​Four Phases of Learning

01-05-19 8:00 AM By DeLisa Lee

There are multiple opinions on how many learning phases there are in dog training, and that's okay. Most professional dog trainers, however, agree that the learning phases are acquisition, fluency, generalization, and maintenance. At K9 Connector, our 12-step training model is built around these 4 phases. 

K9 Connector Training Model

Acquisition

In phase 1, your dog will acquire the behavior you desire him to perform. Your dog will go from having no idea what you want him to do... to catching on. 

Fluency

In phase 2, you'll focus on getting the desired answers, as applicable, to these three 3 questions. What does it look like? How quickly does your dog start the behavior? And how quickly does he complete the behavior?

Generalization

Have you ever told your dog to SIT during training, and he SITS, but when you tell him SIT in front of friends and family, he doesn't? This is because dogs don't generalize well. In phase 3, you'll train your dog to perform the desired behavior regardless of DURATION, DISTANCE, and DISTRATIONS, and to manage all three at the same time; DIVERSITY.

Maintenance

Phase 4 is never ending. Just keep practicing for a happy life!