What are the 5 D's of dog training?

Good training requires paying attention to four simple rules, otherwise known as the four D’s of dog training: distance, distraction, duration and difficulty. Distance Simply put, distance is the amount of space between the trainer and the dog. Distraction Anything competing for your dog’s attention is a distraction, and a well-trained dog can follow cues even in the face of a squirrel running by or a sandwich on a park bench. Duration Duration represents the amount of time a dog engages in a behavior. Difficulty How hard is the behavior to learn or practice for that dog, in that setting, on that day?

The first “D” is Distance. The second “D” is Duration. The third “D” is Direction. The fourth “D” is Demeanor. The fifth and final “D” is Distraction.