"Two squeakies" is a skill building game that I've played with all my puppies for
several years now. The "two hoses" exercise was first introduced in Gottfried Dildei's
book, Training for Drive. In a nutshell, you stand holding the two hosetugs
(about one foot of garden or radiator hose) and toss one hosetug thataway.
The dog chases it. When the dog returns with that tug, you toss
the other tug in the opposite direction in a linear fashion.
The point of the exercise is to build drive for the retrieve and eventually to introduce
the concept of the aus (out) on command. The dog first learns that if
he retrieves one object and brings it back, he is rewarded with a toss of the
other one. Subsequently, you can introduce the aus. The dog then
learns that if he releases (outs) the first tug on command, he is rewarded with a
toss of the other.
I achieve better focus with puppies by using squeaky toys for this game.
I first introduce the game in a short, narrow hallway inside
the house. In this fashion, the pup has a limited area within which to run
after the squeaky dog toy, and little option but to come back up the hallway
toward me. This helps build the natural progression to run, retrieve the dog toy,
return it to me, and release it for the next toss.
______________________________________________
(hose #1 lands here) <-----------------(you)
______________________________________________
Note that this game involves many distinct behaviors -- noticing the toy,
running after it, investigating it, picking it up, running back with it, dropping it. At each
step in the pup's developing understanding of the game, never underestimate
the importance of praise, praise, PRAISE! You're playing, you're excited
and enthusiastic, cheering your pup on, congratulating him for each new
achievement. We're having some fun now! Major canine cerebral turn-on!
Once we have the basics down, I toss the second toy a short distance
in the opposite direction (behind me).
______________________________________________
(hose #1 lands here) <-----------------(you)---->(hose #2 lands here)
______________________________________________
The puppy quickly learns that this is a two-directional game. With daily
repetition of the game, in very little time you can progress from
a single, short toss down the hallway indoors to tosses of 20 feet and
beyond in both directions out of doors.
(hose #1 lands here) <-----------------------(you)-------------------->(hose #2 lands here)
As the dog matures and develops, you can introduce a variety of other
skills using this game. Platz for reward, sit for reward, fuss -- anything
really. Once you've developed the dog's focus on the hose in a controlled
"play" environment, you can incorporate into the game a variety of skill-building
activities. The dog develops a love affair with the ball, toy or hose that can
be effectively used during later obedience training on the field. A hose
may be easily tucked under the armpit (the Garden of Earthy Delights Hose),
hidden in a pocket (the Pocket Snake), tucked into your waist band
(the Panty Hose), or held parallel to the forearm (the Meat Grinder),
and quickly produced for well-timed reward/play purposes.
Some dogs quickly learn to anticipate the second hose and drop the first hose
too early. After all, he seeks the reward -- the second hose. You then apply
motivational direction to the game. You withhold the reward (the hose)
until the dog is performing the behavior you want. If you want the dog to drop the hose
right into your hand, then reward (toss the second hose) only after the dog delivers that
desired behavior.
You gradually increase the pressure on the dog to deliver the toy only when
and where you command. This takes a certain amount of time and patience and
is influenced by the temperament, drive, and trainability of the dog. By
withholding the reward until the desired behavior is performed, the dog
quickly learns to isolate the correct behavior ("Ah! When I do this, I get the hose!") and
will voluntarily perform that behavior for the reward. As in other aspects of
motivational training, you are simply shaping shaping behaviors to refine a particular skill.
For example, in the typical "sit" exercise, the desired goal is to have the dog
sit "perfectly" next to you -- not head in and butt out, nor any derivation thereof.
When you first train a pup for the sit, you reward the first variations
of a sit, without insisting on "perfection." Then, once the pup
understands the basic "sit" command, you can continue to motivate the dog and shape the dog's behaviors
through appropriately timed rewards (toy, food, aural or
tactile praise), to strive for and achieve the desired "perfect" sit position.
Same with two hoses. You continue to escalate the motivational pressure to
perform "perfectly" by further delaying the release of the second hose until
the dog has retrieved the first hose and released it in the exact manner
you demand. However, your demands must be reasonable and
must be within the framework of the dog's level of understanding
of the task. You will only frustrate the dog (and the trainer) if you expect
the dog to understand the subtleties of this game after only one or two
renditions, or if you attempt to escalate your demands for sophisticated
precision before the dog has a firm understanding of the rudimentary basics.
Remember: this is a game. Keep it fun! (The theme of
"baby steps" in the film What About Bob? is an appropriate one
for our purposes here.)
There is an oft-used expression, "Perfect practice makes perfect." Keep in
mind that "perfect practice" can only occur after (1) you have established
a sound foundation (the dog understands the required task); (2) you have proofed the task to
verify its soundness (and if it's not sound, you return to the basic
foundation work); and (3) you exercise correction if -- after
the dog clearly understand the required task -- the dog fails to perform it
correctly. It's a repetitive process that occurs over time. Embedded in
the framework of that time continuum is the process of exercising
perfect timing at each instance.
I haven't met a dog yet who didn't love the game! When the dog is having
all that riotous fun playing with his favorite dog toys, it's only you who
appreciates all the focused training and precision that is going into
the fetch, retrieve, and release "game." Once the strong foundation has been laid, you can vary the game
to re-ignite the learning process and introduce new tasks.
