Lesson 16: Pause to Practice

[s2If current_user_cannot(access_s2member_ccap_course_002_bt)]

To view this lesson, please purchase the BAT 101 course or log in if you have already purchased it.[/s2If]

[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_ccap_course_002_bt)]

HOMEWORK

  • Find two unofficial videos of BAT on YouTube. Watch on a minute each one, and look at each of them from the perspective of what you could do differently to help the dog succeed, and whether it really looks like BAT. Feel free to actually comment on the YouTube site – politely of course. 🙂
  • Do parallel walking or following as part of a BAT 2.0 set-up. Most set-ups should have this natural sort of movement whenever possible. For your records and your further education, pick a particular section to focus on. As usual, pay close attention to the dog’s body language and note any points where the session could have gone better (and how). For example:
    • Was the dog in the green and blue zones only?
    • Was the environment enriched enough?
    • Were you able to stay out of the dog’s way or did you accidentally lead the dog toward the trigger?
    • How were your leash skills?
  • Pretend your area is too small, your dog is a little bored, etc. so that you need to use the Parallel Play variation, just to practice. Still don’t lead your dog toward the trigger. Have your dog do some activity at the same time that you are doing BAT.
  • When you start to do close-up work, be safe and only do it when your dog is ready.

[/s2If]