365 Days of Training:
How valuable are you to your dog?

In controlled environments, you may have the most perfect, well-behaved and obedient dog, but what happens when you are in a new and exciting place with many distractions? As soon as your dog finds something more motivating and rewarding than you, then you have lost them. Not only does generalization play a factor, but the value you hold with your dog is important too. You can create value, build focus, and a more reliable recall with a few fun games.

Keep in mind that your body language and tone of voice will be a factor in how your dog will react to you.

Auto-Focus & Recall

Playing games can be a great tool to make training enjoyable for both you and your dog. You can start building auto-focus by catching your dog looking at you and rewarding eyemcontact with a treat. Your dog will learn that every time they look at you good stuff happens and that you are where all the good stuff comes from. 

Your dog will start to keep a closer eye on you. Move around and let your dog explore a bit. Your dog will begin to automatically start to “check in” with you. When your dog “checks in”, reward them with praise, play or a treat. If they don’t follow you, give them a call and  run away from them. Once they catch up to you, show them through words and actions how pleased you are and reward them. 

The more fun and exciting you make it, the more your dog will realize that all the great and exciting things happen with you when they come back to you.

Collar Grab Games

Why do our dogs not come when they are called, or get just a foot or two away from us, then take off when we reach for them? It’s because when we reach for the collar, that means the fun is over.

Make collar grabs exciting by grabbing the collar, and rewarding them. Then add the word “treat” and reward them.  As long as you are holding the collar, keep rewarding your dog. Another option is to play tug, tag, or wrestle with your dog then, grab the collar and reward, let go and keep playing. You can also take the opportunity while petting your dog under the collar to give it a grab and rewarding with touch and praise. You can get right under their collar and give them a good scratch. Practice these games randomly and
often to make collar grabs more fun and less predictable.

Jump into Your Arms

You can also teach your dog to jump into your arms as a great way to collect them. This is a great trick for small to medium-sized dogs.

Start by kneeling on the ground with one leg in a slightly raised position. Lure your dog, onto your leg with a treat, and then once they have paws on your leg, or they are on your lap, get your arm underneath them. Continue to reward as you are holding them. Once they are doing that behaviour reliably, and they have an idea of what you want from them, you can add a cue word to the behaviour. Start increasing the height until you are in a standing position.

These are a few great ways to increase your value and get your dog to come when called.

SKILL BUILDING