Moon Dog Training - Reactive Rover Homework

reactive rover class homework

Hi Friends!

Here is your homework for the next four weeks. I know it's temping to read ahead, but please be sure to JUST focus on the week that we are on. This class is very dependent on creating a good solid base in order to move forward successfully. Take your time on each command/behavior, and don't move too fast. It will be worth it, I promise!

Depending on how the class flows, we may get through more each week, or we may not get through as much. It will all even out at the end of the four weeks.

Please feel free to reach out at any time if you have questions!

Reactive Rover - Week One
Welcome to our Reactive Rover Class. I am so excited to be working with you and your pups. This class is about engaging and connecting with your dog. It's not about doing the exercises perfectly: it's about focused attention from your dog and having FUN with your dog.

Here are some of the things we worked on in class and that you should work on this week.

Passive Attention: massaging your dog, and calm and even breathing.
Active Attention: techniques to use: Look, Leave it, and other games we will be learning in the following weeks.
Threshold: Every dog has a different point where they are going to react. Our goal is to keep them under that level.
Release word: When we ask the dog to do something, for example sit, we expect the dog to remain sitting until we release them. Most people use "ok" as their release work.
Loading the Clicker/ Marking our dogs behavior: We use the clicker or mark with "yes" to indicate to the dog when he does something that we want him to do. This is where we just clicked/or used yes, and treated our dogs. From now on every time we mark with yes, our dogs should know that a treat is coming.
Timing: Remember timing is everything, for example you ask your dog to sit, then your dog sits but you wait a little too long and your dog turns his head. Which behavior is your dog being marked for, sitting or turning his head. Don't forget to practice.
Teaching our dogs to look: This week, we placed a treat in each hand. Then we let our dogs know we had the treats and stretched our arms straight out to the side and waited for our dogs to look to us. This is a thinking game for our dogs. When they do not understand what we want of them, they should LOOK to us for further instruction.
Targeting: This is used to help the dog learn to focus on you and block out the distractions. Hold your hand out for your dog to sniff as soon as they do, click and treat from your other hand. We want them to target an empty hand.

Reactive Rovers - Week Two
We are going to be working on different distractions next week. Along with your treats, clicker, mat (and anything else your bringing) please bring one of your dog's favorite toys!!
Here are the things we went over in class:

Doggie Zen: We asked our dogs for longer looks-we practiced "Look" for a count of 5 (and at home you can try all the way up to 10)! We also practiced with our dogs beside us instead of in front of us.
Go to Place: We want our dogs to be able to go to their mats, beds, blanket, etc. when we ask them too. It is their own "private haven" where they can always feel safe. We practiced throwing treats on to their mat, and as soon as they touched the mat, we clicked and treated them. Keep practicing this way at home.
Targeting: We started to move our hands around the dog so that they learn to touch our hands wherever we have them. We also practiced with our dogs on the side of us instead of in the front.
Whiplash Turn: This game is going to teach your dog a great recall! We practiced this by throwing a treat away from our dogs, then we let them get that treat then called their name. As soon as you see that your dog hears you, click and treat. This should bring your dog around back to you very quickly. Remember that you can use another name (some kind of nicknamed reserved just for practicing whiplash turns,) when performing this, especially if you have a dog that thinks they have to be called several times before they have to listen to you. If all goes well, we will start working on movement this week. Still just in our little "bubble", but getting up and moving with our dogs. Making happy noises to keep our dogs alert to us, and use as a mild distraction to the other dogs in the room.

Reactive Rovers - Week Three

Doggie Zen: We practiced "Look" with the instructors creating distractions, such as clapping hands, stomping feet, etc. We also held the "Look" for a count of 5-10.
Go to Place: This week we are adding a word to this behavior- "spot," "go to bed," "go to your mat," whichever word or phrase you want to use. We also practiced seeing if our dogs would go to the mat on their own.
Target/Touch: We worked on targeting in different in different positions-sitting beside us, walking a couple of steps with us.
Focus on Owner: This was new this week. When dogs come through doorways, out of crates or the car, most of them go to the end of their leash to scan the surroundings. This is where they can start posturing, drag you with them, etc. Our goal is that when they are released to come out of their crates that they focus on us. We accomplish this by letting our dogs come out of the crate (doorway at class) and do nothing-just pause for a moment. Your dog is probably going to look around the room, but as soon as they remember you are there and turn to look at you, click and treat.
Whiplash Turn: We worked on Whiplash turn with a dog in the center of the room. You all did wonderful with this! You can keep practicing this many times during the day, with many different things acting as "distractions." If all goes well in week three, we will start walking towards other dogs and using our Whiplash Turn exercise.

Reactive Rovers - Week Four

Look how far you've come!

Doggie Zen: This week we are asking our dogs to “look” as we are taking 5-10 steps forward.
Go to Place: This week when instructors approached your dogs while on their mats, you treated until we left. We also proofed this by picking up our mat and moving to a different location. As you could tell it is a little different than when they are directly in front of us.
Focus on Handler: We practice this as our dogs are coming out of their crates/doorway. We have moved back further so our dogs have to come around to us.
Whiplash Turn: Practice, practice, and practice.
Target: This week we walked our dogs between cones while asking them for touches. This simulates as if you were on a walk, and you had to weave between people.
Look at That: With this game we train our dogs to have an automatic response, when they see people or other dogs, etc. In other words instead of staring and becoming aroused he automatically focuses back on you. We used toys in class. We had a toy behind our back, and then pulled it out for your dogs to look at. When they look, you click then treat. If they are doing extremely well with this, we might practice with another dog. This teaches the dog to look, but don’t touch. To look but remain calm.
U-turn: This helps us if we are in a tight spot with our dogs and just need to get out fast. Make sure that your treat is close to your leg and in front of your dogs’ nose, so that we can make a tight U-turn.

You're now ready for Reactive Rovers TWO!

Giene Keyes

Giene Keyes is the owner of Moon Dog Training, LLC, providing positive in-home training, behavior consultations and group classes. After receiving “Best of Madison'' multiple years in a row, Giene sold her dog daycare to focus on her dog behavior work. Giene has been working with pets and their owners for over 30 years. She is a professional animal trainer and behavior specialist in Southern Wisconsin. Giene divides her time between teaching group classes and private lessons – Specializing in manners and aggression cases. Giene works with vets, rescue groups and shelters, evaluating dogs for adoption, developing Canine Aggression Management Programs, and educating staff on dog language and behaviors. She consults for dog daycares and training companies by educating staff on dog body language, cues, managing a pack, difficult dogs and much more. She provides behavior consultations for service dog organizations and rescue groups in the Midwest. She has been an Instructor with the American Red Cross in Pet CPR and First Aid, a Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator with the American Kennel Club, and a Licensed Judge with the WI Dept of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection. Giene is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She routinely presents seminars on dog behavior and training, as well as chicken training seminars to promote team building. Giene has been a regular guest on popular Madison radio shows and evening newscasts. Giene has also been featured in numerous local magazines, including the cover for Wisconsin Woman. Giene is a published author (see her Chicken Training Book!) and loves demonstrating to people how clever dogs, chickens and pigs can be.