Week 5 Videos and Homework Goals

 This week, I want you to concentrate on making your training goals.  You won't make the goals at first or even every day, but I want you to work on the repetitions in certain time frames.  So on most days, the time should decrease until you are ultimately meeting the goals.

VIDEOS:

Here are some things we practiced in our last lesson:

Sits First Command w Audio Distraction Inside (we want to be able to do 3 sets of 4 in a row inside, well under 5 minutes, and eventually outside in that amount of time as well):

Attention to Name (we want to be able to do this easily under 3 minutes inside with audio distractions, and then start working this outside, perhaps not on a walk at first, but easy outdoor areas):

Circle Sit Stays Inside with Leash Dropped and Audio Distraction (we want to be able to do 4 in a row for 1 minute under 6 minutes inside, and then work to that same goal outside on walks):

HOMEWORK:

Now we are going to fit our training work into one hour a day.  You can rotate exercises if you do not get to them.  The behavioral exercises of "Sit on the Dog" and "Long Place" should be rotated on opposite days.

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 inside and then outside.  THESE CAN BE DONE DURING YOUR HEELING PRACTICE AS WELL.

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 inside and outside.

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 inside and outside.

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.  "Heeling" is a skill you work on over time.  I had explained that the goal is not necessarily for you to eventually have him in heel all the time.  I use heel not only to have something to put my dog in while on things like city walks or when it is convenient, but also as something I can later on relax into a loose leash walk.  This gives your dog a task to focus on as well, which helps start to reduce the reactivity.  If your dog is able, you can start with Lured Heel Step 1 and Lured Heel Step 2 or the cheat heel [SEE 9 BELOW] with the leash behind your leg.  The goal is to just be able to get three sets of four in a row strings in 15 minutes.  So a string is getting a few good steps in before you stop, and then an auto sit under 15 minutes.  You want to build up to doing the adult traditional heel method.  However, I would practice that inside and in quiet outdoor areas.  It is going to take more time to get that going around distractions.  NOTE:  ON WALKS, IT CAN BE TOUGH TO TIME IT, BECAUSE YOU MAY BE PRACTICING OTHER THINGS TOO.  IF THAT IS THE CASE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE TIME TOO MUCH. 

9.  "Loose Leash" walking in general.  See the 6 strategies from last week.  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.