Tag Archives: dog trainng

Training Game 3.5

Doggie Zen Level 4

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You thought Level 3 was tough? You ain’t seen nothing yet!

Today’s Games

Time Allowance:
Practice for 1-2 minute sessions and then take a break. Have a few  sessions today.

Try fitting  each short session into your routine; for example, while you wait for the kettle to boil, during the ad break of your TV show or while you wait for the computer to start up.

Really do keep sessions short on these exercises! The self-control bank account depletes fast and your dog will need some time to recuperate so make sure to give them a good break too.

Family Participation:
This exercise is for adults only!

Top Tip for Today’s Training Games:
Notice that we don’t ask our dog to do anything here at all – no talking!

This is about self-control – we are working on a default here so you never need to ask for polite behaviour when you have things your dog wants – he just does it!

Remember, if your dog gets stuck with any of our exercises this week, think of ways that you can make it easier for him to succeed and then build again more gradually.

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Zen Level 4

Play a little bit of Level 3 first to warm up.

  • when your dog moves back from the container, take one food reward out and place on the floor beside the container
  • (be ready to cover the container and the food on the floor if your dog approaches)
  • pick that food off the floor and put back in the container, feed one food reward from the container to your dog
  • repeat using different combinations of placing food on the floor, putting it back into the container, feeding from the floor and feeding from the container

Really short sessions for this one as it’s very tough!

Check out our compilation of some Level 4 Zen-dogs:

Link

Dogs of all shapes & sizes, and of all ages & stages can become zen-dogs!

TYDM 2016 Week 1

Animals naturally want to work for food – when we feed them for free they may not have acceptable outlets for those feeding behaviours that they don’t need for finding food…

Week 1 – Earning Your Keep

Dogs come with lots of behaviours that are inbuilt; most of these behaviours are in conflict with what we humans like…

Providing your dog with entertainment and enrichment will allow your dog to carry out these behaviours in a more appropriate and acceptable way.

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So, this week we are going to work on teaching your dog to earn their keep by working for their food (food is currency to dogs!). This way your dog gets lots of opportunities to carry out doggie behaviours (without annoying the humans!) and you get plenty of time to relax while your dog does the work (this is lazy dog training)!

Dogs with plenty of mental exercise (along with appropriate physical exercise) are happy, healthy and a joy to live with.

Week 1 Training Games

  • using your dog’s regular food for fun & brain-games
  • the nose knows – sniffing games for dogs
  • fun & brain games – puzzles for dogs
  • pacifying & energising enrichment activities
  • tricks for treats

What’s my dog learning?

  • I have outlets for doggie behaviour so don’t feel bored and am less likely to develop unwanted behaviour.
  • I am content from both physical and mental exercise so can settle myself calmly.
  • My problem solving abilities are improving so my confidence will grow and I will become easier to teach.
  • I can occupy myself with my own activities.
  • Games with rules teach me responsiveness, even when excited.
  • Balancing both physical and mental exercise can prevent more serious behaviour issues developing

See? This is more than just fun and games…

You can download a more printer friendly, but abbreviated, version of the Week 1 plan here.