LESSON PLAN – WEEK 8
Optional Proofing the down-stay Occasionally when you return to your dog, try the following exercise. Instead of stopping when you get into the heel position, continue on. Don’t release the dog, don’t re-command the dog to stay. He’s still under the original command. Walk to the end of the leash again, turn and face the dog and do a shortened version of the stay exercise all over again. The dog may try to follow you. If he does, reposition him in the original place, repeat the “Stay” command and hand signal, and repeat the exercise. Once the dog has stayed for a few seconds, return to him as usual, wait a few seconds, then release him and praise. Do this exercise periodically so the dog learns not to anticipate the release. Also try varying the amount of time you wait at the dog’s side before releasing him after returning to him. This simple proofing exercise will also stop his anticipating the release.
Heel on leash Continue practising on-leash heeling. Starting this week, string the heeling skills together. Start every practice with a two to three-minute heeling drill that includes all heeling skills learned to date. Remember to make the heeling interesting for your dog. Use your voice and/or food to encourage him and to keep his interest. This week you should also start using the hand signal when you give the verbal command, “Heel.” You should teach skills such as automatic sit; right turn; left turn; about turn; and change of pace – separately as well as including them in your heeling drills. After you’ve completed the drill, select one or two of the skills noted above for more intensive work. Then in the next practice session, concentrate on two different heeling skills, and so on. Practise the right and left turns. The optional heeling squares are great for practising these turns. Teach automatic sits by doing quick succession forwardhalt-forward-halt-forward-halt patterns. Do several about-turns in succession, as well. Be careful though, not to do so many that you make yourself and your dog dizzy.
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