Proofing: What it is + why it's a crucial component in your pups' training

We all know a dog or two who is well behaved in one environment, (usually their home,) and is a completely different dog elsewhere. While there are many reasons for this, we can help our dogs proof their skills in order to be able to perform them more reliably and consistently.

Biggie Smalls + Little Trappy work on leash manners together in order to proof their skills. For many dogs, performing known behaviors around other dogs is extremely challenging

Dogs do not naturally generalize well.... and so it is common that a dog is able to learn and perform some behaviors in known and familiar, low distraction environments, like their home, but will quickly become confused once the environment or circumstances are changed.

Example: You have guests over and your dog suddenly forgets their name, how to Sit, and what the heck "Keep 4 on the floor!" mean. If your dog has not had adequate opportunities to practice proofing their skills in similar scenarios, it is unlikely they will be able to do it when guests suddenly arrive in their home.

Echo performs a "Paws Up" cue while Penny maintains a "Hop Up" cue in Navy Yard. Practicing different cues, alongside friends, in close proximity is one way to help them proof their skills.

Teaching our dogs new behaviors has 2 different stages:

1) Laying the foundation-

This is when we teach a new behavior cue. This always begins in low distraction environments with lots of praising and rewarding when your dog is on the right track. It is important to know and remember that dogs DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.

This feels silly to have to say, but you wouldn't believe the amount of people who will say: "Fido: Sit!: and when their dog doesn't respond they then get louder, repeat themselves, get stern, or all of the above (as though it will suddenly improve their dog's comprehension of the English language.) Dogs do not know words until we create a pattern or association with a word.

Example: If every time we say: "Fido: Sit!" while slowly raising a treat over their head, causing them to sit their bum on the ground, and then rewarding them, they will quickly learn that pattern and expectation. However if you are inconsistent and/or you do not Proof your dog's skills, they will not be able to perform them reliably once you introduce any variation. (Example: distractions, location change, new people, new smells, different weather, etc.)

2) Proofing their known skills:

Proofing better enables our dogs to generalize their skills and to be able to perform known behaviors more consistently, regardless of environment and distractions; (like their other dog friends, squirrels, kids, scooters, skateboards, music, crowds, incelement weather, etc.)

Practicing skills alongside friends in a variety of environments and contexts can help solidify your pups skills and reliability in performing known cues.

Proofing is an essential part of dog training that ensures your pup can respond to your cues no matter what the circumstances are.

This is essential for safety.

If your dog is unable to “Come” to you for example and suddenly slips out of their collar, we want to be confident that we will be able to get them to return to us with minimal stress for either party.

The process of proofing involves teaching and rehearsing your dog's ability perform behaviors in a variety of environments, including around various distractions and high-stress situations. Additionally, proofing gives you, the human/ pawrent/ guardian/ manager-in-charge the opportunity to improve your communication and relationship with your dog and to get super comfortable and confident using their known cues, thereby making this easier on you in times of stress or crisis as well.

Part of Engaged Walks and Engaged Pack Walks is teaching each Engaged Dog the "Ready? Set? Catch!" pattern game. This (plus proofing their skills,) allows me to take pictures like this where they are all looking at me and waiting to be rewarded. For group photos / when working with multiple dogs, it is extremely important that each dog has strong name recognition and that we humans say their name before a cue. Example: To take this photo, I might say: "Penny: Ready? Set? Catch!" Even though they know the reward is coming to Penny and she's paying attention, they all look to me because of the previously proofed pattern of behavior and that it is likely their turn is coming soon.

Example: An off-leash dog begins to charge your dog. You and Fido have consistently practiced a "Behind" cue, so as you see them approaching from a distance, you cue: "Fido: Behind!" rewarding and treating them while there, using a body block to create space and prevent the charging dog from approaching yours. As the dog gets closer, you might make yourself get big and loud and step towards the charging dog, cueing "Enough!" and pointing them away (or throwing a squeaky ball for them to chase.) If you've proofed this well enough with your dog previously, they should/ could be able to move with you easily as you navigate this situation.

It is important to practice your pup’s known cues often, in a variety of contexts, environments, and even with using different tones, volumes, and energy when verbally cuing. The more we practice and offer clear and consistent communication, the better able they will be to understand us and comply with what is being asked of them from moment to moment.

Proofing can and should be done during your day-to-day activities. For example, if you are going for a walk in an unfamiliar area, maintaining the same general leash manners expectations and communicating clearly, regardless of location or distractions, can help set both you and your pup up for success.

When appropriate, Penny Grace attends sessions as a 'helper dog' in order to help her furiends proof their skills. By using Penny Grace as a helper dog she can set the example/ expectation for the scenario we are training for. She can also be utilized as a positive distraction to help her friend proof their skills. Additionally, having a friend present who is setting the example, and lending to distraction can also help pups learn neutrality around other dogs.

Proofing has 3 main components.....

1) Duration-

proofing requires you to help your dog learn to maintain a cue for a Duration of time.

Example:

When I cue a Down, I expect the dog to remain there until further notice/ until communicated otherwise.

In order to teach our dog that remaining in that cue until they are either released (we use "Be Free!" as a release cue with all Engaged Dogs,) or cued to do another behavior, we must help them understand that staying in the cue is the expectation.

The easiest way to build Duration in a cue and to communicate super clearly is to begin by using a cue your dog already knows in a low distraction environment, praising and rewarding them heavily while Fido maintains the cue, for just a couple of second to begin, before being released. By beginning with a known cue in a low distraction environment for a short duration of time and offering lots of praise and teeny tiny high incentive treats while they maintain the cue, this teaches our dog that maintaining the cue is preferred, will be rewarded heavily, and that they are on the right track.

As your dog begins to understand the expectation and the skill comes more easily to them, begin to space out your rewards.

Your rewards/ reward system should always reflect the amount of challenge we are asking of them in any given moment.

If you are practicing a known skill in a low distraction environment, perhaps you lean into praise and kibble for rewards. If you are working outside, in a distracting area and another dog/ a squirrel/ a person/ an active distraction is in close proximity, you should be praising and rewarding heavily and frequently utilizing high incentive snacks (Our favorites are Stewart's beef liver, dehydrated chicken bits, and Open Farm Meal Mixers.)

2) Distractions-

proofing requires your dog to practice around distractions in order to increase their

ability to perform known cues/ behaviors consistently around Distractions.

Similar to all new behaviors that we train, we want to introduce distractions slowly. After teaching a new behavior in a low distraction environment and feeling your dog has a solid understanding of the cue, begin to add distractions by:

• Turning on the TV/ Increasing the volume

• Opening the windows/ patio door to introduce outdoor noises

• Put on a YouTube video of specific noises that are challenging for your dog. Begin at very low volumes, decreasing at any time it appears to overstimulating for your dog

• Begin adding in unexpected or erratic movements while they maintain their cue for duration. Example: When proofing skills, I will frequently do random yoga poses, march in place, spin in a circle, etc. as ANY movement/ change in environment can add challenge to your dog's ability to maintain their cue around distractions.

• Practice in hallways, amenity spaces, lobbies and other common areas around your building/ neighborhood/ home

• Practice on porches, decks, patios, yards, parks that are close to home

• Identify your dog's unique triggers/ distractions and begin (at a significant distance away, and moving closer as they are able to be successful,) Example: Proofing skills outside of Dog Parks for dogs who have difficulty being neutral around other dogs. Proofing skills in view of bicycle lanes for dogs who are triggered by bikes, scooters, skateboards, and/or quick movements. Proofing skills around children/ squirrels/ loud noises (keeping in mind to protect their hearing) etc.

  3) Distance-

  Proofing for Distance has 2 parts: 1) Can you dog perform/ maintain the cue when you cue it to them from a physical

  distance away? Example: While off leash hiking, you call to your dog 20 feet away: "Fido! Down!" Can they drop into a Down even though you are not in close proximity to them?

  
  

  2) Can your dog maintain the cue/ behavior as you move away from them. Example: While off leash hiking, your dog is trotting alongside you. You notice another dog up ahead, so point to a big tree stump and ask: "Fido: Place" indicating a desire for them to hop up onto the stump and maintain their position there until further notice. If you walk away to go talk to the other human and dog pair, can your dog maintain their Place cue?

In order to help your dog Proof their skills, we must break down each of these behaviors

into teeny tiny chunks, help them get consistently good at performing the behavior, and then slowly add in challenge.

At any time that your dog begins to struggle, go back to something they know well and can perform easily, get a few successful repetitions of their known skill to build some confidence and momentum, and then return to your proofing exercises, moving very slowly and maybe offering additional supports.

Additional supports to set them up for success might include:

• decreasing distractions in the environment/ moving to a less distracting environment

• praising and rewarding more often when they ARE on the right track

• releasing them from cues more quickly

• using known non-verbal cues (like pointing down to the ground for Down OR holding your hand out in a 'Stop' position when working to build Duration) in addition to verbal cues to increase clarity in communication

• adding in frequent play breaks, petting breaks, and/or sniffy breaks to increase enjoyment and engagement of the training games (the chosen activity should be based on the dog in front of you's preferences. Example: Penny doesn't love to be pet while training and would actually likely view this as annoying, distracting, and overstimulating. She finds praise, butt scratches, and treats (especially when they are tossed to her!) much more rewarding and fun.
  

  Your dog is always communicating. Get curious and notice what they appear to enjoy and get excited to work for and then lean into that to reward them accordingly.

Remember that we always aim to end training sessions on a positive note, so if/when they begin to struggle. pivot to either the last place they were successful in your training session OR to known cues, get a couple successful repetitions, and end the training session with lots of praise, celebration, and maybe a scatter feed/ Go Find Game to help them transition/ pivot to your next activity.

Bindi, Service Dog in Training, proofing her skills alongside actively working Service Dog Penny Grace.

Proofing skills is a crucial component of your dog's overall training and is particularly helpful to build impulse control, neutrality, and engagement around distractions.

Need help proofing your dog's skills? Schedule a session and let us help!