Week 3 Notes, Homework and Videos

    NOTE 1:  ALL TRAINING SHOULD BE DONE WITH TRAINING COLLAR AND TRAINING LEASH ON (EXCEPT WHEN YOU ARE WORKING OFF LEASH WITH THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR).

NOTE 2:  DO NOT LEAVE METAL TRAINING COLLAR OR TRAINING SLIP LEAD ON WHEN YOU ARE NOT ACTIVELY TRAINING YOUR DOG.

NOTE 3:  PLEASE PUT ON YOUR METAL TRAINING COLLAR CORRECTLY.  ALSO BE SURE TO HOLD THE LEASH CORRECTLY.

This is a link to a leash article on our business blog.  Leashes How to Hold Them and How to Fold Them.

NOTE 4:  START EVERYTHING AT THE BEGINNING IN ENVIRONMENTS AND WITH EQUIPMENT THAT ARE EASY FOR YOU.  YOU WANT TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT FOXIE HAS LEARNED AND HOW TO HANDLE FOXIE IN LOW DISTRACTIONS FIRST, SO THAT YOU WILL BEGIN TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN MORE COMPLICATED OR HIGHER DISTRACTIONS LATER.

NOTE 5:  THE GOALS ARE PLACES TO WORK TO IN THE FUTURE.  IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE GOAL, DON'T WORRY AS LONG AS YOU PUT IN THE WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL.  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL OR EMAIL ME WITH ANY TRAINING PROBLEMS THAT COME UP IN BETWEEN LESSONS.

NOTE 6:  IF YOU DON'T GET THROUGH ALL THE EXERCISES IN ONE DAY, YOU CAN JUST BE SURE THAT THE EXERCISES YOU DID NOT GET TO ARE DONE THE NEXT DAY.   THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, I THINK, IS THE MOLDED SITS.   HOWEVER, THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER TO START TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR.

NOTE 7:  WHEN YOUR DOG WORKS WITH YOU AT HOME, YOU MAY NEED TO GO DOWN IN TIME AND THEN BUILD BACK UP TO WHERE YOUR DOG WAS TRAINING WITH ME (IF YOU ARE IN PACK LEARNING AND BOARD & TRAIN).  THE DOG WILL WORK BETTER FOR WHOEVER THEY WERE LAST WORKING WITH, SO OFTEN THE TIME NEEDS TO BE BUILT UP BY THE OWNER TO HAVE THE SAME SORT OF WORKING RELATIONSHIP.  ***REMEMBER THAT THE FOUR IN A ROW PERFORMANCES WITH OUT NEEDING A CORRECTION OR CAJOLING ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LENGTH OR DISTANCE HE CAN DO THIS AT RIGHT NOW.

NOTE 8:  TRAINING CAN BE DONE IN SEPERATE SESSIONS.  I LIKE TO KEEP MY SESSIONS AT 15 MINUTES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DAY (EXCEPT FOR LONG PLACE, SIT ON THE DOG, OR BEHAVIORAL DOWNS).  OTHEWISE, YOU CAN BURN YOUR DOG OR PUPPY OUT.

NOTE 9:  HERE IS THE TRAINING PROGRESSION YOU SHOULD TRY FOR YOURSELF.  WHAT YOU MAINLY MISSED FROM WEEK 2 VIDEOS WAS TAKING DRAG LEASH  INSIDE FOR SOME EXERCISES (CIRCLE AND LONG PLACE) AND ALSO BRINGING THE TRANSITIONAL LEASH OUTSIDE IN DISTRACTIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME.  ANYWAY, WHEN I BEGIN THE TRAINING WEEK 1: IS IN NON DISTRACTIONS (AS POSSIBLE), TYPICALLY INSIDE AND EVERYTHING IN TRAINING IS ON LEASH (EXCEPT MAYBE PLAY TRAINING, DEPENDS ON THE DOG) WEEK 2:  STARTING TO TAKE THE LEASH OFF FOR SOME EXCISES AND BRINGING WELL KNOWN OTHER EXERCISES OUTSIDE (LIKE SIT AND TRANSITIONAL LEASH---WITH FOXIE WE ALSO WENT TO THE BEACH ON WEEK 2---WHICH IS NOT TYPICAL  WEEK 3:  IN THIS CASE WAS TRANSFERRING WHAT HE KNOWS TO ECOLLAR STARTING WITH TRAINING WHEELS (LONG LINE OUTSIDE OR SHORT DRAGGING LEASH INSIDE) AND PROGRESSING TO OFF LEASH OUTSIDE.

NOTE 10:  THERE IS A LOT ON HERE, SO YOU CAN GO AS SIMPLY AS YOU NEED TO.  I DID WANT TO MENTION ONE MORE THING IN REGARDS TO PROGRESSING YOUR TRAINING.  I LIKE TO ROTATE MY WORK ON ECOLLAR AND MANUAL TRAINING COLLAR (MARTINGALE OR METAL CHAIN COLLAR ET).  SO INSIDE, I MAY DO MORE WORK ON THE DOG DRAGGING THEIR LEASH AT FIRST (OR EVEN HOLDING THEIR LEASH) INSIDE SO I HAVE A GOOD TRAINING RELATIONSHIP INSIDE AND SO THEY DON'T GET THE IDEA THAT THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR IS THE ONLY TIME THEY HAVE TO LISTEN.  I ALSO PUT IN SOME PLAY TRAINING SO IT DOES NOT GET DULL FOR THE BOTH OF US, TO REALLY GET TO KNOW MY DOG, TO GET HIS YAH YAHS OUT,  AND MAKE TRAINING MORE FUN AND INTERACTIVE FOR THE BOTH OF US.  THE REASON I DO NOT DO ONE OVER THE OTHER, IS THAT I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT DIFFERENT TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND CALMING EXERCISES HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS WHEN WORKED ON THAT INCREASE THE RELATIONSHIP BOND AND MAKE DOGS HAVE AN EASIER TIME WORKING WITH US IN OUR DOMESTIC WORLD.  I DO REALIZE IT CAN BE CONFUSING TO PUT ALL THOSE GEARS IN PLACE AT ONCE.  I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE FULL PICTURE, AND YOU CAN DECIDE THE EASIEST WAY TO GO FORWARD AND EXPERIEMENT.

NOTE 11: THIS IS THE WAY I PHASE OUT TREATS.  YOU CAN PRACTICE SOME THINGS INSIDE WITH TREATS AND NO EQUIPMENT TO KEEP THINGS FRESH.   WHEN I START THAT, I MIGHT DO A TREAT EVERY TIME IF THEY START OUT HAVING A HARD TIME.  AS IT GETS EASIER FOR THEM, I START TO DO EVERY OTHER TREAT.  THEN I DO EVERY FOURTH TREAT, AND EVENTUALLY NO TREATS.  I DON'T USE A MORE COMPLICATED REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE THAN THAT, ALTHOUGH OTHER TRAINERS MIGHT.  I DO EVENTUALLY WANT TO GET MY DOGS OFF FOOD (SOME FOR OVER EATING AND OTHER HEALTH REASONS), BECAUSE I PREFER THEY WORK FOR ME.   I ALSO PREFER TOY PLAY TRAINING OVER TREAT TRAINING, BUT IT IS HARDER AND SLOWER (ALTHOUGH ONCE YOU GET GOING IT DOES A GREAT JOB WITH ENTHUSIASM AND IMPULSE CONTROL).

NOTE 12:  MARKER WORDS ARE GOOD=GOOD JOB KEEP GOING YES=GOOD JOB YOU ARE RELEASED FROM THE EXERCISE AND NO=THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR.

NOTE 123:  BLUE TEXT GOES TO THE DIRECTIONS FOR THE EXERCISES.  [IT IS A LINK]

Homework Schedule:

Calming Exercises:

NOTE 1:  EXCEPT FOR THE LONG PLACE, WE DID NOT OFFICALLY PRACTICE THESE (AND ONLY DID 5 MINUTE LONG PLACE) IN PRACTICING THE ACTUAL EXERCISES.   YOU CAN TRY THEM WITH THE VIDEO AND/OR DIRECTIONS, WE COULD DO THEM THE NEXT LESSON, OR IF YOU HAVE THE CAPABILITY, I CAN COACH YOU THROUGH ZOOM.

NOTE 2:  IF YOU DO DECIDE TO TRY THESE, YOU CAN ROTATE THEM ON DIFFERENT DAYS.  (EX MONDAY SIT ON THE DOG, TUESDAY BEHAVIORAL DOWN, WEDNESDAY LONG PLACE).

NOTE 3:  IF I USUALLY DO ONE OF THESE EACH DAY, AND THEN A HALF HOUR OF OTHER TRAINING (OBEDIENCE AND/OR PLAY) DURING THE DAY.

1. Sit on the Dog 30 + minutes Goal:  To get your dog to lay down on their own steam in five minutes or under.  NOTE:  YOU SHOULD PROBABLY START THIS INSIDE AT FIRST, IF YOU TRY IT.   THE BIGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE OFTEN MAKE IS TO KEEP THE LEASH TOO LONG.  IF FOXIE CAN EASILY GET IN COMPLETELY IN FRONT OF YOU OR COMPLETELY IN BACK OF YOU, THE LEASH IS TOO LONG.
   
   
2. Long Place 30 minutes to start  Goal:  To get your dog comfortable and more relaxed staying on their place for thirty minutes.
3. Behavioral Down 10 minutes to 2 hours (hard to predict due to difficulty) Goal:  To have puppy be calm when you stop and stand on his leash (with no pressure) by going into a down mode and having his chin on the ground. (NOTE:  IF YOU DO THIS IN YOUR BEDROOM OR OTHER ROOM BEFORE BEDTIME WHEN THE TV IS ON, IT TYPICALLY TOOK ME TEN MINUTES IN THAT ENVIRONMENT).
   
   

Obedience Exercises (Ecollar can be with Heeling, Sits, Place, and Let's go.  As I mentioned in the notes, I do like to rotate work with the manual training collar, martingale or metal training collar, but if it is easier for you stick with the ecollar work):

NOTE 1:  REMEMBER YOU ONLY NEED TO DO AN HOUR A DAY.  IF YOU DON'T GET TO AN EXERCISE ONE DAY BASED ON TIME OR LIFE, JUST BE SURE TO DO IT THE NEXT DAY.

NOTE 2:  TRANING FOR ME MEANS I NEED TO BE PRESENT WITH MY DOG.  SO MY TRAINING WORK IS OUTSIDE OF WALKING WITH SOMEONE ELSE AND SO ON.  I HAVE TO BE VERY PRESENT TO WORK ON TIMING AND BEING THERE WITH MY DOG.  YOU CAN OF COURSE STILL GO OFF AND DO NON TRAINING WALKS AND USE YOUR TRAINING, I JUST DON'T CALL THAT MY OFFICIAL FORMAL TRAINING TIME.

1. Transitional leash walking (this is a behavioral, training, and management exercise for the dog in the way it is done)  15 + minutes  Goal:  Just to get to a relaxed loose leash walk with this with him sitting when you stop and then moving when you move.  I did not get to the goal with him that I wanted to get (outside) where we get three sets of four in a row sits when I stop.  So that will be your goal, but work with him inside first to get to that goal.
   
   
2. Heeling 15+ minutes  Goal:  Start inside to get the feel of this, and then work him in the yard after you feel confident with this.   
   
   
3. Sits with Correction if Needed 5- 20 minutes Goal:  To get three sets of four in a row sits without needing correction or cajoling in increasing distractions as you move forward.
   
   
4. Let's Go 5-10 minutes  Goal:  To be able to have your come towards you until released for 3 sets of 4 in a row without needing a correction.  Also I have included let's go directions without ecollar (and you can remove the leash if he is doing well and you are in a safe place) if you want to practice these this way too (in bad weather or just to keep his skills up without needing the electronic collar). 

   
   
5. Send to Place 5-10 minutes Goal:  To get your dog to step on themselves for times in a row for 3 sets.

   
   
6. Circle Place 5 plus minutes  Goal:  To be able to perform 4 circle places in a row for one minute.  You could also advance this to one five minute or more as you go on (this is when I start doing chores around the dog inside or outside (where I would typically be walking and getting stuff).  NOTE:  THIS IS THE SAME VIDEO AS ABOVE, BUT CIRCLE PLACE IS 10 MINUTES OR SO IN.
   
   

Play and Training and Exercise (SO WE DID NOT GO OVER THESE EITHER, BUT YOU COULD TRY THEM IF YOU READ THE DIRECTIONS, AND/OR WE CAN GO OVER THEM ON THE NEXT LESSON):

NOTE 1:  THE KEY TO PLAYING THESE SORT OF GAMES IS TO REMEMBER THE FLIRT POLE AND THE BALL NEED TO ACT LIKE PREY.  SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO GET THE DOG TO GET A NON MOVING OBJECT THAT IS NOT TRYING TO GET AWAY.   ALSO THOUGH, WITH FOXIES LESS THAN GRACEFUL MOVEMENTS, I NEED TO SLOW DOWN THE "PREY" SPEED SO HE CAN ENJOY CATCHING HIS PREY.  I START THIS, USUALLY, WITH NO COMMANDS AT FIRST OTHER THAN TO HAVE HIM WALK TOWARDS ME (WITHOUT COMMAND) BY PRAISING HIS PROWESS.

NOTE 2: THE TOYS I USE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY ARE TOYS THAT ARE ONLY BROUGHT OUT FOR PLAY TRAINING.  YOU CAN STILL HAVE REGULAR PLAY WITH OTHER TOYS, BUT BRINGING OUT THESE SPECIAL TOYS INDICATES A SPECIAL TIME FOR US.

1. Flirt Pole 5 minutes   Goal:  At first is just to get the dog excited about the game.  You want them wanting more when you end the game NOT worn out completely.
   
   
2. Start Ball Fetch and Retrieve 5 minutes  Goal:  At first is just to get the dog excited about the game.  You want them wanting more when you end the game NOT worn out completely.