How to teach: Stacking rings trick

I have managed to get hold of one of those 'stacking rings' childrens toys as I have seen videos of dogs stacking rings on you tube.

I think this would be an awesome wee trick to teach Jinty, just for fun.

Anyone have a guide or know how to teach it?

The stacking ring toy is this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXlkSmnbjRs

Teach it by shaping.

Pre requisites:

Dog knows how to target with nose
Dog knows how to pick up items
Dog knows how to drop them

All on command

Only use LARGEST ring to begin with, when you have got that, you can put out next and then next.

When the dog can do it all.

You can then teach discrimination of size so it will pick up the largest first.

You need to do that with 2 then 3.

When a dog can do all that you can use ALL of them, so the dog will build it all in one attempt.

After you have taught that, you can then teach the dog to take stuff OFF the stack.....................

Should keep you busy for a while.........

Oooh thanks!

Will have to teach targeting with her nose..... she knows 'touch' with her nose, but thats to touch my hand.

This will take a while, but its only something for fun anyways

Thanks for the guide SB. I'll post a video in a few months when she can do it! Im going to find some sand to fill the 'base' of the toy with.... as its pretty light at the moment, and likely to fall over when she tries to put a ring over it.

Thank you again!

You need the dog to know to let go and to hold really well.

I am doing it with Etta and she nearly has it. I have also bought a different plastic one and a material one.

I tried various things but in the end I decided she needed to know that that the reward came when the ring was on the pole---so I held it and helped her to get it right and then once she got that concept we were away.

It wasn't easy for her and you also need to fix the base somehow---most of them are wobbly.

I am working on an inset jigsaw puzzle as well----that is a bit difficult!

rune

I used blutack to hold the base once i wanted it to stand alone.

rune

Oooh! You will have to post a video when you are done!

I got rings a few weeks ago but havent started yet

was going to work on shaping them picking up things and putting them in things and on things first

I prefer the challange of trying to do it totaly hands free - but as Ben wont mouth things I dont think he will ever get there

Just last week got him to take a big treat from my hand - before now he always waitied for me to put them on the floor lol
He is a bit special

*UPDATE*

Have just done a few mins with Jinty and a ring.

Step one: Showing interesting in the ring = click and treat

She soon began step two without me encouraging anything....!

Step two: Opening mouth to the ring = click and treat

And then she progressed onto step 3!

Step three: Picking ring up in mouth = click and treat.

Im really impressed! Only 2 mins we spent with the ring. Will be sticking at step three for a few days....

Sounds like you have a big task ahead of you!

The family JRT is a bit funny too.... refuses to go on her back (so it was impossible to teach 'tummy' to her) and will only take food in her mouth..... she will play with toys, but not alot!

FAB Well done