Training techniques not repeated on show

Discussion of Victoria's TV show, It's Me or the Dog.

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thepennywhistle
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Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by thepennywhistle »

Hi all,

I have noted that some techniques or tools that Victoria used on some shows have not been repeated on later shows;
for example spraying compressed air near the dog as a distraction and the screechy alarm mats. I've been wondering
if this is because she is trying to showcase as many different training options as possible or whether she's decided that there are better techniques to use and those have become not so much obsolete as less preferred and thus lower down in the top ten choices of how to deal with some issues.

Anybody have any opinions/ideas/information they'd be willing to share on this thought?

Thanks,

Skye and the white merle collie gang
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Mattie
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by Mattie »

Victoria no longer uses those methods because like us she has expanded her knowledge of dogs, how they think, how they communicate etc. Adversions like that will sort problems with some dogs but can make things a lot worse for others. Victoria's willingness to learn is one of the things I love about her, unlike other trainers she is developing all the time which makes her one of the best trainers there is.
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thepennywhistle
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by thepennywhistle »

Thanks for answering. That's what I suspected, and I'm glad to hear that confirmed. Not that I
necessarily saw anything WRONG with using those now obsolete techniques, but they didn't quite
seem to mesh with what Victoria is showing us now. Personally, I will stop considering using the
scare mat to keep my clever girl out of the oven and fridge. I just didn't quite feel right about it
with this collie, which is why I asked if she still supported it.

I think it is wonderful that Victoria is willing to show us the evolution of positive training. Every
dog we work with teaches us something in returnl, and I am glad she is sharing what she learns with
us.

Skye and the white merle collies
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Noobs
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by Noobs »

I'm actually glad you brought this up. I was just thinking earlier this week about those methods she used in the older UK episodes and wonder - since those episodes may still be run on Animal Planet now and again, can there be a disclaimer on them that says Victoria no longer uses the mild aversives seen on the episodes...or something like that. I would hate for people to put alarms on their trash cans or bang pots together because they saw it on an episode that at this point is several years old.
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Mattie
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by Mattie »

That is a good suggestion Noobs, why not pm Boardhost and suggest it to him?
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Momto2ShihTzus
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by Momto2ShihTzus »

I agree that Victoria has changed some of her methods. I saw a US show recently where the dogs had issues when coming in from the backyard when called. She suggested a whistle and a treat when they responded. I have trouble with getting my Shih Tzu Sammy coming in from the backyard when called, because we've just moved and he's exploring. Not finding a whistle in my local PetSmart I did find a cowbell of all things. That worked! Also I have another Shih Tzu, Harley. Harley is much more motivated to respond to treats, and Sammy to toys.
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Mattie
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by Mattie »

From the day a dog comes into my house I expect 100% recall from the garden and it doesn't take long for them to know this. What I d find amusing is the differences in how quickly they come in. Tilly is fast, Merlin does everything at his own pace and Bonnie, it depends on what she was doing, something interesting she is slow, boring she is fast. Ellie, often takes a walk round the edge to get into the house.

This is how I teach them to come in immediately.

I call inn a happy voice, dog ignores me, I close the door, the expression on the dog's face the first time this is done is wonderful, dog comes to the door out of curiosity, I open the door, dog runs off, I close the door. I keep doing this until my dog walks in. As he is walking in I give the command and a very high reward treat.

While this is happening I am talking in an excited voice to my other dogs and giving them treats, the dog outside soon works out that he is missing something and can't get in quick enough. :lol:
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RoseTyler
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by RoseTyler »

I think the only time those loud noises are good are when you are in a daycare environment and ONE dog decides (JACK RUSSEL'S!!) to run a muck! So, all the prey driven dogs.....well, you can only imagine! I would use a super loud squeak toy and hall A$$ outside! My boss though, would use loud horns and such to distract the entire group.
Dogs are perfect at being dogs, people are perfect at screwing them up
thepennywhistle
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by thepennywhistle »

I have a string of smaller, high-pitched brass bells that I use for gaining attention in a hurry.
It's also pitched at such a frequency that my almost completely deaf boy can pick it up as well,
which is very helpful. Sometimes the stranger the noise, the more effective it can be, so
there's no harm in getting creative :)
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Mattie
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Re: Training techniques not repeated on show

Post by Mattie »

Joe was very noise sensitive so I could never use noise as an interupter, I found opening the treat tin then give the dogs a command when they stopped worked. :lol:
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