What variables to do you add into your training?
Well first let’s take a look at what ‘variables’ may be.
For this example we will say that we are teaching your dog to stay.
Variable one: time/duration
Variable two: distance
Variable three: indoor/outdoor setting
Variable four: different people (walking by, talking, sitting)
Variable five: other dogs/cats/birds
Variable six: noises (cars, people, unexpected noises)
Variable seven: change of posture/tone of voice
Variable eight: Lead/ no lead
These variables are in no particular order, I am just trying to outline all the different possible variables that could be within a situation. Variables can be very small, but they need to be treated the same way as some of the ‘bigger’ variables.
The dog needs to be taught in each of those settings as if he has never done a stay before, lessen the criteria and work through the process for reinforcement. If the dog has not done a down stay in a busy area, take the opportunity to teach the dog how to respond in that situation.
Each time you add a variable to the situation, and the dog can ‘work’ through it – the stronger the behaviour will become.
Well first let’s take a look at what ‘variables’ may be.
For this example we will say that we are teaching your dog to stay.
Variable one: time/duration
Variable two: distance
Variable three: indoor/outdoor setting
Variable four: different people (walking by, talking, sitting)
Variable five: other dogs/cats/birds
Variable six: noises (cars, people, unexpected noises)
Variable seven: change of posture/tone of voice
Variable eight: Lead/ no lead
These variables are in no particular order, I am just trying to outline all the different possible variables that could be within a situation. Variables can be very small, but they need to be treated the same way as some of the ‘bigger’ variables.
The dog needs to be taught in each of those settings as if he has never done a stay before, lessen the criteria and work through the process for reinforcement. If the dog has not done a down stay in a busy area, take the opportunity to teach the dog how to respond in that situation.
Each time you add a variable to the situation, and the dog can ‘work’ through it – the stronger the behaviour will become.