December 24th – Make the break station stronger with disruptions 🛋️✨
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 We have already worked on teaching the dog to find its resting place and understand the release signal, but now it is time to take the next step: distraction training. Because it is one thing for the dog to stay in the basket when you are looking at it – something completely different when you are busy with something else. 🐾😊
Disturbances occur in everyday life: You're cooking, reaching for something in your jacket pocket, or talking to guests. That's why your dog needs to learn that basket means basket – whether you're beeping the beeper or the zipper says "zip." 🔊🐕
How to train with distractions:
1️⃣ Start with simple disturbances:
When your dog is lying in the basket, you can raise one arm in the air. Does it stay down? Reward! 🦴👏 If it gets up, you kindly help it back down and try again.
2️⃣ Play with the jacket's details:
For example, use the DogCoach jacket's squeaker in the collar, or put your hand in the snack pocket. 🚶♂️🔔 Does the dog stay down? Reward with treats from the pocket. If not, repeat the exercise, but make a milder version of the disturbance.
3️⃣ Gradually increase the difficulty:
Start with small movements and move on to larger disruptions:
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Place an object on the floor. 🪑
-
Open and close a drawer. 🔄
-
Leave the room briefly. 🚪
4️⃣ Repeat and be patient:
Every time your dog stays down, even with distractions, you reinforce his understanding that the basket is a place where he finds peace – until you say “free.” 🌿💚
Handling errors:
If your dog gets up, be calm and consistent. Get him back on the carpet without rewarding him, and try the same disruption again, but in a gentler way. 💡 It's not about mistakes, it's about learning.
By training calmness with disturbances, you create a dog that can handle both the small hustle and bustle of the home and larger challenges with calmness and confidence. 🐕✨ Remember to make the training fun and positive, and soon your dog will master finding calm - no matter what is happening around him.
Thank you for following along in the Christmas advent calendar, have a very Merry Christmas :)
About Zara Zachariasen from Dog Life
Zara is a dedicated dog trainer and passionate dog owner.
Zara's love for dogs and the relationship between dog and owner shines through in her approach to training. She pays attention to detail and often has a strong theoretical approach to her teaching.
Zara currently works full-time as a dog trainer in her company Hundeliv. Here she shares her knowledge with physical training classes, and as a presenter of webinars, workshops and articles.
Follow Zara on the Facebook page " Hundeliv ," where she shares her own training experiences and reflections.
Advent Calendar with Dog Life | Door 24 - Make the break station stronger with disruptions
December 24th – Make the break station stronger with disruptions 🛋️✨
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 We have already worked on teaching the dog to find its resting place and understand the release signal, but now it is time to take the next step: distraction training. Because it is one thing for the dog to stay in the basket when you are looking at it – something completely different when you are busy with something else. 🐾😊
Disturbances occur in everyday life: You're cooking, reaching for something in your jacket pocket, or talking to guests. That's why your dog needs to learn that basket means basket – whether you're beeping the beeper or the zipper says "zip." 🔊🐕
How to train with distractions:
1️⃣ Start with simple disturbances:
When your dog is lying in the basket, you can raise one arm in the air. Does it stay down? Reward! 🦴👏 If it gets up, you kindly help it back down and try again.
2️⃣ Play with the jacket's details:
For example, use the DogCoach jacket's squeaker in the collar, or put your hand in the snack pocket. 🚶♂️🔔 Does the dog stay down? Reward with treats from the pocket. If not, repeat the exercise, but make a milder version of the disturbance.
3️⃣ Gradually increase the difficulty:
Start with small movements and move on to larger disruptions:
4️⃣ Repeat and be patient:
Every time your dog stays down, even with distractions, you reinforce his understanding that the basket is a place where he finds peace – until you say “free.” 🌿💚
Handling errors:
If your dog gets up, be calm and consistent. Get him back on the carpet without rewarding him, and try the same disruption again, but in a gentler way. 💡 It's not about mistakes, it's about learning.
By training calmness with disturbances, you create a dog that can handle both the small hustle and bustle of the home and larger challenges with calmness and confidence. 🐕✨ Remember to make the training fun and positive, and soon your dog will master finding calm - no matter what is happening around him.
Thank you for following along in the Christmas advent calendar, have a very Merry Christmas :)
About Zara Zachariasen from Dog Life
Zara is a dedicated dog trainer and passionate dog owner.
Zara's love for dogs and the relationship between dog and owner shines through in her approach to training. She pays attention to detail and often has a strong theoretical approach to her teaching.
Zara currently works full-time as a dog trainer in her company Hundeliv. Here she shares her knowledge with physical training classes, and as a presenter of webinars, workshops and articles.
Follow Zara on the Facebook page " Hundeliv ," where she shares her own training experiences and reflections.