all rules in place - clicker charged and an experienced clicker user/free shaping capable dog is assumed for this:
you need - 2 table mat sized thin boards (i use old table mats)
you sit for this - dog facing you in front - work silently - occasional motivation noises only
to get fluent may take at least 12 sessions depending on the dog - you will need to judge the session lengths -- end on a good note: click and reward each success - not going to keep typing click reward
but reward between your feet - this is important it will set the dog up for th next go
place mat on floor to your left approx 4ft away on line with your left foot
free shape nose to mat to fluency do not add any cue yet
remove that mat - take a think break
repeat with the mat on the right to fluency do not add any cue yet
remove that mat - take a think break
redo the above until each mat can be placed in turn further and further away until you have about 6ft distance
then start to do it with the each mat in turn until further out from the foot - so what you are doing is increasing the distance from you in length and width but still keeping it clearly to your left or right ok?
when it is fluent and reliable without hesitation then start to add a visual cue by:
place mat as dog starts to go towards it extend arm - palm out - towards the mat - if you lean slightly with your body towards it too it will be a stronger cue
when you have it one side - change and do it the other - you will need to put the clicker and treats in the other hand remember when cueing your left side so you can deliver the cue correctly
eventually you will be able to test this by placing both mats down and alternating and mixing the
cues and gradually increasing the mat distance and - in time - then removing the mats and sendng the dog left or right.
now - this is the hard bit so you try and think this out - bearing in mind we make it easy for the dog not for us
you want to add a verbal cue - the dog is facing you for this you visual cue left - what verbal you going to use? you visual cue right - what cue you going to use
brownie points for why??
