Clean Run - June 2017 - 66

Step 10: Changing the
position of the bowl
relative to the dog or
increasing the value of the
temptation you put in the
bowl (such as adding a
toy), brings the level of
difficulty up considerably.
Go slowly at this step.
Don't overface your dog!

Step 10:
Increase Difficulty
Once your dog is completely successful
with the bowl placed all the way on the
floor (and you are shooting for 90% or
better success rate on this), the sky's the
limit as to where you can go next. My
goal usually is to get the dog solidly waiting for a release cue with the bowl all the
way on the floor for up to five seconds
with me moving around in different positions, and then standing farther away.
You can also begin placing the bowl in
different locations relative to the dog.
You can place a toy in the bowl. You can
increase environmental distractions. You
can also use Zen bowl with movementrelated duration behaviors, such as heeling, and then release to the bowl. Lots of
fun uses for this one!

Backchained Release Cue
I'm not going to outline all the steps for
the backchaining exercise in detail because they are very similar to the Zen
bowl exercise. It's just nice to know you
don't always need a bowl to teach this
skill. With the backchained release cue,
you start just as before: saying the release
cue then stepping back. But instead of

placing a bowl down, you will click as
the dog moves and then toss a treat somewhere a bit behind your foot.

Sit/down/go to mat/chin rest, etc. -
"Stay" - duration - release cue - dog
pops up/click - food-toss.

Note: For some dogs, adding the click
helps make it more clear the correct behavior after the release cue is to move.
Otherwise the progression is similar to
that of Zen bowl.

Backchained Release Step 5: Work
though duration, distance, and distractions just as before. Remember to give
the release cue only when the dog is still,
and to reinforce correct responses to the
release cue each time with either food, a
toy, or-later on down the line-a cue for
another preferred behavior.

Backchained Release Step 1: Warm up
with click - step back - food-toss a few
times to get your dog into that pattern.
Backchained Release Step 2: Now say
your release cue: "Stay" - step back -
click when dog moves - food-toss.
Backchained Release Step 3: After
a number of repetitions with a good
rhythm, test your dog's understanding
by adding in that little pause again before
stepping back.
Release cue - pause - click when dog
moves - food-toss. If your dog hesitates
or looks confused, take a baby step back,
then click right when he moves.
Backchained Release Step 4: Add in
whatever duration behavior you'd like
to practice at this point ("stay" or "wait"
cues are optional).

Summary
Wait-for-release is among the first skills
I teach just about every dog I work with.
The powerful combo of backchaining,
plus cues used as secondary reinforcers,
cement duration behaviors in place by
setting up a pattern that is 100% predictable. Dogs that develop a fluent response
to release cues-and, most importantly,
that continue to receive reinforcement
for correct performance of release cues
throughout their careers-tend to excel
in most self-control-related training challenges, both in sport and in daily life. Best
of all, release cues allow us to teach our
dogs how to wait for things, resist temptations, remain safe, and stay focused on us
without frustration or failure. D

Wait-for-release is among the first skills I teach just about every dog I work with.
The powerful combo of backchaining, plus cues used as secondary reinforcers, cement duration
behaviors in place by setting up a pattern that is 100% predictable.

Sarah Owings KPA CTP is passionate about reaching the difficult dog, and specializes in using clicker-training principles to help transform the lives of fearful or shy dogs.
As the owner of Bridges Dog Training and a regular contributor to online training forums, she is known for her innovative approaches to tough behavior problems, and
her compassionate and insightful teaching. She serves as faculty at ClickerExpo, an instructor for Karen Pryor Academy, as well as an advisor to the Glendale Humane
Society in Los Angeles. She can be reached at www.bridgesdogtraining.com and on Facebook.
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Clean Run | June 17

http://www.bridgesdogtraining.com

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