I have another beginner training question- thanks very much as always for the help from generous souls here!

I think Greta and I are ready to move onto the next step for sit and down; I didn't quite understand from the Ellis videos we have (and I could have missed it) whether we move on to variable reinforcement / random reward first, or distractions first. Or do these two phases happen in tandem?

Is it:
1. Lure, name, fade, distract, random-reward or
2. Lure, name, fade, random-reward, distract

I'm guessing with option two you may have to back up to constant rewards if a new distraction is too much and work your way up again?

Happy Friday to all-

Carolyn

Technically, I have never thought this through, so some professional trainers may already have a reply formulated for this.

In my training, adding distraction to a behavior that is not proofed (including duration and being put on a random reward schedule) is a surefire path to confusion. I naturally would have the behavior solidified before it occurred to me to deliberately add distraction.

Time, distance and distractions Follow up once the puppy has a good understanding of the behavior without time, distance or distractions.

What's first?

For me it's time next.

Example

If I'm working on a sit it will be close to the dog while it's being taught because you don't want to add time AND distraction AND distance unless you right with the dog.

NEVER add any of the two the three at the same time.

Example

My pup had a good sit on command with small distractions after I've worked my way to 15-20 seconds with the pup.

When I want to add distance then I will go back in close to the pup and slowly add that distance but not beyond that 15-20 seconds

I've now got a small distance with a small amount of time now I want to add a small distraction to it.

AGAIN, I go back to being close to the pup when I add that distraction without time or distance.

Others' may do it in a bit different order but the key FOR ME is adding one at a time and randomly ask for time, distance and distraction until you've got solid compliance with all three.

Make sense?

Yeh, do believe Bob. I had made the error of adding distance much too early. So when the dog broke the stay i was too far away to do anything against it. I also increased both time and distance. She was bored and off she was. Additionally I was dumb enough not to have her on a long leash, so that I could have stopped her by standing on it.

I've changed this of course in between and all my dogs have now a sit, down and stand stay of about 10 minutes and a distance of about 6 meters with little distractions. Under big ones not yet.

I've heard people saying that their dog stays on his place for hours (so not in the same position, just how he feels comfortable). I can not imagine this. Is this really possible?

Thanks for the feedback- sounds like duration is our next focus

Best-