- Level 1 is all about learning the connection between the toy and treat source. This isn’t obvious, but dogs make the connection quickly with the right set up and environment. The PupPod Wobbler includes two motion sensors, so just getting close to the toy (e.g. coming over for a sniff) or touching the toy earn a reward.
- Level 2 only provides rewards for touching the Rocker Toy within 2 seconds of the treat sound being played from the Rocker. Some dogs are very touchy and get this level quickly. Others are more gentle and need encouragement to touch. This blog article covers what to expect when moving to this level.
- Level 3 is where the game starts to get interesting. There’s a 2-second window after the “treat” sound plays where touching the toy earns a reward. Outside of that window, no reward is provided. The PupPod mobile app allows a pet parent to decide how frequently the treat sound should play. We recommend starting with a 10-second time interval between sounds, but as a dog starts to figure out that treats are only earned just after the sound play, start bumping up the time interval setting in 5-second increments to add difficulty.
- Level 4 takes things up a notch by introducing a second sound…the “alley cat”, which does NOT pay a reward. Dog trainers call this a discrimination task. At level 4, the “treat” sound and the “alley cat” sound alternate. With practice, your dog will focus on the “treat” sound and ignore the “alley cat”. Dog trainers call this shaping and the PupPod software can measure progress.
- Level 5 is for PupPod ninjas and teaches impulse control. If you pup touches the toy when the “alley cat” sound plays, the “alley cat” sound will keep playing, which means no treats. Your pup will learn self control…to only touch the toy on the “treat” sound and to ignore the “alley cat”.
- Level 6 keeps your pup on his toes…’er his paws. The sound sequence is random at this level, so your pup won’t be able to predict the sound pattern. This requires a new level of focus to listen and pay attention for the “treat” sound.
- The description above refers to sounds, but the entire game can be played using lights too. This is great for deaf dogs and also provides a new set of challenges for dogs who have mastered the game with sounds. Letting your dog play using the lights is also great when you are working from home on a conference call and don’t want the toy to make noises.
How do the different levels work?
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