Step 7
Adding the cue is done in three stages. Be careful to only add the cue when your dog is relaxed so that he does not
associate the new cue to with any other emotional state.
Step 7 part 1
Start by giving the cue when your dog is performing the desired behavior.
Step 7 part 2
At this stage, give the cue while your dog is starting to perform the desired behaviour.
Step 7 part 3
Now give the cue before your dog starts the behavior.
- You can also add duration to this exercise depending on how your dog progresses.
Step 8
- Adding distractions at home. When you have a duration on staying on the mat, you can start adding small
distractions.
Step 8 part 1
Step 8 part 2
Step 8 part 3
Step 8 part 4
- If you are working multiple dogs, you can try doing a short training session with one and having the other on his
mat practising being calm. When your dog can easily wait for his turn, you can start doing longer training sessions
with your other dog to get more duration to the behavior. Just remember to frequently reward your dog for being
calm on his mat.
- When you make progress, add some duration to this exercise.
Step 9
- Generalization. To generalize the bevahior, do these exercises in different places, like your training facility and, if
possible, outdoors.
- Remember to lower your criteria and make the exercise easier for your dog when you are in a new environment.
- Add duration to the exercise as your dog progresses.
Step 9 part 1
Step 9 part 2
Step 9 part 3
Step 9 part 4
Step 9 part 5
Step 9 part 6
Step 10
- Add distractions in different environments, for example; another dog playing.
- When you see progress, you can also add duration alongside the distractions.
Problem shooting:
- My dog does not approach the mat?
You can always begin with an easy criterion like your dog glancing at the mat. Reward by dropping the treat on the
bed to reinforce the dog for showing interest in it.
- My dog does not offer to lie down without his cue?
Have you done enough repetitions on the previous stage? Also, remember to be patient, give your dog time to figure out how to get his reward. You can, for example, slowly count to four and if your dog has not offered a down by then, help him by giving him his cue.
- Failure to add duration?
Have you maybe added too much duration at a time? Adding duration to behavior requires good timing from us
trainers as we need to be quick to reinforce even the slightest increase in time. In the beginning, add duration just
0.5 - 1.0 seconds at a time. In order not to get a dog that predicts how long it will take before you reward, you need
to increase the time quite quickly, but in small steps.
- My dog is not calm?
Start early rewarding only those repetitions where your dog is truly relaxed. This way, he learns that it is reinforcing
to stay calm. Also, please remember to be quiet yourself and calmly reward your dog without getting him excited.
- My dog does not withstand distractions at home?
Remember to add distractions in really small steps. For some dogs, your hand movement might be too big of a
distraction. The distractions you add could, for example, be you moving your hand or shifting your weight from one
foot to another. When your dog succeeds, carefully increase difficulty. For example, move both your hands or take
one step.
-Non-successful generalization?
When generalizing any behavior, it is really important to remember to lower your criteria in the beginning. In a new
environment, you could start at step 5 and reward your dog often. When you move into a new environment, you
need to start from the beginning with the duration and distraction training to get your dog to succeed.