Mannerly Mutts Dog Training

1. Practice and reach dog training Goals inside

• What Are Goals? Goals are progress that you are working towards.  Working towards goals is key to giving your dog the best information and training.

• Repetitions:  You start basic obedience commands by practicing them in a group.  In the beginning, you are teaching this as you practice. For instance, 15 repetitions of the “sit” command.  A goal that you could be working towards is 3 sets of 4 “sits” in a row without needing to cajole or correct your dog, including verbal marker corrections.

• Time:  Duration is usually the first goal that you are aiming for.  You can start at 5 seconds, and the goal tends to be about one minute for stay exercises.

• Distraction:  Distractions can start out simply as normal noises around your house.  There are also unplanned distractions, like someone coming to your door and knocking or a family member appearing in the room.  Planned distractions are built up gradually.  (Also toys, food, other dogs, other humans, sounds, audio sounds, and video,

• Distance: Distance usually starts off with the handler right next to the dog.  Then works up to the handler at the end of the 6’ leash.  Finally, the 6’ leash is either dropped to work on distance OR the long line is employed to work up to the distance of 15’ or 20’.

• Leash Dropped or Dragging: Training your dog to be able to understand your commands without you holding the leash is an excellent way to advance your training and start on off leash.  Being able to do off-leash inside will make your long line work less taxing outside.

• Proofing: This means you are working on your goals performed in a certain amount of time with a certain number of repetitions in a row.  As you advance, this also means being able to do this with all the components of distance, duration, and distraction.

• Working with a Long Line Inside: As you create distance inside, it can make more sense to use a long line that you can hold.  If you are doing play training inside, this can make the training easier with certain dogs.

2. Plan which outside environments to train in

Note:  Behavioral issues will make getting to this point longer.  You will not only want to be proofing your dog’s performance but also paying attention to what their body language or more obvious signs are telling you.   If you have never had to do this before, a professional dog trainer is invaluable to guide you.

Moving to Different Environments Gradually

Don’t go to the most distracting place right off the bat.  To start working with a long line easily, you must accomplish your goals in outside distractions first.  Know how the environments generally are before going there to train.  For instance, you may not want to be working around dogs playing or children running and being loud.  The following areas are usually how I progress my training to different environments.

• Porch

• Yard

• Walks on Road

• Parks, fields, beaches (In York, Maine I use Long Sands, Short Sands, Ellis Park, and the Nubble Light House Grounds)

• Stores that allow dogs

• Restaurants that allow dogs on a patio

NOTE:  Be sure your dog will not be disruptive in stores and restaurants.  Dogs are being banned in more and more places, and you wouldn’t want to contribute to this.

3. Practice around distractions in different environments

• Reduce the repetitions expected in a row, time, and distance as you add new distractions and environments.

• Rebuild the time: Once your dog can easily perform repetitions to their goal, start where your dog is best able to succeed. This can mean you start at 5 seconds. Don’t worry, your previous work, will make this move along.

• Rebuild the distance: Once you are meeting your goals for repetitions and duration, start building out the distance. You can start right next to the dog if that makes the most sense.

• Challenge but do not overwhelm: To progress, your dog needs to work where there is some difficulty, but not too much difficulty. If you are having a very hard time getting 4 in a row, you are overwhelming your dog. (repetitions, time, duration, distraction, goals)

• Be true to the goals: Many dog owner’s will stop at their dog just sitting for a treat. Remember, your goals are what are essential in teaching your dog. If your dog is having a hard time meeting a goal, you most likely went too fast.

• Add in the long line in areas where it makes sense. For instance, a busy street would not make sense. An open field would make sense.

• Proofing happens when you are meeting your goals around the environments and distractions you picked to practice around. This means you can easily complete the steps (repetitions, duration, distance, and distraction) within a set amount of time. If you are doing much walking, then instead of time, the goal might be the repetitions easily in a row.

So many years have gone into humans learning to train their dogs to live in our domestic world. Respect all that dog owners and dog trainers before you have learned.   Working with a long line is often the step before you can train off-leash. If you follow the steps in that logical progression, then you will have the most success in building an amazing relationship with your dog and really know them.