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Chad Culp: Certified Dog Trainer

Canine Consultant & Behavior Specialist

Separation Anxiety: Leaving Dogs Alone

 

BASIC OBEDIENCE CLASS SYLLABUS

Week 1  - Orientation Seminar

Links for More Info

Graduation Expectations

  • Sit, Down, Come, Heel, Stay...we will also learn Leave It and Loose Leash Walking but it's not on the test.
  • Graduation Promise - You may repeat class for free until you are ready to pass

Extra Credit

  • The group will set the pace for extra learning. 

Behavior Modification

  • May require private training. This class follows a structured plan for teaching and reinforcing the bacis commands.

Balanced Training Explanation

  • Blending “Modern” and “Old School” styles

Obedience Training

  • CPR = Command, Praise, Release

Supplies and Treats

  • 6’ leash, inescapable collar, super-tasty-soft-treats 

Attendance

  • Make ups available but try to make all classes in sequence. Following the videos helps as well.

Parking

  • Best if everyone parks facing north or south.
  • DRIVE SLOWLY...very, very, slowly

Questions During Class

  • Please ask politely and pertaining to what's going on. Off topic questions are welcome but may need to be answered after class or at another time. 

Homework

Quiz Yourself:

Week 2 - Name Game, Sit and Down

Take Roll - with casual greetings

Luring and Engagement Exercises (Circle/Spin) 

Name Game

Sit - lure, pressure point, leash pressure

Down - lure, pressure point, leash pressure

Treats as Lures & Rewards, NOT Bribes (extrinsic motivation, seeking mode, Scent-Sight-Sound) 

Petting and Praise (intrinsic motivation, relationship, fading of treats)

Difference Between Praise and Release. (Continuation Marker, Bridge)

Importance of Pressure Conditioning

  • Conditioning means combined with rewards for maintaining a happy, cooperative attitude. Should not cause resistance, resentment or distress. Benefits = faster and more reliable results, clear communication, trust, authority, deeper bond, avoids touch sensitivity and biting, avoids treat dependency, empowers the human, can have a calming effect 

Homework

  • "Don't name it until you love it" and "only say it once."
  • Practice Sit and Down - 15 x day divided into 3-5 short sessions.
    • Days 1-2 use leash and body pressure every time, with and without a food lure. Start using verbal commands and fading lures into hand signals 
    • Days 3-4 use verbal command and hand signal. Use leash and body pressure at least every other time...whether needed or not. No more luring. Give the treat only after the dog follows the sit or down command.
    • Day 5-7 use verbal commands and hand signals with no pressure and no food lure. If dog follows the command give treat and/or petting and praise. If not, follow through with pressure.
    • Build duration - hold positions a few seconds longer each day, goals is 15 seconds by next week.
    • Keep sessions short and sweet: Leave Them Wanting More, Always End On a High Note,
  • Watch DVD Videos.  

Quiz Yourself:

Week 3 - Come, Heel and Loose-Leash Walking

Take Roll - Check Sit and Down fluency 

Review - Sit and Down

  • Up Sit & Puppy Push-Ups - lure & leash pressure, fade both for verbal & hand signal. 

Come (Reverse Recall) - back up and lure the dog to Sit in front. 

Heel - lure and reward, change direction, leash pop

Loose-Leash Walking - change direction, leash pop 

Leash Skills - best way to hold and handle the leash

Discussion

  • Importance of a Slack Leash 
  • Flexi and Harness - casual walking, adding distance to recalls, allowing dog to pull?  
  • Recall Rules - mandatory and rewarding, never punish for coming

Reminder - physical pressure, fading lure, only say it once. (Most clients will still be luring, repeating and not using pressure.) “My dog does it perfectly at home!” 

 

Homework

Quiz Yourself:

Week 4 - Review and Stay

Take Roll with CGC Greetings

Review - Sit, Down, Come, Heel

Granny's Rule Recalls - treat distraction, pair ups, Three Second Rule for dog-dog greetings (for non-aggressive dogs only)

Stay - We start with Sit-Stay. Extra credit if you can do Down-Stay!

Wait - Keep dog from rushing through doors and gates.

Left Turns

Auto-Sit

Homework:

Quiz Yourself:

Week 5 - Long Line - Let’s Go, C’mere and Come

Take Roll - CGC greetings, check status on Stay

Heeling Drills - rally obedience patterns around cones, service dog leash

Long Line - direction changes, casual and formal recalls (Let’s go, C’mere, Come) 

The Long Down

Restraints - vet checks, trust and calming exercises 

Homework:

  • Practice The Long Down during commercials and work up to TV shows and higher distractions.
  • Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
  • Read articles: Long Line Training part 1-3.
  • Watch videos

Week 6 - Review and Leave It

Take Roll - CGC greetings

Prep for Graduation Test 

Out For A Walk - Heel and loose leash walking with no pacing

Leave It

Homework:

  • Practice for graduation.
  • Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
  • Watch videos

Week 7 - Graduation Day

Take Roll - CGC greetings

Graduation Testing

Intro to Agility 

Discuss Continuing Education (intermediate, drop in, clinics, agility, private training, etc.) 

Graduation Photos (optional)

Homework

  • Training never stops. Keep practicing and don’t let bad behavior go unchecked.
  • Read: WHAT'S NEXT? After Basic Obedience Class
  • Walk, exercise and train every day. Mix brief training sessions into your life and always end on a high note.
  • Post glorious reviews and photos on the Internet. :-)

Quizzes

Thank you very much for coming to class. I look forward to seeing you in future classes! Please stay in touch.

-Chad Culp, Certified Dog Trainer and Canine Behavior Consultant

© Thriving Canine 2020

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