BH340: Arousal Layering Games

Syllabus

Pre-Class Materials

Sustained nose target

Marker cues

Positions out of motion

Defining arousal

Week One

Skydiving and Dog Sports

Arousal checks and balances

Self-capping behaviors

Week Two

What gets your dog high? How to layer

Run-n-Cap Game 

Week Three

What you should know about thresholds

Tug Targets Game (with food too!)

Week Four

When frustration is the true culprit

Touch-n-Go Game 

Week Five

Stimulus Control vs Impulse Control
Total Tease Game

Week Six

Competing Motivators

Break the Pattern Game

Prerequisites & Supplies

Suggested prerequisite is Worked Up.

Sample Lecture

Here, we want our dogs to practice self-capping in conjunction with fast running. Your dog will need a send away to a cone wrap, a tunnel, a target, or even just a plate of food or dead toy! See the “pregame” video for help if you aren’t sure about these skills. Play the game by sending your dog away from you (any and all of the above work!) and then asking for a target. If that’s easy, send the dog multiple times before asking for the target. Progress to sending, running, and asking for your dog to screech into the target as he catches up.

Here, Felix makes a few errors right off the bat. Each time he does, I pause, and remove a "layer" by moving closer to the wing. Watch as his targets get cleaner and more deliberate:

Here I add layers by including a tunnel, and more motion: 

Too hard?

Reduce the distance of the send, or try an easier self-capping skill like a position out of motion.

Too easy?

Increase the intensity of the reinforcer, your speed, and the times you send before asking for the self-cap.

Pre game:
Here, I demonstrate teaching a "go out around" skill using a lure:

Here, I demonstrate teaching this pregame skill using shaping: 

Don't do agility? Here is something I like to do to bring some self-capping to obedience:

Don't do obedience either? Insert whatever piece of your sport is exciting for your dog. Running toward a bite sleeve and being asked to self-cap, running down a flyball lane and being asked to self-cap, are all mind games that will help your dog stay in that thinking mode we need him in. 

Testimonials

A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...

Sarah is impressive. Her passion for her students' success comes across in every post. She makes sure to clarify any issues and is incredibly patient. I love her responses when students are hard on themselves: she doesn't encourage self pity by saying "oh no you're not XYZ" but assures them that it is all part of the learning. process.        

I have become a fan of Sarah and the way she thinks. I also love her creativity in creating these exercises. I also very much enjoyed her responses to the Gold videos... supportive while making suggestions for things that could be changed or new directions in which that team could go. Kudos!           

Thank you Sarah for an awesome course! The lectures were especially beneficial in understanding the how & the why over arousal occurs. The videos & assignments layered upon that and now we have an arsenal of exercises to help me & my teammate stay in check! :)            

Sarah has helped me immensely with my worked up dog. She is kind and patient and helps you evolve a plan that will work over time.          

Can’t say enough good things about this course! It’s my 4th Sarah Stremming course in a row and I’m starting to feel like a “Worked Up” junkie. It’s been a life changer.

Registration

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BH340 Subscriptions

	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tuition	$ 260.00	$ 130.00	$ 65.00
Enrollment Limits	12	25	Unlimited
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