Center of the Universe

The value of your dog maintaining proximity to you is astronomical.  The closer our dogs are and choose to stay, the higher the likelihood they are willing to listen and engage when needed.  Building duration to this proximity is key.  Most dogs will want to check in and engage briefly but most will then want to wander, forage, and explore. 

Prerequisite Skills	Gear
Marker Word Release Cue – for Stage 3 only Leave It – Stage 3 late stages only	High, medium, and low value rewards Treat Pouch for Treats

Teaching our dogs (especially new dogs) can be done in 3 stages:

• Stage 1: Find the Source

  Step one is to show your dog that you have value and being near you triggers that value

• This is essentially the opposite of Go Find It

• Pick a spot to stop and stand still

  • This spot should be in an environment with minimal but not zero distractions

• Picture concentric rings around you.

• Mark and reward your dog for entering the outer ring.

  • If the dog come all the way to you after hearing your marker, reward by placing the food at your feet

• If your dog turns toward you but doesn’t come all the way toss the food ½ way between you and the dog so that they have to move back toward you to eat it.Repeat until you feel like your dog is staying near that outer circle

• Increase the criteria so that your dog has to enter the next closer ring to get the reward

• Repeat until they are at the inner most circle (withing 2-3 feet of you)

• Generalization:

  • Repeat this game in multiple locations

  • Be systematic about those locations so that you are incrementally increasing the difficulty

  • Play this game both on and off leash, when safe (may require a longer, 10+ foot, leash)

• Note:  The steps may go very quickly for some dogs in an easy environment.  They may see/smell food and just hang out.  That’s okay reward 5 times and then work on generalization (practicing in harder environment).  If it’s all too easy move on to Stage 2.

• Stage 2: Strengthen the Pull

  Step two is to show your dog that you can be more valuable than things in the environment.

  • Start by identifying a list of your dog’s reinforcers and rank them high, med, and low

    • Reinforcers are anything that your dog would voluntarily want to interact with like food, toys, people, dogs, places to sniff or mark, etc.

    • Note:  Low value can also be no-value if you are struggling for a low value item

  • Toss a low value item away (~10-15 ft) and allow your dog the chance to go investigate (and eat if appropriate)

  • Mark the instant they turn back to you and reward with a high value item

  • Repeat

  • Generalization:

    • Change the low value item

    • Gradually increase the value of the low value items

    • Practice in different locations

    • Be systematic about your location so that you are incrementally increasing the difficulty

    • Play this game both on and off leash (may require a longer, 10+ foot, leash)

  • Notes:

    • High value items can diminish over time.  You may have to change the high value reward on occasion.

    • It’s okay if your dog stops investigating the low value items (it’s also okay if they don’t).  Them voluntarily choosing to ignore/disengage from their environment to focus on you is the goal.

• Stage 3: Reduce Gravity on Cue

  Step 3 is to show your dog how to and when it is appropriate to create distance from you.  Teaching them how to appropriately go sniff, say “Hi,” and move on their own while still voluntarily checking-in is the ultimate goal.

  • Do a little warm up by practicing Stage 1 and Stage 2 in an environment with something that will interest your dog.

    • Start with a low value item and build up to higher value items for the interesting thing (example: small bush, larger push, tree, things that smell like people or other dogs, people and dogs)

  • Once your dog is focused on you, stop playing and give them a release cue (“OK”, “All Done”, “Go Sniff”, etc.).

    • Make sure you are close enough your dog can interact without pulling, if on leash

  • Mark the instant they turn back to you and reward with a high value item

  • Re-engage in Stage 1 and/or Stage 2

  • Repeat

  • Success looks like a dog who can stay relaxed when they investigate and is enthusiastic about turning away to re-engage with you.

  • Generalization

    • Practice in different environments

    • Gradually increase the difficulty of the item they are released to interaction with

    • Add in a “Leave It” cue to randomly ask them to turn away before they are ready.

    • Gradually increase the time in between the investigation and returning to Stage 1 and/or Stage 2

    • Build other training items into the activity (Sit, Down, Touch, Focus, Middle, Heel, Fetch, etc.)