Pattern Games Unleashed! (Based on Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed)

Course description:

Continue building confidence and improving communication in a distracting world! This class, inspired by Leslie McDevitt's "Control Unleashed" program, uses simple, predictable pattern games to help your dog feel more secure and focused. These engaging exercises create a conversation between you and your dog, turning potential stressors into predictable, positive experiences.

This class is ideal for:

• Dogs who are easily distracted, overexcited, or have "big feelings"
• Shy or anxious dogs who need help navigating new environments
• Puppies learning to build confidence and focus
• Sport dog handlers looking to improve their dog's ability to concentrate in busy trial settings

What you will learn:

• Create predictable patterns: Teach your dog simple, repetitive games that provide a sense of safety and certainty, even in a chaotic environment.
• Improve focus and engagement: Build a stronger working relationship by making yourself the most rewarding thing in the room, even with distractions present.
• Empower your dog to say "Yes" or "No": Learn to speak your dog's language and give them agency over their training. This builds a foundation of trust.
• Utilize structure: Master patterns for moving through distractions, such as the 1-2-3 Game for walking calmly on leash and The Chair Game for movement around dogs and people
• Increase relaxed behavior with greeting: Use games like "Look At That" (LAT), Requested Approach, and Mark and Move to change your dog's emotional response to things that make them nervous or overexcited.

Class format:

We will work with the core pattern games like Chair Game, Look at That and 1,2,3 with increasing distraction. We will also work on human greeting behaviors using default behaviors and the Requested Approach game. Each session includes practical exercises, demonstrations, and personalized feedback.

Prerequisites: This class is suitable for dogs and handlers of all ages and experience levels. All dogs must have previously taken Puppy CU, Core Puppy, or a beginner obedience type class.