Class Notes for Instructors

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Instructor Notes – Basic Manners

Basic Manners – 4wk series

Week 1:

Name Game: Say the name once and wait.

-If you need to, make a kissy noise or lightly touch the dog’s side.

– Click for eye contact.

-Big distractions? Click for head turns in your direction. Work up to eye contact

Intro to Clicker Training

1. Timing – Use Clicker or Verbal Marker (eg “Yes”) to give the dog instant feedback. Click is like the shutter of a camera marking the desired behavior as it happens – treat within ½ to 3 secs.

2. Treats – use a treat that the dog is willing to work for, make a party mix of kibble and treats, hazard pay for distracting situations.

3. Technique – keep hand out of treat pouch, do not click in dogs face, keep body still, use hand signal and do not introduce verbal cue until the behavior is reliable.

How to train the behaviors you want 

1. Luring

Sit and Down – Silent training- no verbal cues! Lure, then try for hand signal.

2. Capturing

Click for attention working up to dog looking at face

Touch, Step 1 – 2 fingers or fist, click and treat for touching 15 times

Explain 2 second rule for adding verbal

Leave it: treats in hand (closed hand, open hand then floor, or using a plate.)

 

Week 2:

Warm up with name Game and Touch. If too easy, add a distraction eg treat or toy on floor. Remind students to capture attention during class.

Sit & Down -Introduce verbal cues, using 2 second rule.

-Introduce a release cue, build duration.

How to train the behaviors you want (the third way to get a behavior, we went over Luring and Capturing last week).

3. Shaping {add description here please ☺}

Go to Your Bed – Looking at mat, walking to mat, 2 feet on matt, 4 feet on mat….

Loose Leash Walking: Clip on front ring of harness for pullers. Dog and treats on same side so dog does not need to cross in front to get treats. Clicker and leash in opposite hand. Play name game to get dogs attention and then step forward C/T for dog stepping forward and feed by inseam of pants. If dog does not follow, use Touch. Let students practice.

Wait: at doorways and/or with plates

Trouble Shooting: Any problems or questions?

Teach a trick eg shake, roll over, play dead, spin….

 

Week 3:

Warm up with name Game and Touch. If too easy, add a distraction eg treat or toy on floor. Remind students to capture attention during class.

Sit/Down: Add stay – say “stay” ONLY 1x, pause, then flat hand signal and click only at end for dog moving when given release cue. Let students practice. Then talk about the 3 Ds of Stay: Distance, Duration and Distraction.

Loose Leash Walking: Practice steps from week 2. Take outside if students are ready.

Loose Leash Walking: Red light green light game. Stop when dog pulls, move forward when there is slack in the leash.

Come: Treat fetching – click when dog turns head and “capture” the run back for the treat as “come”.

Drop it “Give” with bones and peanut butter, clicking when the dog disengages from the bone

 

Week 4:

Warm up with name Game, Touch, Sit/Down

Test to see if Sit/Down are really on verbal by covering mouth or turning back to dog. Review 2 second rule.

Stay with distance – remind students to treat dog in position and to use less valuable/exciting rewards for calm behavior.

Loose Leash Walking: Say “too bad” or “uh oh” and do penalty yards if dog is pulling.

Loose Leash Walking: U-Turn – lure dog back by placing treat in front of nose and stepping back. Turn and feed on side you want dog to be walking on. Let students practice.

Alternative Rewards: eg dog may pull to go say hi to another dog, use toys instead of treats, or ask for behaviors before letting a dog do what they want

Come: Add distance, use long lines if appropriate. Treat parties!

Drop It: “Drop” – Chirag Patel method, teach word in different body positions

Trouble Shooting/Any questions