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Visual Target – Using a LINE to Teach Safe Door Behavior – Video
Miette the papillon is practicing a relatively new skill, which is stationing behind a tape mark that’s about 8’ away from the door. (A change in flooring, like from tile to carpet or wood floor could also be used as a natural “line” instead.)
This skill is great to have for when deliveries or guests arrive. The trainer has also used this with multiple dogs in her home to reduce arousal at the door, and then would release one dog at a time to go outside.
How might you go about introducing this skill? What steps could you take to help set the dog up for success?
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6 Replies
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This reminds me of the wait command!
For success, I would start in a non-distracted environment with plenty of treats and remember the drop, stick, push rules.
1. Direct the dog behind the line in a sit, mark yes, treat and release. Practice 5-10 times successfully.
2. Add the verbal cue “go to line” and repeat step 1. Practice 5-10 times successfully.
3. Verbally cue “go to line,” repeat step one but delay release cue 5 seconds. Continue to do this building duration up to 10-20 seconds, releasing the dog after 5 successes of each duration exercise.
4. After building duration, verbally cue dog “go to line,” and add 1 foot of distance. Practice 5 times successfully.
5. Continue to cue “go to line” and add more distance from you the trainer 1 foot at a time. Practice each foot of distance 5 times successfully until you reach the doorway, marking yes and treating for each successful stay behind the line. Begin to mix up duration and distance remembering to drop back to last successful cue if he breaks the sit.
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Excellent, @jcongdon – These are great step-by-step instructions! Anyone have other ideas or things to add?
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I love the video. Before I would do anything I would backchain the end result which is the sit. I would make sure the sit was solid and work on duration, distance and distraction for the sit stay before adding anything. If the sit stay is not generalized then everything will fall apart when adding line and people coming to the door.
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Great point, @bmacwatt – starting with “the end” is a great way to work on this, and other behavior chains. That way, the dog is always moving toward “stronger/more familiar” behavior, when adding in complexity.
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Thanks. I love backchaining behaviors. I use the technique all the time in service dog work
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Nice work! If you ever have a chance to share a video???? of this work, or clips in progress, it would make for a lively discussion and learning opportunity – we’d love to see. ????
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