Training Chain - Week 4 - ‘The Orbit’
What you’ll need - A happy, healthy dog. - Food/treats to reward - you’ll be holding food in both hands so make sure you have enough and don’t be cheap. - A clicker or verbal marker (doesn’t matter what your marker is. Just make sure it’s the same every time). - Phone or camera (or a friend to film). I recommend filming your sessions to identify what worked well and what didn’t. - Quiet, non-distracting space with good light - especially when starting out. Step-by-step Step 1 — Get a dog. Step 2 — Food in both hands. Hold a treat in each hand. Step 3 — Dog by your side — doesn’t matter which side. Start with the dog in a neutral standing position at your side if you need to. Step 4 — Lure from start to finish - Start by showing the lure (food) low near the dog’s nose and slowly move it to the target finished position (e.g., sit at your left). Keep the lure moving smoothly and clearly so the dog follows with their head and body. - Swap hands behind your back to keep a nice flowing movement. - Mark and reward only when the dog reaches the finished position. Click / “Yes!” the instant the dog is in the correct spot, then give the treat from the closest hand. Marking & rewarding — keep it clean 1. Always mark the finished position (click / “Yes!”) the instant it happens. Don’t mark early. 2. Reward from the closest hand so the dog learns the finish position - make sure you’ve got food readily available in both hands before starting the training session. 3. Avoid paying partway through 4. Don’t reward or let the dog take the treat while they’re still in motion or not in the finished position. If you reward mid-move, the dog may learn “get reward in the middle” — not what you want. If the dog makes a mistake 1. Correct with the lure: calmly place the lure back where it needs to be and guide them to the correct finish, then mark & reward. OR 1. Reset: Simply start the exercise again. Don’t get frustrated or tell your dog off - keep it neutral and short. If for whatever reason it’s just not happening then move on to something your dog knows how to do and end the session on a high.