Let’s Keep Practicing: Clicks and Resets 003

Last night, I watched Kikopup’s “Door Manners” video, and it brought me back to Windy’s puppy days when we’d spend 5-10 minutes training life skills like these.

I got up as soon as I finished watching, got my clicker, a handful of her kibble, and got to practicing. The goal is to click for eye contact and to break down the process in teeny-tiny steps:

• Touch the door handle. Click or mark for eye contact.
• Jiggle the door handle. Click or mark for eye contact.
• Move the door a little bit. Click or mark for eye contact.
• Move the door to show a small gap. Click or mark for eye contact.
• Open the door by 25%. Click or mark for eye contact.
• Open the door half way. Click or mark for eye contact.
• Open the door by 75% to 100%. Click or mark for eye contact.
• Open the door by 75% to 100%. Click for eye contact. Release the dog. Click for eye contact and feed at original position.

It’s up to you to decide how many repetitions each step gets, or how far or close your dog is to the door to help them become more successful.

As for Windy, she got this in the bag. I just need to stay consistent by asking her to wait by the door even when we’re not in training mode, so she doesn’t continue the same behavior or rushing into the dining room.

Feel free to practice in the same way as Kikopup teaches in their video, and share a link to your practice session in the comments!