Tag Archives: self-control

Train Your Dog Month 2016

Training Game 3.6

Living the Doggie-Zen Life

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Doggie zen is not just for training exercises; any time your dog wants access to something rewarding, have a close look at him…

He might want:

  • sniffing
  • greeting
  • going out
  • coming in
  • lead on
  • lead off
  • dinner
  • attention
  • anything else your dog may want at that moment

Quietly wait for your dog to choose calm & polite behaviour, and then allow him access to the reward.

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This weekend start to apply zen exercises to the situations in which your dog acts impulsively, impatiently or is a little bit demanding.

Zen for stealing from counters:

  • Set up Level 2 zen on a counter that your dog may steal from – except reward with a different, high value food reward than the one on the counter
  • With progress, set up Level 3 zen on the counter – except reward with a different, high value food reward than the one on the counter

Now let’s challenge your training…

  • set up Level 2 zen on the counter
  • take a step away and return
  • reward your zen dog with a different, high value reward than the food on the counter
  • build the number of steps you take away from the counter

To work out of sight you will need to set up a mirror so that you know that your dog is a zen-dog!

Zen for pulling on lead

  • Have your dog on his collar and lead, in the house or garden (low distraction situation)
  • Hold the lead by passing your hand through the loop and gripping below your wrist.
  • Brace yourself as your dog may pull…
  • Toss a food reward out of your dog’s reach.
  • Don’t move, don’t talk to your dog, don’t use your lead – just wait
  • As soon as your dog loosens the pressure on the lead say YES!
  • Bound forward to allow him to get to the tossed treat.

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You can apply this to walking your dog too – pressure on the lead turns the red light on and everything stops. Wait for your dog to relieve the pressure to continue your walk.

Zen for grabbing food or other dropped items off the floor

  • Play Level 2 zen on the floor.
  • After some success drop the treat from a couple of cm off the floor
  • Reward your dog with a different, high value reward than the one that you dropped.
  • With each success, drop the floor another couple of cm but build very gradually.

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Zen for stealing socks, tissues or other stolen items

  • Work through zen levels 1-4 using your dog’s favourite stealables

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It’s up to your dog to choose zen

Teaching your dog to be a zen-dog is about teaching him that he  always has choices.

Your dog can grab that treat during Level 1 or 2 games – he’s quicker and more motivated than you are – but you are showing him that there are other things he can do to get what he wants.

Zen-dogs get the things they like and it’s their choice!

 

Train Your Dog Month 2016

Training Game 3.5

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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:

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

Top Training Tips

Training Game 3.4

Doggie Zen Level 3

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So yesterday we achieved zen with only one or two treats on the floor, today it’s a whole bowl of treats on the floor…and you thought Level 2 was a challenge!

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 3

  • add some food rewards to a small bowl or container (make sure you can cover the container with one hand)
  • begin to lower the container toward the floor, if your dog moves toward the container of food, bring the food back up to your lap or onto a chair or table
  • if your dog offers behaviours from his polite list continue to lower the container until you can get it on the floor
  • if your dog approaches the container cover it with your hand
  • if your dog paws or bites at your hand lift the container up off the floor for a couple of seconds and try to lower gradually again
  • cover the container until your dog shows at least one behaviour from your polite list
  • once uncovered, if your dog stays back from the container of food offer him a food reward

Work on this one until your dog can stay back off the container full of treats!

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Train Your Dog Month 2016

Training Game 3.3

Doggie Zen Level 2

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Was your dog able to achieve zen at level 1? Let’s try Level 2…

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.

Now it’s really going to get tough as we move the food to the floor…

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Zen Level 2

Practice a couple of rounds of Level 1 and then take your handful of food and place it on the floor – keep it covered!

  • place some food rewards on the floor
  • cover with your palm
  • when your dog moves away from your palm covering the food rewards, move your hand to the side
  • quickly re-cover the food if he approaches again
  • offer him one food reward if he can show any of the behaviours on his polite list

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Food on the floor is super-duper hard to resist for dogs so don’t worry if this is too challenging.

Instead of the on the floor start this one with the food on a chair, sofa or coffee table.

Build right the way through today’s challenge before moving the food to the floor for this dog.

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Level 2 Challenge

Once your dog has achieved Level 2 zen, build their patience one second at a time.

How long can your dog leave that treat on the floor?

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Train Your Dog Month 2016

Training Game 3.2

Doggie Zen Level 1

A zen-dog is a pleasure to live with because he has learned that good things come to dogs who wait.

The zen-dog doesn’t steal food or belongings, the zen-dog doesn’t snatch things out of hands, the zen-dog doesn’t jump up on people or counters to grab food or items, the zen-dog doesn’t steal from your plate, even when you leave it down within reach.

The zen-dog waits patiently, asks nicely and behaves politely to get the things he wants.

Would you like a zen-dog? You’re in the right place…

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We are going to build on our NO mugging rule by teaching our dog, that to get the food in your hand, be patient and polite.

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.

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 1:

  • hold some food rewards in your palm
  • if your dog approaches your palm, close your fist
  • if your dog attempts to mouth or paw your fist withdraw your hand by bending at the elbow
  • when your dog stops, re-present your open palm
  • repeat as needed
  • as soon as you notice your dog chooses not to move toward the treat or showing any of the behaviours on his polite list, offer him the food

Start working on this exercise with just your dog’s regular food in your closed fist and as he improves increase the value of the food rewards.

It’s best to start with this exercise while sitting on a chair or sofa.

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Level 1 Challenge:

  • try to build the time your dog leaves the treat in your palm – just a one count at a time
  • as you progress, you might notice that your dog looks away from the treat to you (“hey! gimme my treat!”)
  • reward that – being able to look away from something they really want and give you eye contact is a great start (“please, may I have the treat?”)

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Wow!

That’s the first step toward your dog becoming a zen-dog!

Train Your Dog Month 2016

Training Game 3.1

The First Rule of Week 3…

NO Mugging!

When it comes to food, especially high value food, dogs are pretty quick about hoovering up any morsel they can get to, so, the first rule of this week’s games will be that mugging = nothing but patience = yummies.

Your powers of observation are needed here again – this time you are looking out for polite behaviours to reward.

Polite-list behaviours that you might reward include:

  • four feet on the floor (no jumping up)
  • quiet (no barking or whining)
  • moving back from you
  • being still
  • standing away from you

Can you come up with a list of behaviours that tell you your dog is being patient and polite?

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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.

Family Participation:
For this exercise it’s best to get this really well established before allowing children participate in this one, just in case this excites and frustrates your dog a little at the start.

Top Tip for Today’s Training Games:
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.

Options to try might include:

  • having the food in or under a tighter hand
  • using lower value food
  • working when your dog is calmer and the house is quiet
  • practicing after your dog has been fed so he’s not as hungry
  • making sure there are no other dogs around

Beginner Level Game

Start standing up, holding a handful of yummy treats – you can have the treats in a treat pouch, in a bowl or any container you wish.

Make sure your dog notices the yummies and wait for him to approach.
Before your dog gets to you, toss a food reward just behind him.

He will approach again; repeat.

There’s no talking in this game – so don’t ask your dog to do a behaviour!

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Not only does Benny the puppy offer polite distance but he also sits – dogs do what works, so if you reward it, they will do it!

We are easing your dog into this game by rewarding him where we want him to be – a little bit away from us so there’s no mugging!

After some practice at this game, try our advanced games next.

Advanced Level Game

Now that your dog has learned how to be a bit more polite when you are standing up with treats, we are going to increase the challenge little by little.

  • holding your treats, bend at the knee a little
  • as soon as your dog approaches, toss a treat away
  • repeat lots, bending a little lower each time if you can

Still no talking or asking your dog to do behaviours!

A greater challenge: 

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to watch your dog and reward him every time he is being patient and polite.

When you begin with this game, just choose one polite behaviour at a time to reward.
When your dog is offering that one, choose a second polite behaviour and reward that, and so on.

Each time you see your dog offering one of these behaviours reward him with a teeny treat.
Holding your treats, kneel on the floor or sit on a low chair or stool.

Work through your list of polite behaviours, watching your dog closely.

Reward your dog where you want him to be so hold your reward right at his nose and guide his head away from you before releasing the reward.

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If that’s too tricky, don’t worry – sit on a chair instead.

Can you see what we are doing here?

We are slowly making it harder for your dog to be polite by gradually increasing the challenge each time he is successful.

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Are you able to sit on the floor with food in your hand or in your lap today? Get practicing!

Train Your Dog Month 2016

TYD 2016 Week 3

You may have noticed that most dogs pretty much arrive believing that if they want it, they can take it, when they want it.

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Jumpy really wants his toy but has learned that by responding to cues he can get his reward…

Week 3 Patience Pays

Improved self-control can lead to a vast progress in lots and lots of training and behaviour exercises you’re working on.

In the dictionary, beside the definition for "self-control"
In the dictionary, beside the definition for “self-control”

 

This week we will be working on teaching our dog that he just can’t have all the things he wants, when he wants them – but instead, teaching him a new rule, that patience pays.

What do I need for Week 3?

  • Training Mix
  • your dog’s favourite things (treats, toys, activities and so on)
  • a little bowl
  • leash, collar and so on for walkies

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Week 3 Training Games

  • The First Rule of Week 3
  • Doggie Zen Level 1
  • Doggie Zen Level 2
  • Doggie Zen Level 3
  • Doggie Zen Level 4
  • Living the Doggie Zen Life

What’s my dog learning?

  • I am learning that good things come to those who wait!
  • I can control my frustration and can wait patiently
  • I learn that I can’t have everything I want when I want it!
  • I learn how to choose more appropriate behaviours rather than having to be told what to do.
  • I become better at settling myself and am much easier to live with.
  • By learning to tolerate frustration and delay of reward helps prevent me developing more serious behaviour issues. 

We’re exchanging impatient and pushy for calm and polite!

You can download a more printer friendly, but abbreviated version of this week’s exercises here.