Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - BH340: Arousal Layering Games

Course Details

Arousal Layering Games is a class designed to help you teach your dog how to think better under high levels of arousal. This class introduces fun games that aim to teach our dogs how to concentrate when they are spinning out of control.
The class centers on arousal regulation as a concept that we must teach our dogs out of context. Much like we would teach body awareness games to a dog before teaching them weave poles or the teeter, we should teach arousal regulation as a concept too. Arousal layering games are desgined to help the dog practice self-regulating.
By utilizing a training system that helps the dogs control themselves we will turn that barking-biting-spinning-screaming mess into a collected sports dog.
This class assumes students have been through Sarah's Worked Up program, and relies heavily on a sustained targeting behavior as well as marker cues.

Instructor: Sarah Stremming

Sarah (she/her) has been working with dogs in the realms of performance training and behavior solutions for over a decade. She currently operates online through her business, The Cognitive Canine. Her special area of interest has long been helping dog owners address behavioral concerns...(Click here for full bio and to view Sarah's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

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Pre-Class Materials

Sustained nose target

Marker cues

Positions out of motion

Defining arousal

Week One

Skydiving and Dog Sports

Arousal checks and balances

Self-capping behaviors

Week Two

What gets your dog high? How to layer

Run-n-Cap Game

Week Three

What you should know about thresholds

Tug Targets Game (with food too!)

Week Four

When frustration is the true culprit

Touch-n-Go Game

Week Five

Stimulus Control vs Impulse Control
Total Tease Game

Week Six

Competing Motivators

Break the Pattern Game

Sample Lecture

Here, we want our dogs to practice self-capping in conjunction with fast running. Your dog will need a send away to a cone wrap, a tunnel, a target, or even just a plate of food or dead toy! See the “pregame” video for help if you aren’t sure about these skills. Play the game by sending your dog away from you (any and all of the above work!) and then asking for a target. If that’s easy, send the dog multiple times before asking for the target. Progress to sending, running, and asking for your dog to screech into the target as he catches up.

Here, Felix makes a few errors right off the bat. Each time he does, I pause, and remove a "layer" by moving closer to the wing. Watch as his targets get cleaner and more deliberate:

Here I add layers by including a tunnel, and more motion:

Too hard?

Reduce the distance of the send, or try an easier self-capping skill like a position out of motion.

Too easy?

Increase the intensity of the reinforcer, your speed, and the times you send before asking for the self-cap.

Pre game:
Here, I demonstrate teaching a "go out around" skill using a lure:

Here, I demonstrate teaching this pregame skill using shaping:

Don't do agility? Here is something I like to do to bring some self-capping to obedience:

Don't do obedience either? Insert whatever piece of your sport is exciting for your dog. Running toward a bite sleeve and being asked to self-cap, running down a flyball lane and being asked to self-cap, are all mind games that will help your dog stay in that thinking mode we need him in.

Testimonials & Reviews

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A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...

Sarah is impressive. Her passion for her students' success comes across in every post. She makes sure to clarify any issues and is incredibly patient. I love her responses when students are hard on themselves: she doesn't encourage self pity by saying "oh no you're not XYZ" but assures them that it is all part of the learning. process.

I have become a fan of Sarah and the way she thinks. I also love her creativity in creating these exercises. I also very much enjoyed her responses to the Gold videos... supportive while making suggestions for things that could be changed or new directions in which that team could go. Kudos!

Thank you Sarah for an awesome course! The lectures were especially beneficial in understanding the how & the why over arousal occurs. The videos & assignments layered upon that and now we have an arsenal of exercises to help me & my teammate stay in check! :)

Sarah has helped me immensely with my worked up dog. She is kind and patient and helps you evolve a plan that will work over time.

Can’t say enough good things about this course! It’s my 4th Sarah Stremming course in a row and I’m starting to feel like a “Worked Up” junkie. It’s been a life changer.

Registration

This is a self-study class. The lectures will appear directly in your library, under the "Self Study classes" heading. Self Study classes do not have class homework forums. You will not have any access to the course instructor for questions or feedback. Please note there are no refunds on self-study classes so review all the information provided carefully before purchasing.

You will have access to these materials in your library for one year from the date of enrollment. You can keep your library pass current by enrolling in at least one course or workshop a year. Alternatively, you can purchase a library pass for $25 per year for as long as you wish to have access to prior class materials.