Knowing what to practice is only the first step. It’s also helpful to understand how to structure a training session to set your learner up for success!

Each learner is different. Some dogs can practice for longer sessions than others. Some have more frustration tolerance than others. Age, sex, health, skill and location all play into how and what you choose to practice. There are many aspects of an effective training session. Here are some basic principles:

Start in the least distracting environment.
Start with highest value and highest rate of reinforcement.
Train shorter sessions more often.

Set Up the Environment

Always start in the least distracting area. This is usually inside, but even inside there are ways to set up your environment so your dog is more likely to succeed. Look around and ask, “What might distract my dog?” Pick up any toys, put other dogs away, close doors, windows or blinds that may allow distractions to come in.

Set your environment up to prevent the dog from engaging in unwanted behaviors. Are you practicing wait at the door? Put a baby gate across the door or put your dog on leash so he can’t dash out the door on accident.

Use Appropriate Value and Rate of Reinforcement

Remember that at home your dog may work well for dry dog food, but in the real world that’s seldom valuable enough to motivate him! The higher the distraction level, the more difficult or new the skill is, the higher value your reinforcement should be. New behaviors should always be on a 1:1 reinforcement schedule, meaning one behavior = one reinforcement. As your dog attains fluency in a behavior your reinforcement schedule will change.

How Much, How Long

Train shorter sessions more often. Even five to ten minutes several times a day is better than one long marathon session once in a while.

What is your dog’s favorite way to take a learning break?
Some break time activities: playing with a toy, chasing a ball, scavenging for treats in the grass, getting a good snuggle, going to sniff.

The length of your training session greatly depends on your learner. Some dogs don’t easily tire or get discouraged. Some are “one trick ponies,” They need to train only a few repetitions and take more frequent breaks. Keep sessions short enough that your dog is still eagerly participating. If your dog wanders off, sniffs the floor, or the quality of behavior decreases it’s likely your training session was too long.

Train With The Aim To Achieve Fluency

For a full discussion of fluency check out this excellent article. Simply put, fluency is the ability to do a behavior anywhere, any time, no matter what distractions there are. How you structure your training sessions will help your dog achieve fluency.

Elements of a Successful Training Session

To create a training plan:

Choose a target behavior.
Define your dog’s current level of ability with that behavior.
Choose a location determined by that level of ability. (Always start in low distraction environments and increase the difficulty of the location as ability increases.)
Identify and eliminate or add distractions based on that level of ability.
Define how you will apply the 3 D’s one at a time to that skill in that location.
Define the needed rate of reinforcement.
Define the most effective type of reinforcement.

Use these training printables to make your training plan and then you’re ready to get started!

When and What to Change

As you practice your plans, adjust your criteria to help your dog attain fluency.

Some basic principles:

If you raise the difficulty (for instance going from inside to outside) and it's too hard for your learner lower the difficulty again. (Go back inside.)
If your dog fails twice go back to your last successful criteria.
When your dog is successful four out of five times at the current criteria raise one element of your criteria.
Only increase distance, duration or distraction one at a time, not all three.
When your dog is successful four out of five times in the current location go to the next location.
Take frequent breaks. Learning breaks are key to successful learning.
Build from success, don’t struggle from failure. If your dog is struggling don’t get frustrated or discouraged. This is just information! You control the environment, so you can make it easier for your dog the next time!

Benefits of Taking Time To Plan

For handlers who are already struggling to find time to practice, making a training plan can seem overwhelming but it’s worth it! Training plans will make your short training sessions more effective. You will spend less time scratching your head thinking of what to work on, and your dog will learn quicker. You will both enjoy that success. As you practice this process you will find you are able to make and adjust your training plans on the fly. Let The Law of Behavior work for you. Get used to making training plans now and see how your training behavior increases in the future!

References:
My Dog Knows It, He Just Won’t Do It! How to Achieve Fluency

Training Sessions

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