Step 2 - Building Duration

Prerequisite Skills:

• Marker Word

• Step 1

  • Place Cue (Verbal and/or Hand Signal)

Gear:

1. Treat pouch with treats

2. Place bed

Set Up:

• Bed Location: Select a single location for each specific training session

• Training Position: Maintain proximity to the dog bed. Legs should be within 6 inches of the bed.

Phase 1: Building Duration

Any duration behavior has 3 components: The cue to trigger the behavior, the criteria for the behavior, and the termination of the behavior through a release cue

• Cue: The Place hand signal or verbal cue trained in Step 1

• Criteria: Detailed out below

• Release Cue: The cue that tells your dog the behavior is done. Pick 1 - common cues are "Free" and "Break"

Step	Reward Criteria
1	Dog lays down for a fraction of a second
2	Dog stays laying down for 1/2 second
3	Dog stays laying down for 1 second
4	Dog stays laying down for 2 second
5	Dog stays laying down for 3 second Start using Release Cue here for every subsequent step to end the behavior
6	Dog stays laying down for 4 second
7	Dog stays laying down for 5 second
8	Dog stays laying down for 6 second
9	Dog stays laying down for 7 second
10	Dog stays laying down for 8 second
11	Dog stays laying down for 9 second
12	Dog stays laying down for 10 second
13	Dog stays laying down for 12 second
14	Dog stays laying down for 15 second
15	Dog stays laying down for 20 second
16	Dog stays laying down for 25 second
17	Dog stays laying down for 30 second
18	Dog stays laying down for 45 second
19	Dog stays laying down for 1 minute
	Repeat the pattern to build duration for the desired target time

Side Note: When building longer duration it can be hard for your dog to do mulitple reps in a row. Consider varying the lengths so that you have shorter and longer reps to build duration

• Example: 10 sec, 45 sec, 5 minute, 1 minute, 10 sec, 3 minute, 45 sec, 5 minute