PREP DOCS
Puppy Progression Chart
Use this chart with five columns and ten rows to track your guide dog puppy's progress from 12 weeks to 12 months.
12 weeks
12 months
Toileting Routine
Open Doc
I know my toileting area and ask to use it.
I am clean in the house and overnight with management. I show no interest in eating my own or other dog's faeces.
I reliably respond to the 'busy, busy' cue and consistently use my toileting area at home. I show no interest in eating dogs faeces.
I am clean in the house and comfortable relieving at my home. I have a predictable routine where I do not toilet when on lead without indicating or when asked to so by the handler. I am comfortable relieving myself on different surfaces. I am not interested in eating dog faeces.
Learning to play
Open Doc
I generally understand what is mine and what is yours.
I am learning to play with toys without mouthing or jumping up and I have begun to swap items when asked.
I reliably swap items when asked. I play with toys without mouthing.
I consistently play without mouthing and I will swap my toys for another object when asked.
Greeting people
Open Doc
I am settling well in the company of people I know.
I have calmly met a range of unfamiliar people including children.
I greet people, including children, without jumping up on most occasions.
I greet people without jumping up on the majority of occasions. After greeting I consistently settle in the presence of visitors, with occasional reinforcement or management.
Learning manners
Open Doc
I know my name. I understand how to sit when using a lure. I am learning to take food politely.
I have started to introduce the word 'sit' and 'down' when the behaviour is reliable, using a lure as required.
I respond to the word sit, down, stand without a lure, in most situations. I consistently take food politely.
I respond to my name, 'sit', 'down', and 'stand' when asked.
Travel and transport
Open Doc
I am comfortable on a car journey up to 15 mins. I am keen to approach the car.
I do not attempt to jump out of a car when the door is opened and continue to build up the duration of journeys.
I am comfortable on car journeys of up to 30 mins. I have had the opportunity to experience public transport (e.g. buses, trains).
I am comfortable to get in the car and travel for up to 45 mins. I have had opportunities to get used to public transport. I am relaxed and comfortable travelling on one form of public transport.
Walking on a lead
Open Doc
I am comfortable having my collar and lead put on and taken off and do not back away. I have started to learn to walk on the lead at home.
I am walking for longer distances at home and in the garden on lead. I have started going on short walks in quiet areas.
I am walking on lead in lots of different places and can manage my excitement around distractions most of the time. I continue moving with my handler unless indicating a need to toilet.
I am walking on lead in lots of different places and can manage my excitement around distractions most of the time. I require less input to stay focused and continue moving with my handler unless indicating a need to toilet.
Recall and off lead exercise
Open Doc
I know my name.
I know the recall cue and I will come to you in the house and garden when utilised at least 90% of the time.
I reliably return to you in response to recall cue when off lead in an area with few distractions.
I have demonstrated the ability to consistently recall at a safe speed, making contact with a hand touch out to the side of the handler and without jumping up. I may require encouragement in higher distraction areas. I will remain with handler until released. I will recall away from other dogs in most situations, with reinforcement.
Handling, grooming and equipment
Open Doc
I am happy to be gently lifted, carried and touched all over my body. I am being introduced to equipment without backing away.
I am happy for you to check my eyes, ears and feet. I enjoy short grooming sessions with a brush. I have visited the vets.
I am happy for a full body check including by the vet. I remain comfortable standing for grooming sessions up to 10 minutes and being towel dried.
I am comfortable entering and having a full body check at the vets. I remain still and comfortable being groomed. I am comfortable wearing Guide Dogs equipment.
Being out and about
Open Doc
I am relaxed interacting with any other animals that live in my home. I have experienced a range of sights and sounds at home.
I happily interact with any other animals at home. I can move away from distractions with help from my handler. I am comfortable around loud noises.
I politely interact with other dogs when on and off lead and can be lured away from interactions. I can pass people and animals with encouragement from my handler.
I can walk past food, people (including joggers), bikes, dogs or other animals, while on a lead, without avoiding or lunging in most situations. I politely interact with other dogs when on lead when given the opportunity and will move away when asked. I am comfortable in lots of different places and with sights and sounds of daily life.
Social behaviours and settling on a lead
Open Doc
I have a routine and I am comfortable settling overnight. I am building my confidence being on my own for short periods in the day with items that help me do so. I am being introduced to tools to help me settle.
I am learning how to settle on lead in appropriate environments. I continue to be comfortable settling overnight on my own. I can entertain myself whilst my handler completes daily tasks. I can be left for short periods in the daytime.
I am practising self settling quietly for longer periods in more places with less help. I am being left for longer periods of time regularly on my own at home with less restrictions without getting into mischief.
I am comfortable settling quietly in familiar social situations with minimal input. I am calm and self-controlled around food, only chewing and playing with items I've been given, and not jumping up or stealing items. I have demonstrated I am able to be left alone, for periods of 1 to 3 hours without the need for a closed crate.
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