Clean Run - May 2017 - 21

prevent it from occurring and minimize
its occurrence during collar cue training.
Anyone who has put a leash on a puppy for the first time has likely experienced the natural reflex to resist and
oppose contact pressure. It is important that our method of training of collar cue behavior prevents our learner
from practicing instinctive resistance.
Although we may encounter some
opposition behavior when training
begins, resistance will (and should) disappear within the first training session
of handler-applied pressure with effectively applied positive reinforcement.
Note: Although this training process is
conveyed with collar cues, these same
training steps can be followed for training directional cues via body harnesses
and headcollars. Prior to any pressure
cue training, however, the individual
dog should be comfortable wearing
and moving in that equipment.

Collar Cue Training
Step 1: Choosing to Release Pressure
One of the valuable aspects in effective
positive reinforcement training is giving
the learner the power of choice. Providing our canine learner with the ability to
choose to release pressure on their collar ensures the lesson is powerful and
prevents any mood of compulsion.

The Tether
The tether should be immovable, meaning when the dog pulls against the tether that it cannot be moved closer to the
distraction. The tether provides a fixed
(immovable) pressure when the dog
chooses to pull, which clearly communicates two things to the dog:
* Pulling does not gain ground toward
what they want.
* When they yield, even in a minor way,
they clearly feel their collar loosen.
Large, strong dogs might need to be
tethered to an immovable object, while
a smaller dog may be tethered to you
(e.g., stepping on the leash or holding the
leash with hand fixed against your leg).
When choosing a tether, it is important
for the angle of the leash from the tethering point to the dog's collar is low, preventing a steep (high) angle from tether
to dog. The lower the tether (toward horizontal) and angle or slant of the leash, the
easier it is for the dog to fully release pressure. The steeper the angle of the leash,
the more difficult it is for the dog to fully
release the pressure. Very steep tether
angles create a difficult situation where
the dog must move upward (toward the
tether's point of attachment) to release
the pressure on their collar.

We will be audibly marking (my preference is using a clicker) the moment the
dog chooses to release pressure on their
collar, and rewarding each click with valued reward.

May 17 | Clean Run

If you use an environmental tether (e.g.,
dog tied to a fixed object), you should
stand near the point of tether with your
hand on the leash. This provides you
with subtle information through your
"feel" on the leash. You will better notice
when the dog chooses to reduce pull
against their collar.

If you tether your dog to a fixed
object, stand near the point of tether
with your hand on the leash so you
can better feel when your dog
reduces pull against their collar.

The goal of Step 1 is for the dog to feel
in control while choosing to pull toward
something they desire, and choosing to
release the pressure they have placed
on their collar. Each time the dog chooses to pull against their collar, we have
an opportunity to teach them that their
behavior of stopping that pull (releasing
pressure) will be rewarded.
A tether is used for this exercise. The dog
is prompted to make the choice to pull
against the tether via a mild distraction.
This distraction is something the dog
wants but is not of a high value. It is placed
out of the dog's reach (length of the tether) to ensure they will not accidentally be
rewarded for making the choice to pull.

You can fix your hand against their
body (easiest version of Hand Tether) to
help you remember not to allow your
hand to move when the dog pulls. If
you hold the clicker in the leash hand,
you do have a free hand to reward.

The Intended Distraction
Your location for the training session
should be free of distractions other than
the intentional distraction you are going
to use to prompt pulling behavior in a
specific direction. When choosing the
distraction to use, consider the following:

The lower the tether and angle of
the leash, the easier it is for the dog
to release pressure on their collar.
A steep angle would require the dog
to move upward to release pressure.

* The distraction is sufficient to prompt
the individual dog to pull against the
tether toward the distraction but not
so stimulating as to create high levels
of excitement or energetic actions
from the dog.
* The distraction does not need to be
managed during actual training so
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2017