Part 2C (iii) Fading the NT

Objective

Fade the NT by transferring to higher value reward

How?

When our dog is achieving high motivation NT we substitute the close target for a distance variation

Total Time

1 month

Discussion – Why NT, why fade it?

Why NT, why fade?

Jaidi demonstrating NT to forward reward

NT has been a very successful ‘final’ method of teaching a stop contact. One could argue that when achieving this stage, we have finished our foundation training (i.e. we have built our forever process).

Lets look at the advantages and disadvantages at arriving at this conclusion:

Advantages: 

•  Clear criteria
• Systematic process – definable targets, measurable results
•  Teaches independence

If you have followed the earlier posts to date, you can see that the NT has been used to take use the advantages of having a discreet objectives (i.e. systematic) with clear, measurable criteria to build independence.

 Jaidi demonstrates independent dogwalk

Disadvantages:

• Teaches down looking behaviour
• The NT becomes more important than speed or technique of the contact
• You can’t take a target in the ring

However, in addition to independence we want forward facing, a process we can use every training session and eventually something we blend into true ring behaviour.

Stages

Moving reward

At this stage we have our dog happily NT for reward placed at target level. Whether that is:

• A toy (for tugging) or
• Food (in either remote reward system or sealed Tupperware type container, which we open to give reward)

We are now going to gradually step by step over a few training sessions away from the contact. So to summarise, the target stay in reach for NT, the reward moves forward to end up some meters in front of the contact.

Jaidi demonstrates the changed position, notice his focus and body posture

 

Losing the target

You will now start to see the dogs attention move from looking down at the target to the forward reward. There will also be a less than ‘perfect’ set of NT taking place now as the dog moves from wanting to NT the target to get reward. It is worth remembering that the NT is a means to an end, and the long term goal is not the best NT but excellent contacts!

When the NT to target clearly becomes a step in the process that is inhibiting the overall contact behaviour (i.e. we are now insisting that the dog does the NT, but by losing this we would still have forward facing, reward motivated dog), take the target away, it has served its purpose.

Transferring focus

The next step is to keep extending the reward placement until we can place after next obstacle. The purpose is to build focus that reward comes after obstacle (or if there isn’t one there in that particular training sequence) some distance after the contact. Do not be tempted to pull the dog of side ways during training. It may feel good and be easier to make the turn, but you will not be training consistent forward focus behaviour.

Even in competition, particularly at early stages, if there are sharp turns after contacts don’t do them! Leave the dog in 2O2O, walk forward, praise you dog for looking and then release towards you. Remember, you pay your money to achieve your objectives on course. You don’t have to try and win every class.   

The video's below demonstrate the process in competition runs, either as quick release (extension cues) or as stopped training contacts (try and only release when forward facing)