What does Proofing refer to in dog training?

Proofing in dog training refers to the process of conditioning the dog to reliably respond to commands under a variety of conditions and distractions. This includes training the dog to maintain their behavior regardless of environmental changes, such as different locations, sounds, or the presence of other animals or people. The goal of proofing is to ensure that the behaviors learned are solid and generalized, so that the dog can perform them in real-world situations, where the context may not always be controlled or familiar. This is a crucial step in training, as it builds the dog's confidence and enhances their responsiveness.

In contrast, testing the dog's ability to perform tricks before an audience focuses more on performance rather than general reliability across situations. Rewarding the dog for every attempt, while encouraging, does not teach the dog to consistently respond; it may foster dependency on rewards without ensuring proficiency. Creating distractions is part of the proofing process but is just one element; it does not encompass the full extent of conditioning the dog to reliably respond. Hence, proofing is specifically about ensuring that a dog can behave as desired regardless of varying conditions.