10-14-2024 FC Week 3 (a pivotal week)

Good Morning to all,

 The Week 3 material is uploaded for your review prior to our Zoom meeting this evening. There is a LOT of information. Week 3 is a pivotal week for the dog, and their handler(s), as THIS WEEK, the dog begins to internalize the training. 

For the first time, the dog learns to choose a 'right action = reward' from within its own mind. Prior to this week, everything we have done to external learning to the dog. In ILL and LL, the first two weeks, the dog learned to choose between comfort, that is the Safety Zone to left of handler, and discomfort, that is being anywhere else.  

In Week 2, the Safety Zone shrank considerably and for the first time, the dog experienced reward, that is a soft quiet praise for EVERY Sit, EVERY time.  The Sit puts the dog into Social Drive to receive that highly valued praise. This is critical for the dog as the bonding and trust is established in the relationship between learning dog and their handler. 

Now, in Week 3, the bonding is heightened, the trust is built upon as the dog internalizes the learning. Literally, in the FOUNDATION Course, by Week 3, the dog has 'learned HOW to learn, while the handler is learning HOW to fairly communicate'.

This Week there are two (2) EXAMS, the EXAMs are sequential so EXAM # 1 must be passed before EXAM # 2 is done.

Do remember the extra information to help YOU learn, Link to Week 3 Glossary & Link to Week 3 'Why it Works' by Deb Kidwell.

Be thorough in EACH exercise. Remember to breathe, laugh at yourself   Link to Dirty Dancing 'Wipe out' scene, practice with Fido, and you'll be successful  Link to Dirty Dancing 'Bridge Scene' AKA dancing with FIDO-:)

Roxanne