Boundary Games teaches your dog to go to a place, a mat or a bed when asked (on cue)
It teaches your dog that this is the most profitable place to be (loads of goodies for being on this boundary)
It teaches your dog that when he is in this place he has to be calm and stay there quietly
It teaches your dog a release cue and he stays there until he is released to come to interact with you.
It teaches your dog that this is the best place to be
How do we do this
Step 1 - reward any interaction with the bed or mat or whatever you want to start with e.g. dog looking at bed, reward, dog moving towards bed, reward, paw on bed, reward. Dog gets fully on bed, reward, reward, reward praise,praise,praise. Drop the rewards onto the bed
This is what we call shaping a behaviour.
Step 2 - Any time your dog chooses to go to the bed reward her (treats onto the bed)
Any time your dog is lying calmly on the bed reward her (treats onto the bed)
even if she is sleeping reward her (treats onto the bed)
Step 3 - Feed lots and often . Use their daily allowance. Drip feed to the bed. You want to reward any calmness and reward slowly, the slower the better.
Step 4 - Release your dog off the bed with a cue (e.g. okay, break you can decide what cue to use)
Step5 - When your dog chooses to go back to the bed reward her hugely. Keep your cues to a bare minimum. If it is the dogs choice to go back to the bed then the learning is more powerful that you telling her to go back.
Step 6 - Remember that release cue. Your dog needs to know when you want her to get off again
You want your dog to love that bed, to find huge value to being in the bed and to find calmness in the bed. This is one of the most useful skills you can teach.
Written by "Games based dog trainer"
It teaches your dog that this is the most profitable place to be (loads of goodies for being on this boundary)
It teaches your dog that when he is in this place he has to be calm and stay there quietly
It teaches your dog a release cue and he stays there until he is released to come to interact with you.
It teaches your dog that this is the best place to be
How do we do this
Step 1 - reward any interaction with the bed or mat or whatever you want to start with e.g. dog looking at bed, reward, dog moving towards bed, reward, paw on bed, reward. Dog gets fully on bed, reward, reward, reward praise,praise,praise. Drop the rewards onto the bed
This is what we call shaping a behaviour.
Step 2 - Any time your dog chooses to go to the bed reward her (treats onto the bed)
Any time your dog is lying calmly on the bed reward her (treats onto the bed)
even if she is sleeping reward her (treats onto the bed)
Step 3 - Feed lots and often . Use their daily allowance. Drip feed to the bed. You want to reward any calmness and reward slowly, the slower the better.
Step 4 - Release your dog off the bed with a cue (e.g. okay, break you can decide what cue to use)
Step5 - When your dog chooses to go back to the bed reward her hugely. Keep your cues to a bare minimum. If it is the dogs choice to go back to the bed then the learning is more powerful that you telling her to go back.
Step 6 - Remember that release cue. Your dog needs to know when you want her to get off again
You want your dog to love that bed, to find huge value to being in the bed and to find calmness in the bed. This is one of the most useful skills you can teach.
Written by "Games based dog trainer"