Positive Pup: Building Confidence

Step 1: Desensitization​

1. Play sound of knocking on phone at low level – or – have someone knock on door quietly.​
2. Feed high value treats immediately after knock. Regardless if puppy barks or not.​
3. Wait for pup to relax before playing sound again.​

Ready for Next Step: When puppy is not barking at knocking on phone or door.​

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Step 2: Counterconditioning​

1. Increase volume on phone (slightly) – or – have someone knock on door a little more loudly. ​
2. Feed treats after the sound. Regardless if puppy barks or not.​
3. Wait for puppy to relax before playing sound again.​

Ready for Next Step: When puppy is not barking at loud knocking on door.​

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Step 3: Generalization​

1. Practice knocking on different surfaces or in different rooms of the house. Puppy can even practice at a puppy sitter home!​
2. Follow same steps above each time the location or sound changes.​

Ready for Next Step: When puppy isn’t barking at various knocking sounds in different rooms and surfaces. Then, when puppy isn’t barking at sitter homes.

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Step 4: Real-life Scenarios​

1. Invite people over to practice. Have them text me before they arrive so I know to expect them.​
2. Keep knocking lighter, at first. Then louder the next time someone comes to visit.

Step 1: Desensitization

1. Show puppy the jacket. If she looks at or moves towards it, give her high value treats.​
2. If she touches the jacket with her nose or part of her body, give her treats.​
3. If she puts her head into hole of the jacket, give treats.​
4. If she holds her head into the jacket, give puppy treats, then take it off.​
5. If she puts her head in the jacket, clip the jacket on, give treats, then take it off. ​

Ready for Next Step: Juno can have the jacket put on and clipped without running away.​

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Step 2: Counterconditioning​

1. Once jacket is clipped, give treats every few seconds for a short period of time, then take it off.​
2. Put on the jacket and slowly increase the time puppy is wearing it. Feed treats and play with toys while it’s on, just for a few minutes.​
3. Work up to puppy wearing the jacket for longer periods of time and encourage her to walk around in a familiar place with it on, getting lots of treats along the way.​

Ready for Next Step: Puppy can wear the jacket for multiple minutes while walking around without frequently attempting to rub it off or avoiding it be put on.

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Step 3: Generalization​

1. Practice wearing jacket at home in different rooms, while playing in the backyard, when eating meals, or on short walks. Lots of treats throughout.​
2. Have puppy practice putting on the jacket with different friends.

Ready for Next Step: When puppy can put on and wear the jacket in a variety of environment with a variety of people.

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Step 4: Real-life Scenarios​

1. At a club outing, have a club member take off and put back on puppy's jacket.​
2. Put on the jacket as you arrive to an outing.