On Waiting for Your Turn and the Emotions Involved part 1.

Alright, let’s get into today’s #InDepth post about waiting your turn. First of all, I want to point out that this is HARD. And the more stimulating the sport you’re training with your dog, the harder it is. My observations are also that small, cute puppies often behave wonderfully all day long at the field or during training... but that is until they get a taste of the action 😉 That’s when a little frustration emerges in them, loudly shouting “I want it too!! NOW!! RIGHT NOW!!!!” This post will be about how to manage that little frustrator. 🙂

I also want to point out that I distinguish the context of “active waiting” from simple “civilized sitting in a crate.” Of course, they are connected because if a dog has emotional issues and struggles with being separated from their handler, it will show both here and there. However, I introduce regular crate time to my dogs differently. This post will be about ACTIVE WAITING FOR YOUR TURN IN TRAINING. Okay, let’s get to the heart of it.

I think I’m doing well with writing in ten points, so I’ll stick to that format again.

1. A handful of inspiration on mastering the emotions bubbling inside your dog and showing them another way to cope with them.

First of all, Susan Garrett and her “Crate Games” DVD: https://www.clickerdogs.com/crate_games.php (now also available online: https://www.susangarrett.com/crate-games-online/). I will keep referring everyone to this, because this original DVD presents all stages in such an accessible way that you won’t find this in “substitute” videos (those where people are doing the exercises).

Secondly, a great program from Absolute Dogs: https://absolute-dogs.com/pages/naughty-but-nice, https://www.facebook.com/absolutedogs/).

In both cases, the work is based on introducing an object or a raised platform where or on which we will expect specific behavior.

2. An essential skill without which a dog cannot wait calmly for their turn: stillness and the ability to hold commands for extended periods.

If your dog can’t sit still for five seconds, breaks stays, vocalizes during inactivity, or constantly offers behavior, then this is where you must start. For my dogs, holding a sit is one of the first skills we shape. I like when my dogs prompt me to work, I like when they offer contact, but I like it when they do so through POLITENESS, not wildness. I try to teach them that self-control and offering “politeness” leads to getting what they want.

In the video, you can see examples of such exercises—Bułka is learning that when she’s excited, it’s beneficial to offer, for example, entering her crate and waiting politely (in the video, she’s trying to get a pink Kong or treats from my hand).

Additionally, the first behavior I shape is going on an object and staying there until released. There’s a bit of frustration (visible in the video), but the dog learns to work through this state. 😊

3. Clear communication when extending behaviors.

YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED a release command. You cannot build a foundation for active and polite waiting without it. I quickly introduce a “prolongation” command to my dogs (e.g., “yes,” which means “you’re doing well, keep going”) and a release command (“okay,” which means “you’ve done well, you may move toward the reward”).

You can also see this in the video, for example, when I extend the sit with little sweet Bułka. 😊

The release command is a part of our everyday life: I detach the leash, and only after “okay” can she run off; I open the car door, and only after “okay” can she get out; I call the dogs and reward them, but only after “okay” can they run off again. And so on...

4. A practical thing closely connected to this exercise – raised platforms/crates.

A tool with magical powers! Introducing this to the active waiting training gives the dog a clear mental image and an easy-to-follow pattern (and nervous dogs love patterns, oh how they love them!). I take them with me to every seminar, and shop can’t keep up with restocking the shelves...

This method of learning this behavior works wonders for me. If any of you have seen my Honda working (or rather heard her!!), you know how she can radiate wildness. I once realized I skipped a stage in her upbringing... when I tried to say something at a seminar, and she was standing next to me, loudly making her beautiful “roar.” That’s when we started exercises on the raised platform. To this day, it makes me laugh because she has two modes and acts like a completely different dog. She radiates energy worthy of a Honda, and after being sent to her platform, she radiates politeness. She’s a very excitable dog, and this clear pattern allowed her to understand my criteria.

And about those criteria—on the platform, they’re easy to maintain. My criteria are four paws on the platform. Nismo made me realize with his crawling (worthy of a dog like Sharik avoiding gunfire 🐕), that I can’t maintain criteria with regular lying on the ground...

5. Consistency – unfortunately, this point follows again!

It haunts us!! Sorry, but if your dog shows strong insubordination and still gets rewarded with training, they will continue showing that behavior.
Rewarded behavior will be repeated. If a dog whines, barks, or frantically pulls, then gets rewarded with more excitement during training, they’ll keep doing it.

I can warn you that this needs to be watched carefully throughout your dog’s life. Yes, even a nine-year-old dog can learn to bark in a crate. Wena confirms that this is possible