Dog training

A few cute pics from dog training lessons and classes this week.

Training and socialization

Some cute pics from training and socialization this week.

This is the only brindle Chihuahua I've ever met.

Nalu (Min Pin/ Chihuahua mix).

Basic Manners Class graduation.

Bullseye working in Basic Manners class.

Devo & Maile.

BML2 Class Hike

Basic Manners Level Two Class Hike at the Village Trails in Kapalua.

Lucy found many burrs to travel with her on our hike.

Chihuahua / Pug mix puppy.

Basic Manners Level Two Graduation.

Heel Training

Some vides from our Basic Manners Level Two class learning Heel.

Heel:

The Heel position is about the dog staying close to the handler and paying close attention.  We will start with the Basic Heel position, the Stationary Heel.

To do this, we will food lure the dog into the Heel position at our left side.  Use your left hand to food lure the dog into the position.  If you need, take a step back with your left leg to encourage the dog to move.  Once the dog is in the Heel position, practice a Sit and Look. 

Basic Heel position with Moana.

Basic Heel position with Lucy.

Moving Heel:  
Food lure the dog several times while backing up.
Food lure the dog, now turn your body so the dog is now on the left side in Heel position (use the treat in your left hand).

—Always begin and end every Heel exercise with a Sit in the Heel position.

—When you stop moving forward, move your baited hand UP slightly to initiate the Sit position.

—As you are moving forward, the treat should be held up slightly from the dog so she is looking for it.  Gradually progress to moving your hand all the way up to the Look position.  

See our full video on how to train your dog to Heel on SDGs YouTube.

Moving Heel.

Moving Heel with Moana.

Stay with Distance

Basic Manners Level Two Class:  practicing Stay with Distractions.

Stay:

Means to your dog, stay in this position until I come back to release you.  This is not the same thing as Wait.  For this exercise, the dog should either be in the Sit or Down position.  Some owners prefer to have a specific Sit-Stay and Down-Stay as separate commands.  If you would like to do this, please let your trainer know.

There are 3 parts to the Stay Cue:  1) Duration (Time), 2) Distance, 3) Distractions

Adding Distance to Stay:

We will start by slowly adding distance to the Stay command.  Start with one step backwards, then quickly return forwards to the dog and reward.  Then add two steps, pause, return and reward.  Slowly begin to add distance.  If your dog gets up, take the training back a step and make it easier (don’t add as much distance).

Adding Distractions to Stay:

To add a new part of the Stay cue, we must take the other parts of the cue back down to zero.  That means, since we are now adding distractions, the distance and duration of the Stay should be near zero.  You will start by dropping or tossing mild distractions while asking the dog to Stay.  We will slowly begin adding more difficult distractions.

Check out SGDs YouTube to get the full videos on how to teach your dog the beginning steps of Stay.

Stay:  Step 1, Duration (or time).

Stay:  Step 2, adding Distance.