll film Charlie to demonstrate how exactly to teach the words...

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ab09n9wuGs[/media]


[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqyFRjxaTN8[/media]


[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhDwgT7_u94[/media]


I say the word an instant after Harmony sees the card, then I say 'yes!' in place of a clicker (I seriously need a third hand). Unfortunately the picture and sound quality are essentially nil, but at least its something :great:

 

[Jean Cote]

Do you know if dogs can view colors or differentiate shades of gray? Just wondering because it might be easier to teach the dog to respond to a colored sheet rather than writing on it. I'd be interested in trying this out myself!

I think your videos look great! I'll be following this thread see how it develops, it would be pretty cool if it works! Which commands are you using? Sit and Down?

 

[yoyopoodle]

Yes, I am starting with DOWN and then adding SIT.

I don't know just how dogs see different shades of color, but I'm guessing that unless they have a constant reference point it would be hard to teach more than a few commands. Dogs can see purple as purple, and I think maybe yellow as yellow, but other colors seem to be shades of these two?? Its probably being researched.
Using solid shapes would be another possibility to try.

The cool thing about using words is that the supply is unlimited and the handler won't get confused and mess-up the dog, lol. I know of a dog who reads over 20 words, so it can't be that hard for them to distinguish... especially if you use a large, simple font.

 

[Jean Cote]

I wonder if the dog is actually reading or if he is picking up on some subtle body movement from the handler?!?

Most handlers will have a different look or will bow their head when they want the dog down. Or will look straight with their chin up to get them to sit. Perhaps these are things that the handler isn't even aware of.

Maybe we should figure out new ways to test this stuff?

 

[yoyopoodle]

lol, there is a good chance that I do some of that, some of the time. I try to just look down at the word regardless - but it's so hard, especially when Charlie wants to make me laugh!
The other day I showed him a card he knew and decided it meant 'play dead'... he collapsed in a heap, but wagged his tail furiously every few seconds, made funny faces (like he needed to sneeze), and would pick up his head to make eye contact once in a while. He continued this behavior for probably 30 seconds until I started walking away and called him with me

The dog who knows 20 words is a service dog and his owner is paralyzed... not too many subtle signals going on