If you are participating in the trick classes, be sure to check out the end of this post for details on upcoming fun challenges for Easter! I’m giving you plenty of time to train 😉.

This week’s homework

REACTIVE DOGS: (LAST SATURDAY’S LIVE ZOOM CLASS)

THOSE WORKING THE REACTIVE DOG PROGRAM. IF YOU DID NOT ATTEND THIS WEEKEND’S LIVE ZOOM CLASS YOU MIGHT WANT TO WATCH IT ON THE RECORDED ZOOMS.

Your homework is to:

work on your “look at it” with some random objects at home to get them looking in the direction you look on cue.
scout out locations for doing classical conditioning. Be sure to watch the video on classical conditioning, pay special attention to how relaxed the dog I am working is. If your dog is already locked onto the triggers you are too close for proper conditioning to change emotions to take place.
Can’t find a place far enough away to work on CC with triggers? Can you start inside your car? You can drive to a big parking lot and park on the far end and work with your dog still in the car.

FOUNDATIONS: (LAST THURSDAY AFTERNOON’S LIVE ZOOM CLASS)

Your homework is to focus on your reward timing and placement.

Pedestal training to work on the hand positions for creating a turn in your dog’s body for both rear end awareness and for you to understand how to use timing and placement to create more movement.
Getting a straight sit beside or in front of you, again this is to show you how where and how your reward influences your dog’s body positions.
Find your mark! Working on getting your timing: behavior- mark- reward. Making sure you have the timing so that your dogs learn what the marks mean and so you can better pair your rewards with the proper behavior.

BABY PUPPIES: (LAST SATURDAY MORNINGS LIVE ZOOM CLASS)

Sit
Down (both from a sit and a stand)
Stand (from a sit or a down)
Leave it
Puppy recall game
Play

Practice each of these exercises all combined for 3-5 minutes a day. (don’t over do it! Do 3-5 reps move on, use play between to keep your puppy engaged. If they get too excited stop and scatter some treats and end the game).

TRICKS: (LAST TUESDAY AND THURSDAY LIVE ZOOM CLASSES)

Keep working on your hold! See if you can get any grabbing, once you have grabbing can you get a little time holding. Have the hold- can you get some movement or changes of position while they hold?
Sit pretty- build their strength in the position by practicing in short bits, work on fading your help but not until you feel they are not bracing so much against your helping hand.
Orbit. Work that pedestal! If you have it, and they will rotate with very little help, work on fading your pedestal and getting them to line up tucked behind you.

Easter Trick Challenges!

BEGINNER:

Wearing a pair of bunny ears in a sit stay

INTERMEDIATE:

Wearing a pair of bunny ears and holding a basket or carrot
Putting easter eggs in a basket

ADVANCED:

Wearing bunny ears, holding a basket and sitting pretty
Putting eggs in a basket, picking up and holding basket
Carrying full basket

You are under no pressure to do these challenges, but I often think it is fun to have a goal and something to train for and to see different ways you can use the same types of behaviors to create other things. While in trick form these things just seem silly, it is because of these sorts of tricks that when I needed her help Emily had all of the tools to step in and be my service dog when I was struggling with having normal use of my hands (which thankfully was able to be diagnosed and treated so I no longer needed that help). It’s also so nice on trail for the dogs to be able to go get trekking poles we’ve dropped, water bottles, etc. They were able to fetch me the remote when I was on the couch with a broken foot. So I love teaching these things to my dogs! (plus they also help for dogs that like to play keep away and have trouble coming back with fetch.)

If you need any more details on the exercises you can use the Modules as your text book to look for more help. The Reactive dog, Foundations and Trick Modules all have more information to help you dive into the exercises in more depth!

Trick Challenges and Homework