Week 3 Training Walk Strategies and Training Walk Exercises to practice, goals and times

TRAINING ON WALKS SHOULD START TO BE THE CONCENTRATION RIGHT NOW.  OR EVEN JUST IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS LIKE YOUR PARENTS' YARD, OUTSIDE A BUSINESS FROM A DISTANCE, PARKS AT A DISTANCE FROM THE ACTION, AND SO FORTH.

HERE ARE SOME WALK TRAINING STRATEGIES:

NOTE: I FORGOT TO TAKE VIDEO OF YOU GUYS WHILE WORKING LIKE I USUALLY DO WHEN WEEK 3 EXIT LESSON HAPPENS.  HERE ARE SOME STAND IN DOGS TO DEMONSTRATE THESE STRATEGIES FOR YOU.

  1. Stop and wait for the leash pressure to be released by the dog before starting forward.  This can sometimes be frustrating, and that is why I use multiple strategies when walking.  It can also be very easy sometimes, and something you really want your dog to understand.  This is not a good strategy in a high-distraction situation.  If you encounter an unexpected high distraction situation, try to get some distance away first. 

  2. The heel "cheat" with the leash behind your legs.  DO NOT do this one if you have balance issues or are on uneven terrain (hills, stairs, ...).  The leash is held behind your legs when a dog is not quite ready to heel or walk on a loose leash.  We do this when we want to train mostly on distractions and not form per se.  

  3. Lured heels step 1, step 2, or the more adult heel without the lure.  Practice these in less distracting situations to build up the habit.  Then your dog may start to learn to ignore the more powerful distractions.  
4.  Working with sit stays during the walk to slow your dog's role, especially if they are reactive.

5.  Using "come" [you will hear me say "let's go"] to relieve leash pressure and practice "let's go" on walks.  




NOTE:  DON'T FORGET THAT JUST LIKE BEFORE (INSIDE AND IN LESSER DISTRACTIONS) YOU ARE WORKING ON YOUR GOALS AND/OR BUILDING YOUR GOALS BACK UP.  


1.  Sits first command or auto sits (with lured heeling step 1 or step 2), goals are 3 sets of 4 in a row under 5 minutes eventually.
2.  Still sit stays, circle sit stays, and circle place (if you have a safe space, you can practice this outside and most likely reduce the time/distance to the beginning) are 4 in a row for 1 minute, eventually under 6 minutes.
3.  "Send to place" is always great to practice in a safe area outside.  The goal is 3 sets of 4 in a row under 6 minutes.
4.  Long place goals is 30 minutes with more distractions, meaning possibly outside in a safe space and on the long line.  The goal is basically to have as few step-offs as possible in 30 minutes (or 5 minutes if you want to start back to a shorter time and build up).
5.  "Sit on the Dog" worked in more distractions has the goal that your dog goes into a down on their own in under 5 minutes.  Then you want to watch for their demeanor to become more relaxed over time before increasing the distractions.
6.  "Come" for food reward and treat as a strategy for walking on the 6' leash and keeping it loose.  You want to get three sets of 4 in a row returns BEFORE your dog hits the end of the leash for 3 sets of 4 in a row under 10 minutes.
8.  "Loose Leash" walking in general.  See the 6 strategies listed above.  The goal is to start to be able to move a certain number of steps without the leash getting tight.  I'll start with 3 steps, then 5, then 10, then 20, and finally 40.  Your goal is to easily get three sets of four in a row before adding additional steps to your goal.

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