Week 4 (CHANGED) Sit with Distractions, (NEW) Let's Go (NEW) Ball Fetch

Exercise 1 Circle Sit Stays:

***Set him up with more distractions, and work the rotations around until this can be done for thirty seconds.   If that starts happening easily four times in a row, then you can start widening your circle area.

Beginning distraction for the dog:
NOTE:  AS DISTRACTIONS AND DISTANCE ARE ADDED TO THE EXERCISE, IT IS ENTIRELY PROBABLE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO START AT LESS TIME THAN BEFORE.   GENERALLY YOU CAN QUICKLY BUILD THIS UP AGAIN.   TRY NOT TO RUSH THE DOG TOO MUCH.   IF YOU CAN NOT A GET A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF REPETITIONS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL, THAT USUALLY MEANS YOU HAVE RUSHED THE DOG TOO FAST.   BACK DOWN ON THE TIME.

STEP 1:  From the heel or random position, place the dog into a sit.
STEP 2:  Give the verbal and/or hand signal to stay.
STEP 3: You can either stand still by their side during this, or you can do the movement if the puppy can handle that at this point (circles)
STEP 4:   If they get up or do not self correct (meaning the dog's butt goes partially up, but then they realize they should not and go back into position themselves), be sure to give a sit correction and start out standing with your dog by their side with both of you facing the same direction.
STEP 4A:  If the dog attempts to get up, there are a few ways to save the command.   (1) You can step out quickly in front of them, then walks towards them if their butt didn't entirely come off.   This usually makes the dog sit back down.   (2)  If you time the sit correction right (see the sit correction exercise sheet), you can have them sit back down before their butt gets up.
STEP 4B:  If your dog was successful by staying in place OR self correcting themselves (this is an important learning step for the dog), then praise with a "good girl/boy" and a low key pat (unless your dog needs the higher praise because they are shy or fearful, and not likely to become unglued due to the stimulation).
STEP 5:  Give your dog the release word.   (be sure that good girl/boy or a treat does not ever become the cue to release)
STEP 6:  Do each repetition 15 times. DO NOT increase the duration until your dog can successfully do them four out of five times at the old duration. You want to build this exercise up to 30 seconds before going on to the next step.  (for puppies, you should break this up into small sessions, especially when they are doing more time)




Increasing the distraction level for the dog:
NOTE: AS DISTRACTIONS AND DISTANCE ARE ADDED TO THE EXERCISE, IT IS ENTIRELY PROBABLE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO START AT LESS TIME THAN BEFORE. GENERALLY YOU CAN QUICKLY BUILD THIS UP AGAIN. TRY NOT TO RUSH THE DOG TOO MUCH. IF YOU CAN NOT A GET A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF REPETITIONS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL, THAT USUALLY MEANS YOU HAVE RUSHED THE DOG TOO FAST. BACK DOWN ON THE TIME.



There are a number of things that you can add to the above, while you are doing circles to be distracting.
  • Sit on a chair.
  • Squat down in front of the dog.
  • Bounce a ball around the dog.
  • Throw toys away from the dog into the area.   (Later on as, distance is worked on, you can throw toys or roll toys towards the dog.
  • Change the area to the beach, dog park, grocery parking lot, during a walk in the neighborhood et
  • Skip or hop around your dog.  Act silly in any way.
  • Work in a park or beach where leashed dogs, joggers, skateboarders, or children are.


Same rules as above.  15 reps and not increasing distraction level until they can do 4 out of 5 under a distraction.   As they get used to each one, you can start alternating.



Increase distance level for the dog:



STEP 1:  Begin working by stepping out a few inches with the six foot lead, after giving the "stay" command and/or signal.   When you are working at the end of the six foot lead with four out of five successful repetitions, start working on your long line, and then to the end of that.
STEP 2:   Work with distractions listed above (safely) at each distance level that you make.   (Remember, you may need to back down on the time again to work back up to it as this new item is added to training.  You may also have to work without an additional distraction at first.).  You will either want to time this or take note of the circles you are able to do while the dog is around distractions.   As the distractions increase, you may need to decrease either the distance away or the time (or circles), and then work back up to a time and distance.
STEP 3:  If your dog successfully performs per your new goal, you can praise him/her and then use your release word.   Never allow the praise to become the release word.   If your dog begins to break, but catches themselves (this is a process where learning is taking place), you can praise him later because he caught himself.   The handler should try to catch the dog before their bum comes up and they move.   If they successfully move themselves, then the handler needs to return them to their position and location (non verbally), and complete the exercise.
STEP 4:  Only move time and distance when the dog can perform (without correction or treat) four out of five times at the current goal.   If you are having trouble meeting this, then you need to back down the time or distance.   It is possible, that you also did not wait until the dog could complete at the lower levels before going on, and then it may make sense to complete those steps again.

Exercise 2 Let's Go:

STEP 1: You will want to hold the end of the leash for this one.
STEP 2:   In the opposite hand, you will want to be holding the food reward.
STEP 3A:   Let your puppy get distracted.  When they get a little distracted, say "Let's Go".  If your dog starts to come towards you go to step 4.
STEP 4B:  If your puppy does not come towards you right away, say your marker word "No" give them a little tug until they are coming towards you and go to Step 4.
STEP 4:  When your puppy starts to come towards you, say "good girl/boy" and then when they get to you give them the food reward.
STEP 5:  Work for about 5 minutes.  (sometimes even five minutes if the puppy gets flat or bored.)  
The Goal is to get 3 sets of 4 in a row.

 Exercise 3 Ball Fetch:

Equipment:  15' long line or Dropped 6' Leash
Training Collar
Tennis ball (easier for puppies)

STEP 1:  Have your puppy sit stay before throwing the ball.  In the beginning, just have your puppy stay there for about three seconds before releasing them.
STEP 2:  Throw the ball and once the stay duration is up for the puppy say "get it"..
STEP 3:  (Super important for the bringing back) Wait until your puppy latches onto the ball before saying "let's go".   DO NOT say "good boy" or "let's go" until they have a grip on the ball.

NOTE:   If they don't go after the ball, first make sure you have not picked out a time the puppy is tired or has already trained enough.  Remember you want to do this when the puppy is fresh and ready to go.  If they are, but something has just distracted them or inhibited them, go towards the ball yourself with the puppy.  They will normally go and grip it after this.

STEP 4:   Make sure your dog comes towards you.   If they drop the ball along the way, it's not big deal.   It's okay, most every dog eventually brings back the ball because they realize you are going to throw it again.   However, if they do bring back the ball, make a big deal of it.
STEP 5:  Now it is time to get the ball.   You don't want to make a big deal of it where the dog is inhibited.   Just nonchalantly say out, and hopefully the puppy does not give up to much of a fight.  If they do, I just pet the dog beside me and hang out and wait for them to drop the ball.  So the point is, you don't want the puppy to get the idea that he is going to be forced to give up the ball with undue force at this time, as in the beginning you want the puppy to be "up" for the game.


STEP 6:  Repeat.   Notice if the puppy gets tired of the game after some reps, because you do not want to burn them out on this.  It is better if the puppy still wants the ball and to engage when you stop, rather them tired at the end.  I would do no more than maybe 10 or 15 reps.   Depending on your puppy though, it could be even less.

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