Week 1 – Orientation Seminar
Links for More Info
ThrivingCanine.com, YouTube, Facebook, Separation Anxiety Book
- Included with in-person classes or available for purchase separately
- If you paid for the course, the link should be in your email inbox. If not, let us know and we’ll resend it to you.
Graduation Expectations
- Sit, Down, Come, Heel, Stay…we will also learn Leave It and Loose Leash Walking but it’s not on the test.
- Graduation Promise – You may repeat class for free until you are ready to pass
Extra Credit
- The group will set the pace for extra learning.
Behavior Modification
- May require private training. This class follows a structured plan for teaching and reinforcing the bacis commands.
Balanced Training Explanation
- Blending “Modern” and “Old School” styles
Obedience Training
- CPR = Command, Praise, Release
Supplies and Treats
- 6’ leash, inescapable collar, super-tasty-soft-treats
Attendance
- Make ups available but try to make all classes in sequence. Following the videos helps as well.
Parking
- Best if everyone parks facing north or south.
- DRIVE SLOWLY…very, very, slowly
Questions During Class
- Please ask politely and pertaining to what’s going on. Off topic questions are welcome but may need to be answered after class or at another time.
Homework
- Choose a release word
- Research your dog’s breed
- Watch: Luring and Food Play
- Read: The Four A’s of Dog Training
- Watch DVD Videos
Quiz Yourself
Week 2 – Name Game, Sit and Down
Take Roll – with casual greetings
Luring and Engagement Exercises (Circle/Spin)
Name Game
Sit – lure, pressure point, leash pressure
Down – lure, pressure point, leash pressure
Treats as Lures & Rewards, NOT Bribes (extrinsic motivation, seeking mode, Scent-Sight-Sound)
Petting and Praise (intrinsic motivation, relationship, fading of treats)
Difference Between Praise and Release. (Continuation Marker, Bridge)
Importance of Pressure Conditioning
- Conditioning means combined with rewards for maintaining a happy, cooperative attitude. Should not cause resistance, resentment or distress. Benefits = faster and more reliable results, clear communication, trust, authority, deeper bond, avoids touch sensitivity and biting, avoids treat dependency, empowers the human, can have a calming effect
Homework
- “Don’t name it until you love it” and “only say it once.”
- Practice Sit and Down – 15 x day divided into 3-5 short sessions.
- Days 1-2 use leash and body pressure every time, with and without a food lure. Start using verbal commands and fading lures into hand signals
- Days 3-4 use verbal command and hand signal. Use leash and body pressure at least every other time…whether needed or not. No more luring. Give the treat only after the dog follows the sit or down command.
- Day 5-7 use verbal commands and hand signals with no pressure and no food lure. If dog follows the command give treat and/or petting and praise. If not, follow through with pressure.
- Build duration – hold positions a few seconds longer each day, goals is 15 seconds by next week.
- Keep sessions short and sweet: Leave Them Wanting More, Always End On a High Note
- Watch DVD Videos and take the quizzes.
Week 3 – Come, Heel and Loose-Leash Walking
Take Roll – Check Sit and Down fluency
Review – Sit and Down
- Up Sit & Puppy Push-Ups – lure & leash pressure, fade both for verbal & hand signal.
Come (Reverse Recall) – back up and lure the dog to Sit in front.
Heel – lure and reward, change direction, leash pop
Loose-Leash Walking – change direction, leash pop
Leash Skills – best way to hold and handle the leash
Discussion
- Importance of a Slack Leash
- Flexi and Harness – casual walking, adding distance to recalls, allowing dog to pull?
- Recall Rules – mandatory and rewarding, never punish for coming
Reminder – physical pressure, fading lure, only say it once. (Most clients will still be luring, repeating and not using pressure.) “My dog does it perfectly at home!”
Homework
- Prep for stay = 30 second Sits and Downs, leash pressure comprehension for Sit.
- Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
- Read articles: Building a Reliable Recall, What’s The Deal With Heel?, How To Stop Pulling
- Watch DVD Videos and take the quizzes.
Week 4 – Review and Stay
Take Roll with CGC Greetings
Review – Sit, Down, Come, Heel
Granny’s Rule Recalls – treat distraction, pair ups, Three Second Rule for dog-dog greetings (for non-aggressive dogs only)
Stay – We start with Sit-Stay. Extra credit if you can do Down-Stay!
Wait – Keep dog from rushing through doors and gates.
Left Turns
Auto-Sit
Homework:
- Build stay to end of leash for 5-10 seconds.
- Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
- Read articles: If You Don’t Eat Your Meat, You Can’t Have Any Pudding, The Three Second Rule and The Four D’s of Dog Training.
- Watch DVD Videos and take the quizzes.
Week 5 – Long Line – Let’s Go, C’mere and Come
Take Roll – CGC greetings, check status on Stay
Heeling Drills – rally obedience patterns around cones, service dog leash
Long Line – direction changes, casual and formal recalls (Let’s go, C’mere, Come)
The Long Down
Restraints – vet checks, trust and calming exercises
Homework:
- Practice The Long Down during commercials and work up to TV shows and higher distractions.
- Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
- Read articles: Long Line Training part 1-3.
- Watch DVD Videos and take the quizzes.
Week 6 – Review and Leave It
Take Roll – CGC greetings
Prep for Graduation Test
Out For A Walk – Heel and loose leash walking with no pacing
Leave It
Homework:
- Practice for graduation.
- Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
- Watch DVD Videos and take the quizzes.
Week 7 – Graduation Day
Take Roll – CGC greetings
Graduation Testing
Intro to Agility
Discuss Continuing Education (intermediate, drop in, clinics, agility, private training, etc.)
Graduation Photos (optional)
Homework
- Training never stops. Keep practicing and don’t let bad behavior go unchecked.
- Read: WHAT’S NEXT? After Basic Obedience Class
- Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
- Post glorious reviews and photos on the Internet. 🙂
Thank you very much for coming to class. I look forward to seeing you in future classes! Please stay in touch.
Chad Culp – Certified Dog Trainer, Canine Behavior Consultant, Owner of Thriving Canine.
© Thriving Canine 2020
We offer in-person training in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as virtual consults anywhere in the world.
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