Sometimes, the training goal you have – competing in agility, being able to easily groom your dog, applying eye drops, or even going for a walk in the neighborhood can seem like an impossibly long journey. We all have heard that the journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step – but where or what is the first step?
As the good witch of the North tells us “it is always best to start at the beginning”. Where does the behavior you are training begin? Let’s look at it from the dog’s point of view. Your idea of the first step may be way bigger than what your dog can do. Go with what your dog can do, and you’ll be on your way to the Emerald City.
If a movement – the start can’t be too small. When training a paw lift, you can start shaping the behavior by marking and treating a weight shift, before the lifting of a paw occurs. Or even before that, what is the position/orientation of the dog’s body that the movement requires?
If duration of a position – the amount of time can’t be too short. Training a sit-stay, the first duration of stillness in the sit to wait for should only be a fraction of a second. Click/treat that momentary stillness in the sit, allowing the dog to move out of the sit after the click. Then ask for another sit and try an slightly longer fraction of stillness before marking and treating.
If duration of a movement – the amount of movement can’t be too small. When training heeling, one step is the start. Or even less than a step – leaning in the direction the movement is intended to go – can be the start. Build the duration slowly – if your dog is not able to be successful for 3 steps of heeling, make it easier for him to succeed by expecting fewer steps in position.
Starting at the beginning of what your dog offers you allows you to easily start with positive reinforcement and build upon success. When adding distance or distraction to trained behaviors, the same principle applies, this time to the size or the distance of the distraction:
If distance away from the handler – it can’t be too small. If you have always trained a sit with the dog within touching distance, start with one inch beyond what the dog is reliable at responding from.
If distraction for the dog – it can’t be too minimal. When adding distractions to trained behaviors, start with what you think your dog barely notices. Make the distraction as small as possible or get far enough away so that it is barely noticeable by your dog (see previous post Run Away!).
Train Positive Dog! 
Great article! Starting at the beginning and going at your dog’s pace is such an important tip. Building upon small successes is key to achieving your training goals. This article provides helpful insights and practical tips to ensure training success.
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wow!! 29The Yellow Brick Road of Positive Dog Training
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