WEEK ONE HOMEWORK
Use this checklist to help your dog while at home.
USING THE CLICKER
☐ Always have plenty of treats.
☐ Limit chances of distractions and interruptions.
☐ Before you start, introduce the clicker to your dog. Click the
clicker once and immediately give a treat. This is called
“conditioning the dog to the clicker.”
☐ Once the association is made, the clicker should get your dog’s
attention.
☐ Click AS SOON AS the dog does the desired behavior. For
example, as soon as the dog's butt touches the ground when
teaching sit.
TEACHING SIT
☐ Put the treat right in front of the pup’s nose, then slowly lift the food above his head. He will probably
sit as he lifts his head to nibble at the treat.
☐ Allow him to eat the treat when his butt touches the ground.
☐ Repeat one or two times with the food lure, then remove the food and just use your empty hand, but
continue to reward the dog after they sit.
☐ Only start saying “sit” once your dog understands the hand signal.
PAYING YOUR DOG AND POSITIVE
REINFORCEMENT
☐ Don’t ask anything of your dog you aren’t wiling to pay them for.
☐ Don’t get mad if your dog doesn’t understand. It’s very likely that you just haven’t communicated
well enough your expectations yet.
☐ You can use anything your dog views as rewarding: toys, treats, praise.
☐ Timing is everything. If you wait 3 seconds to click and reward, your dog has likely forgotten what
they did that is being rewarded.
☐ A human does not learn a new language by being told what to do in words he doesn’t understand.
☐ Communicate clearly and effectively what you want from your dog.
NOTES
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