shroomzofdoom
Well-Known Member
Ok guys, here's the deal... I made a bet while drinking with my buds. He said my dogs are too dumb to learn to fetch a beer from the fridge. We've all seen the beer ad and said that one day we would teach our dog to do this, well my time has come.
Allow me to introduce Ike and Bella (Ike-top, Bella bottom). Ike is a purebreed Boxer, Bella is a mixed Rottie/Boxer. They are both about four years old.
I love them both as I would children, but Ike is infinitely more trainable than Bella. Please don't go all Cesar on me, I know any dog can be trained---I also have been around dogs my whole life and know that some take to training quicker than others. I am thinking of training just Ike to do this and making my life easier, but I also know that dogs reinforce each other so training both may make my task easier in the long run. I happen to be of the opinion (as is my wife) that Ike is a bit smarter than Bella.
Anyway, I am looking for ideas and input. Has anyone here ever taught a dog to do this? Or have any ideas on my plan?
I've seen some videos online but all are rather generic. I am looking for folks to pop in and give me some advice or input, and critique the general plan. I'll provide updates periodically. Training starts next week and must be concluded by Super Bowl 2011. I am going out to look for training toys (plastic bottle, rubber thingy, etc) this weekend.
So please share your input, would LOVE to hear some feedback!!!!
Obstacles:
-Two dogs: Train both? Not likely. Train Ike, then train Bella equal times. At end of 1st month asses progress on each.
-My dogs don't know how to open a fridge
-Ike doesn’t like walking on wood floors (fridge is on a wood floor)
-No handle on fridge (Design velcro/rope handle that can be easily removed from fridge)
-My dog is not going to like the feeling of cold glass on his teeth
The tools:
-Treats and lots of them: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/spent-grain-make-your-best-friend-cookies-87097/
-Plastic Coors bottle with rubber dog toy wrapped around neck or perhaps rubber doggie toy shaped like beer bottle.
The steps (rewards and oodles of praise will be delivered for each positive step)
-Teach to fetch plastic beer bottle and associate this with ‘cerveza' command
-Extend fetch behavior onto wood floor
-Attach similar/same rubber to handle to fridge door
-Associate fetching behavior with item from fridge (specialized plastic bottle with rubber wrap)
-Associate fetching behavior with empty glass bottle/rubber
-Associate fetching behavior with full glass bottle/rubber
-Remove rubber and have dog fetch a beer from the fridge on command
Allow me to introduce Ike and Bella (Ike-top, Bella bottom). Ike is a purebreed Boxer, Bella is a mixed Rottie/Boxer. They are both about four years old.
I love them both as I would children, but Ike is infinitely more trainable than Bella. Please don't go all Cesar on me, I know any dog can be trained---I also have been around dogs my whole life and know that some take to training quicker than others. I am thinking of training just Ike to do this and making my life easier, but I also know that dogs reinforce each other so training both may make my task easier in the long run. I happen to be of the opinion (as is my wife) that Ike is a bit smarter than Bella.
Anyway, I am looking for ideas and input. Has anyone here ever taught a dog to do this? Or have any ideas on my plan?
I've seen some videos online but all are rather generic. I am looking for folks to pop in and give me some advice or input, and critique the general plan. I'll provide updates periodically. Training starts next week and must be concluded by Super Bowl 2011. I am going out to look for training toys (plastic bottle, rubber thingy, etc) this weekend.
So please share your input, would LOVE to hear some feedback!!!!
Obstacles:
-Two dogs: Train both? Not likely. Train Ike, then train Bella equal times. At end of 1st month asses progress on each.
-My dogs don't know how to open a fridge
-Ike doesn’t like walking on wood floors (fridge is on a wood floor)
-No handle on fridge (Design velcro/rope handle that can be easily removed from fridge)
-My dog is not going to like the feeling of cold glass on his teeth
The tools:
-Treats and lots of them: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/spent-grain-make-your-best-friend-cookies-87097/
-Plastic Coors bottle with rubber dog toy wrapped around neck or perhaps rubber doggie toy shaped like beer bottle.
The steps (rewards and oodles of praise will be delivered for each positive step)
-Teach to fetch plastic beer bottle and associate this with ‘cerveza' command
-Extend fetch behavior onto wood floor
-Attach similar/same rubber to handle to fridge door
-Associate fetching behavior with item from fridge (specialized plastic bottle with rubber wrap)
-Associate fetching behavior with empty glass bottle/rubber
-Associate fetching behavior with full glass bottle/rubber
-Remove rubber and have dog fetch a beer from the fridge on command