When we left Sadie in the previous post, she was polishing off her yummy frozen treat-in-a-sock-in-a-box and I was pondering more brain-wearying games for her to play while she’s recovering from her injury.
Sadie’s wild about tennis balls. How could we play with tennis balls that didn’t require her running after them? My eyes landed on the decorative wooden round-bottom bowl sitting on the coffee table.
- Ready. Set…
I poured a bunch of tennis balls into the bowl, gathered up my clicker and freeze-dried tripe bits, and put the bowl on the floor. Sadie sat and waited until I ‘released’ her. What would she do that I could capture with a click and a treat?
I should have guessed. Ever since she learned ‘touch‘ as a puppy, Sadie has delighed in bonking things with her nose. These tennis balls were no exception. A few clicks and treats for pushing balls out of the bowl with her snout and Ms. S. was a full-blown Ball Bonking maniac.
Bonk. Bonk. Bonk.
That was easy!
I filled the bowl. Sadie bonked it empty. We did it again. And again. Soon she lost interest.
We needed a new challenge.
I knew just the thing that would put both of us to the test. A long while ago I had tried and failed to shape Sadie’s picking the ball up with her mouth and dropping it outside of the bowl—one that had straight sides so she couldn’t as easily bonk the ball over the rim.
This time, on a hunch, I primed the poodle by tossing a ball to her so she had the immediate experience of having the ball in her mouth. Then it occurred to me to only place 5 balls in the bowl rather than a pile of them so that bonking, for which she had just been rewarded, wouldn’t be as likely to be successful. She’d have to try something new, like putting her mouth on the ball, to receive a click and a liver bit.
We did it! I was amazed. Believe me—I am not a behavior shaping maven. This was a first for both of us.Within 10 minutes of selectively clicking and treating first for mouth touches to the ball, then her open mouth on the ball, then picking up the ball (It didn’t matter that she dropped it back into the bowl.), and then picking up the ball and dropping it outside of the bowl, The Spectacular Ms. Sadie was reliably ridding the bowl of balls!
Sadie moves to pick up a ball.
Sadie drops the ball!
All done!
I wish that was all it took to wear her out. But it didn’t. Actually, we both were so elated Sadie started bouncing around, flinging toys out of her toy box–which she NEVER does. I hated to calm her down, but I had to. I really want that paw to heal.
And, then I ‘got’ something I had heard and read about but never experienced–the sheer joyfulness of a ‘thinking’ dog. Maybe I’m projecting my own pleasure onto Sadie, but I don’t think so. To my eye she was, rightfully, quite pleased with herself.
Finally, as I bring this post to a close, Sadie is sound asleep on the floor next to me. For now.
We have nearly two more weeks of convalescing ahead of us. Do you have any favorite behavior shaping games? I can hardly wait to hear.
Oh, one more thing, if you’re wondering how I just happened to have a bounty of balls at the ready, well, I have my mom to thank for that. “Thanks, mom!” She generously mails Sadie and me bunches of balls regularly. We always have a stout supply on hand. My Sadie and I are a couple of ‘lucky dogs‘!
Hip-hip-hooray! Challenges, successes, and joy! Sounds like life is good in Boulder!
Great idea. My golden retriever puppy just had abdominal surgery and I’ve been racking my brain for fun things to do while she’s on 2 weeks rest (I’d go nuts if we were looking at 3 weeks!).
Hope Sadie has a fast and painless recovery.
I sure love this “frozen treat in-a-sock-in-a-box” game, Deborah. My foster pup is much busier than I thought. And Our time outdoors is still quite limited because our yard is not fenced and he’s not leash trained yet. So, we’re left to finding things to do in the house…. of course, there’s the hiddne yogurt containers literally ALL over the house (in the book cases, in the tub, in the closets)…. he is ruled by his nose and find a container as soon as I hide it!
So, thank you for this suggestion and best of luck with Sadie as she heals!
Aaron is a busy puppy! I like the idea of containers. I distribute treats around the house for Sadie to find, but the containers might add a level if difficulty…or not. LOL. We shall see. Thanks.
Yay Sadie and Deb!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesomeness!!!!! I heard a fun albeit challenging idea this morning on an email list: bowl right side up, dog puts right paw in the bowl; bowl upside down, dog puts left paw on top of the bowl.
LOL! I love that! I think Sadie and I will give this a go!