Week 6

[Day 39] Distraction triangle "Rookie": Effective recall training under distraction

November 13, 2024

Time to read 5 min

Basic obedience: Day 39 of 56

This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.

When it comes to recall training, distraction is the biggest enemy. Your dog might listen perfectly to the recall in a low-stimulus environment, but as soon as another dog, a human or a tantalising smell appears, your dog seems to forget all the signals. This is where the "Rookie" distraction triangle comes into play - a targeted method for gradually familiarising your dog with distractions and making his recall safe even under difficult conditions. Through controlled training situations that resemble real everyday situations, you will be able to push the boundaries between the controllable and uncontrollable. This will prepare your dog optimally for all the challenges he encounters in everyday life.

Goal: Your dog learns to follow your recall instead of the distraction and that this is to be adhered to in any case

Equipment: distraction, Long Leash, Collar, jackpot treats

Location: Low-stimulus outdoor environment

Duration: approx. 5 repetitions with breaks in between, variation with different distractions

Trainingsplan Downlod

Recall training with need building

The "Rookie" distraction triangle is a method in which you confront your dog with various distractions in an artificially created training situation. The aim is for your dog to learn to respond to your recall signal even in the presence of strong stimuli. Especially dogs that are easily distracted by their surroundings can develop a better understanding of the recall signal through this systematic training.

The method is based on the so-called Premack principle. This means that by obeying a less attractive signal (such as the recall), your dog is given the opportunity to receive a more attractive reward - in this case the distraction itself. This could be, for example, contact with another dog, an interesting odour or playing with an object. In this way, the recall is not only reinforced by the jackpot treat, but also by the prospect that your dog will still be allowed to pursue his distraction afterwards.

The triangle is used to direct your dog's focus in a controlled manner. Imagine that you and your dog are facing each other and the distraction is in a third place, away from both of you. Your dog may be aware of the distraction, but his focus should be on your recall signal. The Leash you use to secure him prevents your dog from rewarding himself by running to the distraction. This allows you to guide him safely, correct him and ultimately reward him for his attention.

The constant variation of distractions, distance and training conditions ensures that your dog remains flexible and constantly has to face new challenges. With each training session, you will learn more about the specific stimuli that your dog finds particularly difficult. By gradually approaching these stimuli, the recall will be consolidated and your dog will be able to listen to your command even in uncontrollable situations.

It is important that you keep a clear list of the distractions that your dog encounters in everyday life. This way, you can specifically train the difficult stimuli, such as other dogs, strangers or wild animal-like prey. By building up step by step, your dog will understand that it is worth following your recall even in difficult situations.

King poodle with drag line sits at a distance from its owner

Premack principle

The Premack principle, also known as Premack's rule, is a theory from behavioural psychology that states that a behaviour that is performed frequently or willingly can serve as a reinforcer for a behaviour that is performed less frequently or less willingly. This means that you can encourage a desired behaviour by linking it to a behaviour that the dog likes to do anyway.

Example: Recall with tugging game as a reward

Imagine your dog loves to tug on a toy but shows little motivation to respond to the recall signal, especially when there are exciting distractions outside. By applying the Premack principle, you can use the tugging game as a reinforcer for the recall.

Less preferred behaviour: Your dog should respond to the recall signal ("Here").
Highly motivating behaviour: Tugging game with a toy your dog loves.

In this case, the dog learns that if it responds to the recall signal and comes back to you, it will receive the reward of being allowed to tug. The premack principle therefore reinforces a less preferred behaviour (recall) with the prospect of a more motivating behaviour (tugging).

Trainingsplan Downlod

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Summary

The "Rookie" distraction triangle is an effective way of getting your dog used to everyday distractions and teaching him to recall reliably. By creating artificial training situations and combining recall with positive reinforcement and the Premack principle, your dog learns that following your recall signal is not only rewarding, but also the key to the most exciting situations for him. With patience, variation and a clear strategy, your recall training will be a success.

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[Day 38] Recall training for dogs: consolidate "here" and strengthen the need

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[Day 40] Distraction triangle "Pro": How to train the perfect recall

The authors: Paulina & Lui

Paulina and Lui are the heart and soul behind Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store]. Her journey in dog training began with the adoption of her first list dog, Vito. This experience sparked her deep interest in teaching other dog owners about dog behaviour and training. Initially this was just a hobby, but with the adoption of the American Pitbull Amalia, who had been relinquished several times due to severe behavioural problems, her passion developed into a true vocation. Amalia's particular behavioural challenges intensified her interest in dog training and behavioural therapy. This turning point led Paulina and Lui to leave their original career paths, undergo intensive further training and dedicate themselves entirely to the subject of dog training. Their work with human-dog teams also revealed a gap in the dog market: there was a lack of safe, high-quality dog accessories specifically for medium-sized and large breeds.

From this realisation, Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store] was born, a combination of their commitment to professional dog training and the need for quality dog accessories. Paulina and Lui bring their personal experience, extensive knowledge and passion for dogs to every product to help human-dog teams live together.