Gordykins
Experienced Member
Hi all! I haven't been on here much since I signed up, but I've heard about training a dog through "shaping." I've googled it, so I get, from the little bit that I've read that it is reinforcing a behavior that the dog already offers? Or maybe I'm understanding it wrong!! Anyway, bottom line, I figured that I'd rather have you fine people help me figure out what it is, and if its something that might work for Gordy and I, than to page through multiple websites and trying to piece them together.
But, I'm wondering too, as an example... Gordy knows how to shake (as in his whole body) when I say "SHAKE!!" and he is wet. When he is not wet, I can say "SHAKE!!" the same way and it doesn't have meaning to him. He does however shake throughout the day randomly. If I label it "SHAKE!!" whenever he does it, and give him a treat to reinforce that this is his shake trick... is that considered shaping? And do I still click the behavior... or will it confuse him since I'm not sure he is thinking about what he is doing when he randomly shakes throughout the day??
(I attached a picture of him shaking at the dog beach just for fun!)
But, I'm wondering too, as an example... Gordy knows how to shake (as in his whole body) when I say "SHAKE!!" and he is wet. When he is not wet, I can say "SHAKE!!" the same way and it doesn't have meaning to him. He does however shake throughout the day randomly. If I label it "SHAKE!!" whenever he does it, and give him a treat to reinforce that this is his shake trick... is that considered shaping? And do I still click the behavior... or will it confuse him since I'm not sure he is thinking about what he is doing when he randomly shakes throughout the day??


Attachments
-
1.2 MB Views: 28