Clean Run Magazine - May 2007 - 35

Introducing “Equipment” Probably the first “equipment” you will teach your pup to use will be a crate. Other apparatus you should introduce are expens, stools, low platforms, balance air-cushions, Buja boards, training planks, and kiddie swimming pools, or small containers holding a few inches of water that your puppy can step into without being lifted. Each time you introduce your pup to a new piece of equipment you should keep in mind the following guideline: The pup should move onto (under, in, or through) the device step by step, freely without being physically placed or being forced to use the item. Puppies that are allowed to learn equipment in this way rarely become frightened or balk at your use of the items. Each of these steps to introduce something new to your pup could be broken down into many smaller steps, but these are the basics. Reward your pup when he • Looks at the device • Moves toward it • Makes contact (foot, nose, or any part of the body touches the item) • Finally interacts in some way with the equipment “Interacting” with a Buja board could look like this: touching with paw, touching harder with a paw, putting both front paws on the board, keeping both paws on it, getting on and off the board, standing momentarily with all four feet on it, moving around on the board. Each step should be rewarded. If the pup looks at the board but does not touch it, offer the treat close to the board. After the pup touches the board, feed while his foot is still in contact if possible. Keep upping the ante in small ways. When using a device you want the pup to move around on or in, try to get the pup to move by feeding a little out of his reach. He will have to move more to get to the treat. If you reward standing still, that is what he will do. Feed the pup instantly after you praise or mark the progress. Eventually you want to feed or play with the pup while he is on, inside of, or using the device in some way. When using devices that do not really need to have a specific cue, I have a general cue word I use for getting on things. I say Hop On. Sweep will hop on a small box, his balance toys, a Buja board, or even a dog bed. Reward every small step! Stand Sweep learned to stand on command this past month. We ask him to stand while he is on the grooming table being brushed and having his nails cut, and we include the stand as part of his position training. If you have not yet taught your dog to stand on command, here’s an easy way to get started. Gather up your pup and some cookies and sit in a chair with your knees together. Get your pup out in front of you and hold a cookie just over your dog’s nose to lure him into a sit, but don’t say sit and don’t give out the cookie. Draw your hand away and keep both of your hands still at your side May 07 | Clean Run or on your lap. Your pup will probably stand up because you did not tell him to sit, and he did not get reinforced for doing so. Look for any movement of your dog’s rear end or rear feet. As soon as your pup stands up or starts to stand up, mark and then feed the cookie just under his chin, almost at his chest, but not while he is in the sit. If your pup moves but does not get out of the sit or he stands and then sits as soon as you mark it, then toss the cookie between his feet or at his side so he has to stand up to get the treat. I like my dogs to stand up rear end first, rather than walking forward into a stand. The cookie-underthe-chin method works well to get your pup to move his rear end back, rather than his front end forward. Don’t feed the pup in your lap; put the cookie out where you want him to stand or he will continue to move forward. Use your treat delivery to help keep him right where you want him. As soon as he stands up, mark and reward, and continue to hand-feed cookies as long as he stays standing. Because stand is not a complex position for the dog, I add the Stand command quite early. As soon as the pup is starting to catch on, I say Stand just before marking the behavior. Lure the sit–wait–pup stands–say Stand–click–treat. When you really think you are making progress you can ask your pup to sit or down, and then use your cue word to get him to stand. 35

Clean Run Magazine - May 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - May 2007