Question by Sir Hoochalot: Can somebody give me a good definition of the term “proofing” regarding dog training?
I am a little confused.
From what I gather it is a way of reinforceing commands… that’s all I know. Am I close?
Best answer:
Answer by Jessie
“Proofing” is ensuring that the dog responds consistently to commands regardless of environment and distractions.
What do you think? Answer below!
Proofing is just what it sounds like. Making sure your dog will still obey your commands… with distractions or under pressure.
IE: Your dog sits and stays in your living room off leash. Take him into the backyard with your cat walking about…will he sit/stay? He will sit/stay on 6 foot leash ..will he on a 15 foot leash? Or with other dogs running around? Or off leash?
Proofing, is making sure that the dog obeys?
Proofing is the act of changing a request into a command.
Young puppies do not have the cognitive development to understand a lot of things, and are only motivated by food and praise, so we cookie train (very little in the way of corrections) until they reach puberty and develop “other motivations”. We then add consequences for improper responses to “proof” the command.
Proofing is done once you are SURE that the dog has a good grasp of what is expected. Then you set up situations designed to test him and reinforce that no matter what happens, he must obey.
For example, the sit-stay. Once he understands the exercise, you start “proofing” with mild distractions, such as you moving around, jumping, clapping your hands, walking behind him, bouncing a ball etc. He is corrected if he moves (by correction, I mean whatever is appropriate to your dog and your training method). The distractions/temptations gradually get stronger, until the dog regards all distractions as a “test” and refuses to move no matter what.
One club I used to train with had a resident cat that liked to stroll around the floor while the dogs were doing stays.
You also proof by doing the exercise in progressively more difficult situations. In the park, on a busy street, at the flea market etc.
I asked this question not too long ago and got some good answers:
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Atc0onEI3BlN7MoVmLdc8rXBFQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20091215131106AA9VRDK
Proofing means that your dog knows its commands on and off leash. You proof your dog by asking your commands in different environments, distractions etc.
You are ensuring the dog will listen to your commands no matter what is going on.
Proofing is a way to test your dog’s understanding of a command. Proofing gives the dog an opportunity to make a right choice or a wrong choice. The right choice gets praise. The wrong choice gets a correction,
For example most dogs will do a sit stay if the owner has a hand full of meat and no distraction. To proof the sit stay, throwing the food at the dog’s feet will actually test his understanding of the command. If the dog continues to do his sit stay, he has made the correct choice. (good dog) If the dog breaks the sit stay by going after the food, he has made the wrong choice. (bad dog)
Trainers proof commands to give dogs confidence and the understanding of what’s expected of them. Just like training without consequences is not training Training without proofing is bad training. The dog will not understand the trainer’s expectations.