THE 3 D’S OF DOG TRAINING: HOW TO PROOF & GENERALISE BEHAVIOURS
When it comes to training your dog, it’s one thing to teach them a behavior, like “sit,” but it’s another thing entirely to make sure they can perform that behavior in any situation. That’s where proofing and generalizing behaviors come into play.
These two concepts are essential for turning a basic skill into something reliable that works in the real world. The secret? Understanding and applying the 3 D’s of dog training: Distance, Distraction, and Duration.
WHAT IS PROOFING AND GENERALISING?
Before we dive into the 3 D’s, let’s clarify these two concepts:
Proofing is about ensuring your dog can perform a behavior reliably under a variety of conditions. Think of it as testing the limits: Can your dog sit when someone’s knocking at the door? Will they stay when another dog runs past?
Generalizing is helping your dog understand that a cue (like “sit”) means the same thing regardless of where you are or what’s going on. Dogs don’t automatically know that “sit” at home also means “sit” at the park. Generalizing teaches them to respond consistently in different environments.
The 3 D’s—Distance, Distraction, and Duration—are the foundation for proofing and generalizing. Think of them as variables in an equation:
Behavior
=
Distance + Distraction + Duration
By carefully adjusting these variables during training, you can build a behavior that is reliable no matter the context.
THE 3 D’S OF DOG TRAINING
1. DISTANCE
This refers to the physical space between you and your dog, or between your dog and a distraction. Distance can affect how well your dog is able to focus and respond to a cue.
For example, if your dog knows how to stay when you’re standing right in front of them, that’s great—but what happens if you’re 10 feet away? What about 50 feet? The farther you are, the harder it becomes for your dog to maintain the behavior.
To work on distance, start close to your dog and gradually increase the space between you while keeping the task achievable.
2. DISTRACTION
Distractions are anything that pulls your dog’s attention away from you, like other dogs, kids playing, or even a squirrel darting by. This is often the hardest variable to proof because real life is full of distractions.
Start small. Practice a behavior in a calm, quiet environment, then slowly introduce distractions. For example:
Begin with a low-level distraction, like tossing a toy nearby.
Gradually increase to more tempting distractions, like a moving ball or another dog in the distance.
The key is to increase the intensity of the distraction only when your dog is succeeding.
3. DURATION
Duration is all about how long your dog can hold a behavior. For instance, how long can they stay in a sit? Can they maintain a down-stay for 30 seconds? 3 minutes? Longer?
Building duration takes patience. Start with very short periods—just a few seconds—and gradually extend the time while rewarding your dog for holding the position.
Remember, if you add too much duration too quickly, your dog might break the behavior. When that happens, go back a step and make it easier for them to succeed.
TREAT IT LIKE AN EQUATION
When proofing a behaviour, think of Distance, Distraction, and Duration as three parts of an equation. To set your dog up for success, you should only increase one variable at a time while keeping the others manageable.
For example, if you’re working on a “stay” with a new distraction (like another dog nearby), you might keep the distance between you and your dog short and the duration brief. As your dog improves, you can gradually increase one variable at a time.
HeRE’S A SIMPLE EXERCISE EXAMPLE
Practicing “Sit-Stay” at Home
Start in a quiet room with no distractions. Ask your dog to sit (the stay is implied).
Take one step back (Distance) and return immediately to mark and reward your dog.
Gradually increase the number of steps you take, but keep distractions minimal.
Once your dog is reliable with distance, add a mild distraction, like tossing a toy.
Gradually increase Duration by asking them to sit for 5 seconds, then 10, and so on.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Training a dog is about building reliable behaviors that hold up in real-life situations. The 3 D’s—Distance, Distraction, and Duration—are your blueprint for proofing and generalizing any skill.
By treating these variables like an equation and adjusting them methodically, you’ll set your dog up for success. And remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. Be patient, keep training fun, and celebrate every small win along the way!
