Proofing behaviours: The 3 D’s of Dog Training
The 3 D’s of Dog Training: Duration, Distance, and Distraction
When teaching your dog new behaviors—especially cues like “sit”—it’s easy to get excited about quick wins. But if you want that behavior to stick in all kinds of environments and situations, you need to understand the 3 D’s of Dog Training: Duration, Distance, and Distraction.
These three elements are the foundation of solid, reliable behavior, and they determine whether your dog will only “sit” in your quiet living room or also at the busy park when a squirrel runs by.
Let’s break each one down using the "sit" cue as an example.
1. Duration – How Long Can Your Dog Hold the Behavior?
Duration refers to the length of time your dog can maintain the “sit” position after you give the cue. In the beginning, your dog might only be able to hold a sit for a second or two before getting up, or they might get up as soon as they get a treat.
How to train it:
Ask your dog to sit, mark the behaviour with a “yes” or clicker and then feed them a few treats in quick succession. Make sure not to reach for the treats until after you’ve marked the behaviour- we don’t want them to only listen when we’re holding food!
Gradually space out the treats until they’re waiting at least 5 seconds between treats- once they’ve achieved this you can move onto introducing distance (see below).
If your dog breaks the sit early, don’t scold—just reset and reduce the duration.
Tip: Always end the behavior with a break cue like “okay” or “free,” so your dog knows when they’re allowed to move. You should use the same break cue with all your commands and any impulse control exercises.
2. Distance – How Far Away Can You Be (or Start From)?
Distance is about how far you can move from your dog while they remain in a sit. Dogs often sit just fine when you're standing right in front of them—but take two steps back, and suddenly they follow you or pop up.
How to train it:
Begin by asking for a sit, then take half a step back (put one foot behind you but keep the other still). Return immediately, mark, and reward if they stay seated.
Gradually increase the number of steps you take away from your dog. Each time you take an extra step, do a few reps and add in some duration (following the steps in part 1) .
Practice walking in different directions—sideways, backward, or even turning your back.
Add in some silliness- wave your arms around, squat down, make a funny noise etc. This isn’t just to entertain anyone watching- it’s crucial for teaching your puppy that they need to hold the position until you give the break cue, no matter what you do.
Also practice giving the “sit” cue from a distance, instead of always standing close. Start small—just a step or two away—and build up. This teaches your dog that “sit” still means “sit” even if you’re not right next to them. You may need to tether your dog to something or ask someone to hold their lead at first to stop them following you.
Tip: If your dog breaks the sit when you add distance, go back a step and build more gradually.
3. Distraction – Can Your Dog Sit When Things Get Interesting?
Distraction is the wild card. It refers to anything in the environment that competes for your dog’s attention—other dogs, people, smells, noises, toys, squirrels, you name it.
How to train it:
Start in a quiet, familiar environment with few distractions.
Slowly introduce mild distractions—like someone walking by at a distance or a toy on the ground.
Be ready to lower your criteria at first. That might mean asking your dog to sit for a shorter amount of time, or being closer to them than you would be in a quiet space.
As your dog gains confidence and focus, gradually increase both the intensity of the distraction and the difficulty of the sit (longer duration, greater distance).
Tip: To keep your dog interested keep sessions short- no longer than 10 minutes- and mix up which treats you use and how you deliver them.
Final Thoughts
By strategically working through Duration, Distance, and Distraction, you’ll build a more reliable “sit” (or any other stationary position- bed, down etc) that holds up whether you're at home, in the park, or in a busy vet’s office.
