Week 4 Notes, Homework, and Videos (not Hoot's because I wasn't videoing that day)

 NEW NOTES:

NOTE 1:  TRY TO WORK WITHOUT OUTSIDE DISTRACTIONS (TRAINING ON WALKS) AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.  IF YOU CAN'T WORK WITH OUTSIDE DISTRACTIONS DUE TO WEATHER OR LIFE, THEN BE SURE TO WORK WITH DISTRACTIONS INSIDE.  YOU WANT IT TO CHALLENGE YOUR DOG BUT (IF POSSIBLE) NOT COMPLETELY OVERWHELM YOUR DOG.  WORKING OUTSIDE DECREASES ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, SO BE SAFE AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.  

DOG BARKING AUDIO 

KITCHEN NOISE AUDIO 

DOOR KNOCKING AUDIO

VEHICLE NOISES AUDIO

DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING AUDIO

NOTE 2:  WHEN WORKING INSIDE, PRACTICE THE EXERCISES WHERE THE LEASH IS DROPPED WITH OTHER DISTRACTIONS LIKE THE AUDIO FILES ABOVE, MOVING FURNITURE, MOVING THE VACUUM AROUND,  AND SO ON.

NOTE 3:  IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STAY EXERCISES (ESPECIALLY AS YOU ARE BUILDING UP THE DISTRACTIONS AND CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS)  AND DISTRACTIONS, YOU CAN REDUCE THE TIME AND THEN BUILD IT UP AGAIN.

NOTE 4:  IF YOU CAN AND HAVE A SAFE OPPORTUNITY TO, START WORKING TOWARDS USING THE LONG LINE OUTSIDE FOR THE STAY EXERCISES (STILL SIT STAY CREATE A DISTANCE AWAY, CIRCLE SIT STAY, CIRCLE PLACE)

NOTE 5:  USE ATTENTION TO NAME IN MORE DISTRACTIONS.  I FORGOT TO PRACTICE THIS WITH YOU IN THE YARD.  I WILL TRY TO MAKE A NOTE TO DO THIS NEXT TIME.  THIS DOES NOT WORK RIGHT AWAY, BUT THIS TEACHES YOUR DOG TO LOOK TO YOU FOR DIRECTION IN THE FUTURE INSTEAD OF REACTING RIGHT OFF THE BAT.  

TRAINING ON WALKS SHOULD START TO BE THE CONCENTRATION RIGHT NOW.  OR EVEN JUST IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS LIKE YOUR PARENTS' YARD, OUTSIDE A BUSINESS FROM A DISTANCE, PARKS AT A DISTANCE FROM THE ACTION, AND SO FORTH.

HERE ARE SOME WALK TRAINING STRATEGIES:

1. Stop and wait for the leash pressure to be released by the dog before starting forward.  This can sometimes be frustrating, and that is why I use multiple strategies when walking.  It can also be very easy sometimes, and something you really want your dog to understand.  This is not a good strategy in a high-distraction situation.  If you encounter an unexpected high distraction situation, try to get some distance away first. 
   
   
2. The heel "cheat" with the leash behind your legs.  DO NOT do this one if you have balance issues or are on uneven terrain (hills, stairs, ...).  The leash is held behind your legs when a dog is not quite ready to heel or walk on a loose leash.  We do this when we want to train mostly on distractions and not form per se.  

   
   
3. Lured heels step 1, step 2, or the more adult heel without the lure.  Practice these in less distracting situations to build up the habit.  Then your dog may start to learn to ignore the more powerful distractions.  

4.  Working with sit stays during the walk to slow your dog's role, especially if they are reactive.

5.  Using "let's go" to relieve leash pressure and practice "let's go" on walks.  

NOTE:  DON'T FORGET THAT JUST LIKE BEFORE (INSIDE AND IN LESSER DISTRACTIONS) YOU ARE WORKING ON YOUR GOALS AND/OR BUILDING YOUR GOALS BACK UP.  

1.  Sits first command or auto sits (with lured heeling step 1 or step 2), goals are 3 sets of 4 in a row under 5 minutes eventually.

2.  Still sit stays, circle sit stays, and circle place (if you have a safe space, you can practice this outside and most likely reduce the time/distance to the beginning) are 4 in a row for 1 minute, eventually under 6 minutes.

3.  "Send to place" is always great to practice in a safe area outside.  The goal is 3 sets of 4 in a row under 6 minutes.

4.  Long place goals is 30 minutes with more distractions, meaning possibly outside in a safe space and on the long line.  The goal is basically to have as few step-offs as possible in 30 minutes (or 5 minutes if you want to start back to a shorter time and build up).

5.  "Sit on the Dog" worked in more distractions has the goal that your dog goes into a down on their own in under 5 minutes.  Then you want to watch for their demeanor to become more relaxed over time before increasing the distractions.

6.  I keep forgetting to have you practice this with me, but "attention to name" worked in more distractions, and outside has a goal of 3 sets of 4 in a row under 3 minutes.

7.  "Let's go" as a strategy for walking on the 6' leash and keeping it loose.  You want to get three sets of 4 in a row returns BEFORE your dog hits the end of the leash for 3 sets of 4 in a row under 10 minutes.

8.  "Loose Leash" walking in general.  See the 6 strategies listed above.  The goal is to start to be able to move a certain number of steps without the leash getting tight.  I'll start with 3 steps, then 5, then 10, then 20, and finally 40.  Your goal is to easily get three sets of four in a row before adding additional steps to your goal.