18/05/2026
Last Wednesday we started the triangle exercise with Maxx, progressing to a straight line eventually. The corners of the triangle are the handler, a platform/target, and a reward. As we progress we start moving the proportions of the triangle so that the reward becomes closer and closer to the path between handler and target, until it is eventually a straight line like shown here.
This exercise teaches cue discrimination and impulse control. There are many patterns and possibilities within the session which keeps the dog listening and thinking. The reward on the ground becomes a distraction that the dog must learn to resist in order to earn access to it. This reduces the conflict that is often seen around external rewards away from the handler, as the dog learns that coming away from the reward results in access being granted, rather than it meaning access is being removed.
Possible behaviours that may be cued are;
- send to place target
- recall to handler
- “get it” (get the reward on the ground)
- “yes” (get the reward from the handler)
