Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Next Steps in the Place Command (Part 2)

So now your dog is walking onto the place without your going over it with them.   Here is the next step, and there are more coming.   Remember that the end goal in this exercise is to have your dog cross an area to the place themselves while you are nowhere near the place.   Here is the second phase of the place command training.

****NOTE:   This is intellectual property of Mannerly Mutts and Robin Rubin.   If you are a professional interested in using these training plans, please contact Mannerly Mutts and a fee arrangement can be made.

STEP 1:  You still have a leash and collar on your dog.   The place (board, mat, dog bed) item is in the middle of the room so you can walk around it, and use all sides to place your dog (so that they do not generalize).
STEP 2:   Now as you approach the place, from a couple of steps away from the boarder of the "place item", extend your arm as you say "place" before the dog walks onto the place (different than before as you were saying place as you walked over with your dog, and only when the four paws were on the mat).
STEP 3:  If your dog does not make it onto the place themselves, use the collar lead and your body language (IE nudge into the direction) to help your dog to the place mat.   Be sure once there, that all four of their paws are on it.   If paws are sticking out beyond the boarder, just place your feet near them.   If they try to walk off and you catch them early, you can normally just move towards them quickly, and they will walk back onto the place area. 

NOTE:   IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT YOUR DOG SHOULD NOT BE TOLD TO SIT OR DOWN.   OTHERWISE YOU WILL RUIN THE UNDERSTANDING THAT A PLACE HAS BOARDERS IN WHICH THE DOG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THEMSELVES.
STEP 4:  Once all four dog feet are on the place board, and your dog remains in whatever position he/she wants to, Have your six foot leash totally loose (this is so your dog can't dart away and have a game of chase), and circle close to the boarders of the place item (mat, board, dog bed).   When a successful circle has been made, you can tell your dog "good place" and give them a scratch under the chin.
STEP 5:  Now it's time to introduce your release word.   At the end, say break and lead your dog off the place board.   You can tell him/her that this was very good.   You should only leave the place board once the performance has been good (IE you made circles around them very closely).

(to be continued....next widening the circle followed by starting the send.)

Video example of starting the send:



http://www.mannerlymutts.com/
http://www.dognewsisgoodnews.com/
http://www.mainepets.mainetoday.com/

No comments: