March 2009 Training Challenge

[Jean]

Objective

The objective is to train your dog to "find" a minimum of 3 eggs and take them into a basket. (You may also train your dog to pick up the basket after the hunt.)

Benefits of training this behavior:

Spending time with your dog.
Creating a lasting relationship with your dog.
Learning new training techniques.
Having a cute 'party' trick so that your dog isn't left out.
Just for the heck of it.

Rules

• Your dog must not know how to perform this behavior before the beginning of this challenge (December 1, 2008). We trust that you will not cheat.
  
  
• You must submit your video entry into the Video Gallery.
  
  
• You must submit a reply containing a link to your video.

*** This contest will last until Easter (April 29).***

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to enter?

It doesn't cost a penny to enter our contests! Our goal is to encourage dog owners to spend time with their dog in a friendly competitive atmosphere.


How will the winner be chosen?

At the end of the month, the Academy staff will create a poll with all the member entries to the challenge. The poll will then remain open for 4 days.

[tx_cowgirl]

Another tip from a trainer I know---put treats in the eggs, but only open them when the dog brings it to you. This way they are happy to give up the egg because you have to open it to give them the treat. Not sure if this would cause issues when you teach them to drop in the basket or not.

[maven]

I've been trying putting the treat into the basket hoping he'll drop the egg in when he gets the treat out, but so far he's dropping the egg next to the basket then trying to get the treat out of the basket. He thinks it's way unfair when I cover up the treat.

[xena98]

Try picking up the basket yourself and putting it near his mouth so he can drop it there
cheers
Danni and the girls

[orangelibratiger74]

i think im going to participate but this is going to be hard to train.my dog is small and i dont want him to be thinking the eggs are a toilet.

[Jean]

The eggs are a toilet???

[fickla]

I didn't think I would start this would Vito since we were struggling with retrieving to my hand. (I didn't want to confuse Vito on retrieving to my hand, vs bringing it somewhere else.) But since we finally had a major breakthrough in our dumbbell retrieve last week, I thought I could start this trick!!!

So although we are not in time for the contest, I taped my first couple of lessons with Vito and will try to upload a video either tomorrow or the next. I hope to have it perfect by Easter Since Lance already knew "clean up" he transferred it very nicely to the eggs.

[tx_cowgirl]

Mudflap had a little breakthrough today but we've still got a little ways to go. Hopefully we'll have it mastered by Easter. We'll see.

[xena98]

Well hopefully this weekend I will get it videoed and hopefully on youtube. My friend who normally does this has been having problems so it has to go to my other friend. She has been doing it yipee
cheers
Danni and the girls

[dat123]

I just noticed on the rules of this challenge ... it says until easter ( april 29 )

Is that a typo , and meant to be 9th April or is it up to 29 th ?



I need all the time I can get. LOL

[xena98]

I hope it doesnt close till the 29th
cheers
Danni and the girls

[yvonne]

Originally Posted by xena98

I hope it doesnt close till the 29th
cheers
Danni and the girls

Me too. Dude has been really out of sorts of late Not ill, just hormonal

He can do the trick but when he feels like it. Naughty doodle that he is!

I have had to change his diet over the last week he hasn't been interested in raw food at all and as for the kibble he may as well tell me to shove it where the sun dont shine ..

[tx_cowgirl]

Think it's contagious, lol!

Mud was pretty out of sorts the last two days....she just didn't really care to work on this trick, or several others for that matter. I gave her a few days off--we were both getting frustrated, which wasn't going to go anywhere. Today will be our first Easter Egg practice since.......hmm...maybe three or four days ago. But I know she knows it, and she won't have trouble. I think she just needed a break; we'd been working pretty hard. Hopefully today will go well.

[Jean]

Do you guys want it to close on Sunday or on the 29th? My original intent was to put it up till Easter, but since the Trickster section won't be up yet, maybe we should extend this one?

[xena98]

Please leave it till the 29th pretty please
cheers
Danni and the girls

[maven]

The 29th sounds good