Epic Sit Pretty Multiple Training | Session 1

Epic has a love hate relationship with Sit Pretty. Like his Big Sister, Polka, he gets a bit angry when I ask him to Sit Pretty. It’s super funny. This angst against the skill has kept me from layering the Pretty and getting a multiple or juggle while in Pretty position. A few days ago, one of our Patrons had a nice brag on the FB with a Pretty multiple. I figured it was time.

Layered Behaviors With Off

Duration is defined by the release. Duration has a beginning and an end. It is not a duration behavior if you do not release your dog. This release from duration can be used as a backchain to layer and chain behaviors.

As we have covered in the Dissecting Duration episode of our webseries, the release cue (“Off”) can be used to layer behaviors. In the show we use Pedestal and AttentionUnsolicited eye contact or Attention is a great way to hook up with a dog. If you have something the dog wants he should give eye contact in order to get access to... More – while on the pedestalSpot is a “go to a place”, or “go to a mat” behavior. This means that the dog seeks out and performs a duration behavior on a spot of the handler’s choosing. A... More, you can give attention. We also use Pedestal and Targeting – while you sit on my feet, you can target my hand. These layering exercises come in rather handy with disc play.

In this session we will use this understanding to hold the dog in Pretty position while he catches the disc. Eppie knows that Pretty isn’t over until “Off” and that he can do things while in Pretty position.

The Off cue, or cessation of duration is key to this. The Off pays, so the dog pays attention to it, and the Off can be layered – while you are doing the duration behavior you can do this other thing. When the Off cue is given, the dog ceases the topmost behavior being worked. In the case of Pretty on a Pedestal, the first Off ceases the Pretty behavior, the second Off gets the dog off the Pedestal.

In the case of the Sit Pretty multiple, the Pretty is maintained through the GiveThe Give is a retrieve to the hand. A cued Give is a foundational skill that is not super useful in the actual performance of disc dog freestyle, and has huge applications for... More because of the Off. After the Give happens and the Off is cued then Eppie can drop from the Sit pretty. This should also be layered with Off the pedestal for maximum benefit (unfortunately not demonstrated in the video).

Epic has a somewhat strong understanding of this concept and it is important as we’re going to stretch that understanding in this session.

Pedestal and Recalling Concepts Through Simulation and Blending

This whole session is about recalling that layering concept. The Pedestal is used to keep Eppie localized, of course, and to make sure that he doesn’t want to move during the Pretty and the Multiple.

In addition to localizing the dog, the Pedestal has an important role in recalling the layering of behaviors. This is where Eppie learned duration behaviors and that he can do a duration behavior while doing another behavior. This recall is a key for success in this session.

In addition to recalling the layering of behaviors and duration, this session also features some simulation and blending of the juggle/multiple on the pedestal with juggle/multiple in Sit Pretty. Approximating and alluding to the target behavior with an easier, yet similar criteria, is a good way to prime the pump for success. He knows how to do the multiple while on the Pedestal, so it should be a short conceptual leap to doing it while in Pretty position. I attempt to draw attention to this during the 2nd part of our session.

Give To Start the Chain

While working on this and other difficult duration behaviors like stand on hinds and handstands, mistakes are bound to happen and the behavior will cease. Simply waiting for the dog to get back into position and carrying on as if it didn’t happen and cuing the Off to have a successful resolution is a great way to proceed. It lets the dog know that the Off is what is important.

The Give allows us to do this very cleanly. Eppie should only be marked for Giving or Dropping while in Pretty position. I should only cue Give or Drop while he is in Pretty position. If being in Pretty position is required to Give or Drop and Give or Drop is required before Off and Off is required to move on to Next"Next" encapsulates the dog's anticipation of a forthcoming reward, sparking motivation and excitement. This expectancy creates a driving force that propels the dog through training, forming a continuous loop of engagement. When "Next"... More, being in Pretty position is assumed by the dog – it becomes a necessity to do the work. This is why I call this layering behaviors.

To start the 2nd Session, I ask for the Give from Pretty position. This creates a situation where the Give in position is required, performed and understood. If Eppie happens to make a mistake and come down out of Pretty, he will have a reward history on getting into Pretty in order to Give. This is a powerful piece of knowledge that helps the dog to fix mistakes and to understand that a Give in Pretty position is required to move on.

Creating a Hot Behavior

Shifting gears to a lower criteria multiple/juggle, and making that behavior “hot” helps the dog to do the hot behavior with the increased criteria.

Taking time off the Pretty and heating up the multiple/juggle and Give behaviors primes the pump with success and creates a rhythm and understanding of what is to come.

Taking a few moments to back up and hit lower criteria in similar fashion is a good idea. Nobody wants to struggle through a herculean challenge, and struggling through is not how we want the dog to think the behavior is to be performed.

Don’t Be Greedy

At the end here, I got greedy. It was late in the session, and we had a good rhythm going. I should have cued the Off after a few successful reps of Bite/Give, essentially right before he dropped down.