Cuddle: Service Dog Task for Grounding and/or Calming (Patreon)

Cuddle: Dog lies next to handler in spooning position to help calm or ground the handler during cognitive episodes. 

Training objective: In this session we are working towards CoolWhip being able to find the "cuddle" position, both with the help of the mat, and without the mat. We are working from using a lure, to starting to add a cue and fade the lure to some degree.

Stage of the behavior: Introducing

Background: CoolWhip has a strong mat behavior as well as a “relax” or hip tip. Eric is my husband. He is not a trainer but he has been a good sport about doing these videos. He has above average training/handling skills but does not practice any aspect of training.

Reinforcement Used: High value, leftover turkey

Next Steps: The next step would either be to get the behavior on a solid verbal cue, or to get it on the physical cue of discovering the handler on the floor. This would be dependent on the client’s needs. Let’s assume we want it on the verbal. I would be sure to use the verbal cue as soon as CoolWhip eats the release treat, then start by luring her into position. I would quickly go to using a soft lure, then after the “cuddle” cue, and then work on “cuddle” no soft lure. Once we have that, we’d want to work on duration.

End goal: Dog is able to independently move into the cuddle position from anywhere in the room on the verbal “cuddle” cue without the help of lure or mat.

Things I could have done differently for greater success: One thing that would have made Eric more successful is to have a target where he should be tossing the cookie. Starting her coming back to him from closer to where I was standing would have make it easier for her to be successful with less of a need for a lure. I could have put a spot marker on the floor to be more clear for him. Also “left foot” for cookie placement should have been “left shoulder”. I could have also had him use the relax cue instead of luring the hip tip.