Understanding Criteria Setting in Dog Training
Training your dog is like building a strong foundation, one brick at a time. Criteria setting is how we define what we want our dog to do in a training session — clearly, specifically, and in a way that sets them up for success.
🧠 What Is Criteria in Dog Training?
Criteria refers to the specific behavior we are asking for in that moment. For example:
- A sit that lasts 2 seconds? That’s a specific criterion.
- A recall from 5 feet away with no distractions? Another criterion.
We shape behavior by gradually increasing our expectations — but only when the dog is ready. When we ask too much, too soon, dogs get confused or frustrated. When we ask just the right amount, learning is smooth and enjoyable.
💡 Why Is Setting Criteria Important?
Setting appropriate criteria helps:
- ✅ Build clarity — the dog knows exactly what earns reinforcement.
- ✅ Prevent frustration or failure.
- ✅ Make steady, reliable progress.
- ✅ Avoid creating bad habits like breaking position or ignoring cues.
Training falls apart when expectations are too high too soon. Think of it like asking a first-grader to do calculus — they’re not being disobedient, they just aren’t ready yet!
🎯 How to Set and Adjust Training Criteria
We use the 3 D’s to guide criteria setting:
1. Duration ⏱️
How long does the dog need to perform the behavior?
- Start short! For a sit or down, you might begin by reinforcing immediately or after just 1 second.
- Gradually increase by small increments (1–2 seconds at a time).
- Be ready to reduce duration if the dog starts to break the position.
Tip: Reinforce before the dog breaks the behavior to teach persistence.
2. Distance 📏
How far is the dog from you, the target, or from the trigger?
- Start close. For recalls, begin with just a few feet.
- For stays, begin by staying right next to the dog.
- For place, start directly next to the place bed/mat.
- Gradually increase the distance — but if the dog struggles, go back a step.
Tip: Increase either distance or duration — not both at once.
3. Distraction (Difficulty) 🐿️
What’s happening around the dog?
- Start in a quiet room. No kids, other dogs, toys, or squirrels!
- Gradually introduce mild distractions like gentle movement, other people at a distance, or toys on the floor.
- Practice in new environments slowly: backyard, front yard, then quiet parks, etc.
Tip: Lower or reset on duration and distance when distractions go up.
📈 A Sample Progression for “Stay”
| Session | Duration | Distance | Distraction |
| 1 | 2 seconds | 0 ft | Living room, quiet |
| 2 | 3 seconds | 0 ft | Living room, quiet |
| 3 | 3 seconds | 1 ft | Living room, quiet |
| 4 | 3 seconds | 1 ft | Living room, TV on |
Always adjust only one “D” at a time.
🛠️ Troubleshooting: When Progress Stalls
If your dog breaks the behavior:
- Stay calm — they’re not being stubborn, they’re over threshold.
- Lower one or more of the D’s to make it easier.
- Reinforce success more frequently.
- Ask yourself: Was that repetition harder than the last one?
Common Mistake: Forgetting to release the dog and reset after success. A 3 second stay repeated 5 times without a reset turns into a 15 sec stay with 5 rewards.
✅ Final Tips
- Think: Can my dog do this 5 times in a row with ease? If not, the criteria are too hard.
- Go slow to go fast — solid training now means reliable behavior later.
- Celebrate the little wins — they’re building blocks to bigger success!