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Comprehensive Pet Therapy

Comprehensive Pet Therapy

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CPT provides dog training and behavior modification services via group class, private and in-home private instruction, and board training. and W.

08/08/2025

Students in CPT Trainer Robin Puryear's Advanced Obedience class practicing leashing walking proximal to people and dogs.

Miro Learning the Stand for Examination Miro, a 1.5-year old, male Rottweiler is training for AKC competition obedience. One of the Novice-level exercises is the Stand for Examination. The exercise consists of multiple chained behaviors: 1) a sit-stay, the starting position for the exercise; 2) a pop-up stand, where the dog progresses from a seated to a standing position; 3) a stand-stay, where the dog remains absolutely stationary in a standing position while the handler departs; 4) acceptance of a manual examination, constituting human tactile contact along the dog’s upper and medial vertebrae; and 5) a stand-stay while the handler moves around the rear of the dog, until ultimately returning to heel position. Miro has an excellent short-duration sit-stay and has already learned the pop-up stand, although he needs to improve his speed and reduce his forward movement when elevating from a sit to a stand. Nevertheless, in today’s session we are emphasizing skills 3, 4, and 5. In the first video we work on skills 3 and 5. Miro previously had a problem where he would move his feet as the trainer circled him. However, as demonstrated in the video, with practice, Miro has learned to maintain a completely stationary position to earn a release. His reward is a combination of effervescent praise and the opportunity to run, which Miro greatly enjoys. Miro relishes food and toys, but fortunately also works enthusiastically for praise and human-dog interaction. Since Miro demonstrated requisite competence on skills 1, 2, 3, and 5, our objectives converted to improving his comportment during skill 4, the examination. In the second video, upon the initial examination Miro moves his rear feet. Rather than using a verbal or physical correction, trainer Mark Spivak elects to ignore Miro’s error. Instead, Mark repeats the command, then rewards and releases Miro when he executes properly. Miro tends to improve quickly with a program emphasizing successful trials and de-emphasizing failures, whereby Miro accurately processes the lack of reward as information and then properly amends his performance. In the third video, Miro moves slightly after the pop-up, but does not move after the stay command. In AKC obedience there is no deduction for movement until after the handler communicates stay and/or leaves heel position. Upon the examination, this time Miro is flawless, whereby Mark elects to simplify the exercise by returning directly to heel position and providing prompt praise, rather than returning around Miro and delaying praise. In the 4th video, Mark completes the same operation with Miro, where he emphasizes the examination component of the exercise by leaving out step 5. Hindsight shows Mark made the correct decision. Miro adapted nicely from the prior trial. In this trial, Miro was flawless throughout steps 1 – 4, whereupon he earns immediate praise and a release. During Miro’s next training session, we will focus on the pop-up and on Miro remaining stationary during skill 5. Yet, by separating skill 5 from skill 4 in today’s session we could more effectively teach Miro to remain stationary during the examination portion of the exercise. Moreover, Miro learns quickly from success. Therefore, an unchaining strategy that simplifies each component step accelerates Miro’s understanding, confidence, cooperation, and competence. And we don’t risk the potential stress and loss of motivation that may occur with a program that unduly punishes Miro’s failures. The proof is in the videos, as they document a wonderful attitude and notable improvement. If you want your dog to obtain obedience skills to the highest level, regardless of whether your goals are for him or her to become an outstanding pet or a victorious competition dog, we welcome you to contact CPT by phone (404-236-2150) or email (info@cpt-training.com). www.cpt-training.com 11/16/2023

Miro Learning the Stand for Examination Miro, a 1.5-year old, male Rottweiler is training for AKC competition obedience. One of the Novice-level exercises is the Stand for Examination. The exercise consists of multiple chained behaviors: 1) a sit-stay, the starting position for the exercise; 2) a pop-up stand, where the dog progresses from a seated to a standing position; 3) a stand-stay, where the dog remains absolutely stationary in a standing position while the handler departs; 4) acceptance of a manual examination, constituting human tactile contact along the dog’s upper and medial vertebrae; and 5) a stand-stay while the handler moves around the rear of the dog, until ultimately returning to heel position. Miro has an excellent short-duration sit-stay and has already learned the pop-up stand, although he needs to improve his speed and reduce his forward movement when elevating from a sit to a stand. Nevertheless, in today’s session we are emphasizing skills 3, 4, and 5. In the first video we work on skills 3 and 5. Miro previously had a problem where he would move his feet as the trainer circled him. However, as demonstrated in the video, with practice, Miro has learned to maintain a completely stationary position to earn a release. His reward is a combination of effervescent praise and the opportunity to run, which Miro greatly enjoys. Miro relishes food and toys, but fortunately also works enthusiastically for praise and human-dog interaction. Since Miro demonstrated requisite competence on skills 1, 2, 3, and 5, our objectives converted to improving his comportment during skill 4, the examination. In the second video, upon the initial examination Miro moves his rear feet. Rather than using a verbal or physical correction, trainer Mark Spivak elects to ignore Miro’s error. Instead, Mark repeats the command, then rewards and releases Miro when he executes properly. Miro tends to improve quickly with a program emphasizing successful trials and de-emphasizing failures, whereby Miro accurately processes the lack of reward as information and then properly amends his performance. In the third video, Miro moves slightly after the pop-up, but does not move after the stay command. In AKC obedience there is no deduction for movement until after the handler communicates stay and/or leaves heel position. Upon the examination, this time Miro is flawless, whereby Mark elects to simplify the exercise by returning directly to heel position and providing prompt praise, rather than returning around Miro and delaying praise. In the 4th video, Mark completes the same operation with Miro, where he emphasizes the examination component of the exercise by leaving out step 5. Hindsight shows Mark made the correct decision. Miro adapted nicely from the prior trial. In this trial, Miro was flawless throughout steps 1 – 4, whereupon he earns immediate praise and a release. During Miro’s next training session, we will focus on the pop-up and on Miro remaining stationary during skill 5. Yet, by separating skill 5 from skill 4 in today’s session we could more effectively teach Miro to remain stationary during the examination portion of the exercise. Moreover, Miro learns quickly from success. Therefore, an unchaining strategy that simplifies each component step accelerates Miro’s understanding, confidence, cooperation, and competence. And we don’t risk the potential stress and loss of motivation that may occur with a program that unduly punishes Miro’s failures. The proof is in the videos, as they document a wonderful attitude and notable improvement. If you want your dog to obtain obedience skills to the highest level, regardless of whether your goals are for him or her to become an outstanding pet or a victorious competition dog, we welcome you to contact CPT by phone (404-236-2150) or email ([email protected]). www.cpt-training.com

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6600 Roswell Road, Ste K-2
Sandy Springs, GA
30328