🎉 Our world-renowned online programs are open to join or gift with our best-ever cyber deals through to midnight on Monday, December 02, 2024 - dogsthat.com/y/cyberevent 🌟 Discover how to easily set the environment up for your dog’s success: th-cam.com/video/9TiZ3BACSkI/w-d-xo.html 🐶 Any fun game you play with a dog is going to be relationship building! Check out our playlist on “Dog Training Games”: th-cam.com/play/PLphRRSxcMHy2TzttCtZVFwzwMGayAsaYehttps.html://th-cam.com/users/sgaming/emoji/7ff574f2/emoji_u1f389.png
Yay! We did this game today, it was very cool to watch him thinking, and such a relief when he figured each step out! It was so hard to watch him get frustrated. I learned through this game that he gets frustrated very easily, which means he probably needs more chances to make decisions. I also learned through this game that he often shows me signs of frustration throughout the day, I just didn't recognize them before now. Thank you thank you!! This was awesome.
Wow! That was fun! I used a box and slowly moved it out. For a few moments he couldn't figure out why the treats stopped. He layed down, he barked. I moved the box back to me and then he got it! I moved it way out and he did it right over and over and had fun doing it. That will be a fun game often!
This is so much fun! not so easy but we are slowly building up our skills and I can see us playing this at a higher level in a couple of weeks. Thanks for sharing!
This was an awesome experience with my older dog. He’s 9 and a primitive sight hound. Games haven’t always come easily for us but he rocked this. It was interesting watching his frustration signals. Pawing, barking, panting, scratching, sitting and finally dragging his rump 😂. But he really caught on and it stuck as we played again today and he picked it all right back up.
I learned this as “movement puzzles” but I have to say by listening to you go thru each step more in depth has opened up many more insights into my dogs and myself as far as “reading g” the dog in front of me as well as myself each training session. I’m so glad I am a member of this community!!!!❤❤❤🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
This was so much fun to try with my 2 Aussies. 5yo Josie got frustrated a few times and she backed up fast and barked at me. Typical frustration behavior for her, but quickly got back to work. She however, could NOT relax right after. That's clearly something we need to work on.
Love Love Love this game. This was my first time seeing this game and I immediately started playing it with my dog Duchess. She caught on really quickly and is really enjoying it. I can see her trying to figure out what she has to do in order to get the next cookie. Thank you for sharing the Vito Game
someone in the HStD Facebook group suggested this to me when my dog was neutered. Soooo helpful! Now I often just feed him the kibble portion of his food this way
What a great game? Two sessions and both my dogs are getting it. One is much faster than the other. I love that there is so much motion. Can't wait to build in other obstacles. Thank you!
This was a 10/10 game for my Kaylee and I! It progressed similarly to how Susan described but also how someone else in the comments described. Kaylee kept waiting for a verbal cue to be allowed to take the treat (so amazing previous training). I used search cue longer until I got to the bowls then I phased out by looking and gesturing with my hand, then when she got it I phased that out too. I found the experience emotional because it was so sweet to see her go from unconfident to confident. It was also very calm so it was a great end game for training session
Played this with Eggo for the first time yesterday evening. It was so interesting to see her offering behaviours. Eventually, she went to her bed and lay down, looking at me for approval (I saw her peripherally). I will remove her bed before we play again. But man oh man! My heart lept when she finally figured it out! So hard to keep that excitement low key, but I did. The only thing I was wondering about was the fact that once I went silent and dropped the treats to reward her correct choices, it was clear to me that she was a bit confused...she was waiting for a release cue ("get it") so that she had permission to take the treat. Eventually, she took the treats without hesitation, but I am wondering if this will undo the training around not picking things up without our permission/cue words.
This one is a challenge for my pocket bully. We've got the tossing left and right part down pat. After that, she stares at me and does 'look away', sit, down, or spin . This will take some time
This is super fun! And oh the antics she goes through when there’s no cookie for short cuts. 😂😂😂 I can almost hear the wheels turning in that little head. Thank you for sharing.
I can’t believe how quickly my little full on 12 month old Moodle picked this game up, so proud of her. She loved her cuddle afterwards ❤thank you Susan 👏🏻
HA! Just yesterday I was trying to remember the name “Vito”-it finally popped into my head just as I was waking up, and I committed to adding it back into my dog’s games routine! Thanks for revisiting this game and all it offers!
Thanks so much for this! The explanation about the relaxation portion was really helpful! I absolutely need to build in relaxation after training! I am planning to use this game to teach my Aussie stalking. The plan is to get him running around cones and then I kick a ball or toss a frisbee to him - getting him to hone in on the ball/frisbee should tap into his herding instincts…the explanation of the progression in this video was super useful. Thank you
I have a foster fail BC, kelpy, cattle dog mix who was on medication for anxiety while we worked to build confidence. He would be nervous of objects all around the house. I started incorporating Vito's game after seeing this episode a month ago, starting with objects to walk around that he wasn't nervous towards and building up slowly to objects he was a little nervous towards. We do it at least once a day for one meal. We're now on objects he was really nervous towards, but no longer is nervous!!! I feel like his confidence has grown exponentially. We've continued other confidence building exercises as well, but I feel Vito's game was a huge catalyst towards his success. He's nearly completely off all medications to help him with his anxiety and he's becoming Mr. Brave & Confident!! We now do Vito's with all our dogs and they absolutely LOVE IT. Thank you so much for sharing this; I'm definitely going to share it with the rescue organization we work with
Hi @Dubzy001, thanks for sharing the fantastic story! Woohoo!!! You got this. Check out our other confidence-building strategies here: th-cam.com/video/N_XO0jqxvBg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mWtbz3rVcmSYNQNs and keep advocating for your dog! (Sarah - DogsThat Team)
My sheltie pup started slowly, and offered many behaviors to earn treats, but I didn't help her and she figured it out! So proud of her. Then she did not want to stop and got frustrated when I ended with the cuddles.
Just found the video and would love to try it. My dog wasn't well last year and lost interest in playing games. She used to love play fetch, but now she goes to her toy basket looks at it then goes to bed. Sad. Her diabetes is well controlled. But because of this she can't get any rewards or snacks between meals. I will have to arrange the training sessions around mealtimes. I think it is doable. Thank you❤
So, I played with Riley today. She understood pretty quickly what was going on, but would not take the treats out of the bowls!! My questions: 1.) Is it because we practised "chow" before to eat what's in the bowl? 2.) Is it because they were MY dishes?? (Not allowed to touch my food!!) I recorded our session, but it's 6 mins and I stopped the game with "break".
I had similar issues I always had to say "chow" when he was in front of the bowl...I also tried to put the treats on the ground but then he would just stand there until I said "search" 😅
I wondered the same thing... now that I've taught my dog not to take food without permission, how do I tell her it's OK to get the food without permission? And then how do I tell her that when the game is over, she has to get permission again?
I think you could approach this dilemma in the same way that you'd teach anything else. Just break it down, step by step. Teach him to recognise that's you're playing 'that game' by setting it up physically and maybe associating it with a new cue word such as 'game'. Then, still within that physical environment, and only in that environment, just set a treat on the floor, say nothing, wait, respond either neutrally or positively for every look or movement towards that treat until he does eat it. You could reward for success in this step, but only for the first couple of times, just to help him figure out that is what you want in this particular situation. Remember to go back to the usual cue words for taking food in all other situations, just to keep this concept clear in the dogs mind. He'll be able to recognise the difference between 'game' treats and all other food rules easily.
We are Recallers and just barely getting "good" at IYC. Now I am conflicted (and so are my dogs) about dropping a cookie in the bowl and expecting them to get it without prompting or giving them permission. The boy finally started going back and forth but not sure if I've undermined all the IYC progress. Haven't started with the girl yet, in hopes I'll get some feedback to this IYC dilemma. Looking forward to doing this correctly! Looks like great entertainment! Kris and the Wigglebutts
I'm a recaller too (hi!) and was thinking the same thing. She has just got to the point where she won't touch anything I accidentally drop on the floor so I don't want to undo all the work we've done
@@tudorrose3443 - I think waht I did was just before I dropped the cookie, would give a cue which meant that they could have the cookie - like 'yes', or 'search' - but now to differentiate, I say 'chow' like Susan does (which means you can take food out of the bowl) - but I hope one of the trainers comment here - they will tell you for sure! Better still! Ask one of the trainers in your programme in recallers :)
Same here. We have been doing IYC and my Zuka thinks I am testing to see if she’ll take the treat if I don’t say Get it! or Search. Also Zuka has to wait to eat the food in her or any bowl/plate. Again I am conflicted along with her. I will ask in Recallers. Great idea!
@@joanneassaly9366 I reached out to one of the coaches I know and she said that you can give an indicator to have the cookie, such as yes or get it, whatever you use but as they get to understand the game gradually faze it out
I’ve heard of this a few times, and I may have watched the video in your classroom once. But I have never played! I’d love to try, and it definitely would be fun to video this one. I will need to tape my mouth shut, for sure. I think I need to watch the videos one more time, and I also need to clear some space on my phone! 😅 Thank you for the encouragement. ❤
I have discovered that watching the game without sound makes me see all the nuance of the games Susan teaches. I watch a couple of times with audio and then turn off the sound for the demonstration segments. It is Amazing(!) how much more information I can pick up from this system. Love, love, love training my dog!
Just tried the Vito game. I luv it and so did my dogs. Although they were a bIt hesitant to take the treat from the bowls without a command. Maybe because we have played the search and Chow game recently.
Bentley ( Recallers student for 2 years now) has such a good IYC where he doesn’t touch food anywhere without being told a verbal cue. So I tried the Vito game, and he got so frustrated and offered so many other behaviours but wouldn’t touch the food in the bowl. Shake a paw, rollover, lie down, … I finally gave him the cue word search at the bowl too. He had no trouble doing all the other parts once he had the verbal cue “search”. Why is this ok to do without giving the permission to touch the food? Can I feed him from my hand? But even then I would have to say “cook” before he touches the food in my hand. We visit an elderly family member where pills are often on the floor so I don’t want to undo his great IYC. He can also relax easily in my lap.
I love the stills of Tater's face! 😂 I'm looking forward to playing this with my dog. I'm getting a run for my garden where we can focus on training and I'm definitely going to set it up for this game. 😊
I first learned this game in one of your programs several years ago and at the time I thought oh this is a weird game, but I have been using it a lot and I do it in my group classes in the class. I called things you can train from a chair, which works out great for people who have any kind of mobility struggle. I love this game so much for all the reasons you suggest and because they really help people see how their dogs think and work and for sure it's fun!
I love playing the Vito game with my two... especially for exercise, ensuring they work at their own pace and both sides evenly. Its also great when you don't have time or are in perhaps not the best mood for interactive training/conditioning, so gives you something to do with them that's exclusively positive.
when I have time I like to add cavalettes, but in general I keep it simple - cone about 10-15 m away from me in the garden, so that the dogs (agility dogs) work on their acceleration, deceleration, and turning on both sides. A jump is nice but one thing I like about the Vito game is that it allows us to do a cardio fitness session without the hard impacts of jumping (or chasing a toy)... I've tried more complicated movement puzzles but ultimately the simplicity of the standard setup is what pulls me to play it in the first place
This is great! I’m in the process of a big move and downsizing so I’ve been feeling guilty about paying a lot less attention to my dogs. They are looking a little like zombies on the couch, so this is a quick but powerful way to commit to reconnecting with them at least once a day to engage their brains. Then, Voilà, guilt and boredom vanquished! Once again, it’s Susan to the rescue… thank you Susan!🧡
My super smart border collie mix loved the “search” but then sat in front of me waiting for the next command when “search” ended. We tried a few more “search”es, then laid down and waited again. I looked at one of the bowls, she tried to get the treats in the bowl in my lap. Eventually, I stared at the bowl on my right, she went over to it and I put a treat in. Then she laid down in front and waited. I looked at the left bowl, she went to the right, eventually over to the left (I was silent but staring the bowl) and got a treat. We continued for several more minutes, with lots of lying in front of me waiting for a command. Never seemed to get the idea to do it on her own. I finally said her name, put the lid on the bowl of treats, pulled her in front of me to “relax”, she jumped up and was ready to play a game. I put everything away and thought we’d wait until tomorrow to try again.
My dogs were very confused by this game but I will try again. The only time they get to eat a treat is when we use the Search and Cook cues, and when they get reinforced for doing something I invite them to do (sit, down, a trick, etc.). It took a long time for my 7-year old to go for the treats and he never truly got over this hesitation. My 2-year old took them more readily. Both are highly motivated and food-loving corgis. I'm worried about undoing some of the work I have done with Search and Cook.
I'm having the same issue. My dogs are offering sits and downs instead of looking at or going after the bowls. Even if they "do it right" a few times, they'll stop in front of me and down, waiting for instructions.
>>> I Truly Appreciate The Detailed Explanation ,,, The Information That You Provide At The Various Stages Of Vito's Game Are On Point ,,, Healthy Treats Are My Preferred Substitute ,,, *for me* ,,, The Greatest Reward Is That Thinking Is Required
All I can say that was a so worth it game for the absolute laughs. My guy got the game super fast. My epoch fail was to use paper bowls. When I wasn’t as fast as he’d like he’d grab the bowl shake it and try to rip it apart 😂. He offered to stand on the little garbage can, roll it and knock it over😂. Can’t wait to play again!!! I’ll be smarter with the props next time tho.
Love this idea! Haven’t figured out how to get this rescue dog to take treats inside the house yet, but when I do… Regardless, this approach reinforces for the human the choice aspects of training, so that I can bring that more consistently into my other training efforts with this verrrry anxious little soul of a dog.
Perfect! I think this is one of only a few engagement games that will work for any breed, and adaptable for almost any circumstance. Dogs with prey drive, or herding, hunting, chasing, searching, etc, are so easy to engage in such games. But what about Livestock Guardian breeds? Like the Great Pyrenees. They do not chase. They defend. They don't play with sticks or fetch balls or play tug or, really, play anything. We politely call them 'independent' because they are more like team mates who make their own decisions but are still in-sync with their owners. They work better off-leash than on. They don't like being pushed around. They like to take their time to decide if they're going to obey a command. They look at you exactly the same way no matter what they are feeling. An owner is forced to really pay attention to their body language and their environment as a whole to figure them out and learn how to create a balance of obedience and independence (which, by the way, the dog already knows and has probably been trying to teach you all along). Anyway, it may seem that this game would be impossible to engage a Pyr or similar breed. But once you get to the real 'thinking independently' part, it's the perfect winner! So, all you LGD owners out there, especially of non-working LGD's and mixes, this game is the one! I bet after 5 minutes my pyr would need at least an hour long nap! lol Absolutely perfect!! As a side note, I think this is also a beautiful way to work with an anxious dog. It distracts the mind from whatever is making them anxious, and works the mind enough to tire it out and allow for that relaxation. And I bet that after practise in those smaller spaces you could move that space outdoors (where a lot of anxious dogs become more anxious with more noise and distractions, etc). What miracles could happen then? How could we apply these techniques to shelter dogs? Or dogs with medical conditions that may prevent them from a lot of physical exercise? So many ways to apply this method! Thank you so much for sharing it!
I just tried Vito's game on my two border collies. The young er girl that I've had for barely a month got the game on the second session. 12 minutes of trying maybe all in all. The older on that's been with me for 6 years was mostly giving intense eye contact and waiting for a cue from me when I tried not doing "search". I guess it's a very different type of training then we usually do. Either she's following my cues or she's doing something more independent like search or puzzel toys. Her influencing my actions by her movements is novel and foregin. Interesting. I'll start from scratch I think and see where we get!
"... their imaginary itch ..." ROFL! I Love playing this game with my pup and adult dog - excited now to progress it a bit further and include it in our agility training :) - if my adult dog gets frustrated, she barks at me, if my pup gets frustrated he sits down and looks at me, and makes sharky squeaky type noises lol My pup used to shut down very quickly when he had G.I issues for most of the first year of his life, most of the time not even engaging in the first place even in play, let alone be interested in food or treats or training - he would just run under the table :( - BUT he's all good now! He's a different dog thanks to a raw food, vet nutritionist but I digress lol :) AND I am super aware of keeping the balance between fun and challenge and super aware of how important it is for me to be clear, thanks to Recallers, and H360 etc ... :) - this podcast has given me nuances that I didn't have before that I can't wait to implement - so many excitements!
We just tried this. She hasn't perfectly figured it out yet. Is too focused on where the food IS, rather than where it will be, but we also don't have any wide areas for the prep part of the game, so the pattern may not have been well set. She was thinking so hard, I could see steam coming out of her ears, though 😂 and she's now fast asnooze on her blankie on the couch. Will search for a location with a bit more space tomorrow.
Very interesting. Reminds of the things one does to promote independent thinking and problem solving in children. How young a puppy is this game suitable for?
Hi @hookstrpd it's a game suitable for puppies and one of the core games we play with them very soon after they become members of our family. For a guide for the development stages of puppies, Susan has a great video to help with ages and stages of a puppy's mental and physical growth - th-cam.com/video/BDmQBOA-bCA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=HFdlWv_JSpE5q4hJ
Must try! I predict my girl will pick up the pattern very quickly. But getting her to relax afterwards could be a challenge -- she is always so , " up" during training 😄🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
So i thought this was great. I have a Mal x Rotti. After her first try at the game she lay down exhausted & happy. I had seen her work through the confusion and demanding stages to understand. I could see it worked her brain. But she got the idea completly after the second round. Now she just goes through the motions, she will test a couple times not going around the box to the food. In the end she just walks away uninterested. Is there any value in continuing or increasing the value of food/treats offered?
@somethingfromk6816 Susan has some additional information in the following podcasts that you may find helpful with the treat challenge: Why Your Treats Aren’t Working for Your Dog - dogsthat.com/podcast/59/ Help For Dogs Refusing Treats: Case Study With Training Plan - dogsthat.com/podcast/179 (Julie - DogsThat Team)
My easily excited rescue has a tendency to run circles in excitement when we go out. I have to manage my position to keep her from wrapping up my legs with the leash. I think maybe this will give me a way to get her to focus while moving, which should help. And then I wonder what can be done with this kind of game while on leash.
When he cut in and I withheld the treat, he thought I was playing Its Yer Choice, and he laid down to wait. If I start throwing treats ("search") or lift him up, won't I be diluting his IYC training? He's very good with that.
@GayleLB You can use IYC and the Vito Game together by keeping their contexts clear. Start with IYC to practice calm self-control, then transition into the Vito Game with a high-energy cue like "get it!" This teaches your dog to shift gears between impulse control and enthusiasm. Use distinct cues, short sessions, and clear resets to avoid confusion. If you haven't already signed up, get the step-by-step on how to play and grow Vito's Thinking Game in our limited-time FREE Pre-Cyber Event Party - dogsthat.com/y/cyberevent (Julie - DogsThat Team)
Thank you Susan! Wondering if you have any games for playing with more than one dog at a time. I have two and my guys are good at taking turns with treat puzzle games. One sits quietly while the other completes the puzzle and then they switch. Is there something we can all do at the same time? I think many of us have more than one dog. Thanks again! Love your channel
Hi! We'd love for you to join us for the Free Agility Masterclass!, Susan will share new insights about her training and will be joined by two other world champions ❤️ -> agility-nation.com/yt/agility-masterclass
I've used it ever since you first introduced it ummmm 15 years ago? .....I used to use it for everything agility to now hoopers and 'just' tricks. GREAT game
I'm reading a lot of comments with the same issue as me: my dogs won't take the food from the bowl unless I give permission. They'll do the search game then stare at the treat bowl in my lap, but they won't look at the other bowls.
Same. We've built so much on IYC, on NOT chasing or grabbing food without permission, that my dog ended up frustrated and confused. So did I, for that matter. Hoping to find some help in the comments.
My dog hesitates before taking food from the bowls because I had trained him with ItsYerChoice to not pick up food from the ground unless released. How can I change that for this game without talking? Thanks
I was confident about recognizing the moment when the first decision is supposed to get made -- yet somehow had MISSED this key bit at 9:02: ". . . as soon as they LOOK towards that other bowl, you're going to drop a cookie in there." I made the mistake of looking to mark only a dead-obvious, gross motor movement, I guess expecting my dog to dance all the way over from Bowl #1 and instantly stuff his muzzle into empty Bowl #2 with gusto (probably along the way also issuing me an engraved invitation to observe and bring a plus one). My video shows him very clearly LOOKING at Bowl #2 on our first round. He understood! But I missed the moment to reward it. At that juncture, when the dog has eaten that very first treat from Bowl #1 . . . we're really just shaping, right? Are we looking to reward any clear spark of recognition and thinking? Could it be a look, a step, a body shift, or head turn? If we know the dog is thinking, "Hey, I should go to Bowl #2," does it matter how subtle their indication?
I did this with both my dogs and they picked it up quickly....my only question is how does a dog know the difference then about taking food out of a dish without permission like we teach in 'it's your choice'?
I have a question. I have played this with my dog twice now and is it ever fun! I do silent fist pumps in my head when he is first frustrated but then figures it out. My dog has lots of energy and enthusiasm. So my question is about the end - there is just no way I can hold him or even have him in a calm down stay in order to properly take a moment to relax. We are currently working on "settle" but is there anything else you can suggest that we could do at the end of this game?
Hi @TheJensarg we are so pleased you have been enjoying the awesome Vito's Game! Susan has a very insightful podcast episode that about her amazing relaxation protocol that will help --> th-cam.com/video/FRmLd4k5qGk/w-d-xo.html (Rachel - DogsThat Team)
I’ve worked so much IYC and Chow for food in bowl my puppy won’t take food from the bowls when I started playing this game. I know if I cue her that’s not right so not sure how long to out wait my dog
@pjtrant Vito's Thinking Games is perfect for dogs of all ages & skill levels, including puppies. You and your puppy will have so much fun :) (Julie - DogsThat Team)
So my pup wouldn’t touch the treats without the “Search” command. Good boy! I don’t want to break his great performance in learning to avoid dropped edible items. Ideas?
This looks like fun and I'd like to try it with my pup. Stupid question, isn't giving so many years going to affect her weight? What kind of treats are people using?
@bernadettematos7614 Susan has a great podcast about feeding our dogs and keeping the balance between feeding meals and training: th-cam.com/video/vENpu_2_y20/w-d-xo.html (Julie - DogsThat Team)
My dog gets it until the cone moves about 24cm away, then she cuts through. I tried putting a treat down when she went around after cutting through, but I seem to teaching her that that is the move. If I just withhold from both sides until she does it correctly, she gets tired of the game and lies down. (She switches to the choice game) Clearky I’m doing something wrong. Can you help?
Hi @patriciaorourke9342 it's fabulous you are playing! 🧡 If you are enjoying our Pre-Cyber Party, checking out Part-3 of Vito's Thinking Game will be super helpful. You can also layer back then progress to moving the cone out. If you are in Agility Nation, Handling360 or Wag Nation, we have Vito's Thinking Game in our coaching programs, so you are super welcome to share a short video and we'll help out with strategies for you.
My dog is so good at IYC that she won't look at a bowl on the floor unless told to, so she thinks she is doing right by ignoring the bowls. How to get past that with out spoiling her IYC?
How can I get my other three dogs to chill out while I train one dog? They go crazy in their crates when they know the other one is getting all the attention.
My pup has learned It’s yer choice so well she won’t take treat dropped into the bowl. How do you give them permission? I tried saying search but that didn’t work either.
Hanzo is getting frustrated after I stop saying “Search”. He is continues to look at me for permission to eat the cookie out of the bowl. It is nice that he is not picking anything up before asking but it is a barrier now. I returned to the search a couple of times, I tried and said search and threw a cookie in the bowl, stared at the bowl myself but he starts to bark with a high pitch or yawn. What to do? He is very frustrated.
I tried playing this with my dog several times. She just won't pick up the treat unless I give her permission. She will just stare at the treat in the bowl. Not sure how to work around this otherwise great behaviour!
Hi @catherinemasse2732, it's great that you're trying the Vito's Thinking Game with your dog! Susan did a podcast with games that help increase food drive, you should definitely give these a try: th-cam.com/video/Tm_ELWDlUDg/w-d-xo.html We'd love to hear an update, happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
Hi Elena. Thanks for your reply. The issue is not her food drive. She is very good motivated. It’s that I taught her “it’s your choice”, get it” and “search” so when I drop the treat in the bowl, she thinks she needs me to say “get it” before taking it. When she moves toward the bowl in the correct way (right, left, etc), can I tell her to “get it” even though I am supposed to stay silent??!
So we start well, but then after a few repetitions my dog opts out and moves away and lies down. He’s not even interested in searching for treats…I’ve tried different levels of arousal as he’s not a confident dog and can shut down when overwhelmed so everything from calm to over-excited and it’s the same, he opts out…ideas?
I was so excited to try this game with my dog thinking he’d pick it up easily, but I was wrong. I noticed a couple issues. We have done IYC in the past and my dog was hesitant at first to go for the treats I dropped in the bowls, and he seemed to get “stuck” and give up, lay down, stare at me. Maybe my treats weren’t high enough value? Or maybe the space we were working in was too distracting. I will try again.
Great problem-solving! Often, changing the location of our training or the reinforcement value (i.e. higher / different treats) will help. Also try different times of day and notice when your dog is in their optimal zone of excitement to try new games. Here's our newest podcast on helping identify those arousal states: th-cam.com/video/J6UhcWPl7CM/w-d-xo.html
@janicedigbyware4599 In this podcast, Susan talks about the cues we use while training: Your Dog's Verbal Cues And Hand Signals: How To Effectively Train Both --> th-cam.com/video/QxCwNl3Wpg8/w-d-xo.html (Julie - DogsThat Team)
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🐶 Any fun game you play with a dog is going to be relationship building! Check out our playlist on “Dog Training Games”: th-cam.com/play/PLphRRSxcMHy2TzttCtZVFwzwMGayAsaYehttps.html://th-cam.com/users/sgaming/emoji/7ff574f2/emoji_u1f389.png
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This is EXACTLY the deep dive I needed on Vito’s Thinking Game! Thank You Dogs That team!!!
That freeze frame at 11:53 was pure gold!
Thanks Renee, Tater was really thinking hard ❤️
Yay! We did this game today, it was very cool to watch him thinking, and such a relief when he figured each step out! It was so hard to watch him get frustrated. I learned through this game that he gets frustrated very easily, which means he probably needs more chances to make decisions. I also learned through this game that he often shows me signs of frustration throughout the day, I just didn't recognize them before now.
Thank you thank you!! This was awesome.
You’ve got this! What wonderful observations that you can action, @hannahschmidt583 🧡
Wow! That was fun! I used a box and slowly moved it out. For a few moments he couldn't figure out why the treats stopped. He layed down, he barked. I moved the box back to me and then he got it! I moved it way out and he did it right over and over and had fun doing it. That will be a fun game often!
@BamboozledUS Sounds like you and your dog had a blast with the game! (Julie - DogsThat Team)
This is so much fun! not so easy but we are slowly building up our skills and I can see us playing this at a higher level in a couple of weeks. Thanks for sharing!
Keep at it @mollysmoney You've got this! (Rachel - DogsThat Team)
This was an awesome experience with my older dog. He’s 9 and a primitive sight hound. Games haven’t always come easily for us but he rocked this. It was interesting watching his frustration signals. Pawing, barking, panting, scratching, sitting and finally dragging his rump 😂. But he really caught on and it stuck as we played again today and he picked it all right back up.
I learned this as “movement puzzles” but I have to say by listening to you go thru each step more in depth has opened up many more insights into my dogs and myself as far as “reading g” the dog in front of me as well as myself each training session.
I’m so glad I am a member of this community!!!!❤❤❤🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
This was so much fun to try with my 2 Aussies. 5yo Josie got frustrated a few times and she backed up fast and barked at me. Typical frustration behavior for her, but quickly got back to work. She however, could NOT relax right after. That's clearly something we need to work on.
@christinefleischmann4627 it's fabulous you are playing and those are great observations 💚
11:53 when Tater stops, “Why did the cookies stop??? What happened to my PEZ dispenser???” 😂🤣😂🤣
I know right! LOL LOL
Love Love Love this game. This was my first time seeing this game and I immediately started playing it with my dog Duchess. She caught on really quickly and is really enjoying it. I can see her trying to figure out what she has to do in order to get the next cookie. Thank you for sharing the Vito Game
Perfect timing! Jupiter is recovering from his neuter so redirecting his more energetic play into calmer games. This is Perfect! Thank you.
someone in the HStD Facebook group suggested this to me when my dog was neutered. Soooo helpful! Now I often just feed him the kibble portion of his food this way
This is good practise for people that want to do scent work with their dog. Not prompting is the hardest part for most handlers.
What a great game? Two sessions and both my dogs are getting it. One is much faster than the other. I love that there is so much motion. Can't wait to build in other obstacles. Thank you!
This was a 10/10 game for my Kaylee and I! It progressed similarly to how Susan described but also how someone else in the comments described. Kaylee kept waiting for a verbal cue to be allowed to take the treat (so amazing previous training). I used search cue longer until I got to the bowls then I phased out by looking and gesturing with my hand, then when she got it I phased that out too. I found the experience emotional because it was so sweet to see her go from unconfident to confident. It was also very calm so it was a great end game for training session
Played this with Eggo for the first time yesterday evening. It was so interesting to see her offering behaviours. Eventually, she went to her bed and lay down, looking at me for approval (I saw her peripherally). I will remove her bed before we play again. But man oh man! My heart lept when she finally figured it out! So hard to keep that excitement low key, but I did. The only thing I was wondering about was the fact that once I went silent and dropped the treats to reward her correct choices, it was clear to me that she was a bit confused...she was waiting for a release cue ("get it") so that she had permission to take the treat. Eventually, she took the treats without hesitation, but I am wondering if this will undo the training around not picking things up without our permission/cue words.
Yea, this whole thing is just weird and makes no real sense for me.
Thank you for sharing! Tried sitting against a couch at first, my pup, ran around me. Sat against a wall, she got it!
Love doing this with my 15 yr old girl. ❤ keeps her mind going!
Wonderful! Enjoy your girl.
Love your detailed explanation. I learned this game previously but now understand new layers and variations - super useful, thank you!!!
Glad it was helpful, Laurie!
This one is a challenge for my pocket bully. We've got the tossing left and right part down pat. After that, she stares at me and does 'look away', sit, down, or spin . This will take some time
This sounds great! I am looking forward to giving it a try later today. Thank you for this awesome information.
Can't wait to try this!
This is super fun! And oh the antics she goes through when there’s no cookie for short cuts. 😂😂😂 I can almost hear the wheels turning in that little head. Thank you for sharing.
I can’t believe how quickly my little full on 12 month old Moodle picked this game up, so proud of her. She loved her cuddle afterwards ❤thank you Susan 👏🏻
So awesome, Julie! Keep having fun together ❤️
HA! Just yesterday I was trying to remember the name “Vito”-it finally popped into my head just as I was waking up, and I committed to adding it back into my dog’s games routine! Thanks for revisiting this game and all it offers!
Wilson and I LOVED this game !!!!
I love Vito’s game!
Thanks so much for this! The explanation about the relaxation portion was really helpful! I absolutely need to build in relaxation after training! I am planning to use this game to teach my Aussie stalking. The plan is to get him running around cones and then I kick a ball or toss a frisbee to him - getting him to hone in on the ball/frisbee should tap into his herding instincts…the explanation of the progression in this video was super useful. Thank you
Thank you! Your videos are very helpful. 😊
I have a foster fail BC, kelpy, cattle dog mix who was on medication for anxiety while we worked to build confidence. He would be nervous of objects all around the house. I started incorporating Vito's game after seeing this episode a month ago, starting with objects to walk around that he wasn't nervous towards and building up slowly to objects he was a little nervous towards. We do it at least once a day for one meal. We're now on objects he was really nervous towards, but no longer is nervous!!! I feel like his confidence has grown exponentially. We've continued other confidence building exercises as well, but I feel Vito's game was a huge catalyst towards his success. He's nearly completely off all medications to help him with his anxiety and he's becoming Mr. Brave & Confident!! We now do Vito's with all our dogs and they absolutely LOVE IT. Thank you so much for sharing this; I'm definitely going to share it with the rescue organization we work with
Hi @Dubzy001, thanks for sharing the fantastic story! Woohoo!!! You got this. Check out our other confidence-building strategies here: th-cam.com/video/N_XO0jqxvBg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mWtbz3rVcmSYNQNs and keep advocating for your dog!
(Sarah - DogsThat Team)
I can't wait to play this especially the relaxation
My sheltie pup started slowly, and offered many behaviors to earn treats, but I didn't help her and she figured it out! So proud of her. Then she did not want to stop and got frustrated when I ended with the cuddles.
Brilliant!
Thank you for the explanation of the game. We have enjoyed it in Wag nation.
Just found the video and would love to try it. My dog wasn't well last year and lost interest in playing games. She used to love play fetch, but now she goes to her toy basket looks at it then goes to bed. Sad. Her diabetes is well controlled. But because of this she can't get any rewards or snacks between meals. I will have to arrange the training sessions around mealtimes. I think it is doable. Thank you❤
This is AWESOME!!! Thank you🙂
Definitely going to try this! Thank you 😊
This was such fun and so relaxing. It was wonderful to see the light come on for my rather meditative bouvier Auberon!
So, I played with Riley today. She understood pretty quickly what was going on, but would not take the treats out of the bowls!! My questions:
1.) Is it because we practised "chow" before to eat what's in the bowl?
2.) Is it because they were MY dishes?? (Not allowed to touch my food!!)
I recorded our session, but it's 6 mins and I stopped the game with "break".
I had similar issues I always had to say "chow" when he was in front of the bowl...I also tried to put the treats on the ground but then he would just stand there until I said "search" 😅
I wondered the same thing... now that I've taught my dog not to take food without permission, how do I tell her it's OK to get the food without permission? And then how do I tell her that when the game is over, she has to get permission again?
I think you could approach this dilemma in the same way that you'd teach anything else. Just break it down, step by step. Teach him to recognise that's you're playing 'that game' by setting it up physically and maybe associating it with a new cue word such as 'game'. Then, still within that physical environment, and only in that environment, just set a treat on the floor, say nothing, wait, respond either neutrally or positively for every look or movement towards that treat until he does eat it. You could reward for success in this step, but only for the first couple of times, just to help him figure out that is what you want in this particular situation. Remember to go back to the usual cue words for taking food in all other situations, just to keep this concept clear in the dogs mind. He'll be able to recognise the difference between 'game' treats and all other food rules easily.
Love this game !!!❤️💕♥️
I was surprise to see how he was reacting....he work that out better than I thought!
So awesome, Linda! 💕
We are Recallers and just barely getting "good" at IYC. Now I am conflicted (and so are my dogs) about dropping a cookie in the bowl and expecting them to get it without prompting or giving them permission. The boy finally started going back and forth but not sure if I've undermined all the IYC progress. Haven't started with the girl yet, in hopes I'll get some feedback to this IYC dilemma. Looking forward to doing this correctly! Looks like great entertainment!
Kris and the Wigglebutts
I'm a recaller too (hi!) and was thinking the same thing. She has just got to the point where she won't touch anything I accidentally drop on the floor so I don't want to undo all the work we've done
@@tudorrose3443 - I think waht I did was just before I dropped the cookie, would give a cue which meant that they could have the cookie - like 'yes', or 'search' - but now to differentiate, I say 'chow' like Susan does (which means you can take food out of the bowl) - but I hope one of the trainers comment here - they will tell you for sure! Better still! Ask one of the trainers in your programme in recallers :)
Same here. We have been doing IYC and my Zuka thinks I am testing to see if she’ll take the treat if I don’t say Get it! or Search.
Also Zuka has to wait to eat the food in her or any bowl/plate. Again I am conflicted along with her. I will ask in Recallers. Great idea!
@@joanneassaly9366 I reached out to one of the coaches I know and she said that you can give an indicator to have the cookie, such as yes or get it, whatever you use but as they get to understand the game gradually faze it out
Possibly using lids rather than dishes? Like a yogurt lid or sour cream - not exactly a dish or on the ground - just a thought....
I’ve heard of this a few times, and I may have watched the video in your classroom once. But I have never played! I’d love to try, and it definitely would be fun to video this one. I will need to tape my mouth shut, for sure. I think I need to watch the videos one more time, and I also need to clear some space on my phone! 😅
Thank you for the encouragement. ❤
I have discovered that watching the game without sound makes me see all the nuance of the games Susan teaches. I watch a couple of times with audio and then turn off the sound for the demonstration segments. It is Amazing(!) how much more information I can pick up from this system. Love, love, love training my dog!
Great explanation! This was the last game I played with my late Rain. Must move this into Gracie's life. 😊
Just tried the Vito game. I luv it and so did my dogs. Although they were a bIt hesitant to take the treat from the bowls without a command. Maybe because we have played the search and Chow game recently.
Love ❤ Love ❤ LOVE this game❤
16:19 I like the relaxing part , they need to learn to chill
Bentley ( Recallers student for 2 years now) has such a good IYC where he doesn’t touch food anywhere without being told a verbal cue. So I tried the Vito game, and he got so frustrated and offered so many other behaviours but wouldn’t touch the food in the bowl. Shake a paw, rollover, lie down, … I finally gave him the cue word search at the bowl too. He had no trouble doing all the other parts once he had the verbal cue “search”. Why is this ok to do without giving the permission to touch the food? Can I feed him from my hand? But even then I would have to say “cook” before he touches the food in my hand. We visit an elderly family member where pills are often on the floor so I don’t want to undo his great IYC. He can also relax easily in my lap.
I love the stills of Tater's face! 😂
I'm looking forward to playing this with my dog. I'm getting a run for my garden where we can focus on training and I'm definitely going to set it up for this game. 😊
I tried it. Good ❤
I first learned this game in one of your programs several years ago and at the time I thought oh this is a weird game, but I have been using it a lot and I do it in my group classes in the class. I called things you can train from a chair, which works out great for people who have any kind of mobility struggle. I love this game so much for all the reasons you suggest and because they really help people see how their dogs think and work and for sure it's fun!
Love this!
I love playing the Vito game with my two... especially for exercise, ensuring they work at their own pace and both sides evenly. Its also great when you don't have time or are in perhaps not the best mood for interactive training/conditioning, so gives you something to do with them that's exclusively positive.
when I have time I like to add cavalettes, but in general I keep it simple - cone about 10-15 m away from me in the garden, so that the dogs (agility dogs) work on their acceleration, deceleration, and turning on both sides. A jump is nice but one thing I like about the Vito game is that it allows us to do a cardio fitness session without the hard impacts of jumping (or chasing a toy)... I've tried more complicated movement puzzles but ultimately the simplicity of the standard setup is what pulls me to play it in the first place
This is great! I’m in the process of a big move and downsizing so I’ve been feeling guilty about paying a lot less attention to my dogs. They are looking a little like zombies on the couch, so this is a quick but powerful way to commit to reconnecting with them at least once a day to engage their brains. Then, Voilà, guilt and boredom vanquished! Once again, it’s Susan to the rescue… thank you Susan!🧡
My super smart border collie mix loved the “search” but then sat in front of me waiting for the next command when “search” ended. We tried a few more “search”es, then laid down and waited again. I looked at one of the bowls, she tried to get the treats in the bowl in my lap. Eventually, I stared at the bowl on my right, she went over to it and I put a treat in. Then she laid down in front and waited. I looked at the left bowl, she went to the right, eventually over to the left (I was silent but staring the bowl) and got a treat. We continued for several more minutes, with lots of lying in front of me waiting for a command. Never seemed to get the idea to do it on her own. I finally said her name, put the lid on the bowl of treats, pulled her in front of me to “relax”, she jumped up and was ready to play a game. I put everything away and thought we’d wait until tomorrow to try again.
My dogs were very confused by this game but I will try again. The only time they get to eat a treat is when we use the Search and Cook cues, and when they get reinforced for doing something I invite them to do (sit, down, a trick, etc.). It took a long time for my 7-year old to go for the treats and he never truly got over this hesitation. My 2-year old took them more readily. Both are highly motivated and food-loving corgis. I'm worried about undoing some of the work I have done with Search and Cook.
I'm having the same issue. My dogs are offering sits and downs instead of looking at or going after the bowls. Even if they "do it right" a few times, they'll stop in front of me and down, waiting for instructions.
>>> I Truly Appreciate The Detailed Explanation ,,, The Information That You Provide At The Various Stages Of Vito's Game Are On Point ,,, Healthy Treats Are My Preferred Substitute ,,, *for me* ,,, The Greatest Reward Is That Thinking Is Required
Love this game!
Tater’s problem solving face 😂😂😂😂😂😂 sooo good
He has the best facial expressions 😊
All I can say that was a so worth it game for the absolute laughs. My guy got the game super fast. My epoch fail was to use paper bowls. When I wasn’t as fast as he’d like he’d grab the bowl shake it and try to rip it apart 😂. He offered to stand on the little garbage can, roll it and knock it over😂. Can’t wait to play again!!! I’ll be smarter with the props next time tho.
🤣 That must have been fun! Great observations and learning for next session, keep playing 💕
Love this idea! Haven’t figured out how to get this rescue dog to take treats inside the house yet, but when I do…
Regardless, this approach reinforces for the human the choice aspects of training, so that I can bring that more consistently into my other training efforts with this verrrry anxious little soul of a dog.
Perfect! I think this is one of only a few engagement games that will work for any breed, and adaptable for almost any circumstance. Dogs with prey drive, or herding, hunting, chasing, searching, etc, are so easy to engage in such games. But what about Livestock Guardian breeds? Like the Great Pyrenees. They do not chase. They defend. They don't play with sticks or fetch balls or play tug or, really, play anything. We politely call them 'independent' because they are more like team mates who make their own decisions but are still in-sync with their owners. They work better off-leash than on. They don't like being pushed around. They like to take their time to decide if they're going to obey a command. They look at you exactly the same way no matter what they are feeling. An owner is forced to really pay attention to their body language and their environment as a whole to figure them out and learn how to create a balance of obedience and independence (which, by the way, the dog already knows and has probably been trying to teach you all along). Anyway, it may seem that this game would be impossible to engage a Pyr or similar breed. But once you get to the real 'thinking independently' part, it's the perfect winner! So, all you LGD owners out there, especially of non-working LGD's and mixes, this game is the one! I bet after 5 minutes my pyr would need at least an hour long nap! lol Absolutely perfect!!
As a side note, I think this is also a beautiful way to work with an anxious dog. It distracts the mind from whatever is making them anxious, and works the mind enough to tire it out and allow for that relaxation. And I bet that after practise in those smaller spaces you could move that space outdoors (where a lot of anxious dogs become more anxious with more noise and distractions, etc). What miracles could happen then? How could we apply these techniques to shelter dogs? Or dogs with medical conditions that may prevent them from a lot of physical exercise? So many ways to apply this method! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Great thinking! We love applying things outside the box here in Do-Land!
I just tried Vito's game on my two border collies. The young er girl that I've had for barely a month got the game on the second session. 12 minutes of trying maybe all in all. The older on that's been with me for 6 years was mostly giving intense eye contact and waiting for a cue from me when I tried not doing "search". I guess it's a very different type of training then we usually do. Either she's following my cues or she's doing something more independent like search or puzzel toys. Her influencing my actions by her movements is novel and foregin. Interesting. I'll start from scratch I think and see where we get!
"... their imaginary itch ..." ROFL! I Love playing this game with my pup and adult dog - excited now to progress it a bit further and include it in our agility training :) - if my adult dog gets frustrated, she barks at me, if my pup gets frustrated he sits down and looks at me, and makes sharky squeaky type noises lol My pup used to shut down very quickly when he had G.I issues for most of the first year of his life, most of the time not even engaging in the first place even in play, let alone be interested in food or treats or training - he would just run under the table :( - BUT he's all good now! He's a different dog thanks to a raw food, vet nutritionist but I digress lol :) AND I am super aware of keeping the balance between fun and challenge and super aware of how important it is for me to be clear, thanks to Recallers, and H360 etc ... :) - this podcast has given me nuances that I didn't have before that I can't wait to implement - so many excitements!
We just tried this. She hasn't perfectly figured it out yet. Is too focused on where the food IS, rather than where it will be, but we also don't have any wide areas for the prep part of the game, so the pattern may not have been well set. She was thinking so hard, I could see steam coming out of her ears, though 😂 and she's now fast asnooze on her blankie on the couch.
Will search for a location with a bit more space tomorrow.
It's so cool to see them thinking ❤️
Very interesting. Reminds of the things one does to promote independent thinking and problem solving in children.
How young a puppy is this game suitable for?
Hi @hookstrpd it's a game suitable for puppies and one of the core games we play with them very soon after they become members of our family. For a guide for the development stages of puppies, Susan has a great video to help with ages and stages of a puppy's mental and physical growth - th-cam.com/video/BDmQBOA-bCA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=HFdlWv_JSpE5q4hJ
@@DogsThat Thanks!
OMG, are you kidding me? This is how I taught my dog how to search the blinds in Schutzhund in 1993!!!!! I used it in Obedience, Herding and Agility.
That's awesome!
Must try! I predict my girl will pick up the pattern very quickly. But getting her to relax afterwards could be a challenge -- she is always so , " up" during training 😄🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Love this game Susan thank you this!
So i thought this was great. I have a Mal x Rotti. After her first try at the game she lay down exhausted & happy. I had seen her work through the confusion and demanding stages to understand. I could see it worked her brain. But she got the idea completly after the second round. Now she just goes through the motions, she will test a couple times not going around the box to the food. In the end she just walks away uninterested. Is there any value in continuing or increasing the value of food/treats offered?
@somethingfromk6816 Susan has some additional information in the following podcasts that you may find helpful with the treat challenge:
Why Your Treats Aren’t Working for Your Dog - dogsthat.com/podcast/59/
Help For Dogs Refusing Treats: Case Study With Training Plan - dogsthat.com/podcast/179
(Julie - DogsThat Team)
My easily excited rescue has a tendency to run circles in excitement when we go out. I have to manage my position to keep her from wrapping up my legs with the leash. I think maybe this will give me a way to get her to focus while moving, which should help. And then I wonder what can be done with this kind of game while on leash.
Loved the game. My girlie didn't want to touch the cookie in the bowl without my permission! (IYC alumnus, lol)
When he cut in and I withheld the treat, he thought I was playing Its Yer Choice, and he laid down to wait. If I start throwing treats ("search") or lift him up, won't I be diluting his IYC training? He's very good with that.
@GayleLB You can use IYC and the Vito Game together by keeping their contexts clear. Start with IYC to practice calm self-control, then transition into the Vito Game with a high-energy cue like "get it!" This teaches your dog to shift gears between impulse control and enthusiasm. Use distinct cues, short sessions, and clear resets to avoid confusion. If you haven't already signed up, get the step-by-step on how to play and grow Vito's Thinking Game in our limited-time FREE Pre-Cyber Event Party - dogsthat.com/y/cyberevent (Julie - DogsThat Team)
Thank you Susan! Wondering if you have any games for playing with more than one dog at a time. I have two and my guys are good at taking turns with treat puzzle games. One sits quietly while the other completes the puzzle and then they switch. Is there something we can all do at the same time? I think many of us have more than one dog. Thanks again! Love your channel
Love playing this game! Can you share how you use it for some agility foundations that you eluded to early in the podcast.
Hi! We'd love for you to join us for the Free Agility Masterclass!, Susan will share new insights about her training and will be joined by two other world champions ❤️ -> agility-nation.com/yt/agility-masterclass
Hi! The link is in the description under the video, resource #25. Happy training!
At first, I thought she meant to say, "Nothing..."! 😂
I have played this game before but, didn’t know it even had a name. I did not do the relaxation part though. I agree it creates a bond with my dogs. 😃
I've used it ever since you first introduced it ummmm 15 years ago? .....I used to use it for everything agility to now hoopers and 'just' tricks. GREAT game
My pup did this for 5 mins then headed off outside. Lol. Think I need to up my treats!
How do you stop dog from focusing on treat's in the bowl on your lap? Mine just sits and stares.
I'm reading a lot of comments with the same issue as me: my dogs won't take the food from the bowl unless I give permission. They'll do the search game then stare at the treat bowl in my lap, but they won't look at the other bowls.
Same. We've built so much on IYC, on NOT chasing or grabbing food without permission, that my dog ended up frustrated and confused. So did I, for that matter. Hoping to find some help in the comments.
My dog hesitates before taking food from the bowls because I had trained him with ItsYerChoice to not pick up food from the ground unless released. How can I change that for this game without talking? Thanks
I was confident about recognizing the moment when the first decision is supposed to get made -- yet somehow had MISSED this key bit at 9:02: ". . . as soon as they LOOK towards that other bowl, you're going to drop a cookie in there." I made the mistake of looking to mark only a dead-obvious, gross motor movement, I guess expecting my dog to dance all the way over from Bowl #1 and instantly stuff his muzzle into empty Bowl #2 with gusto (probably along the way also issuing me an engraved invitation to observe and bring a plus one). My video shows him very clearly LOOKING at Bowl #2 on our first round. He understood! But I missed the moment to reward it. At that juncture, when the dog has eaten that very first treat from Bowl #1 . . . we're really just shaping, right? Are we looking to reward any clear spark of recognition and thinking? Could it be a look, a step, a body shift, or head turn? If we know the dog is thinking, "Hey, I should go to Bowl #2," does it matter how subtle their indication?
I did this with both my dogs and they picked it up quickly....my only question is how does a dog know the difference then about taking food out of a dish without permission like we teach in 'it's your choice'?
I have a question. I have played this with my dog twice now and is it ever fun! I do silent fist pumps in my head when he is first frustrated but then figures it out. My dog has lots of energy and enthusiasm. So my question is about the end - there is just no way I can hold him or even have him in a calm down stay in order to properly take a moment to relax. We are currently working on "settle" but is there anything else you can suggest that we could do at the end of this game?
Hi @TheJensarg we are so pleased you have been enjoying the awesome Vito's Game! Susan has a very insightful podcast episode that about her amazing relaxation protocol that will help --> th-cam.com/video/FRmLd4k5qGk/w-d-xo.html (Rachel - DogsThat Team)
I’ve worked so much IYC and Chow for food in bowl my puppy won’t take food from the bowls when I started playing this game. I know if I cue her that’s not right so not sure how long to out wait my dog
Can you teach this to puppies?
@pjtrant Vito's Thinking Games is perfect for dogs of all ages & skill levels, including puppies. You and your puppy will have so much fun :) (Julie - DogsThat Team)
So my pup wouldn’t touch the treats without the “Search” command. Good boy! I don’t want to break his great performance in learning to avoid dropped edible items. Ideas?
This looks like fun and I'd like to try it with my pup. Stupid question, isn't giving so many years going to affect her weight? What kind of treats are people using?
@bernadettematos7614 Susan has a great podcast about feeding our dogs and keeping the balance between feeding meals and training: th-cam.com/video/vENpu_2_y20/w-d-xo.html (Julie - DogsThat Team)
Thank you, will check it out.
@@DogsThat My dog eats raw food so it will be difficult to use for treats.
Hi @bernadettematos7614 Susan has a video to help with using raw food for training - th-cam.com/video/6mtqNQa-J3M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ckPRt_7BpXx5qpxf
My dog gets it until the cone moves about 24cm away, then she cuts through. I tried putting a treat down when she went around after cutting through, but I seem to teaching her that that is the move. If I just withhold from both sides until she does it correctly, she gets tired of the game and lies down. (She switches to the choice game) Clearky I’m doing something wrong. Can you help?
Hi @patriciaorourke9342 it's fabulous you are playing! 🧡 If you are enjoying our Pre-Cyber Party, checking out Part-3 of Vito's Thinking Game will be super helpful. You can also layer back then progress to moving the cone out. If you are in Agility Nation, Handling360 or Wag Nation, we have Vito's Thinking Game in our coaching programs, so you are super welcome to share a short video and we'll help out with strategies for you.
My dog is so good at IYC that she won't look at a bowl on the floor unless told to, so she thinks she is doing right by ignoring the bowls. How to get past that with out spoiling her IYC?
My dog is doing the same thing. I’m assuming my dog needs more shaping exercises to encourage her to think.
How can I get my other three dogs to chill out while I train one dog? They go crazy in their crates when they know the other one is getting all the attention.
Hi! Here's a podcast episode for you: th-cam.com/video/u4L-ra0fwc8/w-d-xo.html
My pup has learned It’s yer choice so well she won’t take treat dropped into the bowl. How do you give them permission? I tried saying search but that didn’t work either.
Hanzo is getting frustrated after I stop saying “Search”. He is continues to look at me for permission to eat the cookie out of the bowl. It is nice that he is not picking anything up before asking but it is a barrier now. I returned to the search a couple of times, I tried and said search and threw a cookie in the bowl, stared at the bowl myself but he starts to bark with a high pitch or yawn. What to do? He is very frustrated.
Maybe put aan extra step in between?
I tried playing this with my dog several times. She just won't pick up the treat unless I give her permission. She will just stare at the treat in the bowl. Not sure how to work around this otherwise great behaviour!
Hi @catherinemasse2732, it's great that you're trying the Vito's Thinking Game with your dog! Susan did a podcast with games that help increase food drive, you should definitely give these a try: th-cam.com/video/Tm_ELWDlUDg/w-d-xo.html
We'd love to hear an update, happy training! (Elena ~ DogsThat Team)
Hi Elena. Thanks for your reply. The issue is not her food drive. She is very good motivated. It’s that I taught her “it’s your choice”, get it” and “search” so when I drop the treat in the bowl, she thinks she needs me to say “get it” before taking it. When she moves toward the bowl in the correct way (right, left, etc), can I tell her to “get it” even though I am supposed to stay silent??!
@@DogsThat It would be great to get the answer to the question asked here and by so many of these comments - this game seems to collide with IYC.
So we start well, but then after a few repetitions my dog opts out and moves away and lies down. He’s not even interested in searching for treats…I’ve tried different levels of arousal as he’s not a confident dog and can shut down when overwhelmed so everything from calm to over-excited and it’s the same, he opts out…ideas?
We got it - turned out it was the time of day that was holding him back!
Awesome Selena! ❤️
I know this is blasphemy, but I’m so gonna try this with my cat
It's not! We'd love to hear how your cat does with it, we do have students in our classes that train cats with the games ❤️
I’m just… why the dissertation? Just get to it, please…
Edit: I’m glad I listened until the end. Loaded with patience, I’m now a subscriber.
Added to the loud annoying music.
Oh , Susan is an explainer , she provides as much detail as she possibly can .
I was so excited to try this game with my dog thinking he’d pick it up easily, but I was wrong. I noticed a couple issues. We have done IYC in the past and my dog was hesitant at first to go for the treats I dropped in the bowls, and he seemed to get “stuck” and give up, lay down, stare at me. Maybe my treats weren’t high enough value? Or maybe the space we were working in was too distracting. I will try again.
Great problem-solving! Often, changing the location of our training or the reinforcement value (i.e. higher / different treats) will help. Also try different times of day and notice when your dog is in their optimal zone of excitement to try new games. Here's our newest podcast on helping identify those arousal states: th-cam.com/video/J6UhcWPl7CM/w-d-xo.html
Can you say find as my girl will look then ??
@janicedigbyware4599 In this podcast, Susan talks about the cues we use while training:
Your Dog's Verbal Cues And Hand Signals: How To Effectively Train Both --> th-cam.com/video/QxCwNl3Wpg8/w-d-xo.html
(Julie - DogsThat Team)
@DogsThat thank you it's the first time I have watched your pod very good 👍