Phase 7: Add Distance & Bigger Distractions

Timeline: Weeks 9+ (2-4+ weeks)

Goal: She holds the down while you move away OR while bigger distractions occur (not both at once initially).

When to Start Phase 7

Only after duration is solid at 60+ seconds (Phase 6 complete).

She should be holding down for 60+ seconds with mild distractions confidently and calmly.

Critical Rule: Pick ONE at a Time

  • Don’t add distance AND distractions in the same session
  • Master one, then add the other
  • Once both are solid separately, you can combine them

Path A: Adding Distance (Weeks 9-12+)

Why Start with Distance First?

Distance is often easier than high distractions, so it’s a good place to start building her confidence.

Distance Progression

Week Distance Goal Protocol
Week 9 1-2 steps away Cue down → take 1 step back → wait 5 sec → treat → release
Week 10 3-5 steps away Cue down → take 3 steps back → wait 10 sec → return and treat → release
Week 11 10 steps away Cue down → walk 10 steps → wait 15 sec → return and jackpot → release
Week 12+ Out of sight Cue down → step around corner → wait 20 sec → return and jackpot → release

Week 9: 1-2 Steps Away

Step You Do She Does You Mark/Reward
1 Cue “down” She downs -
2 Take 1 step back She holds “GOOD”
3 WAIT 5 seconds She holds Toss treat to her (or step forward and give it)
4 Take 1 step back again She holds “GOOD”
5 WAIT 5 seconds She holds Toss treat
6 Step back to her She holds Treat
7 Release She gets up -

Week 10: 3-5 Steps Away

  • Same protocol as Week 9, but take 3-5 steps back instead of 1
  • Always return to her to give treats (builds confidence)
  • Wait 10 seconds while you’re away

Week 11: 10 Steps Away

  • Cue down
  • Walk 10 steps away
  • Wait 15 seconds
  • Return and jackpot (3-4 treats)
  • Release

Week 12+: Out of Sight

  • Cue down
  • Step around a corner
  • She can’t see you (just for a few seconds at first)
  • Wait 20 seconds
  • Return and jackpot
  • Release

Key Points for Distance Work

Always Return to Reward:

  • If you’re working on distance, step back to her to give treats
  • OR toss treats to her (but this can encourage her to break position to get them)
  • Returning builds confidence: she learns “you’ll come back”

Jackpot for Hard Stuff:

  • When she holds through distance = 3-4 treats in a row
  • When she holds while you’re out of sight = jackpot
  • Big challenges = big rewards

If She Breaks:

  • Make it easier: less distance, shorter duration
  • Only progress when she’s succeeding 8/10 times at current level

Path B: Adding Bigger Distractions (Weeks 9-12+)

Distraction Progression

Week Distraction Level Examples
Week 9 Moderate You walk fully around her, clap hands, drop objects
Week 10 High Another person walks by, doorbell rings, toy on ground nearby
Week 11 Very High Another dog visible at distance, food on ground, kids playing nearby
Week 12+ Real-world Practice in public (parks, cafes, busy sidewalks)

Week 9: Moderate Distractions

Step You Do She Does You Mark/Reward
1 Cue “down” She downs -
2 Introduce distraction (walk around her) She holds “GOOD” + treat immediately
3 Remove distraction, wait 5 seconds She holds “GOOD”
4 Introduce distraction again (drop object) She holds “GOOD” + treat
5 Wait 5 seconds She holds “GOOD”
6 Release She gets up -

Week 10: High Distractions

  • Add person walking by
  • Ring doorbell
  • Place toy on ground nearby
  • Same protocol: introduce distraction → she holds → immediate reward

Week 11: Very High Distractions

  • Another dog visible at distance
  • Food on ground nearby
  • Kids playing
  • Increase distance of dog/food to keep her threshold manageable

Week 12+: Real-World Practice

  • Take her to busier environments
  • Park with other dogs around
  • Cafe with people walking by
  • Maintain the same reward structure

Key Points for Distraction Work

Reward DURING/AFTER Distractions:

  • Always reward immediately after she holds through a distraction
  • This teaches “big distractions = big rewards”

Start with Just One Distraction:

  • Don’t introduce person + dog + food all at once
  • One thing at a time
  • Layer them once each is solid

If She Breaks:

  • The distraction was too hard
  • Go back to easier distractions
  • Build up more gradually
  • Make sure treats are even more valuable

Combining Distance + Distractions (Week 13+)

Once both are solid separately, you can start combining them:

Example Combined Challenge

Step You Do She Does You Mark/Reward
1 Cue “down” She downs -
2 Walk 5 steps away She holds “GOOD” from distance
3 Another person walks past (distraction) She holds “GOOD”
4 Wait 10 seconds She holds Walk back, give treat
5 Walk away again, this time 10 steps She holds “GOOD” from distance
6 Wait 20 seconds She holds Walk back, jackpot (3-4 treats)
7 Release She gets up -

Total: 60+ second down with distance + distraction combined.

Real-World Testing

Where to Practice

Location Challenge Level What You’re Testing
Quiet room Very Easy Baseline (should be solid)
Living room with family Easy Mild distractions, familiar environment
Backyard with neighbor Medium New person, mild distractions
Local park Hard Dogs, people, exciting smells
Cafe patio Very Hard Lots of people, smells, movement

Testing Protocol

  1. Cue “down”
  2. Let her hold for 30-60 seconds
  3. Add appropriate distraction for that location
  4. Reward heavily for success
  5. If she struggles, go back to easier locations

Troubleshooting Phase 7

Problem: She Breaks When You Step Away

Solutions:

  • You’re going too far too fast
  • Go back to 1 step away for another week
  • Make sure you’re returning to reward her
  • Increase treat value

Problem: She Anticipates Your Return

What it looks like: She gets up right before you come back

Solutions:

  • Vary the time you’re away (sometimes 5 sec, sometimes 15, sometimes 30)
  • Don’t always return from the same direction
  • Don’t have a predictable pattern

Problem: She Can’t Handle Real-World Distractions

Solutions:

  • You’re in too challenging an environment
  • Start in quieter locations
  • Gradually expose her to busier environments
  • Keep sessions short in challenging locations (5-10 minutes max)
  • Increase treat value

Problem: She’s Stressed During Distance/Distraction Work

Signs: Panting, yawning, lip licking, whining

Solutions:

  • Reduce difficulty significantly
  • Increase treat frequency
  • Practice in calmer environments
  • Make sure the behavior itself is fully solid first

Success Metrics: Phase 7 Is Solid When

✅ She holds down for 60+ seconds with you 10+ steps away ✅ She holds down while you’re out of sight (even briefly) ✅ She holds through high-level distractions (people walking by, other dogs at distance) ✅ She can combine distance + distractions (you’re far away AND things are happening) ✅ She works reliably in real-world locations ✅ She’s calm and confident (not stressed)

Weekly Tracking

Distance Progression

  • Week 9: Holds with you 1-2 steps away
  • Week 10: Holds with you 3-5 steps away
  • Week 11: Holds with you 10 steps away
  • Week 12+: Holds with you out of sight

Distraction Progression

  • Week 9: Holds through moderate distractions (your movement)
  • Week 10: Holds through high distractions (person walking by)
  • Week 11: Holds through very high distractions (another dog visible)
  • Week 12+: Holds in real-world environments

Combined Progression

  • Week 13+: Holds with distance AND distractions combined
  • Week 14+: Reliable in real-world situations

What’s Next?

Congratulations! Your dog now has a rock-solid down with:

✅ Duration (60+ seconds) ✅ Distance (out of sight) ✅ Distractions (real-world environments)

This skill is now ready to be integrated into:

  • Place training (down on a specific spot)
  • Advanced obedience (down-stays for competition)
  • Real-world settling (she can settle anywhere)
  • Foundation for other behaviors (you have a reliable position to work from)

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