The pattern games will help with all of your training.

Videos – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeOA3fV-ftY&list=PLm8D1Vr2GUTm4kmyjxfdZgaqXpMBe5GBp

Doing these pattern games at home in quiet boring areas will create the ability to take them on the road. It’s like being able to hold their hand past something scary. If there is weirdness in the world, your dog can come back to pattern to feel connected and more sure of themselves.

Something in the environment can change, but if the pattern has not changed, it can help them feel safe, confident, and satisfied.

Up & Down / Find Me / 1…2…3… (These 3 games are my version of some of Leslie McDevitt’s work, her book Control Unleashed is a great resource.)

1-2-3 Game

A reminder that pattern games are safe, predictable, repetitive and voluntary.

After you build engagement with the first two pattern games (1. Up & Down + 2. Find Me) you can condition/instill this fun pattern for them to eventually pay attention and/or build duration.

BENEFITS

Once trained our dogs are happy to walk with us… even if distractions appear in the environment

• Hearing that it’s time for the game creates attention
• Your Pup can easily walk at your side & pay attention to you while you count
• You can U-Turn for safety while counting

DIRECTIONS

If you’re just starting (or in a new distracting envioronment) keep your Pup close and say “3,” and feed when you say “3”.

You will say the word “3” with a smile & happy tone and feed a delicious treat directly into their mouth. Hold a treat in your closed hand. You are building the value in the word “3”.

Repeat the first step 3-5 times.

Each repetition builds the value of the word “3”

Say “2, 3,” and feed on “3” Repeat this step 3-5 times.

Finally Say “1, 2, 3,” and feed on “3” Repeat this step 3-5 times.

Once your Pup is predicting the treat when they hear “3”, you can start to add movement. Start walking backwards with your dog facing you “1, 2, 3” treat Try walking with your dog at your side. “1, 2, 3” treat. Move slowly as they learn, move specifically, as they succeed you can move in random directions with varied pacing.

Say “1, 2, 3” and continue to feed every time you say “3” while your dog moves with you.

Did your pup stay put instead of moving with you? That’s okay! Repeat step 4 a few more times to help them before trying again.

Eventually, you can increase the number of steps - “1,” step, step, “2,” step, step, “3” and FEED. It’s important to FEED on “3” no matter what!

Move to new areas at a pace that works for your dog to stay connected, including:

• bedroom
• living room
• garage
• back yard
• front yard
• neighbor’s driveway
• quiet cul de sac
• quiet parking lot
• quiet trail

You may work your way up to higher distractions, but you must go at a pace where your Pup can stay engaged. Any time they react and you’ve lost your connection, you will need to take steps back to something easier. This could even mean taking 10 steps back. Staying successful is better (and more fun!) than having to go back, so be sure to go slow.

Our goal is to communicate that on “1, 2, 3” stay with me and good things happen even while other things (including squirrels!) are happening at parks, restaurants, beaches, dogs, soccer games, the agility field, and anywhere else you might want to bring your Pup!

It can also be used to build duration, especially for husbandry tasks.