Premier MannersMinder Instruction Manual page 53

Chapter 12: Game 5 – Down Stay w/Distractions
Also, when playing with toys inside or outside,
always require that Fido sit, or better yet, lie down,
before tossing the toy. Refer to Say Please by
Sitting (Chapter 6) and Rewarding Calm Behavior
(Chapter 9). Practice in sessions of 5-10 tosses.
When he reliably lies down to have his toy tossed
you can also bounce the toy or squeak or wave it
around one time before giving the "OK", then toss-
ing. Increase to :05-:10 seconds of "down-stay"
before you toss.
Gets Up Prematurely
If Fido gets up it's for one of the following reasons:
• You presented the distractions at too high an intensity. Go back and lower the intensity
until Fido's relaxed.
• You presented the distraction at the wrong time. Make sure you time the difficult moves
as Fido's nose is in contact with his treat bowl at first. He should be staring at the treat
bowl when you present the distraction.
• Fido is not hungry enough. Test with higher value treats or stop the session and resume
later in the day.
• You haven't removed the rug or MannersMinder between sessions in Games 1-4, so
Fido thinks he can get on and off at will to earn treats.
• Treat rate is too slow. Rate should be every :03 seconds until he is relaxed for all
distractions.
• You are rewarding him for getting up — by petting or giving attention or by giving treats
for getting up, then lying down again.
• You have not practiced "say please by sitting" or "rewarding calm behavior," so he
thinks that if he gets up to run to the door that he will be able to get by you to go out
the door.
Barks
• You have rewarded barking by giving treats after Fido barks. Lower the stimulus inten-
sity and raise treat rate back to every :03 seconds so Fido does not have much chance to
bark. (Refer to door knock distraction for more information.)
When playing with toys inside or
outside, always require that
Fido sit, or better yet, lie down,
before tossing the toy.
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