Premier MannersMinder Instruction Manual page 48

Chapter 12: Game 5 – Down Stay w/Distractions
careful to prepare him for the distraction by starting
with easy distractions and then making them harder
and timing them while he's eating a treat. Once he
is good with harder distractions timed with treats,
time these distractions more randomly.
Target Fido several times between down-stay trials.
Make sure that during this step you practice walk-
ing toward and away from the front door. When Fido
completes 3 one-minute trials in a row, go to Step 2.
Step 2: The Running Human Distraction
Repeat as in Step 1, but this time intersperse short
quick movements and running. At first, time the
movements right as Fido's going for the food in his
bowl. Once he's no longer excited or interested in
your quick movements, start timing the quick
movements right before he gets a treat and then
more randomly. Work in any movements that you
know tend to distract him such as dancing, leaning
over to pick something up or sitting down on the
floor. When he completes 3 one-minute trials in a
row, go to Step 3.
Step 3: Loud Sounds and Talking
Send Fido to his "place" and then dole out treats
every :03 seconds by pressing the DOWN-STAY
button. This time, practice yelling, cheering or
making sudden loud (but not scary) noises. Again,
at first, time these distractions to occur right as
Fido's going for the food in the treat bowl. When he
looks like he's no longer interested in these distrac-
tions, then present them more randomly. When he's
relaxed and completes 3 one-minute trials in a row,
go to Step 4a.
Step 2: Running Human Distraction
Complete 3 one-minute trials in a row.
Checklist
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Step 3: Loud Sounds and Talking
Complete 3 one-minute trials in a row.
Checklist
❏ ❏ ❏
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