Phase 7: Add Distance & Bigger Distractions
Timeline: Weeks 9+ (2-4+ weeks)
Goal: She holds the down while you move away OR while bigger distractions occur (not both at once initially).
When to Start Phase 7
Only after duration is solid at 60+ seconds (Phase 6 complete).
She should be holding down for 60+ seconds with mild distractions confidently and calmly.
Critical Rule: Pick ONE at a Time
- Don’t add distance AND distractions in the same session
- Master one, then add the other
- Once both are solid separately, you can combine them
Path A: Adding Distance (Weeks 9-12+)
Why Start with Distance First?
Distance is often easier than high distractions, so it’s a good place to start building her confidence.
Distance Progression
| Week | Distance Goal | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Week 9 | 1-2 steps away | Cue down → take 1 step back → wait 5 sec → treat → release |
| Week 10 | 3-5 steps away | Cue down → take 3 steps back → wait 10 sec → return and treat → release |
| Week 11 | 10 steps away | Cue down → walk 10 steps → wait 15 sec → return and jackpot → release |
| Week 12+ | Out of sight | Cue down → step around corner → wait 20 sec → return and jackpot → release |
Week 9: 1-2 Steps Away
| Step | You Do | She Does | You Mark/Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cue “down” | She downs | - |
| 2 | Take 1 step back | She holds | ”GOOD” |
| 3 | WAIT 5 seconds | She holds | Toss treat to her (or step forward and give it) |
| 4 | Take 1 step back again | She holds | ”GOOD” |
| 5 | WAIT 5 seconds | She holds | Toss treat |
| 6 | Step back to her | She holds | Treat |
| 7 | Release | She gets up | - |
Week 10: 3-5 Steps Away
- Same protocol as Week 9, but take 3-5 steps back instead of 1
- Always return to her to give treats (builds confidence)
- Wait 10 seconds while you’re away
Week 11: 10 Steps Away
- Cue down
- Walk 10 steps away
- Wait 15 seconds
- Return and jackpot (3-4 treats)
- Release
Week 12+: Out of Sight
- Cue down
- Step around a corner
- She can’t see you (just for a few seconds at first)
- Wait 20 seconds
- Return and jackpot
- Release
Key Points for Distance Work
Always Return to Reward:
- If you’re working on distance, step back to her to give treats
- OR toss treats to her (but this can encourage her to break position to get them)
- Returning builds confidence: she learns “you’ll come back”
Jackpot for Hard Stuff:
- When she holds through distance = 3-4 treats in a row
- When she holds while you’re out of sight = jackpot
- Big challenges = big rewards
If She Breaks:
- Make it easier: less distance, shorter duration
- Only progress when she’s succeeding 8/10 times at current level
Path B: Adding Bigger Distractions (Weeks 9-12+)
Distraction Progression
| Week | Distraction Level | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Week 9 | Moderate | You walk fully around her, clap hands, drop objects |
| Week 10 | High | Another person walks by, doorbell rings, toy on ground nearby |
| Week 11 | Very High | Another dog visible at distance, food on ground, kids playing nearby |
| Week 12+ | Real-world | Practice in public (parks, cafes, busy sidewalks) |
Week 9: Moderate Distractions
| Step | You Do | She Does | You Mark/Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cue “down” | She downs | - |
| 2 | Introduce distraction (walk around her) | She holds | ”GOOD” + treat immediately |
| 3 | Remove distraction, wait 5 seconds | She holds | ”GOOD” |
| 4 | Introduce distraction again (drop object) | She holds | ”GOOD” + treat |
| 5 | Wait 5 seconds | She holds | ”GOOD” |
| 6 | Release | She gets up | - |
Week 10: High Distractions
- Add person walking by
- Ring doorbell
- Place toy on ground nearby
- Same protocol: introduce distraction → she holds → immediate reward
Week 11: Very High Distractions
- Another dog visible at distance
- Food on ground nearby
- Kids playing
- Increase distance of dog/food to keep her threshold manageable
Week 12+: Real-World Practice
- Take her to busier environments
- Park with other dogs around
- Cafe with people walking by
- Maintain the same reward structure
Key Points for Distraction Work
Reward DURING/AFTER Distractions:
- Always reward immediately after she holds through a distraction
- This teaches “big distractions = big rewards”
Start with Just One Distraction:
- Don’t introduce person + dog + food all at once
- One thing at a time
- Layer them once each is solid
If She Breaks:
- The distraction was too hard
- Go back to easier distractions
- Build up more gradually
- Make sure treats are even more valuable
Combining Distance + Distractions (Week 13+)
Once both are solid separately, you can start combining them:
Example Combined Challenge
| Step | You Do | She Does | You Mark/Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cue “down” | She downs | - |
| 2 | Walk 5 steps away | She holds | ”GOOD” from distance |
| 3 | Another person walks past (distraction) | She holds | ”GOOD” |
| 4 | Wait 10 seconds | She holds | Walk back, give treat |
| 5 | Walk away again, this time 10 steps | She holds | ”GOOD” from distance |
| 6 | Wait 20 seconds | She holds | Walk back, jackpot (3-4 treats) |
| 7 | Release | She gets up | - |
Total: 60+ second down with distance + distraction combined.
Real-World Testing
Where to Practice
| Location | Challenge Level | What You’re Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet room | Very Easy | Baseline (should be solid) |
| Living room with family | Easy | Mild distractions, familiar environment |
| Backyard with neighbor | Medium | New person, mild distractions |
| Local park | Hard | Dogs, people, exciting smells |
| Cafe patio | Very Hard | Lots of people, smells, movement |
Testing Protocol
- Cue “down”
- Let her hold for 30-60 seconds
- Add appropriate distraction for that location
- Reward heavily for success
- If she struggles, go back to easier locations
Troubleshooting Phase 7
Problem: She Breaks When You Step Away
Solutions:
- You’re going too far too fast
- Go back to 1 step away for another week
- Make sure you’re returning to reward her
- Increase treat value
Problem: She Anticipates Your Return
What it looks like: She gets up right before you come back
Solutions:
- Vary the time you’re away (sometimes 5 sec, sometimes 15, sometimes 30)
- Don’t always return from the same direction
- Don’t have a predictable pattern
Problem: She Can’t Handle Real-World Distractions
Solutions:
- You’re in too challenging an environment
- Start in quieter locations
- Gradually expose her to busier environments
- Keep sessions short in challenging locations (5-10 minutes max)
- Increase treat value
Problem: She’s Stressed During Distance/Distraction Work
Signs: Panting, yawning, lip licking, whining
Solutions:
- Reduce difficulty significantly
- Increase treat frequency
- Practice in calmer environments
- Make sure the behavior itself is fully solid first
Success Metrics: Phase 7 Is Solid When
✅ She holds down for 60+ seconds with you 10+ steps away ✅ She holds down while you’re out of sight (even briefly) ✅ She holds through high-level distractions (people walking by, other dogs at distance) ✅ She can combine distance + distractions (you’re far away AND things are happening) ✅ She works reliably in real-world locations ✅ She’s calm and confident (not stressed)
Weekly Tracking
Distance Progression
- Week 9: Holds with you 1-2 steps away
- Week 10: Holds with you 3-5 steps away
- Week 11: Holds with you 10 steps away
- Week 12+: Holds with you out of sight
Distraction Progression
- Week 9: Holds through moderate distractions (your movement)
- Week 10: Holds through high distractions (person walking by)
- Week 11: Holds through very high distractions (another dog visible)
- Week 12+: Holds in real-world environments
Combined Progression
- Week 13+: Holds with distance AND distractions combined
- Week 14+: Reliable in real-world situations
What’s Next?
Congratulations! Your dog now has a rock-solid down with:
✅ Duration (60+ seconds) ✅ Distance (out of sight) ✅ Distractions (real-world environments)
This skill is now ready to be integrated into:
- Place training (down on a specific spot)
- Advanced obedience (down-stays for competition)
- Real-world settling (she can settle anywhere)
- Foundation for other behaviors (you have a reliable position to work from)