Successful Dog

Welcome to day five of the challenge. If you see the value of positive based training but have some questions about how to begin, hopefully today’s example will set you on the right path.

Let’s take the approach that we want to set our learners up for success right from the beginning. With training we want to keep in mind the three “Ds”:

Distance
Duration
Distraction

Distance is the amount of space between your dog & something they may need to interact with (like another dog or a bicycle or a squirrel). Duration is the amount of time that we are asking for that behavior to stay in place (like a sit, but holding that sit for more than just a quick second). Finally, distraction refers to the amount of activity or other people, sounds, objects, etc. that are directly around whilst asking for a behaivor (for example, are you in your kitchen at home or at a busy street with many busses, cars, people, & possibly other dogs all around).

Now then, whenever we increase one of these “Ds” then we need to start by making the behavior that we are asking for a bit easier & begin with tiny steps towards increasing the difficulty level.

For example, if asking for a behavior in a busy dog park vs. at home in your quiet kitchen we would want to take a few steps back & request something less complex to start. In doing so we make it easy for your dog to get it right. Thus, setting them up for victory!

ACTION: Find a quiet spot with little distraction & see if you can ask your pup to do something simple that you are pretty sure they know how to do. Make certain that there is not a lot going on & that they are in a position to easily accomplish what you would like to see. (An example might be asking your pup for eye contact with you. Start by saying their name & praising when they look at you).

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