GETTING READY TO TRAIN (handout)

 I am providing the "getting ready to train" handout that I give during my 8-week classes, and it has some good training tips and equipment tips in it.... I hope this is helpful to you all.  Here is a link to the folder that contains this handout as well as handouts for the beginning-level behaviors,  Further explanation:

Elements (criterion) of a behavior (in random order):

Duration (how long the behavior lasts)

Distance (distance from you, or while performing behavior)

Distraction (temptations, new environments)

Intensity (how hard the dog pulls, or nudges, etc)

Speed (how fast the behavior is done)

Each criterion can be thought of as a “bar” you raise or lower. When you raise one new bar, lower the

others until the new one is strong, and then slowly build back up to the other criteria levels again.