DOG LOVERS: I have a year to teach my dog to fetch a beer from the fridge!

[shroomzofdoom]

Guys, I am very sorry this took me so long.
During the summer, I was enjoying the sun and sand.
During the fall, I was sitting on the couch watching the NY Giants.
Now that the winter's here, all I want to do is go snowboarding.

The NY Giants suck, so maybe I can dedicate myself to the development of this trick.

Ikey is such a good boy, all he does is look at the fridge when he walks past as if to say 'When?'

I am really bad at taking videos of the action leading up but here is where we're at now.

He's using an empty bottle, I tape a beer cozie to it so he has a place to grip. I am using one of my belts as a door handle so he can open the fridge. I also used the rubber mat so he has some traction, he slipped once already during training. He's now linked the 'cerveza' command to opening the door AND fetching a bottle shaped object!!

I have 31 days until the Stoopid Bowl...now I need to:

-Get him to fetch a full bottle (going to fill it with water in case he drops it)
-One that sits vertically in the fridge (cozie is OK per our bet)
-He has to bring it to me on the couch
-I have to re-level the fridge legs so the door swings closed (part of the bet was I had to agree that the trick is useless if the dog leave the door open)


Overall, I am pretty happy that he fetches something closely resembling a beer, from a fridge, on command.

What do you guys think?

 

[rtt121]

Awesome.. simply awesome

 

[wildwest450]

Whoop-dee-doo, my old lady can do that.

 

[jgln]

Whoop-dee-doo, my old lady can do that.

Do you say "Good girl, good girl!" ? :cross:

 

[jgln]

Guys, I am very sorry this took me so long.
During the summer, I was enjoying the sun and sand.
During the fall, I was sitting on the couch watching the NY Giants.
Now that the winter's here, all I want to do is go snowboarding.

The NY Giants suck, so maybe I can dedicate myself to the development of this trick.

Ikey is such a good boy, all he does is look at the fridge when he walks past as if to say 'When?'

I am really bad at taking videos of the action leading up but here is where we're at now.

He's using an empty bottle, I tape a beer cozie to it so he has a place to grip. I am using one of my belts as a door handle so he can open the fridge. I also used the rubber mat so he has some traction, he slipped once already during training. He's now linked the 'cerveza' command to opening the door AND fetching a bottle shaped object!!

I have 31 days until the Stoopid Bowl...now I need to:

-Get him to fetch a full bottle (going to fill it with water in case he drops it)
-One that sits vertically in the fridge (cozie is OK per our bet)
-He has to bring it to me on the couch
-I have to re-level the fridge legs so the door swings closed (part of the bet was I had to agree that the trick is useless if the dog leave the door open)


Overall, I am pretty happy that he fetches something closely resembling a beer, from a fridge, on command.

What do you guys think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Nl-wsW_SU

How do you reward him?

 

[arturo7]

How do you reward him?

Hopefully with some of the beer he labored to retrieve...

 

[wildwest450]

Do you say "Good girl, good girl!" ? :cross:

Yes, and pat her ass.


_

 

[HexKrak]

I'm sure someone's said it before, but aren't you worried about the dogs opening the fridge and consuming everything inside?

Other than that, I'd say you've done a fantastic job so far.

 

[shroomzofdoom]

Whoop-dee-doo, my old lady can do that.

Now if she can sit and speak on command, you have yourself a keeper!

I'm sure someone's said it before, but aren't you worried about the dogs opening the fridge and consuming everything inside?

Nah, he's very well behaved. The fridge has recessed handles, I have to hang a leather belt over the door for him to be able to open it. When the belt is there, he knows its play time. No belt, no treats, no commands--he does nothing but sleep. Plus, I give him the command 'cerveza', he knows not to act until he's given a command. He's probably one of the smartest dogs I've ever worked with, I am very fortunate to have rescued a dog this intelligent...he's one in a million.

How do you reward him?

We recycle as much of our grain as possible. My girl loves making grain cookies:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/spent-grain-make-your-best-friend-cookies-87097/

 

[wildwest450]

Now if she can sit and not speak on command, you have yourself a keeper!

Edited for truth.



_

 

[Bedlam]

Tick, tock...

Are you ready?

 

[shroomzofdoom]

Tick, tock...

Are you ready?

I am VERY close. He's fetching full bottles of water. I ordered some beer cozies to make this easier. I will post up some videos later this week.

 

[shroomzofdoom]

This will have to do for now!

 

[Bedlam]

That's great! Good job, Ike!

 

[Homercidal]

Nice!

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

Very cool..just beware he doesnt learn to open the can next! You'll come home to no beer and a drunk dog.

 

[Jota21]

I skimmed through the this thread and the videos wont load here on my work computer, so ignore this if someone has already suggeted it, but what about closing the door? I know this is just a super bowl bet, but if this becomes something that will actually save you from getting up, it might be worth some sort of spring loaded hinge to close the door when he's done.

Since the video wouldn't work for me, can you just explain: Did he do it?

 

[IrregularPulse]

He was going to level the feet to close the door itself. The dog basically did it, although I'm sure I'd be opening the beer any time soon or doing it with a bottle conditioned homebrew.

 

[shroomzofdoom]

The spring is a VERY good idea, really hadn't thought about WHAT I would use for that but I am open to suggestions (thinking old screen door hinge, pneumatics=pita) The door has to close slow and gentle.

Right now, the belt interferes with the door closing. We did jack the front legs so it closes gently, but i am also going to rig up a better pull strap with some hollow wall anchors and a rubber handle-we need the door close fully.

We'd also like to bring it with much less shaking. Me and the wife agreed that the bet is useless unless he does it for us on Sundays so we are going to keep improving until it's perfect.

 

[shroomzofdoom]

He was going to level the feet to close the door itself. The dog basically did it, although I'm sure I'd be opening the beer any time soon or doing it with a bottle conditioned homebrew.

Haha you caught that.. Yes the beer was bit shaken. my buddy and I agreed to a 75/25 split on the bet due to it being less than perfect, overall he was very impressed though.

Our demo beer is a SA noble pils so no yeast but my idea is to bottle from the kegs ahead of time and just line the beer up in cozies.

We had thought of using cans but even with an ever increasing variety of cans, bottles would be more useful for a homebrewer. Now if I can get them to tap me a beer....