Dog Training: Same Method Used to Train Service Dogs: Flexible Schedule

This course, the first in a series of eight, will teach students the fundamentals of training their dogs to focus in order to shape behaviors. To emphasize the power of the methods employed, it is worthy to note that the methods taught in this course are the same ones used to teach service dogs. As with all training, each dog will learn at a different rate, which is to say that this course is designed with this in mind. That said, each session, students will be presented essential information on how to train their dogs. The training technique(s) will be demonstrated, not just explained. Students will learn the value of taking the time to build an excellent foundation; one from which to grow their dogs’ cognitive and physical abilities.

Given that the course materials are designed to make students think, and think deeply, each week, on Sundays, a question regarding animal behavior a/o psychology is posted for students to ponder.  Then, after pondering, they are to offer a possible plan that would seek to correct the misbehavior, or explain the obstacles to finding a possible solution. The student has up to 48 hours to contemplate the problem and offer a solution or explanation. For this reason, the weekly class recordings are not posted until Tuesdays. Note: These questions are tied directly to what the student will be learning in each week's sessions and are separate from the student discussions on the classroom wall wherein they utilize the discussion board to participate in weekly Q and A  sessions that begin on Mondays and close on Fridays. 

Over the course of the four weeks, students will cover basic obedience behaviors: FOCUS, SIT, STAY/WAIT, COME, STAND, PLACE, LEAVE IT, RETRIEVE, HEEL, and LLW. Additionally, the dog will learn to receive cues from each member of the family, thereby increasing the vocabulary comprehension of the dog.
Week One
Foundation: how and when to click 
Students will learn to use a clicker in conjunction with rewards: basic treats, high-value treats, and jackpots. Though, in order to appreciate the great value of using a clicker, students will watch a video clip that demonstrates the training process on people. Homework: Ball work to time your click/mark.

Foundational training: loading the clicker
Students will learn to implement basic clicker training techniques to get their dog to understand that click = treat. And then, click = correct behavior. Students will start by using the clicker on a behavior that the dog already knows.

Week Two
Foundational training: eye contact 
Students will learn a few essential training techniques, as well as work to use flexible thinking while in training mode. They will use these skills to teach their dogs to make eye contact. Homework: Increase the duration of eye contact from 2-3 seconds to 10-30 seconds, depending on your dogs’ ability.

Foundational training: increasing focus
Students will use the same techniques learned in the previous lesson to teach their dogs to focus. The goal is to keep the engagement fun, while slowly increasing the duration of your dogs’ focus, all the while shaping the dog's obedience behavior.

Week Three
Foundational training: adding distractions
Students will continue using the essential clicker training techniques to build their dogs’ confidence by increasing their dogs’ comprehension and duration of focus. Homework: make a short video of you training your dog to maintain eye contact for 5-10 seconds, in addition to being able to respond to both verbal and visual cues for obedience behaviors.

Foundational training: outdoor distractions
Students will continue using essential clicker training techniques. Students will challenge their dogs’ ability to focus by taking the training outside. Students will learn, first hand, that once their dogs are able to hold eye contact, distractions, of various types, will not impede their dogs’ ability to focus.

Week Four
Foundation training: working for a living
Students will teach their dogs to focus/maintain eye contact for 5-10 seconds in order to be fed, to be taken for a walk, to play with a toy, to exit the house, etc. Students will work to keep the training sessions fun and engaging.

Foundation Training: calm, cool and collected
Students will continue their work from the previous session teaching their dogs to focus/maintain eye contact for 5-10 seconds in order to be fed, to be taken for a walk, to play with a toy, to exit the house, etc. In addition, students will work on shaping behavior (i.e. dog will learn to PLACE for 2-5 minutes, LLW for the 5-10 minutes, RETRIEVE consistently, etc).

Students will be evaluated as follows:
Participation
A: Student participates in all classes.
B: Student participates in almost all of the classes.
C: Student participates in most of the classes.
Notebook
A: Students takes detailed notes. The notes are organized. The notes can be used by someone else to learn about training one’s dog.
B: Students takes fairly detailed notes. The notes are organized. The notes can be used by someone else to learn about training one’s dog.
C: Students takes fairly detailed notes. The notes are somewhat organized. The notes can be used by someone else to learn about training one’s dog.
Training
A: Student is able to use the fundamentals of dog training to shape at least one behavior.
B: Student is able to use the basic fundamentals of dog training to teach his/her dog to maintain focus and to maintain eye contact for 5-10 seconds before being fed, going for a walk, getting a toy, etc.
C: Student is able to use the basic fundamentals of dog training to increase the focus/duration of eye contact of his/her dog

Note: This is the first course in a series of eight courses. This class is a flexible schedule class. 

Materials:
Clicker
Access to a dog to train
Notebook and pencil
Lots of treats
Dog toys
Leash: 6' and 20'