Course Details
Rat, cat, bat, gnat? Fox, hawk, ox? Caribou, cockatoo, kangaroo, shrew, ewe, gnu? Bear, hare, mare? Buck, duck? Mink, skink, lynx? Does your dog lose their mind when there are chickens or squirrels or snakes or birds or frogs? Teach your dog to leave the critters alone and to focus on you instead! Focus games, focus games with prey scent gdistractions, loose leash walking in wilderness areas and recall games in environments where there are critters are all included in this course.
We will start the foundation skills needed for your dog to be able to focus on you when there is the scent, sound or sight of a critter or a combination of all of the above. The foundation skills with critters will be taught on-leash and built to off-leash reliability. We will utilize giving the dog permission to watch the critters to build a more rewarding event. We will begin off-leash work in controlled environments such as a fenced yard. We will also be going over control positions such as come to the left or right side of your body and come between your legs. We are using lots of pattern games and premack during this class. We also practice leash walking, recalls and lots of focus games.
Registration
There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please
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Registration will begin at 10:00 AM Pacific Time.
For answers to commonly asked questions see our FAQ page.
Enrollment limits: Gold: 12 students, Silver: 25 students, Bronze: unlimited.
Silver level for this class is offered as "Working Silver". In addition to asking GENERAL clarification questions about the class lecture materials, silver students will now have the opportunity to submit two short videos, one minute each, for critique and review. You may submit two questions. Each question MUST have a one minute video attached so the instructor can actually answer a question that they can see. The question must relate to a topic in the class and the video must be a demo of the question. Please see the discussion forum for a detailed explanation - feel free to sign up at bronze, read the explanation, and then come back here to upgrade to silver if that interests you, and if space is available.
If you are interested in a bronze level subscription, you can sign up at any time during the registration period.
Syllabus
Week One:
Hunting and Prey Drive in Dogs
The scent of a critter/bird/squirrel or the scent of meat
Building handler focus
Focus games and how to add distractions
Chase this toy!
Week Two:
The sound of a critter/bird/squirrel/etc.
Beginning engagement games with items in motion
Using the opportunity to watch the critters on cue build more handler focus.
Building control positions (side, close, between).
Leash walking games at home
Adding distractions to our focus games
Hand touch and spin left and right
Week Three:
The sight of a critter/bird/squirrel
Advanced distractions with our focus games.
Introducing distractions to our hand touch behavior
Leash walking games in neighborhoods and stores
Week Four:
Combining scent, sound, and sight of a critter/bird/squirrel/etc. in predictable environments
Building a rewarding event using food, toys and the opportunity to watch the critters on cue
Advanced leash walking games- taunting distractions
Week Five:
Combining scent, sound, and sight of a critter/bird/squirrel/etc. in less predictable environments
Building automatic check-ins in new environments
Adding more distractions to hand touch, spin left, spin right and control positions (right side, left side and between)
Leash walking games in green spaces and parks
Week Six:
Choosing to engage with the handler with surprise critter set-ups.
Combining control positions and action-packed behaviors with surprise critters.
Adding more distractions to automatic check-ins.
Weaning off of rewards using the opportunity to watch the critters on cue
Dogs will improve in their ability to focus, recall and ignore critters. End results will depend on a variety of factors including prior training, the dog's temperament, the handler's commitment to training, and the dog's prior experiences.
Prerequisites & Supplies
We will need to build on success with adding distractions to our focus games, scent games, loose leash walking and recall games. We will talk about what we can do to build focus on the handler with critter distractions and how to use functional rewards. If we can have the prey animal at a predictable distance initially that is really helpful. This can be achieved with critters behind a barrier such as at a pet store or critters that you live with (rabbits, chickens, cats, etc.). A wide open field with a canopy of trees in the distance will also work for tree-dwelling critters.
Use of markers or clickers will be prevalent in this course. Handlers should already be using markers in their training and dogs should have an understanding of the click/treat relationship.
Testimonials
A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...
Mariah offers a great class with “Ready, Steady, Squirrel!”! This was my second prey drive class, but it was the first time I felt we’re getting somewhere, and we did. Through wonderful games, well structured lectures, and Mariah’s mindful and specific feedback, I gained more tools in my dog training toolbox, and more confidence in handling my Jack Russel Terrier not only around critters, but also in general public settings. I’m really happy about how much her recall improved, and how her confidence in novel environments increased.
Thank you for this course. While there's a lot of material that I haven't gotten to as we're working through at our own pace, I don't feel overwhelmed. The presentation is clear and I appreciate the bullet points for both goals and warning signs. As it's always so easy to fall back in to lumping it's a great help to have explanations and exercises broken up into small pieces and little steps. I've already seen progress with my reactive girl and I know we'll continue to improve as we practice the exercises and go through the rest of the lessons.
I like the way the class is organized and found it easy to follow.. While we're still working through earlier weeks I don't feel we'll have difficulty progressing on our own.
