January Training Challenge

Beginning in 2010, we will kick of our series of the Monthly Training Challenge! January’s inaugural challenge is from Chris Dignan*.

Beginner:

“Go Home” Teach your dog to RUN to a mat on cue.

This behavior is completed when the dog runs to the mat and then automatically goes into a sit or down stay (trainer choice) for a minimum of 10 seconds. Extra points given for adding in distractions and changing the mat location.

Even if you have trained a behavior like this with your dog, do it again! We want a clean cue and a clean history with this behavior.

Advanced:
Turning a distraction into a cue for a behavior: if you have already trained for a go home or go to your kennel, great! Let’s put it to the test. People knocking on our doors or ringing our doorbells can cause some of our dogs to lose their minds at times. What if a ringing door bell signaled an opportunity for reinforcement as opposed to an opportunity to bark and run around like a mad dog?

Your challenge: teach a dog to RUN to their home, kennel or place when they hear a doorbell or knock. The doorbell or knock MUST be the cue for the behavior without any additional prompting. You can buy a cheap, remote doorbell for under 20 bucks.

Dog must stay in a sit or down stay for 1 minute after the cue was given. Extra points given for distractions on this one as well.

*Chris Dignan
Chris Dignan has been a professional trainer since 1997, of dogs and marine mammals alike. He is the founder of the Dog Saving Network, author of several training manuals and the creative influence of Life’s Ruff, a theater production designed to educate the public about the plight of shelter dogs. He was featured last fall on The Nightly News With Brian Williams and is now using his wealth of knowledge and experience to educate the dog-training public at the new DSN Learning Center. Chris lives in the suburbs with his wife Jill, also a trainer, and their four dogs. They are expecting their first child in June.