Week 3 Homework

We hope you have started to get accustomed to using the e-collar a bit. Don't worry, it takes some time to get used to. Remember it's going to be a tool to help with communication and accountability, just like a leash would.

This week's homework is going to focus on the "PLACE" command and how to use the e-collar when practicing. We will also begin to touch on our "DOWN" and "SIT" commands

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WHAT IS "PLACE"?!

PLACE - means go to a designated spot that you choose. Their "Place" spot could be a dog cot, or soft bed, even a towel or bath mat. Technically anything they can easily fit on and has clear visual boundaries. The main requirement is that they need to keep all four paws within the boundary of that spot. They must do this until YOU give them permission to be released.

"Place" is a super important task to teach your dog! It helps manage them and mitigate naughty behaviors. It also helps them learn to self-soothe and settle as it focuses on impulse control. We want them to associate the "Place" spot with positivity and calmness. Place is basically "doggy yoga"!

It's also very applicable to many real life situations! Is your dog begging for food/stealing food when you're eating?....Place them. Do they have a tough time staying calm when people enter your home?...Place them. Are they getting into trouble chewing shoes when you're not looking?....Place them. Do you have a "pandemic" puppy who has a hard time leaving your side?...Place them. The list goes on. Place is a great way to teach your dog to stay still during times when they usually can't!

When trained appropriately, your pups will eventually be able to stay on their "place" spot for longer periods of time. This could be for an hour! To keep them occupied, you can give them a toy, chew, or a kong with peanut butter if you'd like. They can get up and move around on their spot, they just can't leave the boundary. You can move place spots around and have multiple place spots if you wish. You will be able to clearly direct them to which place spot you'd like them to go to!

You will see in the videos that Joe’s pup automatically lays down on the place spot. We highly incentivize the "down" position, but it's technically not a requirement. We do this to help them learn to settle easier when they go to "place".

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PLACE WITH THE E-COLLAR:

Our training Joe narrated the videos below to make things a little easier. The videos will cover:

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Put your dog on a leash. Have your e-collar ready in your hand. Have food rewards ready to go (hidden and easily accessible to you).

  • Lure them with food and/or gesture towards the "place" spot you'd like them to go to. Make sure you are clear where you want them to go. As you say "Place" you will tap the button on the e-collar at the same time.

  • Once they get four paws on the spot, you can say "good"/calm verbal praise. Don't be in a rush to give food rewards right away. If you want, you can hold off from giving any food rewards until they are in a "down" position on their place spot. This can help incentivize that position as well as helps them learn to stay calm while in "place". Sometimes you may need to help them into a "down" by luring them a bit. That's fine!

  • Intermittently give some calm praise and use your "good" marker - and give food rewards.

REMINDER - "Good" means good work, keep doing that" - our duration marker. (bring food right to the dogs mouth)

  • Once they are finished. You need to give them permission to be released. You can either tap them on the shoulder with your hand and say "FREE"

-or -

  • You can say your "YES" marker and take a step back. They should come to you to take a food reward.

REMINDER - "Yes" means good work, you're done!" - our terminal marker. (dog will come to you for food)

  • IF they break from their "place" spot: Start the cadenced tapping of your button on the e-collar (tap..tap...tap..). Grab the leash and pull them back on as you say "Place" again. The cadenced tapping on the e-collar stops when they regain four paws back on their place spot. This is communicating that they are not finished yet.

*Make sure to have a leash on your pup when beginning to practice this at home! It's going to give them clear direction when leading them to their designated "place" spot. It's also going to give you much more control of them when they break command and come off of their "place". 

*You are also encouraged to use a "tether" or "backtie" to help you at times. This is just where you tie their leash to something sturdy so they are only going so far. They will automatically feel leash pressure when they hit the end of the leash, reminding them of the "invisible boundary" of the place command. This can help you be a little more hands free and assists when you are not able to keep tabs on them as much.

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SITS AND DOWNS WITH THE E-COLLAR:

Sit and Down - Brief Intro

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TIPS:

*Just remember that if your pup is not responding to your commands with the e-collar, or repeatedly breaking a command. STOP - turn your remote up a level or two - then try again. Be incremental with changing your levels on your remote. Sometimes your pup will be too excited or distracted to respond well at the level you are at.

*Continue to try to be clear and concise with what you are asking of them. Don't be afraid to use your leash to help guide them. Sometimes our dogs can make us feel rushed or frustrated. So remember to slow down and take your time.

*An easy way to start to practice "place" is around their meal times. Feed them their meal by hand while they are in "place". You can give little handfuls of food at a time when rewarding.

*Reminder that PLACE, SIT & DOWN all have "implied" stays. This means you never have to say the word "stay"!