First trip to a pet friendly store.

The following videos are the puppies first trip into a store.  We chose Gander Outdoor because it is a dog friendly location, we put their vests on them to help deter people from petting or speaking to them as well as to help them start to understand that the vest = working.

Our goal for this public outing was to see how each of the puppies would respond to the new environment and to begin building confidence and focus in a new place.  Watch for:

• The high rate of reinforcement.
• The trips are short, they're each in the store for about five minutes.
• How the trainers mix games like its your choice and orientation game into the session.

Note:  Some of the puppies trips are broken into a couple of clips, that is because we sometimes stop filming to take photos :)

These first few clips are of Percy.

In the first video Jessica is walking Percy into the store.  Here are the things to watch for:

• 40 second mark: Percy stops moving and starts to throw a tiny fit.  Jessica stands still, waits for him to move towards her and then immediately clicks
• 54 second mark: Percy chooses to walk on the correct side of the pole instead of getting his leash tangled, this would have been an excellent place for Jessica to click.
• 1 minute:  The automatic doors open, Jessica immediately clicks. This is an example of DMT and is helping him to build confidence.  She then clicks when he goes to investigate the door to help build further confidence.

Percy Video#2

• 5 seconds:  Percy sees something on the floor and Jessica uses the leash to keep Percy from reaching it.  After a few seconds of struggling she steps in to redirect him and clicks when he comes with her.  This help with redirecting him is something you'll see us stop doing as he gets older. However, leash training is so new at this point (he's only 9 weeks) that Jessica didn't want to create negative experience with the leash.
  
  What Percy starts learning here is that things on the ground are not for him, but coming with his handler pays off.
  
  
• 24 seconds:  Percy ends up on the wrong side of Jessica, at this age he doesn't yet know how to fix this so she fixes it for him.  Remember, in these early outings we want good experiences.  
  
  
• 42 seconds:  Jessica trips him and immediately gives treats and attention to try and prevent a bad association.

 Percy Video #2:

Percy Video #3:

• In the first half of this clip watch how Jessica uses a high rate of reinforcement and distance from the distractions to help Percy stay calm with all the distractions going on the background.
• In the second half we let Percy say hello to an employee.  We usually DO NOT let our puppies greet people when wearing their vest, but we really needed a video of the process we use when we do let people greet our puppies.
  
  Notice that Percy waits to be released to go say hello (think Premack principle) and then is called away from the person earning treats.  When your puppy is not wearing a vest, this is the greeting protocol we recommend you use.

Percy vide #3:

Bruno's turn in Gander Outdoor

• Notice the high rate of reinforcement walking into the store.
• 36 seconds Kate clicks when the automatic doors open.
• 45 seconds: Kate chooses to stop and play the orientation game until she has Bruno's attention.  She starts by handing him the treat so that he can be successful, then moves to dropping it on the floor.
  
  Remember, you should NEVER go into a public place until  your dog is paying attention.  Sometimes that means you only get to train in the parking lot, but thats OK.
  
  
• 1m 20s:  Notice how Bruno's body language changes the moment he enters the store. Kate moves slowly and at the Bruno's pace until his body language shows he's more comfortable.
  
  
• 2m 25s: Kate gets on Bruno's level for some attention, this helps build his confidence, create a good experience in the public, and helps continue building value for the handler over the environment.
  
  She then reinforces him for putting his feet back on the ground and plays the its your choice game.  
  
  
• 5m12s:  Kate heavily reinforces Bruno for ignoring the person walking through the door, however, she should have at least clicked sooner.

Amelia's first trip into Gander Outdoor

• On the walk into the store Amelia is distracted by someone talking to us.  Jessica helps to keep her walking nicely by talking to her.  This is something we fade out as they get older. 
  
  
• 1m 10s:  Jessica stops to play the orientation game.
  
  
• Jessica spends the next few minutes working Amelia through her fear of the sliding door.  Taking this much time with Amelia allows her confidence to grow AND her trust in her handler. Things to watch for:
  • Jessica moves at Amelia's pace, meaning she never forces her to get closer.
  • Jessica clicks and treats every time the doors move or Amelia moves towards them.
  • 2m 12s: Amelia stops just short of actually going through the door and Jessica respects that decision and follows Amelia back to where she is comfortable.
  • 3min: Jessica uses DMT as people walk past.
  • 3m50: Amelia finally makes it through the door so Jessica walks through it a couple more times.
  • 4m12s:  Amelia tries to come say hello to me.  Jessica stops moving so that Amelia is not reinforced for pulling and clicks the moment she comes in her direction.

Amelia Video #2:

• 7s:  Amelia goes to sniff something, Jessica simply waits for Amelia to offer her attention and immediately clicks.
• 15s: Amelia gets distracted by a person.  Jessica stops moving so that Amelia is not reinforced for pulling and clicks the moment she offers her attention.
• 25s: Amelia choose to walk on the right side.  Since she is walking so nicely, and we do try to teach them to walk on both sides, Jessica goes with it.  Notice how high her rate of reinforcement becomes.
• 1m23s: Its your choice, and again Amelia hits the end of her leash trying to say hello to me.  It doesn't work.