Help your dog become reliable in all situations by varying the practice situation.  Most trainers call this “proofing” the exercise.  Try not to change more than one aspect of an exercise at one time.  The typical variables for obedience exercises all start with the letter D.  They are: Delivery, Distance, Duration and Diversity. Change only one D at a time:

Delivery of Reward

Very early on in the training you will want to randomize the delivery of your reward.  Start to reward only the very best of the behaviors.  If you’re changing another D criteria, you may want to go back to delivering the rewards on a higher ratio.

Distance

The distance away from the dog, particularly on the Stays and Comes should be raised gradually, while staying the same or lowering the other Ds.

Duration

The length of time you ask the dog to hold the exercise should be increased while not raising the other criteria.

Diversity of Context

When the dog preforms well in the usual, calm training environment (home, yard or class) then it is time to complicate matters a little by introducing distractions or by taking your dog to a new training site which, in itself, is distraction enough.

Proofing and Adding Distractions

Remember, while increasing one criteria, decrease another.

1. Make a list of situations, people, toys, places, animals, food and objects which your dog finds distracting.  Anything that may cause your dog not to listen to you, or that can take your dog’s focus off of you is a distraction.

2. Rate these distractions on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least distracting and 10 being the most distracting.

3. When you begin “proofing” by adding distractions that you have rated 2 or less, the least distracting things on your list, be sure to follow the Four D’s of Reliable Response.

4. Once your dog will still listen to you when presented with the distraction, mark it off your list and move on to another distraction.

5. Gradually work up to distractions that you have rated 3 or 4, then 5 or 6, then 7 or 8 and finally 9 or 10.  By starting small you are laying a foundation for working on the things your dog finds most distracting.