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HOMEWORK

• • Download the BAT Basics PDF handout for friends and family from my Handouts Page. It’s available in different languages on that page.
  • Practice Mark and Move with your dog, with a fake ‘trigger.’ With your dog on leash, put a full treat pouch, toy, or loaf of bread on the ground as the ‘trigger.’ Work at a distance where your dog isn’t completely sucked in and practice still doing the style of following with BAT (i.e., don’t lead your dog toward the trigger once he’s already shown he knows it is there). Vary the behavior, markers, and reinforcers as you practice. Think about which ones to use at the distance you are to the trigger. Film it and when you watch your video, note which Behavior, Marker, and Reinforcer you used for the Mark and Move parts.
  • Body language. Re-watch your Mark and Move session or use another video of your dog (ideal: video of your dog doing some other kind of training, like classical counterconditioning, clicker training tricks, etc.). For 30-60 seconds of of the video, really dig into what body language you are seeing. I recommend you take the time to write it down.Example: “From 1:00 – 1:12, Fiona’s ears were perked forward, eyes on the trigger, and her body was mostly still with a low tail. At 1:13, she exhaled heavily, turned her head away and focused on the treats in her handler’s hand. From 1:17 – 1:45, she took treats rapidly from the handler, but her jaws were using a pretty snappy motion and her gaze darted back and forth between the trigger and her handler. When the handler turned his body away from the trigger and began to walk, Fiona followed and at 1:55 she did a shake-off, after which her tail relaxed, her movements became more relaxed, her mouth opened and her breathing was more regular.” It can be more specific if you play it back in slow motion.
  • Practice Touch.
  • Have a friend that your dog likes be your ‘trigger.’ Practice survival skills, like having your trigger come around corners, move toward you, etc.

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