5 Day Trained Final Response Challenge
Day 1: DEFINITION
Let's say you invite a friend to come visit you (humor us for just a moment and pretend we aren't dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic). They have never been to your house before. Would you just tell them the part of the state you live in? Or would you give them your full street address complete with zip code and the specific turn to make to avoid the construction zone?
Either way your friend would eventually make it to your house but with the clarity and specificity of a complete street address it will take them less time to get to you and you will avoid frustration waiting for them so that you can begin enjoying all the plans you have made.
That is why getting crystal clear on exactly what you want your finished trained final response to look like is critical to successful TFR training. In Day 1 of our 5 Day TFR Challenge we are going to take you through an exercise to help you get the clarity you and your dog deserve so that you can avoid frustration and get on with all the fun training that comes afterwards!
What does your ideal trained final response look like?
When we ask this question as workshops, we usually get an answer like "My dog barking (or sitting/downing) at target odor."
We want to challenge you to dig deeper and get more specific on each aspect of your ideal trained final response.
- How much time do you want your dog to take to perform their TFR once they have sniffed target odor?
- Do you want them looking at source or at you when they perform the behavior?
- How long do you expect them to continue to perform their TFR without them breaking?
- How far away from you do you want your dog to be able to confidently perform their TFR? What about out of sight?
Step 1: Defining what YOU want
There are a lot of factors that go into selecting a trained final response and defining exactly how you want it to look. You must not only consider any prerequisites of your certifying agency, but the logistics of the type of searches and terrain you will most often be working in. When not dictated by your certifying agency, you also need to consider your dog's preferences.
When it comes to training, handlers are often so excited that they just grab their dog's leash and head out to the training field without a solid plan. This lesson is going to take you through the process the CFTE team uses to get crystal clear on what they are looking for in their dog's trained final response so that when we do get out on the field, we can very clearly communicate to our dog when they are right, and when they are wrong. It may not sound like the most fun training exercise but trust us, whether you are starting a puppy or working an experienced dog--it will pay dividends!
Download our Defining Your Trained Final Response Worksheet and complete Section 1.
Step 2: Go get your dog
Set out target odor in a single prop. This is not a search exercise so you only need one prop. Make sure it is durable and your dog can't knock it over or access source.
We highly recommend videoing this run so you can watch it multiple times (you'll learn why in step 3). This isn't Hollywood so just use your phone or GoPro or whatever recording device you have handy.
OBJECTIVE: This exercise is designed to give your dog the most straightforward setup so that you observe your dog's best trained final response.
Step 3: Evaluating what you have
In Step 1 you defined what your ideal trained final response looks like. In Step 2 you observed what you currently have in your trained final response. Now, in Step 3, we are going to see how what you have stacks up to what you want and identify specific training goals for improving.
With the Defining Your Trained Final Response Worksheet in front of you, watch the video of your dog's trained final response and complete Section 2.
TIP: You may find it helpful to watch the video multiple times, each time focusing on observing and assessing only one aspect of your dog's trained final response.