09/06/2026
Training evolution
Starts with structured sessions
- brief times of "this is the skill"
- " This is how you do it"
Evolves into
- Still watch length of sessions
- "This is where you need it" in as many applications as you're life and routine require it
Evolves again
- "Show me what you've learned"
(This in my opinion is the most crucial because this is the phase where you stop telling your dogs, what to do and start reinforcing what they're choosing to do)
- reinforcements is not always food, it's crucial to know what your dog's preferences in joy are as well as the conditions that you're doing these exercises
- crucial, to understand your dog's capabilities,Your capabilities and the environment
This Video:
I have rules on how Clover 🍀 plays fetch. These rules are we don't just throw the ball and she runs out after it. This condition of play teaches clover to go.Go go and all she does is increase in her arousal and inability to focus and regulate.
I saw her ability to play this game appropriately after a friend played fetch with her. She lost her ability to relax until I gave her the release.
After one game with the friend, I have to go back to the beginning.Just to remind her.
That looks like I wait for her to do the behavior if I have to remind her just once, and I don't toss the ball very far.Because the further the ball goes, the higher her arousal goes
The longer she waits for the release, the high river arousal goes.
I was very relaxed with my friends with play.And now I have to put strict rules if anybody wants to play this game with her.
My instructions are important to me.And for her, so if these rules can't be followed, then I don't permit play with anybody else.
It may be petty, but this pleads into her other abilities.In our day to day like her ability to remain focused and for arousal low when out in the yard amongst squirrels.
Skills with our dogs are never just in that specific condition. Because there's always going to be some other aspects in their life that these skills plays a part that we may not be aware of which is equally an. Awesome and exciting tidbit, because as long as you're training these skills teaching these skills and practicing these skills regularly in generalizing them where they pop up might pleasantly surprise you.