The Following Stage of Learning is When the Dog Learns Generalization
The Third Stage of Learning: Generalization/Application
This stage is when the dog learns that a new skill can be used in another situation. In blog second stage of learning I went over a scenario that we trained the dog that when there is a knock or the door opens, they need to head to a spot, sit and wait until you release them.
From that new training we want to apply it to other areas
Let’s say another issue you are facing is that your pup is also getting too excited and barking when someone walks past your house, with or without another dog.
We will take that new behavior from learning stage two and ask them to go to their spot.
First create an association with the new word.
Open the door when they start walking to the spot say “spot”. You can also sit by this spot and provide treats every time they get into the spot when prompted. All you are doing here is telling them that the new skill they learned needs to also be applied to the word spot. Once you feel you have created that association you can then request the dog to do the same behavior with the word “spot”
Training In Action
When they start barking at the passerby don’t say “quiet” or “stop” or yell, change it to “spot!”. They then need to go to the “spot” you provided for them in stage two & sit there until you release them.
This will start building applications in different situations. You ultimately are telling them when you feel this crazy amount of energy and feel the need to jump, bark, explode in hyperactivity, you need to calm down by going to this spot and relaxing. The goal is to get them to recognize this on their own and apply it in other areas.
Here is my training in action:
I trained my baby boy Bu to go to a spot (when someone walked by, he would bark like a crazy man) instead of barking, until he was calm. He needed to go to his kennel (spot) and sit there until he calmed down. This took me a total of 2 days at 5-minute sessions twice a day. That was only 20 minutes, and he was on the spot . Granted, how I communicate with him is clear, understandable, and calm. Because in this stage of learning the behavior is typically not automatic and why it is so important for you to stay on top of it. You need to train yourself to be consistent with them so it will become automatic for both you and them. At this point you would move onto the fourth and final stage of learning -- the Maintenance Stage.