Our feedback
Opal had a fun day training today. She was a bit why with her trainer, interacting with him although keeping her distance. We did a mix of basic obedience with some conditioning to her trainer to help build her confidence in this new environment.
It was a PLEASURE training with your pooch today and we look forward to continuing to help you achieve your goals, skills and improve your relationship.
Your journey does not end here, it has only just begun!
"I trained hard, I played hard! Please find below the skills we worked on and my results. I look forward to showing you what I learnt and working on them more with you!" If you have any questions about the skills we trained please feel free to contact todays trainer."
| Skill | Comment | We focused on | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill learnt: Place Training | Comment: Opal made her way to the classroom, focusing on manners on the way down. We weren't too strict on Opal as it is her first lesson, just focusing on getting her to wait for the door to be open before making her way through instead of barging out. We did this with each door way on the way down, starting to condition the idea in her head. Once we were down in the classroom we started working on her place skill. We used a treat to lure her onto the bed, before marking yes and giving her the treat. We then immediately used her release word break and let her off. We did repetitions of this to start conditioning to her that being on the bed is a good thing and that when we give her the release word she is allowed to get off. After a bit of repetition, Opal was happily jumping onto the bed, although only taking our high value treats. The next step for Opal is for us to try and phase out the lure, teaching her to hop on the bed with a hand gesture and the place verbal. Once we do that we can start working in duration in the skill. | Focus: Foundation | C+ |
| Skill learnt: Loose Lead (No pull) | Comment: We worked on this in the classroom under low distractions working on the foundations. We pick two points in the room, walking between them. When opal walks ahead, we turn around and walk the other way. As she makes it back to our side we mark yes and give her a treat. We repeat, teaching her that if she walks ahead she doesn't get where she wants to go, while if she walks next to us she gets positive things. Opal's engagement was lacking, following her trainers movements well, although not wanting to look at him at all, not feeling confident in interacting at this point. We focused on conditioning her to the trainer to help get her wanting to engage. She didn't feel comfortable taking treats from our hand so we slowly moved from throwing them on the ground closer and closer to the trainer before trying to hand feed her. As the lesson went on, Opal got more confident but still wasn't too focused on the trainer. Her walking was good, staying on a loose lead although momentarily walking off in her own direction. | Focus: Foundation | B |
| Skill learnt: Obstacle Course (Confidence Building) | Comment: We started our lesson working on recall but opal was finding her engagement challenging. We decided to take her down to the confidence course to help her feel more comfortable. The confidence course is a set of obstacles used to help a dog build their confidence. By giving them a set of challenges to conquer, when they manage to face their fear or gives them a sense of pride and dopamine which helps to build their self-esteem as well as associating that feeling with their trainer. Opal was a bit hesitant as she entered the course, making her way around slowly. Once she did a couple of laps she started to make her way around faster each time. She avoided certain obstacles at the beginning but as she made her way around she started facing them head on, with each one getting waist for her each time. | Focus: Confidence | C |
We recommend your next step should be…
Continue Dayschools
A: Outstanding (90 – 100%) I understand my training, Neat & Complete! Ready to move on to higher difficulty & distraction
B: Great Work (80-89%) I mostly understand, Almost neat & complete! Needs practice in some areas. Mild distractions
C: Well Done (70-79%) Some good progress. Needs work, but on my way. Still learning. Low distractions.
D: Beginning (60-69%) My journey is just beginning, I don’t understand just yet. Introduction phase. No distraction.
E: Unable to Progress. Needs major focus, seek further options to assist.
X: Not gradable, the focus was on Enrichment, Socialisation & Engagement.
Check out our stories on Facebook or Instagram to see more of Opal's time with us. Be quick, though, as stories are only live for 24 hours.