Proofing Skills

[tigger000]

So i was wondering how you go about proofing skills with a dog that is easily/highly distracted?

I need to proof a scent detection skill and an assistance skill (i am no where near that stage yet, but just wanted some ideas for when/if i get there). I need to perform these skills in a new environment with other dogs/people around for a course i am doing.

The dog i am working with is easily distracted by people/other dogs.. so i was wondering what the best ways are to overcome this?

[The Spotted Devil]

I'm not saying this is the way to go but my Dally is EXTREMELY enthusiastic about sniffing and marking. What I did initially was to use that as a reward. So for example - in heel position - a few seconds focus, reinforce with food and then release to sniff and mark. I slowly built that up - he now competes in agility and obedience. Once we exit the ring he has a food reward and I then take him over to a tree so he can sniff and mark and scrape. Crazy dog

ETA: With my pup, it is much easier to be the centre of her world because of her breed so I just make myself the most interesting thing around.

Edited January 31, 2011 by The Spotted Devil

[Nekhbet]

what skill? I'd be tempted to put a correction chain on the dog and give it one if it shoots off. But more details would be better for better advice lol

[huski]

IMO for most people it's about the foundation work you've done to get good focus and drive. You also have to introduce distractions gradually - the mistake a lot of people make is going from a low distraction environment like their home to somewhere with a super high level of distraction like obedience club or the dog park.

[corvus]

Play the "Give Me A Break" game from Control Unleashed. Release the dog to do what they like after a few moments of training. If they can only concentrate for 10 seconds, train for 5. If they can concentrate for a minute, train for 30 seconds. Then release and wait for the dog to come back to you. I think that's how that game goes. You should probably check, though!

After that it comes down to fluency.

[Vickie]

IMO for most people it's about the foundation work you've done to get good focus and drive. You also have to introduce distractions gradually - the mistake a lot of people make is going from a low distraction environment like their home to somewhere with a super high level of distraction like obedience club or the dog park.

Totally agree. I like to get really creative at home, before I take it outside.

I also insist on 100% attention when I ask for it. My dogs are the type/breeding that rarely get distracted but I have spent a lot of time training dogs of different breeds/drives/upbringing lately. I do WHATEVER I need to (and insist the same of the owner), to keep a dog's attention while we are training. Sometimes this means acting like a total fool, sometimes it means very short sessions, sometimes it means training in the bathroom & sometimes it means using a whole fried chicken. Whatever it takes.

I am not a fan of letting a dog choose to do it's own thing. Too often, I see the owner spectating as the dog totally loses focus. If I cannot control the dog's attention/distraction, it loses the opportunity to earn rewards & is put away & given another chance in a less distracting environment to earn those rewards.