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Now, onto the "target" part of the exercise. After you have your dog used to the carpet, take your target (the plastic lid) and place it on the carpet with a piece of "bait" on it. Then, take your dog about six feet from it, and SEND your dog. If you have been working on this from the previous lessons you should be able to say "Go get it!" As the dog gets the "goodie," C/T. After you have repeated this exercise several times for several days adding distance, you can then go to the next step (remember those BUILDING BLOCKS)! Walk with your dog up to the carpet and tell the dog "Down" (therefore it is a moving down). Repeat this several times, but make sure (as in the "Training Tips") you quit on a good note and don't by any means repeat any exercise to the point of boredom. Quit while you're ahead (it is really hard to do sometimes when you get on a "roll")! The more you keep going, the more chances you will have to set you and your dog up for failure, so it is better to reward when you have achieved something great and be rewarded for that! That is what the dog will remember!

After the target exercise and the downing exercise, the next step would be to put them "together". Go back to your six feet from the carpet and target it as usual, but instead of saying, "Go get it," say "Go," and as soon as the dog hits the carpet say, "Down" (you are running beside your dog so you should be right there to "lure" him if need be)--C/T heavily if the dog gets it right then say, "Okay!" At this time, to phase out the "target," cut it down smaller and smaller. It is plastic after all. You can then just reward from your hand. After the dog is performing this well, you can then add the "WAIT" command. The first few times of adding the "Wait," just say "Wait," then pause for a moment and say, "Okay." Every time you have the dog wait, make it wait a little longer. Then you can add distance both to the SEND and to the "WAIT." Be sure to sometimes give them their bait/goody and sometimes not. This way they will not know when it will be there for them. Sometimes, a "Good" is reward enough!

First I hope you have taken my previous lessons of teaching the sit, down, and wait/stay commands. These will be most helpful with this next lesson. Okay, here we go!

Let's start putting the Target to use!

Go to bed!
(Or some other "specific" spot)

For this demonstration I am using a carpet. You can use your dog's bed or any other item you wish for them to lie on. Bala (who is now six months old) is once again my "demo" girl.

Eventually you will be able to tell your dog to "Go lie down" or "Go to bed" to a "specific" spot.

Next time we will do some "Trick Training"! FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Debra L. Decker
Dog Trainer Extraordinaire