Sit-Stay with approach by a stranger:
Prerequisites: Basic & Advanced Obedience
Phase 1:
1. Put your dog in a sit stay and stand in the heel position next to your dog.
2. Have your ‘stranger’ approach the dog. He will come to a stop right next to the dog’s
head (not in front of, not behind, not straight for, but right next to the dog’s head).
3. Have your stranger stand quietly for 10 - 30 seconds, then move on. Your helper
is not to make eye, verbal, or physical contact with the dog. For all intents
and purpose this is a sit-stay exercise and your helper is merely another
stimulus for your dog to reject as a distraction.
4. Repeat as many times, with as many different "strangers" as you can. Do NOT move on to
the next phase until your dog can sit quietly ignoring the person each time.
Phase 2:
1. Set this up just like phase 1, but this time, after a short pause have your
stranger reach down offer their hand for sniffing. Then have the
stranger move on. No other contact is needed or allowed, just the offered hand.
2. Repeat as many times, with as many different "strangers" as you can. Do NOT move on to
the next phase until your dog can sit quietly ignoring the person each time
Phase 3:
1. Just like phases 1 & 2, but after the short pause, have your stranger reach down
and stroke your dog under the chin or along the sides of the face, then to the top of the head.
By the end of the week your dog will see the approach and the touching as
nothing more than a planted distraction.
2. Repeat as many times, with as many different "strangers" as you can. Do NOT move on to
the next phase until your dog can sit quietly ignoring the person each time
Blocking:
There will be times (with both people and dogs) that you DON'T want the strangers you meet in the world to
pet or meet your dog.
Practice 'blocking' their access to your dog by doing the following:
1. Put your dog in a sit-stay.
2. Step in front of your dog with your back turned to your dog.
3. Practice circling your dog in either direction, keeping your back to your dog and blocking access to your dog by
keeping yourself between the other person (or dog) and your dog.
4. If the person continues to approach, raise a hand, signalling them to stop. You may need to tell them: "No, he
can't meet you right now. He's in training, etc."
5. Continue to practice this until your dog sees the approaching person (or dog) and you circling and blocking, as
nothing more than another distraction-proofing practice.
Continuing Practice:
Keep practicing with more and more realistic greetings until your dog can sit quietly with even the most enthusiastic
people.