So you've taught your dog to 'sit', or maybe a few other cues, but how do you know your dog actually knows the cue? How can you be confident that they'll always listen to you?
This is where you need to know about proofing.
Proofing is where you'll practise a behaviour in a variety of situations and environments until your dog can do it everywhere, no matter what's going on around them.
So here is a challenge for you.
'Sit' is usually one of the first things people teach their dog, and most people so most people think their dog is pretty perfect at it... Lets challenge that thought!
Ask your dog to sit 10 times in the following ways.
Each time your dog does sit you get 1 point!
Can you tell your dog to sit when…
✅ You’re standing in front of them?
✅ Your hands are behind your back?
✅ You’re sitting in front of them?
✅ You’re sitting on the floor?
✅ You’re laying on the sofa?
✅ You’re laying on the floor?
✅ You’re spinning around in circles?
✅ Your hands are waving high in the air?
✅ You’re doing star jumps?
✅ There's another dog next to them?
How many did you get?
If you got 8 or less, I would suggest you keep proofing! These were just 10 examples of different situations and distractions, and were likely all done in your home.
How many did you get?!
0%1 - 3
0%4 - 6
0%7 - 9
0%10!
You'll want your dog to listen everywhere, so you need to practise a variety of distractions in a variety of environments. It’s crucial you practise these silly things so that when you need the sit, you know that it’ll be easy for your dog!
The same goes for all the other behaviours you teach too, from lay down, to stay, to recall!
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