teaching dog to cock/tip head

mrsgrubby · 12-01-2005, 11:49 AM

This will probably sound stupid, but I would like to teach Jasmine to cock/tip her head from side to side, when I tip mine.

Up until this point everything I have taught her has been fairly easy and something that she would do anyway, or I could get her to do by luring her with a treat, like sit, stay, laydown, drop, touch, and lay on her side (play dead), shake.

However, she doesn't really cock her head very much, but when she does it's cute.

If she did it alot I know I could use a clicker or "yes" and mark the behavior, but she doesn't do it alot, so I don't think I will have much luck with that.

I tried luring her, but I couldn't get her to actually tip it or cock it, just shake her head yes or no. (LOL).

What suggestions do you have to teach her this cute trick?

calgal · 12-01-2005, 11:56 AM

My two Yorkies tilt their little heads all the time, but it's usually when I talk to them like I would a person, or at sounds they aren't familiar with. I've never known anyone to teach this. That seems like it would be a very difficult thing to teach.

feinwerkbau · 12-01-2005, 12:50 PM

It's easy, just learn to make strange, unfamiliar sounds and they will tilt their heads at you quizzically every time ... unless they get used to the sounds then you'll have to invent new ones.

LuvMyPups · 12-01-2005, 01:06 PM

Libby used to tilt her head all the time when I would talk to her. I said she was always listening to me.

But feinwerkbau is right must dogs will do it if you make strange sounds....

mrsgrubby · 12-01-2005, 01:10 PM

Hmmm, I tried strange sounds last night, while she did look at me, she did not tilt her head at all.
I will try new sounds tonight, maybe they just were not the right sounds. I also tried talking to her and doing stupid stuff with my head.

Although I am sure she was laughing at me, she did not tilt her head.

Foxy · 12-01-2005, 01:31 PM

Our Bichon does this all the time - especially if you say Walkies or Bye Bye

mrsgrubby · 12-01-2005, 01:46 PM

Ohhhh foxy, that is sooo cute, Yep, that's what I want Jasmine to do "on command".

D.Schäferhund · 12-01-2005, 02:35 PM

Hm did u try too whistel but not just one tone, try going up and down...
My little ones do it for a ssssssssss going up and down too, open and close your lips with that ssssssss that might do the trick. what aboput a squeeky toy soem tilt thir head for that.
or a flute. maybe some platsic.or a dog whistel where u just here a tiny little thing, or the tiny ones with no"sound" for us to hear anyways. or sometimes they tilt their head when i start whining instead of them, but then I have to be fast the "face-jump" is on it's way....

Raised By Wolves · 12-01-2005, 03:04 PM

You aren't stupid! You amaze me! We may have a future trainer on our hands, folks!

It's obvious to me, you and Jasmine are never bored! You won't settle for just having an obedient dog. You are clearly facinated in learning how to both train and comunicate with her. You are also good at thinking outside the "box", with an open mind. I love talking to people who think this way. Probably why this is my favorite board! We have some pretty good brains "festering" around here!

One of the things I did with my very first dog, was see something she was doing "naturally", say the word I wanted her to learn when she did "it" in a happy and encouraging voice, and then clap and praise when she finished. I took her natural stand up and stretch move, (which dogs usually do automatically after they've been laying down), and turned it into a "bow" on command.

I was 9 years old, and in many ways, after all of the methods I've learned and used, I've come full-circle. I find myself still relating to dogs in much the same way as I did back then. I didn't even get "formally" introduced to obedience training, until I was 12.

Anyway, back to the question!

I agree with this being a sound "thing". Try making the sound higher-pitched, but quieter. Maybe with the sound behind you from one side to the other. You could pause too, like you're trying to hear something. It could even be something you set up remotely. If you want to associate a word with her cocking her head, it could be something soft like "whassat?". Insert praise and/or treat, and see if this works.

I've never taught this to a dog, so I'm curious to see what you and Jasmine can teach me!

Raised By Wolves · 12-01-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Schäferhund

or sometimes they tilt their head when i start whining instead of them, but then I have to be fast the "face-jump" is on it's way....

Oooo, the deadly "face jump"! I know it well! Tia got me in the eye with her nose once! (Good thing my boyfriend is nice to me!

).

D., we posted at the same time. It sounds like you've noticed a slightly higher pitch might help, too.

calgal · 12-01-2005, 04:14 PM

Try whispering to her instead. That should make her curious enough to tilt the head.

***Carrie*** · 12-01-2005, 09:02 PM

I've had dogs that did this and some that simply would not. LOL. Jose is my biggest head cocker but Lyric does it too. Jose does it when I ask him questions, especially a string of questions where my voice goes up at the end. Lyric does it if I breath into my hands in and out really fast and it makes a weird noise. Then I crack up laughing. If you can't find a sound to make her so curious that she is straining to understand, (I think that's what they're doing anyhow) then how about using a piece of dental floss? I haven't figured out how yet, but I'm thinking on it. Will come back to this later. (stop laughing)

D.Schäferhund · 12-02-2005, 08:20 AM

oh I found a nother thing, have u tried a balloon blow it up and then let the air out with that squeeky ucky tone when u strech the part were u blow in????

@RBW: yeah that is deadly, right now I have it times four, and the four paw- at-the-same -time-high-jump!!! and it is high!!!! that involves the claws then, I have them on my neck at my lips and on my nose..... that hurts.....

mrsgrubby · 12-02-2005, 09:33 AM

Thanks everyone, I really do appreciate all your help. Thanks RBW for the nice comments!!!

This is my plan:
Find a sound that makes Jasmine tip her head, and mark it with a "yes" and treat.
Then after she "gets it" associate a word to it.
Then after she "gets it" associate the signal, my tipping my head with it
Then eventually phase out the word and only tip my head.

That is how I taught her "dead" Now I just have to "shoot" her with my finger and she rolls over on her side and "dies". (LOL)

Hopefully this weekend I can find a sound that makes her do it. Otherwise I will have to think up a new trick to teach her.

If anyone else has better or additional ideas let me know. I just think it would be so cute if I could sit on the couch and tip my head and have her do it too. Plus it would probably further enforce my command of "watch me" because she will watch me to see if I tip my head.

(yes, I know, I have too much spare time on my hands, but when you don't have kids you need some sort of outlet for your time and energy. And I love teaching Jasmine stuff, she is so eager to learn.)

mrsgrubby · 12-02-2005, 05:38 PM

Whhhoooooooo!!!!!! I have found that if I hum she will tilt her head. It took over 1/2 hour to find a sound that would make her do it. My hubby finally came out and said what on earth are you doing?!?!?!?

Anyway, humming works. Sometimes quickly, sometimes not, but I think she did it like 30 times tonight and each time I marked it and gave her a treat. Now I see that I will need to go right from the humming to my signal of tipping my head, otherwise there will be another step to learn, (the word).

Anyway, I am psyched (sp?) because I know she will be able to learn this!!!!!! Hooray!!!!

Thanks everyone for all your help.

12-01-2005, 11:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
mrsgrubby Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,476 Rep Power: 144	teaching dog to cock/tip head This will probably sound stupid, but I would like to teach Jasmine to cock/tip her head from side to side, when I tip mine. Up until this point everything I have taught her has been fairly easy and something that she would do anyway, or I could get her to do by luring her with a treat, like sit, stay, laydown, drop, touch, and lay on her side (play dead), shake. However, she doesn't really cock her head very much, but when she does it's cute. If she did it alot I know I could use a clicker or "yes" and mark the behavior, but she doesn't do it alot, so I don't think I will have much luck with that. I tried luring her, but I couldn't get her to actually tip it or cock it, just shake her head yes or no. (LOL). What suggestions do you have to teach her this cute trick?

12-01-2005, 12:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
feinwerkbau Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 432 Rep Power: 87	It's easy, just learn to make strange, unfamiliar sounds and they will tilt their heads at you quizzically every time ... unless they get used to the sounds then you'll have to invent new ones.
feinwerkbau Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 432 Rep Power: 87

12-01-2005, 01:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
LuvMyPups <~Lanie bug the bride Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens Georiga Posts: 268 Rep Power: 74	Libby used to tilt her head all the time when I would talk to her. I said she was always listening to me. But feinwerkbau is right must dogs will do it if you make strange sounds....
	__________________ "I only hope I can be the person my dogs thinks I am." I am mommy to Tori and Kayda, and the sweet Libby pug waiting at the Bridge Sister to four puglets, Lillie, Laci, Lanie, and Leo

12-01-2005, 09:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,430 Rep Power: 287	I've had dogs that did this and some that simply would not. LOL. Jose is my biggest head cocker but Lyric does it too. Jose does it when I ask him questions, especially a string of questions where my voice goes up at the end. Lyric does it if I breath into my hands in and out really fast and it makes a weird noise. Then I crack up laughing. If you can't find a sound to make her so curious that she is straining to understand, (I think that's what they're doing anyhow) then how about using a piece of dental floss? I haven't figured out how yet, but I'm thinking on it. Will come back to this later. (stop laughing)
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

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12-01-2005, 11:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,803 Rep Power: 230	My two Yorkies tilt their little heads all the time, but it's usually when I talk to them like I would a person, or at sounds they aren't familiar with. I've never known anyone to teach this. That seems like it would be a very difficult thing to teach.

12-01-2005, 01:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
mrsgrubby Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,476 Rep Power: 144	Hmmm, I tried strange sounds last night, while she did look at me, she did not tilt her head at all. I will try new sounds tonight, maybe they just were not the right sounds. I also tried talking to her and doing stupid stuff with my head. Although I am sure she was laughing at me, she did not tilt her head.

12-01-2005, 01:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Foxy Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Our Bichon does this all the time - especially if you say Walkies or Bye Bye

12-01-2005, 01:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
mrsgrubby Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,476 Rep Power: 144	Ohhhh foxy, that is sooo cute, Yep, that's what I want Jasmine to do "on command".

12-01-2005, 02:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
D.Schäferhund let's work Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,801 Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 114	Hm did u try too whistel but not just one tone, try going up and down... My little ones do it for a ssssssssss going up and down too, open and close your lips with that ssssssss that might do the trick. what aboput a squeeky toy soem tilt thir head for that. or a flute. maybe some platsic.or a dog whistel where u just here a tiny little thing, or the tiny ones with no"sound" for us to hear anyways. or sometimes they tilt their head when i start whining instead of them, but then I have to be fast the "face-jump" is on it's way....

12-01-2005, 03:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
Raised By Wolves Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,523 Rep Power: 128	You aren't stupid! You amaze me! We may have a future trainer on our hands, folks! It's obvious to me, you and Jasmine are never bored! You won't settle for just having an obedient dog. You are clearly facinated in learning how to both train and comunicate with her. You are also good at thinking outside the "box", with an open mind. I love talking to people who think this way. Probably why this is my favorite board! We have some pretty good brains "festering" around here! One of the things I did with my very first dog, was see something she was doing "naturally", say the word I wanted her to learn when she did "it" in a happy and encouraging voice, and then clap and praise when she finished. I took her natural stand up and stretch move, (which dogs usually do automatically after they've been laying down), and turned it into a "bow" on command. I was 9 years old, and in many ways, after all of the methods I've learned and used, I've come full-circle. I find myself still relating to dogs in much the same way as I did back then. I didn't even get "formally" introduced to obedience training, until I was 12. Anyway, back to the question! I agree with this being a sound "thing". Try making the sound higher-pitched, but quieter. Maybe with the sound behind you from one side to the other. You could pause too, like you're trying to hear something. It could even be something you set up remotely. If you want to associate a word with her cocking her head, it could be something soft like "whassat?". Insert praise and/or treat, and see if this works. I've never taught this to a dog, so I'm curious to see what you and Jasmine can teach me!

12-01-2005, 04:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,803 Rep Power: 230	Try whispering to her instead. That should make her curious enough to tilt the head.

12-02-2005, 08:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
D.Schäferhund let's work Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,801 Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 114	oh I found a nother thing, have u tried a balloon blow it up and then let the air out with that squeeky ucky tone when u strech the part were u blow in???? @RBW: yeah that is deadly, right now I have it times four, and the four paw- at-the-same -time-high-jump!!! and it is high!!!! that involves the claws then, I have them on my neck at my lips and on my nose..... that hurts.....

12-02-2005, 09:33 AM	#14 (permalink)
mrsgrubby Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,476 Rep Power: 144	Thanks everyone, I really do appreciate all your help. Thanks RBW for the nice comments!!! This is my plan: Find a sound that makes Jasmine tip her head, and mark it with a "yes" and treat. Then after she "gets it" associate a word to it. Then after she "gets it" associate the signal, my tipping my head with it Then eventually phase out the word and only tip my head. That is how I taught her "dead" Now I just have to "shoot" her with my finger and she rolls over on her side and "dies". (LOL) Hopefully this weekend I can find a sound that makes her do it. Otherwise I will have to think up a new trick to teach her. If anyone else has better or additional ideas let me know. I just think it would be so cute if I could sit on the couch and tip my head and have her do it too. Plus it would probably further enforce my command of "watch me" because she will watch me to see if I tip my head. (yes, I know, I have too much spare time on my hands, but when you don't have kids you need some sort of outlet for your time and energy. And I love teaching Jasmine stuff, she is so eager to learn.)

12-02-2005, 05:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
mrsgrubby Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,476 Rep Power: 144	Whhhoooooooo!!!!!! I have found that if I hum she will tilt her head. It took over 1/2 hour to find a sound that would make her do it. My hubby finally came out and said what on earth are you doing?!?!?!? Anyway, humming works. Sometimes quickly, sometimes not, but I think she did it like 30 times tonight and each time I marked it and gave her a treat. Now I see that I will need to go right from the humming to my signal of tipping my head, otherwise there will be another step to learn, (the word). Anyway, I am psyched (sp?) because I know she will be able to learn this!!!!!! Hooray!!!! Thanks everyone for all your help.

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