Learn the 3 placement phases of successful dog training: In the home, in the driveway, and at the park.
Successful dog training will take place in three main settings: In the home, in the driveway, and finally at your local park. The key to training your dog will be focus, “trigger” reduction, and general obedience control. These disciplines can all be achieved once your dog has the training basics mastered.
1. In the home. The best environment to begin training your dog is in the home. With this 1st dog training phase it is recommended to use treats to condition your dog to general dog training commands. Inside the house will limit any major distractions to your dog and give you the best initial training results. Try training in a room that is quiet with little external noise or distractions. As your dog progresses with focus and eye contact, change to a room with a little more noise to increase his attention span. Once your dog is able to proficiently obey your vocal and visual basic dog training commands, you now know its time to take him to the next level!
Training commands to concentrate on in the home will be: sit, leave it/take, leave it/good leave it, off, and stay.
2. In the driveway. The next step to advance your dogs focus and dog training intensity will be in your driveway or just outside your home. This environment will now provide increased noise, distractions, smells, and motion to distract and create “triggers” for your dog. You will now want to begin decreasing the food treats as a training reward, and begin with more vocal affirmation and physical touch for praise conditioning. For more on dog training reward methods read THIS. Practice your normal inside the home dog training commands to begin getting more focus and concentration from your dog. You will also now begin using the “watch me” command. Put a treat next to your eye and command “watch me”. You will use this command for added focus from your dog if a potential distraction occurs in the field.
3. At the park. Finally, dog training at your local park. This outdoor park environment will prove to be the most distracting for your dog. You can expect to encounter playgrounds with children, bikes, skateboards, and other walking dogs. All of this “motion” in the park will create prey triggers with your dog where now all your hard dog training command work in the home and in the driveway will pay off! It is at this stage that you will begin using NO more training treats unless absolutely necessary. The goal now is for your dog to listen to you with the expectation of only vocal affirmation or physical touch as a reward method. All of your dog training command work can now be done on the walk giving your dog a more mental and physical challenge in the field.
By following these three dog training placement settings, you can expect your dog to have the best dog training results! If you notice your dog is digressing in a certain setting, just return to the previous stage for a few days of review work. In no time at all you will be walking anywhere you want in public with the best trained dog on the block!
Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.