Week 3 Management and Maintenance

 Management tools are a way to give yourself a little break from training and hyper vigilance, as are the way that you use them.   These are your physical management tools and their uses:

1. Crate:  You can use this to feed either dog in while the other is out, you can use this as a rest time (dog's actually could use more sleep than they get, and space to just relax), let wiggles relax in it when Bruce is out sometimes (as Bruce does need to have his free alone time with you), 
2. Collar: (that does not come off or slip lead)  A halter does not, as other trainers say, control the "bitey end" of the dog.  A halter also is not a great tool for preventing lunging and it is possible for them to get it off.  I use this when I am umbilical cording the dog.   I am holding onto the leash whether I am sitting down for tv (or even have it in a sit on the dog configuration, just remember that sit on the dog is a 30 + minute exercise) or walking around the house.  I can use some of my commands at this point to station the dog if I am doing chores, like "sit stay" for a short period of doing something.
3. Leash that attaches to a collar (or slip collar configuration) that does not come off (this can be the cheaper clothe one when not training).  Use this as in point 2, but you could also allow him to be dragging it around the house.  Be careful with this, because he could still try to go after the other dog, but at least you would have something to grab onto.  If he did that, I would have him not able to drag the leash around the other dog for some time.  Hopefully, you would be able to catch him trying to do this while your holding the leash so that you could correct him.
4. Long Line--You can use this outside, and you can use it to help with the ecollar as you get used to using it.   This way you can help him without having to go to far up the dial before this becomes a common practice.  I use the let's go command a lot to do something like move him from the fence and towards me.
5. Chain Collar (NEVER TO BE LEFT ON UNLESS BEING VERY CLOSELY SUPERVISED AND/OR TRAINING)---You can use this to attach a leash he is dragging if you aren't using the slip lead.   Other than that, this is really a training tool, and you should get used to the correction necessary.  We (in the end) want all the corrections to be as light as we can possibly make them, by practicing with him and making this an every day thing.  Use the commands in the house when you are doing this, like having him sit at doors and follow you around in a heel or let's go.

Ways to work management at home:

1. Crate -If your dog has their needs met but they are being too much (or even a day that life got in the way of that), you can crate your dog while you are at home to settle them.
2. Activity and Play-It is important that both dogs get activity and play time during the day.  Use the above tools if they are both out for safety.  Dogs do really appreciate interactive play with their owner.   It satisfies them emotionally as it tires them out physically and sometimes mentally.
3. Down time-All dogs can use just down time.   Time to nap or just do nothing but laze around.  It can not be all work or all play all the time.
4. Outside-Long line is good to use on walks where there is space for them to wander a little (like a field), while keeping safety in mind all the time. 
5. New Human Guests Coming In  Practice before hand with your dog doing sit stays at the door or place as someone opens and/or knocks at the door before hand.  

Ways to use commands and exercises for management:

1. Let's Go---Great for turning your dog towards you in many different scenarios.   
2. Sit and Sit Stay--Also great for traveling around the house and yard.   I usually use it to sit them as standard practice at thresholds and in front of other dogs, especially during times of excitement.
3. Place Long Place--This works impulse control without you needing to crate your dog.   This is also great for doing house chores without your dog getting underfoot.
4. Send to Place  The ability to send your dog away from you has value.   Keep practicing this so that in times of excitement or expectation you can send him away to his place.  It is another impulse control exercise as well.
5. Sit on The Dog  Great to use when sitting down to supper, watching tv, later on out and about at a park.  If you use this a lot, then your dog will become more and more relaxed in different settings and scenarios.  
6. Leave It or Out  You can use treats with this if you need to.  I like to prepare the dog by doing reps of our or leave it during play.  First though, you have to get the dog engaged in playing with you before layering these type of obedience commands in.