Adding a Cue to a Predictable Behavior

Prerequisite

Your dog should be predictably offering the behavior that you want to name. If you would not bet $100.00 that your dog will do the behavior, don’t add the cue. You’re not ready. Practice more.

Tools

Clicker
Treat pouch
Treats

Training Environment

Start this in a quiet, low distraction environment where you have already practiced the behavior several times. After you have worked on it for 3 or 4 sessions, move to a slightly more difficult environment. This would be moving from the living room to the back deck.

Recommended Treat Position

If you don’t have a release word, toss your treat.

If you have trained the release word, treat in place and release your dog.

Steps

Wait for your dog to perform the behavior.
Click and treat.
Repeat three times (or until your dog is repeating the behavior over and over in quick succession)
Say your cue (“sit”, “down”, etc.)
Your dog will do the behavior because he/she was going to do it anyway.
If your dog does not do the behavior, DO NOT repeat your cue. Go back to practicing the behavior without the cue.
Click and treat.

Homework

Count ten treats
Practice until you are out of treats
Give your dog a break, and go again later.
Do this 3-4 times each day.

At the End of This Step

Your dog should be performing the behavior each time you say it.