Description: Many dogs become over-excited when greeting people. This exercise teaches your dog that calm behaviour gets attention.

Steps:

1. Ask your dog for a sit before greeting.
   
2. Approach a person slowly.
   
3. If your dog jumps or becomes over-excited → calmly move away.
   
4. If your dog remains calm → allow brief greeting and reward.
   
5. Keep greetings short and successful.
   

Important:
Your dog does not need to greet everyone.

Goal:
Your dog learns calm behaviour makes greetings happen.

We now reward your dog for naturally choosing to reconnect during walks without being asked.

Steps:

1. Begin walking normally.
   
2. Watch for moments your dog looks back at you voluntarily.
   
3. Mark (“Yes!”) and reward immediately.
   
4. Continue rewarding engagement during movement.
   
5. Add random direction changes to encourage attention.
   

Goal:
Your dog starts choosing to stay mentally connected during walks.

This week focuses on creating a faster, happier recall response this week can be done off leash or long leashes provided in class.

Steps:

1. Call your dog enthusiastically.
   
2. Move backwards or crouch down to encourage speed.
   
3. Reward generously when they arrive.
   
4. Occasionally surprise with extra special rewards.
   
5. End before your dog loses interest.
   

Fun Ideas:

• Recall between family members
  
• Recall away from toys
  
• Recall during backyard play
  

Important:
Never punish your dog after they come to you. even if it was slow.

Goal:
Your dog comes quickly and happily when called.

We now increase difficulty by practicing Leave It with movement and more tempting distractions.

Steps:

1. Begin with a low-value moving item.
   
2. Say “Leave It”.
   
3. The moment your dog disengages → mark and reward.
   
4. Keep sessions short and controlled.
   
5. Gradually increase difficulty over time.
   

Examples:

• Rolled toy
  
• Tossed treat ( this is in your test next week)
  
• Moving object on leash walks
  

Important:

Success comes from gradual progression, not rushing.

Goal:

Your dog learns self-control around movement and excitement.

Steps:

1. Bring the mat into normal daily activities.
   
2. Send your dog to the mat while you relax, work, or eat dinner.
   
3. Reward calm behaviour intermittently.
   
4. Gradually reduce food rewards as calmness improves.
   
5. Keep the environment relaxed and positive.
   

Progression:

• Practice while visitors are present
  
• Practice outdoors or at cafés
  
• Practice during family activity
  

Goal:
Your dog begins to settle automatically when the mat appears.