Week 1 Behavioral Downs

 STEP 1:  Place flat leash on the ground.

STEP 2:  Step on the leash, but you do not want the leash tight on the dog or puppy.    They should be able to stand if they want, but not get too far away from you.  ***Note unlike sit on the dog we are standing, and also we need to start in a really quiet non distracting area first, whereas on sit on the dog you can get away with being in a much more distracting area.

STEP 3:  Wait not only for the puppy to go down, but also, you want their chin to rest on the ground.   Additionally, you want them totally relaxed and not sniffing or still actively seeking to check out their environment.

STEP 4:  Time how long it takes to 1st Target behavior (total body relaxed and everything on the ground including their chin) and then how long the puppy or dog remains in target behavior.

STEP 5:  Once the puppy or dog lifts their head up or engages in the environment again, wait until the second target behavior (total body relaxed again and everything on the ground including their chin).

STEP 6:  This will count as the second target behavior, as long as the dog stays in that behavior for half the time of as first target behavior.  Otherwise, wait for real second target behavior.

STEP 7: Once target behavior is finished or you are ready to release the dog, do so in a very low key way.  Just step off the leash for instance and move along with your day.

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