One of the things I love most about Throwback Thursday is looking back and seeing how much progress we’ve made over the years.

The funny (strange, sad) thing is how well I actually remember this particular training incident. At the time I had just started trying to use the clicker for training purposes. To say Delilah was excited about this, is an understatement. 

This was originally posted on August 31, 2016 and titled “Let Me Show You How It’s Done…Day Two Hundred, Sixty Five.”

We are back to clicking for treats again.  Since I didn’t find the time to finish the book and we haven’t gotten to the ‘stays’, I decided to try to teach Delilah the ‘high-five’ command.

To start with I am trying to get Delilah to look at my hand, if she does then I click and treat.  I will eventually work her up to ‘high-fiveing’ my hand with her paw.

We started out on the edge of the kitchen which is normally where I want her to stay when I am working in there.  I had the container of green beans on the counter, a handful of green beans and the clicker in my left hand and I had my right hand palm open at about chest level.  Remember my goal here is to get her to look at my right hand.

Sampson meanwhile was lying on the floor waiting for his turn.

When you are trying to ‘shape’ a new behavior, initially you will click and treat for the slightest acknowledgement (meaning if she even shifts her eyes to my right hand I will click and treat.)  Delilah was so focused on my left hand with the food, that she was having trouble even glancing at my right hand.

I decided a change in tactic was necessary, I moved my right hand down to waist level and wiggled my fingers to try to direct her attention.  She remained focused on my left hand.

At this point Sampson decided to take over the training, he sat up and high-fived my hand with his left paw; as if to say, “This is what she wants you to do, watch and learn girl.”

“Good Boy!” Click and treat.

Then the lightbulb came on in Delilah’s brain and she went immediately to raising her paw and tapping my hand.

There is no better teacher than an old dog. 🙂

There is no dog like an old dog, especially when it comes to teaching another dog.

Thankfully Delilah has gotten used to training with food, so I can usually focus her now without that intensive stare. In fact, we are working on a new command that I hope to share with you soon. Have you ever had a dog that was so focused on the food that they couldn’t work on the trick?