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Week 3 Notes, Homework, and Video

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NEW NOTES: NOTE 1:  WORK WITH DISTRACTIONS LIKE YOUTUBE AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIFFERENT STANDING OR SITTING BY HANDLERS OR HELPERS FOR ANY DISTRACTION HELPER, MOVING FURNITURE AROUND, AND SO ON. DOG BARKING AUDIO  KITCHEN NOISE AUDIO  DOOR KNOCKING AUDIO VEHICLE NOISES AUDIO DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING AUDIO NOTE 2:  DROP THE LEASH FOR THE CIRCLE SIT STAY EXERCISES, CIRCLE PLACE EXERCISES, AND LONG PLACE. NOTE 3:  IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STAY EXERCISES AND DISTRACTIONS, YOU CAN REDUCE THE TIME OR CIRCLE WIDTH AND THEN BUILD IT UP AGAIN. NOTE 4:  INCREASE THE CIRCLE WIDTH FOR CIRCLE SIT STAYS AND CIRCLE PLACE (WITH LEASH DROPPED OR ON LONG LINE).  THESE ARE FOR INSIDE NOW AND ON A 6' LEASH. NOTE 5:  I HAVE INCLUDED AN ARTICLE ON HOW TO ADVANCE TRAINING .  IT CAN AND PROBABLY SHOULD FEEL BORING WHEN YOU ARE WORKING ON THAT.  ALSO, THERE IS NO RUSH FOR OUTSIDE DISTRACTIONS.  I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOUR DOG FAMILIAR WITH INSIDE DISTRACT...
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Week 3 and Going Forward Advancing and Maintaining Your Training

   Your dog training program has come to an end, or you have plateaued while training your dog yourself.     Very few dog training packages or programs train your dog completely.   If you want to make the most of what you have learned and have a well-trained dog, here are some things you can work on.     Work on  increasing the three Ds .   The three Ds  represent  duration, distance, and distraction .    Often, these are worked on one at a time to build upon what is familiar to  the dog already .   Just remember to be reasonable and judge your team’s ability so that you  don’t  overload your dog unfairly .     When distance is worked on outside, it is common to have  a either a 6' leash or a long line  of 15’ for safety .  NOTE: ONLY WORK ON CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR GOAL IN LESS CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS. SAFETY IS T...
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Week 3 Play and Engagement for Training

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  Equipment:   15' long line Training Collar or Slip Leash Chuck-it type ball (easier for puppies) OR other favorite toy NOTE:  THIS WORKS BEST IF THERE IS A SPECIAL BALL ONLY USED FOR PLAY TRAINING. Explanation:   Play training is different than traditional obedience training.  When you use this in addition to traditional playing, you increase engagement, give your dog a job, and make the training session fun for both of you.  While this is playing, the difference in engagement is that you are working towards a goal for something.   STEP 1:   Have your dog or puppy near you on the long line.   STEP 2:   Throw the ball as you say "get it". STEP 3:   (Super important for bringing back) Wait until your puppy or dog latches onto the ball before saying "let's go".   DO NOT say "good boy/girl" or "let's go" until they have a grip on the ball. NOTE:   If they don't go after the ball, first make sure you have not...
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Week 4 Lured Heel Step 2 (AFTER GOALS OF LURED HEEL STEP 1 ARE MET)

  Equipment Needed:   6’ Leash, Training Collar, OR a Slip Lead   Explanation and Goal of Exercise:  The goal of heeling is to have your dog in an exact position for ease of movement in a busy city, or when you are bringing in the groceries, or just so you don't trip over your dog. Heeling also keeps your dog focused on you rather than jumping on an interesting human or dog, OR becoming snarky with a passing stranger or strange dog.      Also teaches the owner the concept of slack leash = more control. So that the opposition reflex of a taunt does not kick in, or the formula for aggression is restraint + frustration = aggression. We are teaching the dog to decide correctly and be focused on their "job". A dog's job can be as simple as allowing for a stress-free walk.     Due to the configuration of training collars and the need to pick a side, generally, heeling is on the left-hand side of the handler, with the dog ideally a foot away from ...
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