Control Unleashed Pattern Games
Control Unleashed is a system developed by Leslie McDevitt. Pattern Games are: “A repetitive, predictable framework of cues and behaviors that helps the learner process the environment by weaving the unexpected into the safety net of the expected.”
The unexpected is something that might be a trigger to your dog: another dog, someone jogging, a garbage bin that was not there the day before. The expected, is the game we’ll teach them.
The Up/Down Game is a great way to teach our dogs to orient to us, and it is a good foundation for the Superbowls Game. Not only can the Superbowls Game teach our dogs confidence around distractions in the environment, it can assist with leash walking. And it’s fun! Be sure to check out the Sidewalks Hack video to play the game without bowls.
Control Unleashed is a great program. If you and your dog enjoy these games I recommend you check out the rest of the program. You’ll find a lot of dog sports enthusiasts will use these games, but you can definitely apply everything you see in her books & videos to your situation
You can purchase the books and DVDs at Cleanrun: Control Unleashed Creating a Focused and Confident Dog
A few of the pattern games that I use are: