We all know the scenario.
You have trained your dog to play dead, spent several sessions in your living room and finally *BANG* and your dog has it nailed.
You cannot wait to show it to everyone on your next outing.
You gather at the park/training hall/family function….. Everyone is milling, the dogs are happy, you excitedly tell everyone what you have learnt.
Hey Fido!! *BANG* !!
Fido looks at you, Fido sits. That's it…….
And you are left saying ‘But he does it at home I promise!’
This is known as lack of generalisation or ‘proofing’.
Why does this happen?
When we train our dogs to do something they learn it in that environment. Dogs don’t automatically apply what they’ve learned in one environment to another. This can be because:
1. Different Environments, Different Distractions
-
At home the environment is familiar, quiet, and less distracting, just normal. Outside of your home, there are an abundance of sights, sounds, smells, and potentially other animals or people that compete for your dog’s attention.
2. Lack of Proofing
-
Dogs need to be taught that a behaviour applies in various places. Going with the example above, if your dog learns "BANG" in the living room, they might not realise it applies in the park too. Training needs to happen slowly in different environments, starting with least distraction and slowly increasing, for them to understand that the cue is universal regardless of surroundings.
3. Overstimulation
-
The outside world can be exciting or overwhelming, making it hard for your dog to focus on training cues. They may feel anxious or overstimulated, which affects their ability to focus and do as asked.
4. Reinforcement Differences
-
At home, you might reward consistently and at the right time. Outside, distractions might delay reinforcement, or rewards might not seem as valuable compared to the distractions! Who wants boring biscuits when there are birds around!
What can we do to support our dog with proofing?
-
Train Gradually in New Environments
Start with low-distraction settings like your front garden or in the street before moving to busier places. -
Increase Reward Value Outdoors
Use high-value treats or toys that are more enticing than outside distractions to reward the focus your dog offers you -
Practice Short, Controlled Sessions
Keep sessions outside short at first and increase duration as your dog gets better. I always use the time it takes for the kettle boil. -
Focus on Engagement
Reward your dog any time they look at you or offer focus voluntarily. This helps build focus, relationship and teamwork. -
Set Your Dog Up for Success
Start training in lower stimulating outdoor environments, like a quiet park (ie not at peak times!), and gradually increase distractions.
Our dogs need consistency and patience to translate their learning across environments and be confident with what we ask of them!
So, Go! Practice, gradually increase those distractions and next time, Fido will do BANG!!
