Look At That (LAT) is a sample recreation created by Leslie McDevitt to assist canines sign when one thing of their setting is bothering them. As a substitute of reacting with concern or stress, your canine learns to find the set off and report it to you. This reduces nervousness by instructing your canine that they don’t want to interact with issues that scare them. LAT can be a good way to construct confidence, particularly in case your canine has struggled with sure triggers earlier than.
LAT helps you gauge your canine’s consolation stage. The sport could be taught in two methods: utilizing matwork or a impartial object. For matwork, you will have:
- A reward (e.g., treats)
- A clicker (non-compulsory)
- A cone
- A mat or platform
Part One: Introduce the Mat
- Educating Your Canine In regards to the Mat:
Begin by scattering treats on the mat to encourage your canine to interact with it. As soon as your canine is consuming on the mat, wait till they end, then toss a deal with off the mat. Repeat this course of till they start looking for out the mat for treats.
- Capturing Sitting Leisure:
When your canine approaches the mat, wait to see if they provide a sit earlier than sprinkling treats. If they don’t sit, reward them with one deal with and toss one other off the mat to reset. Repeat till your canine sits calmly on the mat, after which sprinkle a number of treats. If needed, return to the 1st step and observe till the sitting habits is extra constant.
- Capturing Mendacity Down Leisure:
As soon as your canine reliably sits on the mat, start capturing the down place as they calm down. When your canine lies down, reward them with a deal with positioned between their toes relatively than scattering treats on the mat. This helps your canine affiliate the mat with a relaxed, relaxed state.
Wait to your canine to take a look at the helper earlier than rewarding.
Wait to your canine to take a look at the helper earlier than rewarding. Picture courtesy of Hannah Brehaut, CDBC, CCUI, CPDT-KA, LSHC-S
Part Two: Introduce Distraction with a Helper
On this section, have a helper stand throughout the room and keep away from interacting together with your canine through the LAT coaching. The objective is to your canine to calmly stay on the mat within the presence of a distraction.
- Set Up the Cone:
Place the cone between the mat and the helper. Guarantee your canine stays calm, mendacity on the mat with relaxed physique language. In the event that they turn out to be pressured with the presence of the cone or the helper, return to section one.
- Helper Strikes to the Cone (known as Open Bar):
Have the helper stroll to the cone. After they attain it, repeatedly reward your canine with treats. Repeat this to create an affiliation between the helper’s strategy and rewards.
- Helper Strikes Away from the Cone (known as Closed Bar):
When the helper strikes away from the cone, cease rewarding your canine.
Part Three: Look forward to a Look on the Helper
As soon as your canine understands the sample of the helper approaching the cone, look ahead to them to take a look at the helper earlier than rewarding. Use a clicker or “sure” to mark the habits after they take a look at the helper and reward after they look again to you.
Part 4: Introduce the “The place’s the ?” Cue
Begin introducing the LAT cue by asking, “The place’s the individual?” or “The place’s the helper?” when the helper approaches. Mark and reward your canine after they take a look at the helper after which at you. This builds the connection between the set off (helper) and appears again to you.
Part 5: Utilizing LAT within the Actual World
Begin with acquainted objects like “The place’s the leash?” or “The place’s the automobile?” to observe LAT with issues your canine doesn’t discover worrying. Watch to your canine’s threshold (the purpose at which they will discover triggers with out changing into pressured). Reward them for declaring triggers to strengthen the habits.
Give your canine a chance to take a look at the set off. Picture courtesy of Hannah Brehaut, CDBC, CCUI, CPDT-KA, LSHC-S
Reinforce your canine after they look again at you. Picture courtesy of Hannah Brehaut, CDBC, CCUI, CPDT-KA, LSHS-C
Reinforce your canine after they look again at you. Picture courtesy of Hannah Brehaut, CDBC, CCUI, CPDT-KA, LSHC-S
Look At That (LAT) needs to be a relaxed reporting of the setting. In case your canine seems excited or pressured and factors out triggers to you a number of instances, additional mat leisure work is required till it’s a stable basis ability. By practising LAT, you assist your canine handle their reactions and construct stronger communication abilities between you and your pet.
