Hey Maysie – if your dog is doing well indoors, I’d try graduating to outside in your yard or driveway before trying out the park. As long as your dog is handling each area successfully, you can proceed to more challenging, distracting environments. Just be ready to retreat and go back to easier environments if she’s struggling.

Thanks, Megan. I’m on Day 11 of the protocol. When should I start bringing her mat with us when we go out? For instance, when we go to the park and sit on the benches?

You’re right Megan, we just adjusted that. Thank you!

A game of tug to burn off excess energy before practicing the protocol is a great idea! But I wouldn’t do it in between each task, as she is supposed to be staying in a down & stay for that entire period. If Ava is staying in a down, that’s perfect, she’s doing great!

The goal is to just keep rewarding her for staying in position, but you should not be releasing her – so yes, you’ll tell her to sit and stay once, and you shouldn’t need to cue the sit again (unless she’s really struggling and keeps getting up in her own).