The Definitive Guide to Laser Directionals 
Confused dog or maybe handler
My dog (2 year old Malinois) understands the daylight primed sends, night time prime sends and will go to the laser when the bowl/location is primed. He will do multiple reps of this and look like a rock star. Then I move to a new location and if I dont show him the bowl, he will just sit there looking confused when I send him. Should I just keep trying to generalize the send or do I need to back up more in my steps because I did something wrong?
1 comment
Hi Jeremiah,
Not an uncommon issue.
A few things to consider. Does the prep position you use represent a different set up clue for your dog than purely "directional send"? If so prior operational training will enter his head and he is mentally preparing to do something he has done 100 times more often than laser. Do you feel he understands the "send away" command enough to be looking for a place to go.
If you think about it, the "priming" plants a premise in his head, without the priming, the circumstances may plant something entirely different in his head.
One of the reasons for the "prime and sends" in PREDICTABLE laser able locations is so those locations themselves start "planting" the premise of directional send in his head and he is more ready for the signal and laser.
Another common difficulty we encounter is when there is enough light available for the dog to see his environment that HE starts to look at or focus on things that somehow stand out to him or may have value (due to prior training) to him. If that happens, he will use "his own idea" more readily than what you are trying to suggest (laser).
So, the darker the better for new locations. And if you have the ability to utilize a set of 4-6 locations you can do multiple days of prime and send sessions, then go to those locations and try unprimed. As outlined in module 2.
Once you see some reliability in the predictable locations without priming, THEN it is time to begin new locations. And again those new locations then should be very dark and with few distractions (dog dependent) and the distances should be shorter than your best send in a predictable location.
Armin
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